Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham blew away the tight end single season record books in 2012, and in doing so have so much value that they are now going in the first two rounds in standard scoring PPR leagues. I have Graham slightly ahead of Gronkowski, but that could certainly go either way. That is based on the relative changes for the two teams (Meachem out in New Orleans, Lloyd instead of Chad Johnson in New England) that could slightly alter the percentage of touches for each.

After those two, though, the best approach is a value one, and if your league has two tight end roster spots, I would go committee. Brandon Pettigrew comes in at a distant #3 on my list, primarily due to age, and his role in the offense (pretty clearly a second option on a good passing team). He’s going off the board at about the 7 to 8 range, behind veterans with a better track record but other concerns.

If you don’t want to spend on those guys, consider a cheap committee like Greg Olsen and Kyle Rudolph, two guys going off the board in about rounds 11 to 13 in a 12-team draft, but who can platoon based on matchup and probably provide the value of guys going 6 rounds earlier, or at least close enough that you will barely notice. If you add great value in those middle rounds elsewhere, that’s the way I would go. I also think Rudolph has a chance to be a breakout candidate if you are looking for great upside. I warned against the likes of John Carlson a few years ago when I looked at rookie tight end performances. Most of the great tight ends had fewer than 400 yards as rookies, and Rudolph was only 22 last year, so his production shouldn’t concern you–he flashed great catching ability. With more quarterback stability and a team that has room for a second option to emerge behind Percy Harvin, that is a situation to keep an eye on.

 

TIER ONE

1. Jimmy Graham, New Orleans (255)

2. Rob Gronkowski, New England (246)

 

TIER THREE

3. Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit (174)

4. Jason Witten, Dallas (165)*

 

TIER FOUR

5. Antonio Gates, San Diego (155)

6. Vernon Davis, San Francisco (154)

7. Jermichael Finley, Green Bay (150)

8. Aaron Hernandez, New England (150)

 

TIER FIVE

9. Fred Davis, Washington (145)

10. Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta (144)

11. Dustin Keller, NY Jets (142)

12. Brent Celek, Philadelphia (139)

13. Greg Olsen, Carolina (138)

14. Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota (137)

15. Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati (136)

 

TIER SIX

16. Jacob Tamme, Denver (132)

17. Coby Fleener, Indianapolis (130)

18. Jared Cook, Tennessee (128)

19. Owen Daniels, Houston (125)

20. Heath Miller, Pittsburgh (123)

 

TIER SEVEN

21. Dallas Clark, Tampa Bay (116)

22. Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville (112)

23. Ben Watson, Cleveland (107)

24. Joel Dreesen, Denver (98)

25. Anthony Fasano, Miami (97)

26. Scott Chandler, Buffalo (96)

27. Martellus Bennett, NY Giants (93)

Previously:

DeMarco Murray Up to #7 in Fantasy Mock Drafts? Overrated: the 2012 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings
Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings for 2012: High on Carson Palmer
Calvin Johnson in a Class By Himself, Panthers Receivers Undervalued, Brandon Lloyd Overvalued: Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings

[photo via US Presswire]