-2017 NFL Schedule -Strength of Schedule
MOCK DRAFT
Ask the Commish.Com 2017 Draft Kit
The Lions drafted Michael Roberts in Round 4 and hope to have him develop into a contributor before too long. At Toledo last season he caught 16 touchdowns over 45 receptions for 533 yards. Surely the Lions are looking for red-zone options since Calvin Johnson's retirement, and Roberts fits the bill. He's not a fast tight end, but in time he could become a very nice No. 2 option who gets a bunch of red-zone looks from Matthew Stafford. He's worth a late pick in rookie-only drafts.
The Jets selected tight end Jordan Leggett in the fifth round of the NFL Draft from Clemson, and he could compete for a starting spot right away. The No. 1 tight end on the roster, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, is suspended for the first two games of the season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. While he's out, Leggett could be the starter, which gives him some value in deeper leagues. In 2016, Leggett had 46 catches for 736 yards and seven touchdowns, and he finished his four-year college career with 112 catches for 1,598 yards and 18 touchdowns. He's not worth drafting in most seasonal leagues, but he does have some appeal in deeper formats while Seferian-Jenkins is out. And in rookie-only drafts, Leggett is worth a late-round pick.
David Njoku might have a chance at learning on the job with the Browns this season after being one of their first-round picks in April's draft. At Miami, Njoku saw most of his playing time in 2016, scoring eight touchdowns on 43 catches for 698 yards. He's a beast at 6-foot-4 and 246 pounds, but runs with uncommon speed for the tight end position. Figure on him being used more like a receiver than your typical blocking tight end, though he can hold his own as a blocker as well. The biggest knock against him is that he's inexperienced -- he made just nine starts in two seasons and has just one 100-yard game to his credit as a result. But his physical skill set combined with his speed and youth (he's just 20!) makes him an intriguing player with gobs of upside for years to come. If you want to have some fun and spend a late-round pick on him in seasonal redraft leagues, go ahead. But his best value lays into the future, where owners in long-term formats will take him with a middle- to late-round pick. Rookie-only drafters should see Njoku get picked between ninth and 15th overall.
We expect Engram to make an immediate impact in the NY Giants' offense. Eli loves his tight ends! Will Tye led the Giants' tight ends with 48 catches last season. Engram is an upgrade on Tye, but there’s not a ton of targets for him as the No. 4 option behind Odell Beckham, Brandon Marshall, and Sterling Shepard. Engram's rookie-year value will be tied to his red-zone role.
Kittle may very well have been the most versatile tight end in the 2017 draft class. The good news is that this could help the 5th rounder from Iowa earn a starting spot early in his career. The bad news is that he is known for his run blocking skills more so than his pass catching skills. Not many fantasy leagues award points for run blocking.
As if the Buccaneers didn't have enough offensive talent as it was, the team selected Alabama tight end O.J. Howard with a first-round pick. Howard should evolve into a staple in the Tampa Bay offense for the next 10 years. Another skyscraping 6-foot-6 pass-catcher for Jameis Winston, Howard is the very definition of a matchup nightmare for defenses thanks to his enormous catch radius and quality speed. He's also a pretty good blocker, so he's going to play a lot. Though his stats were never flashy for the Crimson Tide (less than 605 yards per season with no more than three scores per year), Howard figures to be a reliable security blankie for Winston in the middle of the field and certainly in the red zone. We'd consider him a fun low-end No. 1 Fantasy tight end to start the season, though we'd pair him with a second tight end in case he struggles to meet our lofty expectations right away. Howard will get picked with a late-round pick in seasonal and dynasty/keeper drafts while settling in as a late first-round choice in rookie-only formats.
The Bears spent a second-round pick on tight end Adam Shaheen from Ashland College. Shaheen is a 6-foot-6, 278-pound behemoth who dominated his Division-II competition. A former basketball player, Shaheen scored 26 touchdowns in his last 22 games and averaged 13.6 yards per catch over three years thanks to his good speed and impressive athleticism. He's not going to be worth drafting in seasonal Fantasy leagues, but he will be one to keep tabs on this preseason. Whenever he earns a regular role in the Bears offense, there's a chance he becomes a pretty productive version of Jimmy Graham. That just might not happen anytime soon. Shaheen is worth a late pick in deeper dynasty/keeper leagues and in rookie-only drafts.
Eric Saubert represents the Falcons' attempt to find a diamond in the rough at tight end. Blessed with big size, big hands and good speed, Saubert scored 10 touchdowns on 56 grabs for Drake last season. Obviously he needs to gain experience jumping from his FCS school to the NFL, but Saubert could make the Falcons' final roster for several years and potentially work his way into a No. 2 role. If you're in a very deep rookie-only draft, Saubert is worth your final-round consideration.
Jonnu Smith might remind the Titans of Delanie Walker. He's a strong, versatile tight end who is simply a good football player, neither a star nor an offensive scrub. His numbers at FIU were never grand -- he maxed out at 710 yards and eight scores as a sophomore in 2014 before injuries, including a torn ACL, cost him some playing time. The hunch is Smith will compete for the No. 2 tight end role with the Titans in camp this summer and provide an alternative in 2018 if the team doesn't re-sign Walker. No one will sniff around him in seasonal leagues but a handful of owners in rookie-only drafts could take a chance on him with a late-round pick.
The Vikings may have found themselves a steal with Virginia Tech tight end Bucky Hodges. At 6-foot-6 and 257 pounds, Hodges has the size to be a red-zone problem for opposing defenses. However, Hodges has a bunch of flaws in his game -- he's not a good route runner or a good blocker, and he struggles against physical defenders. He's also never had more than 691 yards in a season. Since Hodges seems like a project pick, only Fantasy owners in rookie-only drafts should consider him late.