With the news that New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski had yet another off-season surgery and TE Aaron Hernandez is heading upstate, the most obvious choice as the number one tight end in fantasy football is Jimmy Graham of the New Orleans Saints.
Graham has gone over 1,000 yards in four straight seasons in the Bayou. The 26-year-old has also scored at least seven touchdowns and has hauled in 70 balls each year. He has become the most dangerous fantasy tight end and should be the only player at the position drafted within the first four rounds.
His receptions dropped from 99 in 2011 to 85 in 2012 and his yardage dropped from 1,310 yards to 982. However, he is still the primary red-zone target for QB Drew Brees to look for. Graham has hauled in 20 touchdowns over his last two seasons alone and the tight end has become the team’s most reliable receiving option. The tight end received an ungodly number of targets over the last four games of the season as well. The former Miami (FL) standout was targeted 46 times over the last four 2012 contests and averaged 82 yards per contest.
Graham should be a late second, or early third, round selection in drafts this summer. He will easily haul in 10 touchdowns and 1,000 yards isn’t too far fetched either. The tight end puts up receiver-like numbers and will give any fantasy owner a distinct advantage over their competition this season.
Adam McGill is the Senior Fantasy Sports Writer at Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @adammcgill83, like him on Facebook, or add him to you networks on Google here or here.