Fantasy Upside
Kyle Rudolph is a bounce-back candidate this season. The arrival of offensive coordinator Norv Turner will mean good things for the 2012 Pro Bowler. Turner’s offense has been a blessing for tight ends in the past because it makes them a focal point. Last season Jordan Cameron saw 117 targets, 19 of which were in the red-zone (third most in the league for TE) in Turner’s system. From 2006-09 Antonio Gates averaged 111 targets per season in San Diego under Turner.
Rudolph has shown potential in the past when he caught nine touchdowns in 2012. His 2013 season was cut short by a broken foot.
Fantasy Downside
The fourth-year tight end was a disappointment last season even before his broken foot. He had three or less catches in five of his eight games and had just one game above 51 yards.
Even when he had nine touchdowns in 2012 he failed to put up many yards. He had just 493 receiving yards despite starting all 16 games. We haven’t seen much production from the former Notre Dame star.
Bottom Line
Turner’s offense is a huge boost for Rudolph. A big reason for his lack of success in the past is because he was never a focal point. Turner’s system will give that to him, making Rudolph an attractive draft pick this season. He should be viewed as a low-end TE1 with upside.
