USA Today Sports

2017 Player Rankings: Tight Ends Generated: October 22, 2018

Rank Player Team Bye FF Pts Catches Receiving
Yards		 Receiving
TDs
1 Rob GronkowskiRisk NEP 9 172 80 1060 11
After two seasons as the No. 1 fantasy tight end, Gronkowski tumbled down with only eight games played in 2016 with a back issue that persisted and later ended his season after Week 12. Despite limited play, he still turned in over 90 yards in four straight games before succumbing to his injury. A healthy Gronkowski is not only the best fantasy tight end, but whoever ends up as No. 2 will not come close to the Patriots' best weapon. Gronk never missed a practice in OTAs and by all signs is healthy again. But the concern is that his 28-year-old body is breaking down and he has not played in all 16 games since 2011. Any game that he plays healthy offers a tremendous fantasy advantage. The risk is how many of those will you get? 
2 Travis Kelce KCC 10 146 80 1100 6
Kelce was already a solid fantasy option for two years but then broke out with 85 catches for 1,125 yards and four scores last year. That included six 100-yard games that all came after midseason. He's a near lock for five catches a game and is as good as any tight end at turning in a big game. His lack of touchdowns - never more than five in any year - depresses his fantasy value but the sheer volume and consistency of catches more than makes up for any shortfall. The departure of Jeremy Maclin ensures that Kelce remains the top receiver in Kansas City. 
3 Greg Olsen CAR 11 140 82 1040 6
Olsen turns 32 years old but is not slowing down. He comes off one of his best seasons - 80-1073-3. His 13.4 yards per catch was one of the best in his ten-year career. Olsen topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last three years. His touchdowns rarely exceed five or six but he's money with four to six catches each week. 
4 Jordan ReedRisk WAS 5 138 75 900 8
Reed is an enigma. There is no arguing that he's effective when he plays with over half of his games gaining over 50 yards and scoring in almost half of them. But there is no arguing that he disappears on occasion and he cannot remain healthy. Four years into his career and Reed has missed 18 of his 64 games. He has never played a full 16-game season and should be expected to miss at least two. In 2016, he missed four thanks to a shoulder injury or a concussion. The loss of the two top receivers from last year (Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson) would suggest that Reed is needed even more. But will he be able to contribute? His 87 catches for 952 yards and 11 scores in 2015 deemed him a stud but that was missing two weeks. Last year, he was only able to catch 66 passes for 686 yards and six scores. In a position that offers so few elite players, Reed is worth owning even if he cannot offer a full season. When he is healthy, he will always deliver above-average if not elite stats. But buyer beware and don't get too used to those big weeks. As is so often the case, Reed opened camp with a toe injury with no timetable for his return. 
5 Hunter HenryUpside LAC 9 136 72 820 9
Henry did the unthinkable last year when he actually mattered as a rookie tight end. And not just a little. Despite being the No. 2 tight end, Hunter still caught 36 passes for 478 yards and eight touchdowns. That was eight of his final 12 games with a score. Henry is a rare mixture of size (6-5/250), speed and ball skills. He was the first tight end drafted last year. He plays for a team that regularly posted top ten if not top five stats for the position every year and was No. 1 with 15 scores for 2016. Henry makes his move into the elite ranks this year and his stay should be lengthy. 
6 Jimmy Graham GBP 8 132 65 900 7
Graham is still short of the touchdown level he produced while in New Orleans, but at least he caught 65 passes for 923 yards last year. His six touchdowns were roughly half what he usually scored in New Orleans. Graham has the confidence of Russell Wilson and an easier schedule this year as well. Graham was second only to Doug Baldwin in catches and yards. He rarely gains more than 60 to 70 yards in games but is consistently turning in good fantasy points with his receptions and touchdowns factored in. He is not back to the production he once enjoyed with Drew Brees, but he still makes a solid weekly start. 
7 Kyle Rudolph MIN 9 108 70 720 6
It is an encouraging sign that the first year with Sam Bradford resulted in a career-best season for Rudolph. He caught 83 passes for 840 yards and scored seven times. That was good enough to rank No. 2 in most fantasy scoring. And that wasn't the product of a couple of monster games or just early season success. Rudolph remained as effective and productive for the entire season. An improved rushing game and the second year for the offense under OC Pat Shurmur should see a better distribution of passes to other receivers. But Rudolph remains one of the better fantasy plays in a system that will rely on him. 
