Elite Tight Ends: Gronkowski, Graham, and Fleener?

Last year can easily be dubbed as “the year of the tight ends”, based on the rising stars that are exploding into the NFL at the position. New England Patriots’ tight end, Rob Gronkowski and New Orleans Saints’ tight end, Jimmy Graham recorded a combined 189 receptions, 2,637 receiving yards, and 29 touchdowns in the 2011 campaign. Their massive success last year has really raised the bar for the rest of the tight ends in 2012 so, the question is, who has the potential to become an elite tight end next year?

One player that, when I look through the tapes, I see having very similar qualities to Gronkowski and Graham is Indianapolis Colts’ tight end, Coby Fleener. Fleener was taken 34^th overall in the 2012 NFL draft, and the first tight end to be picked. Like Gronkowski and Graham, Fleener is a tall, athletic tight end (6’6” and 250 lbs) who has great jumping abilities. Fleener has proven during his collegiate career at Stanford that he is not afraid to jump over defenders and come down with the ball, which is why Andrew Luck felt comfortable throwing him the ball in the redzone (10 redzone touchdowns in 2011).

Fleener also has explosive speed off the line for a man his stature, running the 40-yard dash in an impressive 4.45 seconds at Stanford’s Pro Day evaluation in 2012. With agility such as this, it will be hard for opposing defenders to keep up with the athletic tight end. Not only will they have to make sure to keep pace with Fleener but, they will have to obtain elite ball positioning and jumping abilities as well. Fleener recorded a vertical jump of 37 inches, which means that the ball can be thrown over nine and a half feet in the air and he can still get his hands on it. This rookie will be a match up nightmare for any defense in the league.

It also does not hurt that the guy who will be throwing him the ball in Indianapolis is his college QB, Andrew Luck. Fleener has been Luck’s go to guy for the past three seasons at Stanford, and that chemistry should not die now that they are both in the NFL. It is known that a rookie QB is not shy to throw it to an athletic, reliable TE so, Fleener’s statistics should only rise in Indianapolis.

Indianapolis does not have what you would call a star studded line up of receivers for Luck to throw it to either. Austin Collie, Donnie Avery, and Reggie Wayne will more than likely be the top three wide outs in 2012. Both Collie and Avery have never eclipsed 700 receiving yards in their careers, and are quite injury prone, while Wayne used to be considered an elite receiver but, age is not on his side playing in his 12^th this up-coming season. It is not a farfetched statement to say that Fleener has the highest probability of becoming Luck’s go to target in 2012.

Based on the athletic talent Fleener possesses, the familiarity his has with his quarterback, and the situation he finds himself in, playing for the Indianapolis Colts, I believe Fleener can become the next elite tight end in the NFL. He may, or may not reach elite status in his rookie year but, the potential is there. I expect that he will record 850+ receiving yards, along with 8+ touchdowns in 2012.

For more Fantasy Football advice follow me on twitter @DannyFantasyFB

Rookie Wide Receivers To Draft In Fantasy Football

Every fantasy footballer wants to draft the player who ends up breaking out in the upcoming fantasy football year. With wide receivers such as Victor Cruz, AJ Green, and Julio Jones being picked up in the late rounds in most fantasy drafts last year, who will be the steals of this draft? Below are some rookies that were drafted in this year’s NFL Draft who I believe are capable of producing fantasy numbers in the top 10 or 15 at the wide receiver position.

Stephen Hill (New York Jets) – Hill played two years at Georgia Tech where he became known as a game changing deep threat. With nearly 30 receiving yards per catch, Hill can open up the defense with his outstanding speed. Not only that but, he is also quite tall at 6’4” so, he has the capabilities to jump above the opposing defenders when the ball is in the air at the point of catch, something he did quite well at Georgia Tech. Hill (who had a 40-yard dash time of 4.36 seconds at the NFL Combine) is comparable to a bigger and stronger version of DeSean Jackson (who had a 40-yard dash time of 4.35 seconds at the NFL combine) due to his explosiveness off the line and his big play abilities.

The New York Jets picked Hill in the second round (45^th overall) in the 2012 NFL Draft. With Plaxico Burress no longer on the team, Hill can fill in opposite to Santonio Holmes in the Jets starting lineup. I would consider Hill to be a No. 3 fantasy wideout, with less emphasis in PPR leagues but, who has the potential to be a high end No. 2 or low end No. 1 fantasy wideout.

Mohamed Sanu (Cincinnati Bengals) – Sanu played three season at Rutgers piling up 210 receptions and was picked in the third round (83 overall) in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. Sanu even broke the Big-East single season reception record with 115 receptions. The record was previously held by Arizona Cardinals’ receiver, Lary Fitzgerald. Sanu does not have overwhelming speed but, what he does posses is the ability to find the open areas in the middle of the field. He is not afraid to put his body in the way of an opposing defender so he can make the catch. With his great body positioning, as well as excellent hands, Sanu will be thrown to often in the young Cincinnati Bengals’ passing game.

With Jerome Simpson gone, AJ Green is now seen as the sole deep threat, so there will be more of an opportunity for Sanu to run routes down the middle of the field, and provide a set of reliable hands on 3^rd down. I would consider Sanu to be a No. 2 fantasy wide receiver in standard leagues, and a No. 1/No. 2 fantasy wide receiver in PPR leagues.

Alshon Jeffery (Chicago Bears) – Jeffery, two time All-American, played three years with South Carolina where he averaged over a touchdown a game in his final two seasons. He is a powerful receiver with great jumping ability and precise body positioning, which will make him a threat in the red-zone for the Chicago Bears, who drafted Jeffery in the second round (45^th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft. Although the Chicago offense already has names like Brandon Marshall and Johnny Knox in the lineup, the overwhelming potential Jeffery brings to the passing game is undeniable. It is hard for opposing defense’s to contain a receiver of his size (6’4” and 230 lbs) in the end-zone so expect him to see a large amount of red-zone passing thrown his way.

With an experienced quarterback such as Jay Cutler behind center, I believe Jeffery has the potential to produce for the Bears’ offense, especially in the red-zone. I would consider Jeffery to be a No. 3 fantasy wide receiver with the potential of being a high end No. 2 fantasy wide receiver.

For more Fantasy Football advice follow me on twitter @DannyFantasyFB