Overvalued TEs

Jeb Putzier - DEN - ADP: 140 overall, TE 12

5 votes

Aaron Rudnicki - Putzier enjoyed a very productive season in his 2004, his first year as a starter, but he has been replaced in the Broncos starting lineup by Stephen Alexander. Alexander has had trouble staying healthy throughout his career, so Putzier could still wind up starting again before too long. Given the current uncertainty, however, he should not be drafted this highly.

Chris Smith - Putzier has not had a good training camp this season and is behind Stephen Alexander in the depth charts. At best Putzier will be sharing time in 2005 and he isn’t a player I will be targeting this season.

Maurile Tremblay - Putzier will see plenty of action this year in two-TE sets, but he is currently working with the second unit in the Broncos’ single-TE formations. Stephen Alexander is seen as the more complete player at the position. Putzier is being drafted as the #12 fantasy tight end overall, but he’s not listed as a starter on his own NFL team. I’d rather take a sure-fire starter like Doug Jolley, Marcus Pollard, or Bubba Franks, all of whom are being drafted later than Putzier.

Jason Wood - Many figured that when Denver matched the Jets offer sheet for Putzier, it was an indication that he would be the main receiving threat at tight end for many years to come in Denver. Yet, well traveled veteran Stephen Alexander has run with the first team for much of training camp, not Putzier. This is not to suggest that Putzier won’t see his fair share of opportunities, particularly given Alexander’s spotty injury history. But, someone who may not even start for their team shouldn’t be drafted among the top 12 at his position.

David Yudkin - Putzier got a tidy contract offer from the Jets and somehow even got the Broncos to match. The problem, though, is that Putzier has been struggling in camp while Stephen Alexander has been extremely productive and has overtaken Putzier on the TE depth chart. NFL backup tight ends just don’t produce at a starting fantasy TE level. Putzier ranked as the #12 TE last year, and even if he somehow got back to splitting time 50/50, it would be next to impossible for him to match last year’s output.

Antonio Gates - SD - ADP: 33 overall, TE 2

2 votes

Chris Smith - If you take a tight end in the third round, you want his situation to be 100% stable. He already has to miss week one and with no training camp time under his belt, he will be hard pressed to match his phenomenal numbers of a year ago. The 3rd round is too early to take Gates this season.

Maurile Tremblay - I like Antonio Gates a lot, both as an NFL player and as a fantasy player. But he is currently being drafted 20 full draft spots, more than a round and a half, ahead of Jason Witten. Witten had more receptions for more yards than Gates did last year, while Gates’ fantasy value was more TD-dependent. And TDs tend to vary more from year to year than do receptions or yardage. Moreover, Gates will sit out the season opener this year against the Cowboys. It makes sense to pass on Gates in the third round this year if you think you can get Witten in the fourth.

Todd Heap - BAL - ADP: 71 overall, TE 6

1 vote

Mark Wimer - Six words: Kyle Boller, Kyle Boller, Kyle Boller. Heap has yet to play a down during preseason thanks to his ongoing rehab of shoulder and ankle injuries, and his team’s quarterback makes Chad Hutchinson look like a Pro Bowler. Stay away – there are many other TEs with more upside than Heap this season.

Jeremy Shockey - NYG - ADP: 65 overall, TE 4

1 vote

Cecil Lammey - Ah, the hype machine known as Jeremy Shockey. Well, at least he’s not Kellen Winslow Jr.! Shockey is a very intense player and has a great passion for the game. He also is more hype than productivity. Eli Manning will no doubt look his way in 2005, but will Shockey be able to stay on the field? He has had some injury concerns and is the type of wild card that could be put in Tom Coughlin’s doghouse at any time. Plaxico Burress should take away some of the red zone targets that Jeremy tended to get.

Jermaine Wiggins - MIN - ADP: 122 overall, TE 11

1 vote

Marc Levin - While no TE in the 11th round represents particularly “bad” value, Wiggins is overvalued as the eleventh TE off the board. His 2004 opportunities were primarily due to injuries to Randy Moss and starting TE Jim Kleinsasser. Kleinsasser’s return likely means fewer opportunities and his 2004 spike in touchdowns and yards per reception coincided with the exact games that Moss missed. As a starting TE, that is too much risk. At that point in the draft, you are better served holding off and going with later drafted tight ends that have similar upside, such as Ben Troupe, Chris Cooley, or even Dan Graham.