8 Delanie Walker TEN 8 106 58 700 6
Walker produced top ten fantasy tight end stats in each of the last four seasons - every year with the Titans since wasting seven years in San Francisco. But he is 33 years old and fell back to 65 catches for 800 yards and seven scores for 2016. That regression is almost certain to continue considering his age, the influx of other receivers and the drafting of his heir-apparent Jonnu Smith. Walker will still be worthy of a fantasy start but he's less likely to be a difference maker of any note. He's being drafted as the tenth or twelfth tight end in drafts and that's an appropriate value. 
9 Zach Ertz PHI 10 105 74 810 4
Ertz enters his fifth season in Philly and already established himself as one of Carson Wentz's favorite targets. He's topped 75 catches and 800 yards in each of the last two years and was particularly effective down the stretch with Wentz last year. Over the final four weeks, Ertz gained over 120 yards in two games and scored a total of three touchdowns. Even more encouraging was that all his best games went against division rivals he'll play twice every year. Ertz will do well enough to maintain his top ten tight end stats with the additions of Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith. But he's a solid part of the game plan and a well- used relief valve for Wentz. 
10 Martellus BennettUpside FA x 104 60 680 6
The Packers signed Bennett to find a new version of Jermichael Finley - the last tight end that mattered. And that was five years ago. Richard Rogers posted a surprising stat line of 58-510-8 in 2015 when Jordy Nelson was out. Bennett was as good as 90 catches for 916 yards in Chicago during 2014 but struggled with a knee sprain for most of 2016 when he was with the Patriots. There are plenty of passes to share in Green Bay. Bennett is no slam dunk to have a big year but he's worth owning at least as a back-up and there is enough upside to risk him as a starter. This is Bennett's fifth NFL team. He's a lock for a solid season (for a tight end) and should turn in at least a few very nice games. Once the top tight ends are taken, Bennett should start to be considered if only from his potential. 
11 Jack DoyleUpside IND 11 103 65 670 6
Doyle doesn't have a big game after four years with the Colts. But he ended 2016 with 59 catches for 584 yards and five scores. More importantly, he ended as the No. 13 fantasy tight end last year. Dwayne Allen left Indy after five seasons and Doyle is the lead tight end. The Colts regularly feature a top ten set of tight ends and last year totaled 109 completions (No. 5), 1,287 yards (No. 3) and 12 touchdowns (No. 2). So being the lead dog in this pack will produce notable fantasy points. Behind Doyle, the depth chart has very little experience. Erik Swoope moves up to the No. 2 but only produced 15 catches over his two seasons. Doyle is under the radar but has every reason to expect top ten fantasy stats this year. 
12 Tyler EifertRisk CIN 6 100 52 520 8
Eifert finally had a breakout season when he caught 13 touchdowns in 2015. But he injured his back and only played half of last season. He scored in 12 of his last 22 games including five with multiple scores. But he's never made it an entire season without injury and needed back surgery in the offseason. Eifert is a risk to rely on but he will score in over half his games when he does play. Eifert was healthy for the start of camp though and claims to be 100% in health. If you draft Eifert, get your second tight end earlier than later because history says you will be using them sooner or later. 
13 Cameron Brate TBB 11 99 48 570 7
Brate's outlook dimmed considerably when the Bucs drafted O.J. Howard but the rookie will take the standard year to get up to speed and Brate already turned in a stat line of 57-660-8 last year. He'll be hard-pressed to repeat that with Howard starting to horn in but he makes a solid TE2- type that could still deliver startable stats for at least the first part of the season if not beyond. 
14 Eric Ebron IND 11 98 65 740 4
Ebron has improved his catches and yardage in all three years, ending with a 61-711-1 stat line. His lack of use in the red zone limits his fantasy value and he's totaled only seven scores in his career. He's been noted as looking good in the offseason as he always does but he has yet to miss fewer than two games every year. Since OC Jim Bob Cooter took over, Ebron scored only three times in a season and a half. His lone touchdown of 2016 came in Week 1. An incremental increase in catches and yardage is possible if he can finally remain healthy, but he's a very low-end fantasy start with around four catches per week. Half his games end up under 40 yards. 
