As we gear up to the start of the NFL season, Football Absurdity is going to bring you a comprehensive breakdown of every notable player that will be available in fantasy football drafts. When you don’t see us talking about Christine Michael or Mike Davis, don’t get mad at us for neglecting your favorite sleeper. Get mad at yourself for having bad taste in football players. We are only focusing on the top-rated players in standard scoring and PPR leagues.
With my player profiles, I’ve only decided to go back to look at their fantasy scoring for three years. I could show you lists from earlier, but most of the guys at the top are no longer in the league anymore. I’ve also added a chart for their usage over that time span. We will try to determine, based on those two factors, where the best tight end value lies.
Evan Engram ADP and AAV
Standard: 5th among TEs, 60th overall
PPR: 5th among TEs, 59th overall
Average Auction Value ($200 Budget): $14
Stats:
FANTASY SCORING — STANDARD
| Rank | Total Points | PPG Rank | PPG | |
| 2018 | 13th | 81.3 | 7th | 7.4 |
| 2017 | 5th | 109.6 | 4th | 7.3 |
| 2016 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
FANTASY SCORING — PPR
| Rank | Total Points | PPG Rank | PPG | |
| 2018 | 13th | 126.3 | 7th | 11.5 |
| 2017 | 5th | 173.6 | 4th | 11.6 |
| 2016 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
PLAYER USAGE
| Receptions | Receptions Per Game | Targets | Targets Per Game | |
| 2018 | 45 | 4.0 | 64 | 5.9 |
| 2017 | 64 | 4.3 | 115 | 7.7 |
| 2016 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Overview: Engram cemented himself as a TE1 after a strong rookie year, and looked on pace to repeat in 2018 until several injuries caused him to miss five total games. Wikipedia tells me he plays for the “New York Giants,” but I’m having trouble finding a second source to back this up as no one wants to admit watching that team after their curiously eccentric offseason.
Strategy: Our Auction Value ($200 Budget): $10
The main knock on Engram is a slew of slight injuries. Since entering the league in 2017, he’s missed games with two concussions, a rib bruise, a hamstring pull, and a knee sprain. Though these injuries have caused him to miss only 6 total games in his career, it’s definitely something to consider if having a guaranteed floor is important to you in a tight end. Of the other 9 top-10 ranked tight ends this year, 7 played in all 16 games in 2018.
The upside is the greatest argument for Engram. He seems to be the team’s main target-getter, and the potential substitution of Daniel Jones for Eli Manning would probably work in his favor. For tight end, we’re advocating a staunch “if you don’t get a top-3 guy (Zach Ertz, Travis Kelce, George Kittle) then just wait for one of the top-12 to fall 2+ rounds or $5 below their expected value.
Best Case Scenario: Engram plays 16 games and enters that elite top tier of TEs.
Worst Case Scenario: Engram’s injuries catch up with him and he goes out for the season in the first half of the year.
