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Taylor Maxston breaks down the top rookie tight ends from the 2017 NFL Draft class to determine who will have the greatest fantasy value in redraft leagues.
The rookie tight end class heading into this year’s draft was one of the deepest since 2010 when Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham, and Dennis Pitta entered the league. Only one tight end was drafted in the first round that year, namely Oklahoma Sooner Jermaine Gresham, compared to 2017 where three tight ends were drafted in the middle to back end of the first round. From the freakishly athletic David Njoku to the viciously blocking Adam Shaheen, this tight end class was full of not just overall talent but also diversity at the position.
Fantasy owners looking to capitalize on the talent prevalent in this year’s rookie tight end group have questioned which of them should be number one on their draft board for rookie drafts.
In this article, I’ll be comparing three of the tight ends from the 2017 draft class who could have amazing fantasy football success and be worth taking ahead of their peers.
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Top Rookie Tight Ends for 2017
Candidate #1 – O.J. Howard
Drafted: 19th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Skinny: A rare talent at the position who is polished as both a blocker and receiver, has a high football IQ, and makes plays after the catch. The biggest issue is a small sample size due to being underutilized at Alabama.
Fantasy Talent Comparison: Julius Thomas (in Denver)
Howard was considered by and large one of the safest picks not just among tight ends, but the entire 2017 draft class as a can’t miss star at the next level. Standing at 6’6, 251 lbs, Howard ran a ridiculous 4.51 second 40 yard dash and was the top performer among tight ends in the 3-cone drill, 20 yard shuttle, and 60 yard shuttle. For the Crimson Tide, he caught 38 passes for 602 yards with 2 touchdowns in 2015 and 45 passes for 595 yards with 3 touchdowns in 2016. Although he didn’t receive the amount of receiving volume worthy of how talented he is, the malleability of a tight end with all the physical tools and a balanced skill set is incredibly exciting for the Buccaneers who have been looking for a number one tight end to emerge in recent years. Providing Jameis Winston with another big bodied, rangy target to complement Mike Evans makes their offense one of the deadliest in the NFC.
Candidate #2 – David Njoku
Drafted: 29th overall by the Cleveland Browns
The Skinny: A physical freak of nature who has the greatest upside of any tight end in the class, but is extremely raw as a run blocker and has had issues with drops in the past.
Fantasy Talent Comparison: Greg Olsen
There was a time when Njoku was legitimately competing with O.J. Howard as the number one tight end in the 2017 draft class, and for good reason. In 13 games for the Miami Hurricanes last year, he caught 43 receptions for 698 yards with 8 touchdowns. Njoku possesses the size to be an every down player at 6’4, 246 lbs combined with explosive first step quickness and agility in the passing game. However, problems with his strength and technique at the point of attack on blocks are especially concerning for a player who will be expected to start day one. Cleveland head coach Hue Jackson has a knack for maximizing the talent of his tight end group, though the team will have a difficult time driving the ball down the field to provide red zone opportunities. Nonetheless, his presence as one of the few play-makers in a rebuilding Brown's offense should guarantee some level of production in his first few years in the NFL.
Candidate #3 – Evan Engram
Drafted: 23rd overall by the New York Giants
The Skinny: An unconventional, under-sized tight end who has breakaway speed and a nose for the end-zone. Concerns exist as to whether he can be an every down player due to a lack of size and strength as a blocker.
Fantasy Talent Comparison: Jordan Reed
Although Engram doesn’t boast the same physical profile as Howard or Njoku, his skillset and situation make him an intriguing option for fantasy purposes. In 2016, Engram caught 65 passes for 926 yards and 8 touchdowns at Ole Miss, becoming one of the most unstoppable forces in the SEC. A blazing 40-yard-dash speed of 4.42 seconds at 234 lbs will make him a mismatch against any linebacker and many cornerbacks at the next level, giving quarterback Eli Manning a consistent security blanket. The lesser known Engram will be the odd man out for defensive coordinators to account for as Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall command sizeable attention on the perimeter and second year slot-machine Sterling Shepard works the short-to-intermediate passing game. However, he will need to put on 10-15 pounds and improve his in-line blocking before the start of the regular season in order to secure a consistent workload.
Who Should Be First Off the Board?
The ability for tight ends to provide a dual-threat role in NFL offenses is critical for maintaining a spot at the top of the depth chart and getting a consistent receiving workload for fantasy production. Of all the tight ends in the 2017 draft class, O.J. Howard shows the most promise to be an amazing fantasy asset for years to come. His under-utilization as a receiving threat at Alabama allowed him to improve as a blocker and develop the necessary skills to be guaranteed targets in the passing game. Those fearing a competition with 2016 fantasy darling Cameron Brate have little to be afraid of in the long term, as he simply doesn’t have the build at 6’5, 235 lbs to allow him to get playing time as anything more than a situational asset. On a team that threw the football 58% of the time in 2016 and looks to big-bodied targets in the red zone, it will eventually become impossible to keep a talent like Howard off of the field.
Don’t mistake Howard for strictly a powerful blocker, as he breaks out of his cuts effortlessly on routes and always finds a way to get open whether he’s facing man or zone. What’s more, his freakish athleticism enables him to accumulate yards after the catch with both the speed to sprint downfield and the ferocity to drive through defenders. Those looking for a display of Howard’s rare hybrid skill set should check out his performance against Texas A&M in 2016 where he caught 8 receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown while showing run-after-the-catch ability and solid blocking technique in a win over the Aggies. Howard’s fantasy football future is extremely bright, making him my number one ranked tight end for rookie drafts.