15 Coby Fleener NOS 5 91 55 670 4
The first year with the Saints wasn't a total flop with 50 catches for 631 yards and three scores but it did not meet expectations of Fleener reprising the "Jimmy Graham" role. Learning the offense in a complicated position needed a year and the Saints were lucky to see so much success with their rookie Michael Thomas that they did not need more help. Brandin Cooks is gone and that could free up targets for Fleener but the backfield recorded a league-leading number of running back catches and could so again this year. Fleener should see at least incrementally better stats, but it is unlikely he becomes anything more than an average fantasy start. 
16 Jared CookUpside OAK 10 90 50 600 5
The 30-year-old Cook lands in Oakland after time with the Titans, Rams and Packers. He's still not captured the form that once had him catching 51 passes for 671 yards back in 2013. But he signed with the Raiders over the Packers since the opportunity seemed better. The Raiders have a huge need to develop a receiver outside of Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree. They only ranked No. 30 in pass targets and yards by tight ends last year. Derek Carr is one of the top emerging quarterbacks looking to expand his passing patterns. Cook makes a reasonable fantasy back-up from his upside in this offense, but he's spent seven years in the league with more potential than production. 
17 Austin HooperUpside ATL 5 88 45 460 7
Hooper only caught 19 passes as a rookie and he missed two games with a sprained knee. But in the final two playoff games, he totaled five catches for 55 yards and scored the first touchdown by a rookie tight end in a Super Bowl. Hooper was drafted last year to become a receiving tight end. At 6-4 and 248 pounds, he is built like a receiver. He was the second tight end drafted in 2016, behind only Hunter Henry. There are plenty of mouths to feed in Atlanta and that may cap what Hooper can become. But he's sure to increase his impact and has the potential for a normal second-year breakout for a tight end. The Falcons ranked No. 5 in tight end touchdowns last year with ten scores by five different players. Hooper will help consolidate where those touchdowns passes end up. 
18 Evan EngramUpside NYG 8 86 48 560 5
The Giants spent their 1.23 pick on Engram to return the tight end position into a threat again. Engram played for all four years at Ole Miss and ended with a 65-926-8 stat line as a senior. That made him the top tight end in the country and he was easily the fastest at the combine when he ran a 4.42/40. That's wideout speed coming from a 6-3, 234-pound player. It was the third fastest by any tight end in the history of the combine. He was faster than all but four of the wideouts this year. The Giants have never ranked better than average at the position for many years but Engram should change that if only in the future. For 2017, he's learning a difficult position that rarely produces a fantasy relevant player. And he'll be no better than No. 4 for targets with the trio of wideouts and maybe not even that with a healthy Shane Vereen.  
19 Julius Thomas FA x 84 40 480 6
Thomas had back-to-back seasons with 12 touchdowns in Denver while HC Adam Gase was the offensive coordinator. But Peyton Manning was also the quarterback. Two seasons with the Jaguars produced mediocre results and he still missed two to seven games each year injured. But optimism exists that he can return to his previous form. Last year in the first year of the new offense with Gase and OC Clyde Christensen, the Fins only ranked No. 31 with 73 targets and 551 yards by a tight end. The best hope that Thomas can have is that he becomes a red zone target and at 6-5, he has the frame to do that again. Early reports had Thomas not meshing well with Ryan Tannehill. But Christensen claimed that Thomas could catch ten touchdowns. The new situation for Thomas seems promising, but he goes to an offense that hasn't used the position much. He wasn't successful away from Peyton Manning and he always gets hurt every year. There's upside here but it is balanced by the risk of "more of the same" from Thomas. 
20 Austin Seferian-JenkinsUpsideRisk JAC 8 84 45 600 4
Under Chan Gailey, the Jets ranked dead last - No. 32 - in tight end targets, catches, yards and scores for the last TWO years. That alone calls into question how quickly first-time offensive coordinator John Morton will integrate the position into the passing scheme. Sefarian-Jenkins already starts the year with a two-game suspension. The former second-round pick of the Buccaneers never delivered on his promise and topped out at just 21 catches for 388 yards and four scores. He was released by Tampa Bay and ended up with the Jets. The new offense gives him a second and likely final chance. To his credit, he appears to have finally seen the light. He was impressive in OTAs and caught everything thrown his way. He says he quit drinking and lost 25 pounds. He is not drafted except in the biggest of leagues. If you wait on getting a tight end (and who could blame you?), then Sefarian-Jenkins could be a final round consideration for tight-end depth. He's impressed the coaches in training camp and realistically he may actually be as good as it gets for the Jets this year. 
