TE Fantasy Football News
Jimmy Graham – Saints to Seahawks: Jimmy Graham put up 16 touchdowns and more than 215 fantasy points two years ago, making him a first round pick in most leagues last year. The fantasy TE stud had another stellar season last year when he wasn't struggling with injuries. With his trade from New Orleans to Seattle, however, the days of unheralded production from the tight end position are over for Graham. It's not that he'll be awful, but the Seahawks tend to throw the ball less than most teams and have no reason to change game plans after reaching the Super Bowl two years in a row. Graham will still see plenty of scores but he won't put up the yardage to place him in the same conversation as Rob Gronkowski. He's still worth a mid-third round pick, but don't jump on him earlier than that.
Jordan Cameron – Browns to Dolphins: The addition of Jordan Cameron to the Phins probably increases Ryan Tannehill’s fantasy potential more than Cameron’s but it should still benefit the athletic tight end. A fantastic vertical and red zone threat, Cameron should be on your radar late in drafts. He will certainly add a new dimension to a Dolphins offense that lacked an effective pass-catching tight end last year. Expect the 6-foot 5-inch USC product to put up consistent points week to week for Miami and keep him in mind once the 100th pick roles around as a having a reliable quarterback for the first time in his career could spell out top 7 fantasy numbers by the end of the year.
Charles Clay – Dolphins to Bills: After putting up 119 fantasy points to become the sixth best fantasy tight end in 2013, Charles Clay scored only 78 points in 2014 and dropped to the 16th best at the position, disappointing many owners. He’ll be downgrading in terms of quarterback play this year as he moves to Buffalo. Ryan Tannehill may not be much for producing top tier fantasy pass catchers but he’s certainly a better option than anyone who may win the Bills’ starting job, so don’t expect much from Clay in the upcoming season as far as bounce backs go. He’ll go un-drafted in most leagues and should only be on your radar as an add of the waiver wire for a spot start against an intriguing matchup.
Julius Thomas – Broncos to Jaguars: This particular move is one that has fantasy analysts in vocal disagreement. Most agree that he will no longer be a top tier fantasy football TE, but some think he will still produce solid numbers while others see him tanking completely with the young quarterback, Blake Bortles, at the helm. It is difficult to predict the kind of season he will have because he has never played without an elite QB. The question is: was he elite because Peyton Manning made him so or because of his own talent? It may be a combo of both, but I, for one, am staying away from Thomas until after the 90th pick. He is too touchdown reliant to be consistent in a low scoring offense like in Jacksonville. In most drafts, the former Bronco is going before the 70th pick, so he probably won’t fall to where he’s worth the risk.
Owen Daniels – Ravens to Broncos: With the departure of Orange Julius from Denver, Daniels should take over most of the tight end production for the Broncos in 2015. Many expect Daniels to be fantasy relevant immediately because of the QB situation. Peyton Manning certainly makes those around him better, but I wouldn’t jump out of my seat in excitement towards Daniels. He’s never been much of a red zone threat throughout his career, which means at 32 years old, he’s unlikely to suddenly fill the role of Julius Thomas as a red zone threat. If Daniels falls to you as a back up tight end, pat yourself on the back, but don’t reach for him or expect him to be a reliable fantasy starter.
