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)