21 Charles ClayRisk BUF 6 80 60 500 5
Clay produced two almost mirror seasons since he was in Buffalo. He caught around 50 passes for 525 yards and scored three or four times. That's well below fantasy relevance as a starter but he offers some bye week appeal. Clay has battled a knee condition last year and even into this summer. He played through it in 2016 but there is a risk it becomes an ongoing issue that worsens. He's a very late round pick if not left on the waiver wire. 
22 Jason Witten DAL 6 79 65 610 3
Witten enters his 15th NFL season and at 35 years old, he's one of the oldest players in the league. He still remains good for around 65 catches per year though his yards per catch and touchdowns declined. He's become just a bye-week filler good for only around 30 or 40 yards in most weeks. If the Cowboys throw more to Ezekiel Elliott as planned, it comes straight out of what Witten will do. 
23 David NjokuUpside CLE 9 74 40 500 4
The Browns traded up to take Njoku with the 1.29 pick and at 6-4, 246 pounds he's built like a receiver. The ex-Miami tight end only played for two seasons but came out after a junior year that posted 43 catches for 698 yards and eight scores. He only totaled nine scores in college and just 21 catches as a freshman in his only other action. That's pretty raw to expect him to jump in and contribute much as a rookie. He has upside and should become yet another Miami tight end that finds success in the NFL. But he is raw and in a position that rarely translates well for rookies. Hunter Henry had the rare nice showing for a rookie tight end but he was a three-year starter at Arkansas and playing with the Chargers, not the Browns. Njoku is a good dynasty pick for the future but likely is over-drafted with any expectations for starting this year.  
24 George Kittle SFO 11 73 48 490 4
Kittle was the 5.02 pick by the 49ers as the ninth tight end drafted in April. He was at Iowa for all four years but only totaled 48 catches for 737 yards and ten scores - almost all of those in the last two years. He's a receiving tight end at 6-4 and 247 pounds. He even ran a 4.52/40 at the combine. His minimal experience makes him a project for the new offense. There is speculation that his impressive play in spring practices make him a candidate for a starting role. He could have fantasy value but it would be in future years.  
25 Tyler HigbeeUpside LAR 8 70 44 460 4
Head coach Sean McVay brings in a tight-end-friendly offense and Higbee is the most experienced starter. The Rams added Gerald Everett with their 2.12 pick and he's expected to be the primary receiving tight end - eventually. Everett is still raw and is learning a complicated position while an offense is being installed. Higbee is more likely to be the better receiver at least to start. Higbee only had four catches as a rookie but he's been very impressive as he prepares for his first season in the new scheme. Higbee's potential is defined by how quickly Everett develops and how well Jared Goff plays. That makes him at best a risky, very deep draft pick but with undeniable upside. 
26 C.J. Fiedorowicz FA x 65 45 470 3
Fiedorowicz started showing up on fantasy rosters last year when he scored in three of five games during mid-season. But his final seven games produced fewer than 45 yards each and he scored just once in the final seven games of the regular season. Fiedorowicz enters his fourth year and is unlikely to become any more than what he was last year. His few decent games were with Brock Osweiler who struggled to connect with his wide receivers. Fiedorowicz is nothing more than a bye-week filler. 
27 Dwayne AllenUpside NEP 9 63 35 390 4
Allen leaves the Colts after five seasons and lands in New England where he'll need Rob Gronkowski to again get injured. Allen never totaled more than 406 yards in any season and he played with Andrew Luck. But he's worth a late pick in a big league if only to see if Gronkowski remains healthy. Short of that, Allen won't offer enough to merit any fantasy consideration. 
28 Vance McDonald PIT 9 60 38 360 4
McDonald was traded to the Steelers on August 29. He'll mix in with Jesse James but his fantasy stock remains low. 
29 O.J. HowardUpside TBB 11 54 30 300 4
Howard was the first tight end drafted in April and went with the 1.19 pick to the Buccaneers. He was a four-year starter at Alabama and topped out as a senior with 45 catches for 595 yards and three scores. Howard wasn't asked to reach his potential as a receiver there and contributed as a blocker more. He was the Offensive MVP in the national championship game in 2015 when he turned five catches into 208 receiving yards and two scores as a sign of his potential. He's huge at 6-6 and 251 pounds and yet ran a 4.51/40 at the combine. He's one of those "athletic freaks" who excels at all the measurables. He needs to learn the pro game and Cameron Brate is already an entrenched part of the passing game. Howard is a great dynasty pick but is less likely to turn in a notable rookie season. 
