I gotta agree here.

The Elite TE fades...since there are so many choices at TE.

Gates and before him Gonzales aren't that far from the field.

You now have Cooley, Witten, Daniels, and Winslow as viable canidates.

But before we fall totally off the wagon on Gates and Gonzales...please keep this in mind.

Is it the talent on at TE...or dirth of talent at WR.

Did Witten explode this year due to Witten...or the fact Glenn was gone most of the season?

Cooley? Wr other than Moss?

Daniels? AJ missed alot, and no real depth at Wr.

Gonzales? Wr has always been a one trick pony in KC.

So my point here is....when you select...talent alone isn't the main factor for me...its situation. If Cleveland doesn't get Wr help...Winslow is clearly #1 for me. If Rivers doesn't develop...to find all wrs...then Gates is solid. Rumors are flying that Gonzales will be traded from KC.\

Also...don't forget a guy in Atlanta..that when healthy, and has a real QB...can be a pretty decent target as well.

the elite TE is still incredibly valuable. in a TE mandatory league, it was virtually impossible to be a top contending team this year without gates, witten, gonzo, or winslow. there might be more "elite TEs" now but you still have to have one. even with someone like cooley it was a serious deficiency, and having someone lower than that pretty much cost you 8-12 points most weeks.

I suppose it depends on what you term elite. I agree a top te is a must, especially in a ppr league or a te mandatory league. However, I don't think you can say elite...when you have 8-10 all in equal points. It might just be a matter of samantics..but hey...that is me in a nutshell.

Oh....a name as a sleeper I will throw out now. Brent Celek TE Philly....I think LJ Smith is gone.

i dont see any 8-10 equal in points. i only play in ppr leagues and in those leagues, if you didnt have one of those four, you were at a serious deficiency in points.

How long is Shockey's contract? And how about Kevin Boss? Could he step in and start if the Giants decide to part company with Shockey?

So now that we have gotten into the start of the 08 season and your starting to set up your board, how are you looking at the TE's now?

You know captain News...your nose in my sleeper business is really starting to tick me off.

Okay back on topic.

First, unless Gates can show he can run...I can't list him as an elite TE anymore.

Without Gates, I don't think there is an elite TE.

I think you have a whole lot of guys that will be within 10pts of each other.

You have Witten, Gates, Gonzales, Cooley, Crumpler(yes i am higher on him than most), Winslow Jr.

then you have young guys breaking out in scheffler, H.Miller, Celek(grrr...Norm....)

So the depth isn't great..but you can wait and get similar type guys

Keep your eyes peeled here. I see him as a top 6 or 7.

No Dallas Clark being mentioned in that group? Seems to me we would fit into that grouping you listed.

Also, any thoughts on if Vernon Davis is ever going to live up to the immense hype that followed him out of the combine?

Another sleeper I like is McMichael, just look at what Saunders has done with previous TE's. Now I'm not saying he will put up Tony G or Cooley numbers, but I do expect him to have some nice numbers that will surprise many.

Excellent choices...now why did I leave them off?

Clark....Harrison. If Harrison is back, and really back, then indy goes back to its 3wr set with Gonzales in the slot and Clark is blocking. Until I hear Harrison isn't back...I am not ranking Clark very high.

Davis......Offense. Right now Davis could very well be the best receiver not a running back on this team. No slight to Bruce...but he is coming to the end of his career, and Bryant Johnson is an unknown who drops passes. But the Qb situation just scares the daylights out of me. Yes, though of who you list Davis could very well be in that group.

McMichael.....maybe. But I think St. Louis lives and dies on S.Jax this year. They want to protect Bulger. So the little passing they do will be to the wideouts...and not that many touches for McMichael. I hope I am wrong...as he could be a great option..but I can't buy it yet.

Notice also I in no way, shape or form list Shockey. Why? He is an injury waiting to happen, or a pout waiting to sulk....not worth the value at all.

Maybe. OR...does the redzone offense change...as Mr. Mendenhall will take the ball into the endzone instead? Not to mention Mr. Sweed in the slot on passing downs. Don't be too comfortable on that ranking you got just yet.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Coachnorm
Along the Owen Daniels line rumors are saying that LJ Smith may dealt away or let go this offseason. It is said The Eagles may just go with rookie Brent Celek which may make him a nice grab especially in leagues that draft way too early.





I feel the same way.

I dig up this info and every owner in two of my leagues can read it here.

and where is heath miller going to come up with the yards to get into the top 6??

Dallas Clark usually far outproduces his ADP when looking at TEs drafted.

Ah... Jeebers, Now there are no sleeper TEs left.

Maybe I should lock this post and we can all pretend that it didn't happen.

Phic, I wasn't suggesting that Davis or McMichael be including in the list you had, just wanted to bring a few more names up for debate. Good feedback on them though.

Clark I don't see being impacted a lot by Harrison. It's Gonzo that will take the hit IMO, remember Clark is a very effective in that slot role and they love the flexibility of lining him up there.

I have had Heath Miller on one team for quite awhile. He is a little bit of a feast or famine guy. Miller is an excellent blocker....excellent blocker. If the Steeler O-line starts to get a little beat up Millers blocking duties increase and he can disappear for a few games.

...or 7 Bomb. I said 6 or 7, and Poof!!!!!!! The yards will magically come form the yards you are magically removing from Edge!!! Ha! I have 600 and 7, to 650 and 8. I like what I saw last year from him and Ben. It is slightly tainted due to what he did for me. I only mentioned him because he will come reasonably cheap, and is a great sleeper #1 TE in my book. He will easily be top 12. I project Big Ben with 400 more yards this season. (3,500)

When you look at Heath Miller and when you can get him in most drafts he is an excellent value

I am sorry, but I think you are wrong here. I remember Indy going 3wr...and Clark disappearing. You can only throw to so many folks. Gonzales, Harrison and Wayne will get more targets than Clark. Many more.

Their o-line isn't great right now and they didn't do much to address it. I've got a feeling Heath will pay the penalty.

I have a similar, not not near as extreme, worry about Witten. If the Martellus kid can't adequately fill in for Fasano, Witten may be forced to stay and block more while Felix steals some of those touches that came last year.