Fantasy Football: 10 League-Winning Strategies for 2016 Draft Day
By JD Leidy
Draft Two Tight Ends
Perhaps the most dubious position on any fantasy team is tight end. Like quarterback, it’s a spot where you only start one each week, unless you play with a Flex (more on that in a moment).
However, unlike QB, the position depth at TE is sub-paltry. In 2015, only three tight ends garnered owners an average of over 10 points per game: Rob Gronkowski, Jordan Reed and Tyler Eifert. Another three were worth nine points per game: Gary Barnidge, Greg Olsen and Delanie Walker.
That’s six players that got you near-double digits. Six. Out of 32! Discouraging, at best. The 20th rated tight end in 2015 was Owen Daniels. His average points per game: 4.4.
Finding a first-class tight end is a precarious proposition. So why not take two?
In all seriousness, if you can land a top-five tight end, you will have “hand” (Seinfeld parlance) at a position with maximum scarcity. Hit on two (I know, not likely), and you will have tremendous trade bait.
If you play in a league with a Flex position, i.e. the ability to start a RB, WR or TE in your final offensive, non-kicking spot, having two viable tight ends will give you noteworthy bye week flexibility.
Above all else, and this is a purely emotional statement, there’s nothing worse than going to the waiver wire late in the season looking for a tight end. Talk about the Island of Misfit Toys.
Admittedly, all skill positions can look bleak at that time. But a mid-season tight end search is like running a summer marathon in Death Valley during a heat wave.
Take two. Avoid the desolation.
Next: Mean Regression Is a Real Thing