30 Vernon Davis WAS 5 52 35 400 2
At 33 years old, Davis is in the final stage of his career and he is not worth drafting as the No. 2 tight end in Washington. He has fantasy value when Jordan Reed is injured which always happens at some point but let him lie on the waiver wire until Reed is out. 
31 A.J. Derby MIA 11 44 33 320 2
Derby did not play as a rookie but turned in 16 catches for 160 yards last season on a team that ranked only No. 31 with 53 completions to a tight end. The 6-5, 255- pound ex-Razorback is built more like a receiver and was used as an H-back last year. New OC Mike McCoy is expected to return the position to higher usage but Derby is likely limited in what he can do. Not only is Virgil Green still there - and already versed in the scheme from playing with McCoy for two years - but the Broncos used their fifth-round pick to get Jake Butt who is recovering from an ACL injury. Once Butt is healthy, the expectation is that he will become the primary receiving tight end. 
32 Gerald EverettUpside LAR 8 44 33 320 2
Rookie tight ends rarely offer fantasy value let alone any consistency and that could still be true here. Everett was the 2.12 pick by the Rams as the fourth tight end drafted last April. He started for two years at South Alabama where he topped out with 49 receptions for 717 yards and four scores last year. The 6-3, 239-pound former basketball player only played football for one year in high school. Everett has wide receiver skills and ran a 4.6/40 at the combine. He's a natural pass catcher who should be at home over the middle and has run-after-catch potential more from being big and angry than just his speed. He also offers blocking skills unlike most receiving tight ends. But he is a rookie in a position that usually focuses on blocking the first year and learning the offense. He's been dinged for running sloppy routes which can be corrected with coaching but not immediately. Everett is worth a very late draft consideration just in case he catches fire despite probability. McVay imports a new offense that posted top ten tight end stats in Washington where he made Jordan Reed a star. But even Jordan did not break out until his second season with McVay. 
33 Jermaine Gresham ARI 8 43 30 310 2
The Cardinals rarely rise above bottom five for tight ends and Gresham's two seasons in Arizona topped out at 391 yards on 37 catches with two scores last year. There's zero upside here and a decent chance for no more than 30 yards in any game. 
34 Jesse James PIT 9 42 35 300 2
James is the primary tight end this year but his best so far was the 39 catches for 338 yards and three scores last year. That included no scores from Week 6 through the AFC Championship game. The Steelers completed 75 passes to their tight ends last year but it went through four different players and James was already as good as it got. He could see an incremental increase but that still won't allow a fantasy start. The addition of Vance McDonald on Aug. 29 could see James with even less of a workload. 
35 Ben Watson NOS 5 41 30 290 2
The loss of Dennis Pitta leaves the door open for a new No. 1 tight end and Watson is in the best position for the role. But he was lost last year with a torn Achilles and has no experience with the Ravens. The lack of a credible tight end threat has the Ravens expecting to use more three-wide sets. The Ravens were No. 3 with 158 passes to tight ends last year but barring something unforeseen, the tight end position will be de-emphasized this year. Watson even just had his contract dropped from $3 million to only $1.25 million. 
36 Erik SwoopeUpside IND 11 41 27 290 2
The undrafted Miami product only caught 15 passes for 297 yards last year in his only action but carries upside for 2017. Swoope averaged a gaudy 19.8 yards per catch and saw use in games during the late season. The departure of Dwayne Allen not only promotes Jack Doyle into the lead spot but brings Swoope into play as the No. 2 in an offense that often relies on two-tight-end sets. Swoope is worth stashing to see how he develops though weekly fantasy value will be hard to rely on. There is almost no experience on the depth chart behind him so he's safe to remain the No. 2. Upside here but likely not quite enough to merit a fantasy start yet. 
37 Seth DeValveUpside CLE 9 41 26 290 2
DeValve was the fourth-round pick last year and the Princeton product is an option at tight end for the Browns who spent a second-round selection on David Njoku. The Browns need help in two-tight-end sets anyway and Njoku is raw and will need time to develop. That leaves DeValve to improve on his ten catches and two scores as a rookie. DeValve has been very impressive in OTAs. He's worth watching since the Browns like to throw to their tight ends and Gary Barnidge is gone. 
38 Zach MillerRisk CHI 9 38 30 260 2
Miller is 33 years old and may not make it to the regular season. He's a lock to be gone by 2018. Miller left in Week 11 last year with a foot injury that still lingers. He may be 100% healthy for camp but he's not a part of the future plans and isn't worth drafting. 
