2016 Fantasy Football: Early Stock Watch for San Francisco 49ers Players
By Peter Panacy
Tight End Garrett Celek
Signs are pointing to the 49ers and tight end Garrett Celek finalizing a long-term deal, according to ESPN NFL insider Adam Caplan.
Should this come to fruition, Celek may end up being one of the better sleeper picks out there on the market. With former 49ers tight end Vernon Davis out of the picture, opportunities are arising for the remaining crop of Niner tight ends to assume the No. 1 role.
With tight end Vance McDonald looking like a bust and fellow TE Blake Bell still very much raw, Celek should be the assumed starter this season.
Celek had a career-best 19 receptions for 186 yards and three touchdowns last season — not ideal numbers from which to bank on a promising 2016 campaign, but good enough to suggest he’s more than just a blocking option.
And we all know how much head coach Chip Kelly loves his tight end use.
Last season with the Philadelphia Eagles, tight ends recorded 105 of the team’s 405 receptions — just over 25 percent of total catches.
That’s a pretty good chunk.
Kelly will also be looking to get amicable red-zone production out of his tight end crop, so seeing Celek in the end zone may be something of a regular occurrence this year.
If you’re short at the tight end position and put it off until the later rounds, Celek may be your guy for a late-round sleeper.
Next: Risky Pick: QBs Colin Kaepernick & Blaine Gabbert