| 10. Zach Miller, Oakland Raiders. The young tight | | | | has become an increasingly reliable option with |
| end broke out last season, with consistent | | | | each season, as Manning deals with an often |
| yardage per game, having caught for 778 total | | | | double-teamed Reggie Wayne and an aging Marvin |
| yards. Unfortunately, he only scored 1 TD, and | | | | Harrison. Clark's 848 yards and 6 TDs are just |
| the Raiders' ability to score will heavily factor into | | | | too good to pass up, offering true value at the |
| his value this season. | | | | TE position. |
| 9. Jeremy Shockey. A top-5 tight end not too | | | | 4. Kellen Winslow. The 2007 season was a career |
| long ago has slipped in the rankings, despite the | | | | year for Kellen Winslow, having caught for over |
| fact that he plays for a top-3 fantasy | | | | 1100 yards and posting a career TD high as well. |
| quarterback in Drew Brees. Last season was a | | | | Last season, Winslow regressed (he only played |
| major letdown for Shockey and his owners, | | | | 10 games) - partly due to injury and partly due to |
| marred with injury (he missed 4 games), and | | | | a murky QB situation in Cleveland. Winslow joins |
| Shockey amazingly scored no TDs. He also | | | | its Buccaneers team and should play a major role |
| posted a career low 483 yards. Look for a | | | | in its offense. He's a riskier play in the sense that |
| bounceback season from Shockey, but the risk | | | | there's both more risk and reward than there is |
| factor places Shockey at #9. | | | | with options like Dallas Clark. Draft accordingly. |
| 8. Chris Cooley. Another traditionally top-5 tight | | | | 3. Antonio Gates. Until last year, Gates was the |
| end, Cooley only found the end zone once last | | | | consensus #1 fantasy tight end. Gates' 704 |
| season. While he did post a career high in receiving | | | | receiving yards last season (7th best for a tight |
| yards (849), fantasy football is all about the | | | | end) have dethroned him, for now at least. In his |
| touchdowns, and Cooley missed the boat there. | | | | defense, he did score 8 TDs, second best for any |
| He has easy top 5 potential with those yards | | | | tight end. Numbers anyone would be happy to |
| should he score 5 or 6 TDs, but the Washington | | | | take. |
| offense is questionable and others look more | | | | 2. Jason Witten. With the absence of Terrell |
| attractive given their QBs. | | | | Owens, there are many question marks in Dallas. |
| 7. Owen Daniels. This young talent continues to | | | | As long as Romo's there, however, Witten should |
| improve each year, and has quietly emerged as | | | | see plenty of targets. In fact, Romo may come |
| one of the most reliable TEs in football over the | | | | to count on Witten even more, especially in the |
| past couple seasons. His 862 receiving yards were | | | | red zone. Witten began last season as the best |
| third best for a TE, but Daniels only scored two | | | | tight end in football, but quickly slipped after a |
| TDs. Still, his reliability combined with his upside will | | | | nagging rib injury slowed his season. He's rested |
| make most GMs happy, and Daniels falls at | | | | and healthy, and should be back to posting regular |
| number 7 on the list this season. | | | | WR numbers each weekend. |
| 6. Greg Olsen. A true sleeper this season in the | | | | 1. Tony Gonzalez. 2008 was a revival year for |
| sense that Olsen probably possesses more upside | | | | Gonzalez, who led all TEs in yards (1058) and TDs |
| than any other tight end this season. With Jay | | | | (10) last season, carrying many of his owners to |
| Cutler at the helm, Olsen could easily have a | | | | the fantasy playoffs. Gonzalez finds himself as |
| breakout year at tight end, seeing as how | | | | part of a stronger offense in Atlanta, and should |
| involved Cutler traditionally likes to get with his | | | | connect with Matt Ryan for long receptions and |
| tight ends. Olsen caught for 574 yards and scored | | | | TDs on many Sundays. Gonzalez is one of the |
| 5 TDs last season, but should definitely best both | | | | most talented TEs in the game, and has only |
| of those numbers with Cutler's help. | | | | missed two games in his 12 year career. He hasn't |
| 5. Dallas Clark. When Peyton Manning is your | | | | received for less than 900 yards in a season since |
| quarterback, it's not hard to do great things. Clark | | | | 2002-2003. Enjoy him for everything he's worth. |