Tight end is slim pickings, but there are actually a few guys I love late if you decide to wait on drafting a tight end or want a good backup. These three guys are going outside the top 10, but I think all three will finish inside it by season’s end. Instead of drafting for a guy’s ceiling, draft these guys at their absolute floors, barring injury.
Delanie Walker
Suffering a season-ending injury at age 34 is never a great sign. But before this, Delanie Walker was a timeless classic who was a lock for 800 receiving yards in fantasy. Though the Titans have Corey Davis and A.J. Brown, Marcus Mariota has adored Walker in his time in Tennessee, and I don’t see that changing. Even if he gives you 75% of what he has in recent years, he is a top 10 tight end.
Mark Andrews
Mark Andrews is a star in the making in Baltimore. While Lamar Jackson was terrible for the value of Ravens receivers last season, he developed a nice relationship with Andrews. Now, Andrews has looked like the most improved player in Ravens camp. He could be in store for a breakout season like a George Kittle. As of now, he is currently the top receiving option on this team, and he is not even going as a top 10 tight end. That will not be the case next year.
Jimmy Graham
People want to put Jimmy Graham on a milk carton, but at the end of the day, he is still catching balls from Aaron Rodgers. He put up a nice 55-636 line last season on 89 targets, but it was not noticed in fantasy circles due to his two touchdowns. I expect some positive regression in this regard. If Graham can have 6-8 touchdowns with the same stat line, he will blow away his current draft position, which is in the late teens.