Fantasy Football 2012 Rankings: Tight Ends In Standard and PPR Leagues

As the season quickly approaches, there will be a flurry of fantasy football drafts with participants looking to gain a last minute edge. While there is always the question of what stud running back or quarterback should you be taking in the first round or two, tight end is becoming a position of increasing inquiry. Should you reach in the first two rounds and take one of the record-breaking racehorses at the position? Or should you wait until the later rounds and grab a player like Fred Davis or Jared Cook? Whatever your approach, there is no question that tight end has quickly become a difference maker for many fantasy teams.

Note that I have included rankings for both standard leagues and PPR. The standard rankings lean a little more towards tight ends that are featured more in the red zone, while the PPR rankings obviously give a bigger bump to players more regularly involved in the offense.

Quick Notes

• If Jason Witten proves to be healthy he needs to be moved up to No. 4 in PPR leagues. He is going very late in drafts and could prove to be a bargain if his spleen can get it together.
• Aaron Hernandez looks primed for a top 5 fantasy tight end finish. Just got big money and is eager to show he was deserving. Do not hesitate to grab Hernandez in the 4th-5th round in drafts.
• Brandon Pettigrew seems to have fallen lower on many experts radar. Working the middle of the field in a high octane offense should allow him to outperform expectations.
• Jared Cook is going to have a very inconsistent year with Jake Locker at QB. I could see him cranking out huge games one of every 2 or 3 weeks but then laying a bunch of stinkers as well.
• Do not go to sleep on Greg Olson as a late round option. Cam Newton is a stud and needs to throw the ball to somebody aside from Steve Smith.

Good luck and happy drafting! For more fantasy content, check out SB Nation Fantasy. Swing by for our live fantasy chat from 6-10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 4-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.