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Click here to check out this week's Fantasy Baseball Mailbag! With Michael Vick gone, Alge Crumpler is one tight end who is sliding down the Fantasy Wizard's latest rankings...
| Tight End Rankings |
| Rank |
Team |
Player |
Rec Yds |
Receptions |
Total TDs |
| 1 |
 |
Antonio Gates |
924 |
71 |
9 |
|
For fantasy tight ends right now, there's Gates, and then there's everyone else. The Chargers will line up Gates as a wide receiver often, giving him a chance to overpower smaller cornerbacks. The only problem with Gates is that RB LaDainian Tomlinson doesn't leave many TDs for Gates and the rest of the Chargers.
|
| 2 |
 |
Tony Gonzalez |
900 |
73 |
5 |
|
If not for a shoulder injury, Gonzalez might have topped 1,000 yards last season. With the Chiefs hoping to turn the offense over to young QB Brodie Croyle, Gonzalez should be a popular target underneath in a conservative offense. Of course, Gonzo could have a tough time racking up TDs if Croyle and K.C. can't move the ball effectively. |
| 3 |
 |
Vernon Davis |
265 |
20 |
3 |
Physically, Davis is a freak. He's huge (6' 3", 265 lbs.), fast (4.38 40-yard dash), and has a huge vertical leap (42 inches). That's too much for a single defensive back or linebacker to handle. If Davis picks up on some of the games nuanuces in his second season, he's capable of pushing Gates for the top spot on this list. Of course, with a player this young working with a young QB like San Fran's Alex Smith, Davis is also a huge risk who could fall flat again.
|
| 4 |
 |
Todd Heap |
765 |
73 |
6 |
Heap is a quality veteran tight end, and Ravens QB Steve McNair has always preferred to go to his tight ends rather than his receivers. But Heap doesn't stretch the field often enough, leading to disappointing yardage totals despite a lot of catches. Heap didn't top 85 yards in a game even once last season.
|
| 5 |
 |
Chris Cooley |
734 |
57 |
6 |
|
Cooley worked well with young QB Jason Campbell in the second half of 2006. With speedster receivers Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El stretching the defense, Cooley is often able to make a catch underneath, then turn upfield for big yardage. Last season, his YACs (yards after catch) per catch was the highest ever by a tight end with 50 or more catches. |
| 6 |
 |
Jeremy Shockey |
623 |
66 |
7 |
|
Shockey and QB Eli Manning still have to work on their chemistry. But they have worked well in the red zone, as Shockey matched his career-high in TDs last season. New Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride has made it a priority to get Shockey further downfield on routes, something that would help his yardage totals.
|
| 7 |
 |
Jason Witten |
754 | 64 | 1 |
|
Witten's numbers took a big jump after QB Tony Romo took over as the starter. In Romo's 10 starts, Witten had 44 catches for 517 yards. He may not catch many TD passes with Terrell Owens getting most of Romo's red zone throws. But surely, Witten will top that lonely "1" he had in the TD column last year.
|
| 8 |
 |
Randy McMichael |
640 |
62 |
3 |
| McMichael, who signed with St. Louis as a free agent this past off-season, already knows the Rams offense. He worked with head coach Scott Linehan two seasons ago when Linehan was the offensive coordinator for the Dolphins, and McMichael was his starting tight end. McMichael has to share the field with star WR Torry Holt and star RB Steven Jackson. But since the Rams throw it a lot, there will be enough passes to go around for McMichael. And since the Rams score a lot of points, McMichael should be a popular target for QB Marc Bulger when they get near the end zone. |
| 9 |
 |
Kellen Winslow II |
89 |
875 |
3 |
|
Winslow led all tight ends in receptions last season. So why is he ranked so low? Winslow had microfracture surgery on his right knee during the offseason. If you're not a medical doctor, or are just unfamiliar with microfracture surgery, it's generally a last-ditch effort to repair a knee that needs cartilage. It's the same surgery that knocked NBA star Amare Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns for almost all of the 2005-06 season. Winslow might be on the field for Week 1, but he'll probably be limited physically for most of the season. And it seems unlikely that he'll make it through 16 games.
|
| 10 |
 |
Alge Crumpler |
780 |
56 |
8 |
|
Crumpler has always been QB Michael Vick's favorite target, but Vick won?t be around to find him this year. That, and new Atlanta head coach Bobby Petrino wants to get the Falcons receivers more involved in the offense. Crumpler is still going to produce, but it's shaping up to be a down year.
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