Labeling any tight end as a bust this season requires a certain level of subjectivity. No matter which media outlet you tend to use (wait, am I supposed to pretend that no competitors exist?), the top-five are generally slotted the same way for a reason.
2014 fantasy football tight end bust candidates
It’s inevitable that some tight ends are going to fall well short of expectations this season. Here are a few guys who might disappointment fantasy owners.
Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports
Outside of that is where discretion tends to rears its head, but this may be a year for some extra debate.
The names below are guys that, despite my personal consideration, are still coming off boards much earlier than I would dare dream of. I just don’t think it’s possible they live up to their expectations, and because of that, it’s probably worth passing.
Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers
Through the first 11 games of the season, Davis accumulated 42 receptions, 705 yards and 10 touchdowns for San Francisco. Then Michael Crabtree returned to the lineup and Davis caught 15 passes over his final seven games (including playoffs). Five of those went for scores, but to guarantee his high value using only touchdowns seems more volatile than anything. Fortunately, TEs are being universally mirror-imaged for a reason. Despite the cause for concern, it will take an even larger fall from grace for Davis to finish below the next tier.
Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots
Gronk’s upside is indisputable. In fact, in his second season, he led the league with 17 touchdowns, to go along with 1,300 yards. But that was two seasons ago, and the fact he’s played in only 18 games since simply can’t be tossed aside. You know what you’re getting into when calling his name on draft day -- whether it’s his mass production or how much more fluid the NE offense appears when he’s not on the sidelines -- but with a current ADP that’s only trending up, going as high as the first tight end taken in some cases, his floor on your return might be even more worrisome.
Ladarius Green, San Diego Chargers
Don’t get me wrong, Green showed signs of explosiveness last season, averaging an incomprehensible 22 yards per reception. But with his counterpart coming off boards just over three rounds later, I’m not quite sure how Green could live up to his current value. Even with his impressive breakout, Antonio Gates managed to average five catches per game on the side, meaning, if anything, their stock should remain the same.
Coby Fleener, Indianapolis Colts
Being drafted together, Dwayne Allen won the starting job over Fleener and flourished during their rookie season. His numbers weren’t anything spectacular, but still, he was useful. Once he fell victim to injury, however, Fleener stepped up in a big way, essentially morphing into a slot receiver alongside Wayne and Hilton. Unfortunately, his numbers took a dramatic dip once Wayne went down, and with the pending return of Allen this season, I can’t imagine a scenario in which Fleener returns his draft value.
Zach Miller, Seattle Seahawks
Somewhere along the way, Miller’s fantasy value became misconstrued with his legitimate output. He’s a serviceable pass-catcher with an above average run-blocking capability and as it pertains to your fantasy team, there’s really no need to nab him. The Seahawks offense simply doesn’t feature him much and upside can certainly be found in any flier elsewhere.
Continue at your own risk, but like the rest of this particular crop, I’m choosing to pass rather than reach.
