The Hottest Tight EndsWe must admit that in the past the tight ends rarely got our engines running. Sure, they looked good – but they did not produce the kind of scoring action we demand from our men. However, Tony Gonzalez has started to give us a change of heart. Not only is Tony easy on the eyes, he also has the ability to light up our fantasy scoreboards.
But be warned – you must try to resist the urge to reach for that tempting tight end – you are better off with a solid second back or receiver in the first few rounds. Even Gonzalez does not warrant a first or second round pick. But if you choose wisely, you should be able to find a tight end in the later rounds who can give your fantasy squad a little boost. 1) Tony Gonzalez (Kansas City Chiefs): This virile Chief is in a league of his own. Over the last three years, Gonzalez has accumulated 2969 yards and 26 touchdowns. However, there is a major caveat. Gonzalez will not be doing any scoring if his butt is not on the gridiron. Tony has been playing hard to get with his employer over a contract dispute and has been spending his time shooting hoops. Be sure he plans on breaking out his football pads before making him one of your top choices.
2) Marcus Pollard (Indianapolis Colts): Last year Pollard had a career year with 739 receiving yards and eight scores. Next season should be even more fruitful for the six-year veteran. With Ken Dilger and his 32 catches in Tampa Bay, Pollard no longer has to share his superstar quarterback.
3) Shannon Sharpe (Denver Broncos): Sharpe may do a lot of talking, but he has always been able to back up his big mouth on the field. He is not a spring chicken anymore, but still produced 71 catches for the Ravens last season. Sharpe may be just what Griese needs to regain his swagger on the field. The talented Desmond Clark will steal a bit of his thunder, but Sharpe should still post some beefy stats.
4) Chad Lewis (Philadelphia Eagles): The Eagles did not bring in any new receiving threats, which means Lewis will remain high on Donovan McNabb’s target list. Lewis’ receptions were down last season (41), but he developed into a big red zone threat with six touchdowns.
5) Byron Chamberlain (Minnesota Vikings): Chamberlain has come alive since relocating to Minnesota. Last season Chamberlain put up career-high stats catching 54 passes for 645 yards and three touchdowns. The Vikings plan to make the most of his receiving skills by using him as a slot receiver on some plays, which should lead to even better production for Byron in 2002.
6) Bubba Franks (Green Bay Packers): Franks does not put up impressive yardage, but he sure established himself as a red zone stud last season with nine touchdowns. When Favre wants to score this season, he knows where to look.
7) Todd Heap (Baltimore Ravens): With Sharpe out of the picture in Baltimore, inexperienced quarterback Chris Redman will need to rely on this talented sophomore to step up and make some plays for him. With an unimpressive roster of receivers, Heap may be Redman’s best hope for survival in the NFL.
8) Freddie Jones (Arizona Cardinals): The Cardinal coaching staff loves what Jones brings to the table and intends to make him a large part of their offense. Look for a rebound season has Freddie tried to regain his 2000 form in which he posted 766 receiving yards and five scores.
9) Frank Wycheck (Tennessee Titans): Wycheck has been Mr. Consistency over the years catching at least 60 passes in each of the last five seasons. He will not dazzle his fantasy owners with tons of scores, but you can always rely on Frank for 600-plus yards of production.
10) David Sloan (New Orleans Saints): Sloan was never a super-stud with the Lions but he did quietly lead his team with seven touchdowns last season. Sloan is a huge target for Aaron Brooks and if he can manage to stay healthy, he should be in for a big year.
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