Tight End may be the most difficult position to play in this league from a career standpoint. It's unlikely you'll be viewed as truly elite, and on the other hand you're expected to contribute to every part of the offense. The result is that even great TEs fall in the draft and are overlooked compared to flashy WRs and stud RBs. A player looking to succeed in this position has to be their coach's Swiss army knife, a player that will fill in the holes the rest of the players leave and still bring their team a few extra tools.
Who are Season 1's top Tight Ends? An argument could be made for 4 different players, but I will only make an argument for 3. Unfortunately for Break Bottles he just wasn't a good enough receiver to make up for his poor blocking, but he has the potential for a break-out season next year. For the other 3 players, any one could be considered the top depending on what the GM is looking for. I'm going to rank them anyway, and you're gonna like it!
________________________________________________________________________________
1.) Gabriel Tenzini - Baltimore Hawks
Receptions: 1st - Yards: 2nd - TDs: T-1st - Blocking: 2nd
Gabe Tenzini is the obvious choice for top Tight End in the league. He either tops or comes in a close second in each statistical category for the position, and it has showed his value to Baltimore throughout the year. The Hawks were sporadically elite on offense but struggled on defense, 3 of their 4 wins came with 30+ points scored and they were never able to hold the opponent to under 10 in a game. Tenzini brought all he could for the team, showing himself as a reliable target and a good red zone threat. He didn't quite have the yards per catch of his competitors, in fact his YPC is even lower than hefty George Wright of Orange County, but keeping the chains moving and making touchdowns brought the Hawks the best chance to win. They just didn't capitalize on it often. As a blocker Tenzini was a distant second, but that's still an impressive performance for someone that really didn't focus on blocking. It didn't make much of a difference though, as Baltimore was terrible at running the ball.
Tenzini heads to Las Vegas for season 2, seemingly stolen by the expansion franchise for a 5th round pick. Baltimore is unlikely to find someone of Tenzini's caliber in that round, but maybe they hope to find a player at a more needed position. For the future he will need to bulk up and improve on his athleticism, the passing window will get tighter as defenders improve and his blocking contribution may fall off a cliff against ends and linebackers that are determined to be as physical as possible.
2.) Richard Maddox - Yellowknife Wraiths
Receptions: 2nd - Yards: 1st - TDs: N/A - Blocking: 5th
Ricky Maddox was the pre-season favorite to take charge of the Tight End position, and unfortunately for him he was only partially able to deliver on that. Maddox was a big-time chain mover for the team, catching almost as many as Wraiths number one Josh Garden. The Wraiths may not have been the most prolific passing offense, but they deserve credit as the most efficient all around. Maddox gave his QB Chris Orosz a safety valve to throw to instead of trying to force a play that wasn't there, allowing drives to fight another day and bringing the Wraiths to the playoffs before falling just short. As a blocker Maddox was mediocre, he had more pancakes than Arizona's Tkachuk but also allowed several more sacks. Yellowknife tended to rely more on 2TE Rolf Larsendorf to bring blocks, but at least Maddox showed he can do it if he needs to. His biggest red mark was the inability to catch a touchdown all season, but he's in good company in that matter as 4 other players with 20+ receptions failed to do so.
Ricky is an all around good player, but he will need to decide if he wants to bring a specialty to the Wraiths. He may become a journeyman if he continues to be too good to bench but not good enough to shine on a Wraiths roster that has plenty of big name talent.
3.) George Wright Jr. - Orange County Otters
Receptions: 4th - Yards: 4th - TDs: N/A - Blocking: 1st
George Wright is the hardest TE to place in the ranking. He was a distant 4th in both receptions and yards and failed to score a touchdown all season, but still showed that he could be a reliable #3 target behind a 1/2 combo of Phelps and Westfield that accounted for over 2100 yards alone. His 3.6 catches and 24 yards per game tell the whole story as a receiver, as he rarely went above or below the 20-30 yards range in a game. Wright makes his case as the best Tight End by being the best blocker, the category that has the most separation between the leader and the pack. Unfortunately we don't know the exact numeric impact that blocking has on an offense, and the recorded statistics don't tell the full story. A player can block well and not have a pancake, or get a pancake on a play that fails anyway. However you break it down, Wright was by far the best blocker outside of OL this season, and it definitely shows as the Otters were the most effective running team in the league and tied for fewest sacks allowed.
The Otters didn't do Wright any favors by trading locker room friend Omar Wright to the Liberties. If the team can't put it's OL back together with probable 1st rounder Gregor Clegane, there will be even more pressure on Wright to deliver good blocks, or he may be asked to switch positions. Additionally, he needs to improve his speed significantly or he will never be more than a checkdown option in the receiving game.
Best Prospect.) Paul Dimirio - Prospects
Rich Gucci delivered a solid season for a player behind the pack in development, but the future is shining on young speedster Paul Dimirio. I'm not just saying this because we're both from Wisconsin, Dimirio has been saying all the right things to attract teams, and although he wasn't claimed off waivers during the season he has been quietly building TPE and showing his talents in the prospect games. Dimirio's good starting speed and hands make him basically an oversized receiver at this point, which will catch the eye of several teams that need help on offense. He may land in Philly, Baltimore, Colorado, or Arizona as the number 1, or in Orange County who have no third WR and will need a receiving complement for George Wright. Time will tell what most prospects bring into the league, but Dimirio has shown the attitude to bring his all wherever he ends up.
________________________________________________________________________________
Who do you think should be considered the top Tight End in the league? Do you think an argument could be made for Break Bottles? The reason I did not list him is that he is below Tenzini in every statistical category, so while you could argue he's better than Wright or Maddox I don't think you can say he's the best.
