TE's WHO DO YOU TRUST by Alexander Haynes

I started a small twitter group a long time ago where we just sit back and dissect the NFL and translate our findings to fantasy football. We were just chatting about TE's and my good friend Alexander Haynes gave us his input. You can find him on twitter @ACLHaynes . Seriously, we were just talking TE's and this is what he wrote in the chat. I begged him to let me share with you all.

TE's YOU CAN TRUST IN 2018

Travis Kelce, Evan Engram, Rob Gronkwoski (when healthy), and Jimmy Graham. I trust them. Going big on a tight end is risky in fantasy; I prefer just going for whoever falls and playing match ups each week. Now, from a non-fantasy evaluation, Ian Thomas is a rookie for the Carolina Panthers that you may want to keep an eye on in dynasty leagues, especially once Greg Olsen retires.
There may be a lot of love for rookie Hayden Hurst of the Baltimore Ravens because of where he was drafted (Round 1 – Pick 25), but they drafted the pure slot receiver TE in this class as well, Mark Andrews. Too many split targets and at this point in their careers, stating who will get the biggest share each week is difficult.
Real deep sleeper? Rookie Jordan Akins for the Houston Texans. Maybe, possibly something for fantasy, like him more in the Texans scheme for DeShaun Watson's development.
Rookie Chris Herdnon for the New York Jets may have a good season, but he has a lot of developing on the table. Discussing him is the perfect tie in to sleeper TE's - the Jets with Sam Darnold, Josh McCown, or even Todd Bowles taking snaps at quarterback will be using tight ends. The question comes to figuring out who their most targeted asset is. They did not resign Austin Seferian-Jenkins, opting for Clive Walford and Bucky Hodges in free agency and Herdnon in the draft.
No matter, this points out another problem I have with TEs moving forward. From a philosophical stand point, many NFL teams are utilizing multiple TE sets because of the pure variation which can be derived from these sets. The motion, deception, and extra blocking allowed from an extra tight end (either in-line or just off) will be a new wave of offensive play sets. Just watch the Kansas City Chiefs as an example - Andy Reid executes this with perfection. The implication for fantasy is the tight end drop off is getting wider and wider, with more of a weekly match up demand and grabbing the players who will be primarily used as pass receivers. My guess on who the best of the best will be this year? Robert Gronkowksi (health asterisk), Travis Kelce, Jimmy Graham, Jack Doyle, Zach Ertz, Delanie Walker, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Kyle Rudolph, Jesse James, George Kittle, and Hunter Henry. Written by guest writer - @ACLHaynes