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For decades, dating back to the earliest days of the fantasy football era, tight end has been a position dominated by singular outlier talents who control the scoring leaderboard over multiple seasons, thwarting all challengers and snuffing out rebellions.
Travis Kelce is the most recent player to rule this spot like a medieval king, but he is certainly not the first. Kelce was preceded by Rob Gronkowski, who was himself preceded by Jimmy Graham, Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez, Shannon Sharpe, Ben Coates, Keith Jackson, Todd Christensen, Kellen Winslow and so forth, all the way back to John Mackey and Mike Ditka.
Historically, this is a roster spot at which the top overall fantasy scorer often provides a massive seasonal edge, occasionally doubling the production of all but three or four of their rivals. There are never 10 or 12 truly useful tight ends to go around.
If you had Kelce on a roster in 2022 — or Gronk in 2011, or Sharpe in 1996, or Christensen in 1983 (unlikely but not impossible) — then you already fully understand the benefits associated with a tier-of-his-own tight end. This position has a rich history of producing league-tilting players. Spending an early draft pick on the consensus No. 1 tight end has commonly been a winning move.
And yet, well … 2024 somehow feels different.
It may simply be the fact that Kelce, entering his age-35 season, is approaching the end of his reign. We’re in a transitional phase at this roster spot. Kelce appeared in just 15 games last year and showed his age in various others, yet he ultimately still delivered a top-three positional finish — the eighth consecutive season in which he’s done so. Sam LaPorta was actually the top-scoring fantasy tight end in 2023, and, if history is any guide, he’s a fair bet to emerge as the next undisputed alpha TE.
LaPorta is not, however, the only contender for that crown.
For the first time in several seasons, tight end doesn’t actually seem like a minefield in the middle tiers. This…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy-football-te-preview-for-2024-drafts-151659107.html
Author : Yahoo Sports
Publish date : 2024-08-14 15:16:59
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