FANTASY FOOTBALL: A post-camp update of the NFL's top 35 PPR tight ends for 2020

TOP 35 PPR TIGHT ENDS

Travis Kelce, Chiefs
George Kittle, 49ers
Darren Waller, Raiders
Mark Andrews, Ravens
Zach Ertz, Eagles
Tyler Higbee, Rams
Evan Engram, Giants
Rob Gronkowski, Buccaneers
Hunter Henry, Chargers
Austin Hooper, Browns
Noah Fant, Broncos
Jared Cook, Saints
T.J. Hockenson, Lions
Mike Gesicki, Dolphins
Dallas Goedert, Eagles
Jack Doyle, Colts
Hayden Hurst, Falcons
Jonnu Smith, Titans
Chris Herndon, Jets
Eric Ebron, Steelers
Greg Olsen, Seahawks
Devin Asiasi, Patriots
Ian Thomas, Panthers
O.J. Howard, Buccaneers
David Njoku, Browns
Irv Smith Jr., Vikings
Will Dissly, Seahawks
Darren Fells, Texans
Blake Jarwin, Cowboys
Kyle Rudolph, Vikings
Dawson Knox, Bills
Jason Witten, Cowboys
Jace Sternberger, Packers
Jimmy Graham, Bears
Josh Oliver, Jaguars

BREAKDOWN

a) Travis Kelce earns the No. 1 spot here, based on a three-year average of 94 catches, 1,201 yards and 7.7 touchdowns, along with a two-year accumulation of 200 targets.

Here’s another thing to celebrate: Of his last 31 regular-season outings, Kelce notched six or more targets a staggering 29 times; and one of the so-called ‘clunkers’ yielded five catches, five targets and 95 receving yards.

There is one downside to acknowledge, moving forward:

Of last year’s 10 worst defenses against tight ends, the Chiefs will encounter only three of these opponents in 2020 (four games total — Titans, Bucs, Raiders twice).

b) The 49ers invested a first-round pick on a wide receiver in April (Arizona State’s Brandon Aiyuk), but that move merely offset the loss of Emmanuel Sanders during free agency (Saints).

As such, it’s reasonable to assume George Kittle (two-year average: 87 catches, 1,215 yards, 5 TDs) will remain the club’s unquestioned leader in targets and receptions.

Of course, if Kittle cannot improve upon the two-year average of five touchdowns … his chances of becoming the No. 1 overall tight end seem remote, at best.

The best way to remedy that: Kittle must take full advantage of the two meetings with the Cardinals, who surrendered an NFL-worst 16 touchdowns to tight ends last season.

c) Mark Andrews easily brought the most value to his position last year, notching 64 catches, 822 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Not bad for a guy who was primarily a mid-to-late-round pick in the August drafts.

Now comes the real question: Will fantasy owners over-extend themselves to land Andrews in the early rounds, knowing the Oklahoma product’s 2019 rate of one touchdown for every 6.4 catches will almost certainly decline this fall?

Here’s some food for thought: While it’s true that Andrews collected seven touchdowns in his final nine regular-season outings … he also posted middling averages of 3.3 catches and 49 yards during the same span.

d) From our perspective, Darren Waller (90 catches, 117 targets, 1,145 yards, 3 TDs last year) has a rock-solid chance at becoming fantasy’s best tight end by season’s end. Here’s why:

**Of his final 11 games last year, Waller owned solid averages of five catches, 72 yards and 0.3 TDs.

**For that same stretch, Waller enjoyed a catch-to-target ratio of 71 percent.

**The 2020 Raiders draw the Browns, Bucs, Chiefs, Jaguars, Falcons and Colts, comprising some of last year’s most forgiving defenses against tight ends.

**The front office inexplicably passed on Alabama wideout Jerry Jeudy in the April draft. The upside to that mistake: Waller should be a healthy lock for another campaign of 90 catches and 115-plus targets.

e) With the Falcons last season, Hooper (75 catches, 97 targets, 787 yards, 6 TDs) enjoyed career-best marks across the board; and yet, fantasy owners should feel optimistic about the 26-year-old’s still-roomy ceiling, moving forward.

For instance, replicating 97 targets will likely be a stretch in Cleveland, given the Browns’ arsenal of explosive playmakers (Nick Chubb, Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Kareem Hunt, David Njoku).

On the plus side, Hooper might never encounter a between-the-20s double team with Cleveland all season, let alone inside the red zone.

So, it might be a reasonable swap to cede slightly fewer catches and targets … for a tangible bump in touchdowns.

f) Obviously, new Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (11-year average: 4,375 yards passing, 31 TDs) has a pre-existing rapport with Rob Gronkowski, with the all-star duo connecting for 521 receptions, 7,861 yards and 79 touchdowns from 2010-18.

However, that’s more of a real-world perk for the Bucs, who are apparently very serious about upending the Saints for this year’s NFC South title.

From a fantasy perspective, Gronkowski (now 31 years old) averaged only 12 games played from 2013-18; and for his last three campaigns, Gronk produced middling averages of 47 catches, 769 yards and 4.7 touchdowns.

It’s also worth noting: Gronkowski barely had any tight end competition during his final years with the Patriots.

With the Bucs, it’ll be interesting to see how the repetitions and targets are doled out among O.J. Howard (34 catches, 459 yards, 1 TD last year) and Cameron Brate (36 catches, 311 yards, 4 TDs) — neither of whom have yet to turn 30.

And do we even need to cover the inevitable trouble with touches, in terms of any other Bucs playmaker garnering consistent attention away from wideouts Chris Godwin (86 catches, 121 targets, 1,333 yards, 9 TDs) and Mike Evans (67 catches, 118 targets, 1,157 yards, 8 TDs) — the fantasy world’s most lethal 1-2 punch last season?

POSITIONAL RANKINGS

THE ANNUAL PPR SPECTACULAR

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

TOP 35 PPR TIGHT ENDS

BREAKDOWN