If you’re anything like me and drafted a “value” TE late in the draft this year, you’re probably scrambling to find consistency at the position heading into the playoffs (or just trying to make the playoffs). I probably don’t have to tell you the position is way down when you look at the viable options top to bottom, but even the Top 3 TEs this year are way below where they were at this point last season in terms of fantasy points:
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2007 Weeks 1-8
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2008 Weeks 1-8
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A. Gates
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93.9
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70.3
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J. Witten
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78
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66.9
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T. Gonzalez
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74.6
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54.9
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In this edition of Digging Deeper, we’re going to analyze and project the Top 8 TE options for the rest of the season who might still be available on the waiver wire in your leagues.
1) Tony Scheffler – If you’re in a reasonably competitive league, odds are that Scheffler has been stashed on someone’s bench the last three weeks. But if he
is available, grab him now, as he’s expected back this week or next. Despite missing three total games so far (two to injury, one to bye), he’s still the 12th-best TE in terms of total fantasy points in the league. He’s had consistent yardage totals so far in games he’s played, and out of the eight TEs here, he has the third best fantasy schedule from here on out, according to FFToday’s Strength-of-Schedule rankings for TEs, at +.8%.
2) Visanthe Shiancoe – Of the eight TEs ranked in this article, Shiancoe has the second easiest fantasy schedule for TEs from here on, out according to FFToday’s Strength-of-Schedule rankings for TEs, at +65.7%. Cupcakes against TEs coming up include
3) Bo Scaife – Bo has been on a relative tear recently in terms of receptions and yardage, hauling in a total of 15 passes for 164 in his last three games. The problem is that he hasn’t found the end zone since Week 3, and it doesn’t look much better going forward. The Titans continue to pound the rock, especially near the goal line with LenDale White. White has a league leading 10 TDs between RBs
and WRs. Fat jokes aside, he has been very effective in plowing the rock for short-yardage TDs, and with a 7-0 record, I don’t see the Titans changing that up much. The yardage should still be there for Scaife though, as he has the third-easiest schedule of this bunch the rest of the way at +52.8%. He faces easy defenses versus TEs coming up against
4) Heath Miller – With the return of Willie Parker to the lineup, defenses will begin to focus more on
5) John Carlson – Carlson’s stock is almost completely dependent upon the return of Matt Hasselbeck, and unfortunately, it doesn’t look as if Matt’s coming back anytime soon. Hasselbeck has a bulging disk in his back that’s affecting his knee, giving him a “dead leg” feeling. That sounds like a serious problem to me. He hasn’t been medically cleared to play yet and has been officially ruled out for Week 9. You’d think with
6) Anthony Fasano – The least talented of the eight, Fasano surprisingly is the 7th-best TE in terms of fantasy points this season. Chad Pennington likes to throw to TEs. However, he’s had only five catches the last three games for a measly 54 yards. Also, don’t forget that one of his three TDs came off a trick pass from Ronnie Brown earlier this season, so his total overall numbers are slightly inflated. His big Week 1 and Week 3 games are looking more and more like flukes every week. His upcoming SoS against TEs isn’t looking good either at -49.9% for the rest of the season. However, TE SoS can be fickle at times because the Dolphins are facing some overall weak defenses coming up in
7) Billy Miller – Billy is the wildcard of the group, even more so than John Carlson. Much like Carlson, Miller’s value is based completely on the health of Jeremy Shockey, which seems to be a big mystery right now. Groin injuries linger, and Shockey saw limited snaps last week in
8) Kevin Boss – Sheer logic would tell you that Boss should be posting big numbers as the only viable receiving TE the Giants have, but it just hasn’t happened. He’s coming off a good 34-yard, one-TD game in Week 8, but he needs to show more consistency in the offense before you rely on him. The Giants’ upcoming SoS against TEs isn’t terrible at -32.5%. Let’s see if Boss can keep it going the next few weeks with more defensive attention being given to Plaxico Burress, but temper expectations if you’re going to try your luck with him.