2020 Rankings Breakdown: Tight Ends

May 13, 2020

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We've released our initial rankings for the 2020 fantasy football season. Typically, they require some explanation. Our process is arduous and time-tested, and while it provides a good starting point, these rankings can and will change significantly throughout the spring and summer as injuries occur, camp battles develop, and rookies (or other young players) emerge.

Other Rankings Breakdowns: QB | RB | WR

I’m going to go through the initial rankings and explain my thoughts about each position as a whole. I’ll also discuss why a few specific players are ranked where they are (relative to the average best ball ADP). I’m supposed to be writing about the receiver position right now, but I’m so excited about the depth at the tight end position that I’m going to cover it first.

In recent years, I’ve been a proponent of drafting a stud tight end in the early rounds given the relative value of the studs when compared to the rest of the position, but if there is significant value available later in the draft then I’m happy to alter my draft plan in any given year. The depth at the position seems to be a lot better this year, with several up-and-coming players poised for larger roles and potential breakout seasons in 2020.

Early ADP Observations

While owners really can’t go wrong with any of the tight ends in the top five (Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Mark Andrews, Zach Ertz and Darren Waller), 2020 is shaping up to be a late-round tight end year for me.

The only consensus top 10 tight end that I’d be relatively excited to get at cost is Jared Cook. His first season in New Orleans went swimmingly. He caught 43 passes for 705 yards and nine touchdowns, finishing as the No. 7 tight end even though he only played 14 games. His 15 touchdowns are the second-most at his position over the last two seasons. I do wonder if his targets will get a little pinched with the arrival of Emmanuel Sanders, so Cook won’t be my Plan A at the position. But if he’s sitting there in the ninth or 10th round and there aren’t any other players jumping off the board, I’ll happily take Cook

However, I’m more interested in the group of tight ends who are being drafted in the 11th-13th range.