39 Marcedes Lewis FA x 36 25 240 2
No analysis available
40 Adam ShaheenUpside CHI 9 33 20 210 2
The Bears used their 2.13 pick to grab Shaheen who played basketball and football. At tiny Ashland, Shaheen set a record of 16 touchdowns during his 57 receptions for 867 yards last year. Shaheen is raw but also huge at 6-7 and 278 pounds. He has above average speed for his size and was a much better receiver than blocker. Shaheen played at a lower level and tight ends usually take at least a year to produce anyway. If Zach Miller is released, then Shaheen has a shot at some fantasy value this year. But he's better as a dynasty stash for 2018. 
41 Antonio Gates LAC 9 30 21 180 2
Gates takes a backseat this final year of his career. He would have retired after last year but ended up tied with Tony Gonzalez for most touchdowns caught by a tight end (111). Just one more score not only secures the record, but it also makes him No. 6 all-time for touchdown catches regardless of position. But Hunter Henry takes over as the starter and the 37-year- old Gates is no lock for anything beyond the one touchdown. 
42 Nick BoyleUpside BAL 10 29 26 230 1
If there is a sleeper tight end in Baltimore this year - and there certainly does not have to be one - it would be Boyle despite the 24 career catches over his two years. He was the fifth-round pick by Baltimore in 2015 and runs a 4.5/40 - fast for the position. At 6-4 and 260 pounds, he offers a big target. The Ravens used the tight ends a lot last year under Marty Mornhinweg but Dennis Pitta is lost for the year, Maxx Williams may start the season on the PUP list and Crockett Gillmore had back, hamstring and thigh injuries last year. This is a situation to monitor but Boyle isn't yet worth a deep stash. 
43 Virgil Green LAC 9 26 20 200 1
Green started out his career when OC Mike McCoy was with the Broncos in 2011 to 2012 though he only had eight receptions in those years. Green comes off a career year as the lead tight end for the Broncos last year though that only required 22 catches for 237 yards. Green is a better blocker than a receiver and the Broncos have not used the position much in the last two years when Rick Dennison ran the offense. Green may still be the lead, but A.J. Derby will figure in and the rookie Jake Butt should eventually take over. Green has no upside and gives no reason to draft. 
44 Jonnu SmithUpside TEN 8 25 22 190 1
Smith is unlikely to do much as a rookie with Delanie Walker as the starter, but he's worth watching and a nice pickup for a dynasty team. He was a four-year starter at Florida International where he caught 178 passes for 2,001 yards and 18 scores in his career. He missed games because of a sprained knee and lastly when his pregnant girlfriend doused him with boiling water during an argument. Hopefully, his domestic debate skills improve. Smith is an athletic 6-3, 248-pound pass-catcher with solid blocking skills. Ironically, the player he is most compared to is Delanie Walker who he should replace in 2019 when Walker's contract is up and he turns 35. Smith may become very involved in 2018 as well but his rookie season should remain below the radar for a fantasy team. 
45 Clive Walford NYJ 11 24 21 180 1
The Raiders had hopes that Walford would develop into a receiving tight end but he injured his knee last summer and was never the same. Walford's chance may have passed now after two mediocre seasons in Oakland. His best was still 2016 when he caught 33 passes for 369 yards and three scores. The addition of Jared Cook pushes Walford back down to No. 2 where he won't offer any fantasy value. 
46 Jake ButtUpside DEN 5 22 15 160 1
Butt played all four years at Michigan and totaled 46 catches for 546 yards and four scores as a senior. He lasted until the fifth round because he is recovering from a torn ACL or otherwise would have been projected as a second-round prospect. The Broncos will use their tight end position much more with new OC Mike McCoy back. Virgil Green and A.J. Derby remain ahead of him on the depth chart but neither tight end is likely to hold him off once he is healthy. Butt may not be ready for action in Week 1, but he will play at some point this year and should develop into a weapon. He's a good late grab in a dynasty league for next year. 
47 Nick O'Leary BUF 6 17 20 170 0
The third-round pick from Florida State could see a big jump in workload after only catching nine passes last year. The Bills are expected to use more two-tight-end sets and that gets the 6-3/252 pound O'Leary on the field more. But he's better left on the waiver wire and tracked in case Charles Clay cannot play. 

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