Tight Ends

[This articlecontains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]

SI PLAYER RANKINGS FOR 2009 with 2008 stats	RECEPTIONS	RECEIVING YARDS	RECEIVING YDS. PER GAME	100-YD. GAMES	TOUCHDOWNS	BYE WEEK
1. Tony Gonzalez, Falcons	96	1,058	66.1	3	10	4
2. Antonio Gates, Chargers	60	704	44.0	0	8	5
3. Jason Witten, Cowboys	81	952	59.5	2	4	6
4. Chris Cooley, Redskins	83	849	53.1	1	1	8
5. Anthony Fasano, Dolphins	34	454	28.4	0	7	6
6. Dallas Clark, Colts	77	848	56.5	2	6	6
7. John Carlson, Seahawks	55	627	39.2	1	5	7
8. Kevin Boss, Giants	33	384	25.6	0	6	10
9. Greg Olsen, Bears	54	574	35.9	0	5	5
10. Kellen Winslow, Buccaneers	43	428	42.8	1	3	8
11. Owen Daniels, Texans	70	862	53.9	2	2	10
12. Visanthe Shiancoe, Vikings	42	596	37.3	1	7	9
13. Brent Celek, Eagles	27	318	19.9	1	1	4
14. Vernon Davis, 49ers	31	358	22.4	0	2	6
15. Zach Miller, Raiders	56	778	48.6	0	1	9
16. Tony Scheffler, Broncos	40	645	49.6	0	3	7
17. Donald Lee, Packers	39	303	18.9	0	5	5
18. Heath Miller, Steelers	48	514	36.7	0	3	8
19. Bo Scaife, Titans	58	561	35.1	1	2	7
20. Dustin Keller, Jets	48	535	33.4	1	3	9
21. Desmond Clark, Bears	41	367	22.9	0	1	5
22. Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars	41	489	30.6	0	2	7
23. L.J. Smith, Ravens	37	298	22.9	0	3	7
24. Brandon Pettigrew, Lions*	42	472	47.2	0	0	7
25. Billy Miller, Saints	45	579	38.6	0	1	5
26. Jeremy Shockey, Saints	50	483	40.3	0	0	5
27. Randy McMichael, Rams	11	139	34.8	0	0	9
28. David Martin, Dolphins	31	450	28.1	0	3	6
29. Robert Royal, Browns	33	351	23.4	0	1	9
30. Ben Watson, Patriots	22	209	14.9	0	2	8
31. Daniel Graham, Broncos	32	389	24.3	0	4	7
32. Todd Heap, Ravens	35	403	25.2	0	3	7

*Rookie (collegestatistics)

TalkingPoints

• Tony Gonzalezis still the NFL's best receiving tight end. He may not duplicate last year'snumbers, but he'll still deliver more consistently than anyone else on theboard.

• The Cowboys aregoing to run more, and Jason Witten will see tougher coverage with TerrellOwens gone. That's why he's a clear third among the big three at thisposition.

ON THE RISE

• I love AnthonyFasano. Only Antonio Gates and Gonzalez had more TDs among tight ends lastyear, and I expect him to do even better this season. Though this is Fasano'sfourth year in the league, it's just his second season as Miami's primetarget.

• As a rookielast year John Carlson led Seattle receivers in catches, yards and TDs. Theclub's pass-catching unit will be stronger this season, but he's still anattractive option at a thin position.

• With theturnover in the Giants' receiving corps, Kevin Boss is a trusted hand at TE. Hedidn't have big reception numbers last year, but no tight end caught a higherpercentage of his passes inside the 20.

• Maybe KellenWinslow has disappointed in years past, but it's not a bad idea to grab a tightend on a team such as the Bucs, whose offense is in transition and whose QBwill be looking to his safety valve.

• Dustin Kellerlooked great as a rookie, but expect his production to drop this year. BrettFavre, who loves tight ends, is gone, and the Jets are going to run more.

ON THEDECLINE

• Jeremy Shockeyis a big name—to avoid. The former Pro Bowl player didn't catch a TD pass lastyear, in part because the Saints have so many better receivingoptions—including their other tight end, Billy Miller.

PHOTO

DAVID DECOTEAU/COURTESY OF MIAMI DOLPHINS (FASANO)

PHOTO

BOB ROSATO (SHOCKEY)