Tight end is one of the hardest positions to draft in fantasy football. There are so few elite tight ends, after the top three or four are gone, drafting at the position gets hard and messy. Once you get to this part of the draft, people begin reaching on tight ends, drafting them two or three rounds too early. Do not be one of those people, do not over value the mid-range prospects. It is better to wait on tight ends, instead of reaching on the following overrated fantasy tight ends.
Eric Ebron
Detroit Lions
Ebron showed some improvements last season, setting career highs in receptions (61) and receiving yards (711) in just 13 games. The problem with Ebron is touchdowns. Ebron only scored a single receiving touchdown last season and has a total of eight (seven receiving and one rushing) in his three-year career. The departure of Anquan Boldin may help Ebron’s red zone targets, but until he can prove he is a consistent red zone threat, he is not worth much more than a late-round pick in most fantasy leagues.
And don’t forget that Ebron is usually banged up at some point. He has yet to play a full 16-game season in his three-year career. He has missed at least two games per year, which also cuts into his value.
Tyler Eifert
Cincinnati Bengals
Aside from his 13-touchdown season in 2015, Tyler Eifert has never been a top-12 tight end in fantasy. Much of his production problems are due to injuries, making him a risk-reward style of player. If he can stay healthy, he could be one of the best tight ends in fantasy but with his ADP putting him in the late-fifth round range, it is a much smarter move to grab more depth at wide receiver and running back instead of drafting Eifert.
Hunter Henry
Los Angeles Chargers
Overrated may not be the right term to describe Hunter Henry. It would be more fitting to call him a year away from being a top-12 fantasy tight end. The current situation for the Chargers is busy, meaning there are too many receiving options for Henry to really breakout this season. One of those options is the future Hall-of-Fame tight end, Antonio Gates. Gates may be 37 this season, but the veteran is still productive, scoring seven touchdowns last season and 24 over the last three. Even if age slows Gates, he should still be good for four trips to the end zone, which cuts into Henry’s fantasy value. Once Gates is gone, Henry will be a worthwhile fantasy option. There’s also the return of Keenan Allen as well Tyrell Williams and first-round pick Mike Williams. And keep in mind that the Chargers would love to run the football with greater efficiency this season, which may mean more looks for Melvin Gordon in the red zone rather than passes from Philip Rivers.
Jimmy Graham
Seattle Seahawks
Regarding pure talent, Jimmy Graham may be the second best tight end in the league. The problem with Graham is not his talent but his offensive system. While Seattle is a good offense, Jimmy Graham’s numbers are down in every major statistical category compared to his years in New Orleans. The biggest drop off is in touchdowns. Graham averaged 0.65 touchdowns per game as a Saint, compared to just 0.31 as a Seahawk. This drop-off hurts Graham as many still consider him a top-five fantasy tight end.
Head coach Pete Carroll has stated that Graham has never been as healthy (in Seattle) as he is now. You can believe that and take a risk and it might pay off, but what’s more likely is that the offense just isn’t the right fit to get Graham to the numbers he used to produce.
Coby Fleener
New Orleans Saints
The best part of Coby Fleener, his consistency, is also the reason why he is overrated. Taking out an abnormal season in 2014, Fleener has been a reliable tight end since 2013, but not productive enough to start in most fantasy leagues. Averaging 52 receptions, 577 yards and about 3.5 touchdowns is good but not good enough. If you can grab Fleener on the waiver wire and stream him in the right matchups, he is a fine option, but he is not worth drafting in most leagues.
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