Is Paul Dimirio really the best TE prospect or does Rich Gucci's regular season experience give him the edge? There are many questions which continue to surround the position as teams try to figure out just what a Tight End means to them.
Mentions:
@princekyle @SimmerDownBruhh @Blake Bortles @`7Sports` @124715
Who are Season 1's top Tight Ends? An argument could be made for 4 different players, but I will only make an argument for 3. Unfortunately for Break Bottles he just wasn't a good enough receiver to make up for his poor blocking, but he has the potential for a break-out season next year. For the other 3 players, any one could be considered the top depending on what the GM is looking for. I'm going to rank them anyway, and you're gonna like it!
________________________________________________________________________________
1.) Gabriel Tenzini - Baltimore Hawks
Receptions: 1st - Yards: 2nd - TDs: T-1st - Blocking: 2nd
Gabe Tenzini is the obvious choice for top Tight End in the league. He either tops or comes in a close second in each statistical category for the position, and it has showed his value to Baltimore throughout the year. The Hawks were sporadically elite on offense but struggled on defense, 3 of their 4 wins came with 30+ points scored and they were never able to hold the opponent to under 10 in a game. Tenzini brought all he could for the team, showing himself as a reliable target and a good red zone threat. He didn't quite have the yards per catch of his competitors, in fact his YPC is even lower than hefty George Wright of Orange County, but keeping the chains moving and making touchdowns brought the Hawks the best chance to win. They just didn't capitalize on it often. As a blocker Tenzini was a distant second, but that's still an impressive performance for someone that really didn't focus on blocking. It didn't make much of a difference though, as Baltimore was terrible at running the ball.
Tenzini heads to Las Vegas for season 2, seemingly stolen by the expansion franchise for a 5th round pick. Baltimore is unlikely to find someone of Tenzini's caliber in that round, but maybe they hope to find a player at a more needed position. For the future he will need to bulk up and improve on his athleticism, the passing window will get tighter as defenders improve and his blocking contribution may fall off a cliff against ends and linebackers that are determined to be as physical as possible.
2.) Richard Maddox - Yellowknife Wraiths
Receptions: 2nd - Yards: 1st - TDs: N/A - Blocking: 5th
Ricky Maddox was the pre-season favorite to take charge of the Tight End position, and unfortunately for him he was only partially able to deliver on that. Maddox was a big-time chain mover for the team, catching almost as many as Wraiths number one Josh Garden. The Wraiths may not have been the most prolific passing offense, but they deserve credit as the most efficient all around. Maddox gave his QB Chris Orosz a safety valve to throw to instead of trying to force a play that wasn't there, allowing drives to fight another day and bringing the Wraiths to the playoffs before falling just short. As a blocker Maddox was mediocre, he had more pancakes than Arizona's Tkachuk but also allowed several more sacks. Yellowknife tended to rely more on 2TE Rolf Larsendorf to bring blocks, but at least Maddox showed he can do it if he needs to. His biggest red mark was the inability to catch a touchdown all season, but he's in good company in that matter as 4 other players with 20+ receptions failed to do so.
Ricky is an all around good player, but he will need to decide if he wants to bring a specialty to the Wraiths. He may become a journeyman if he continues to be too good to bench but not good enough to shine on a Wraiths roster that has plenty of big name talent.
3.) George Wright Jr. - Orange County Otters
Receptions: 4th - Yards: 4th - TDs: N/A - Blocking: 1st
George Wright is the hardest TE to place in the ranking. He was a distant 4th in both receptions and yards and failed to score a touchdown all season, but still showed that he could be a reliable #3 target behind a 1/2 combo of Phelps and Westfield that accounted for over 2100 yards alone. His 3.6 catches and 24 yards per game tell the whole story as a receiver, as he rarely went above or below the 20-30 yards range in a game. Wright makes his case as the best Tight End by being the best blocker, the category that has the most separation between the leader and the pack. Unfortunately we don't know the exact numeric impact that blocking has on an offense, and the recorded statistics don't tell the full story. A player can block well and not have a pancake, or get a pancake on a play that fails anyway. However you break it down, Wright was by far the best blocker outside of OL this season, and it definitely shows as the Otters were the most effective running team in the league and tied for fewest sacks allowed.
The Otters didn't do Wright any favors by trading locker room friend Omar Wright to the Liberties. If the team can't put it's OL back together with probable 1st rounder Gregor Clegane, there will be even more pressure on Wright to deliver good blocks, or he may be asked to switch positions. Additionally, he needs to improve his speed significantly or he will never be more than a checkdown option in the receiving game.
Best Prospect.) Paul Dimirio - Prospects
Rich Gucci delivered a solid season for a player behind the pack in development, but the future is shining on young speedster Paul Dimirio. I'm not just saying this because we're both from Wisconsin, Dimirio has been saying all the right things to attract teams, and although he wasn't claimed off waivers during the season he has been quietly building TPE and showing his talents in the prospect games. Dimirio's good starting speed and hands make him basically an oversized receiver at this point, which will catch the eye of several teams that need help on offense. He may land in Philly, Baltimore, Colorado, or Arizona as the number 1, or in Orange County who have no third WR and will need a receiving complement for George Wright. Time will tell what most prospects bring into the league, but Dimirio has shown the attitude to bring his all wherever he ends up.
________________________________________________________________________________
Who do you think should be considered the top Tight End in the league? Do you think an argument could be made for Break Bottles? The reason I did not list him is that he is below Tenzini in every statistical category, so while you could argue he's better than Wright or Maddox I don't think you can say he's the best.
Is Paul Dimirio really the best TE prospect or does Rich Gucci's regular season experience give him the edge? There are many questions which continue to surround the position as teams try to figure out just what a Tight End means to them.
Code:
Word Count: 1268Mentions:
@princekyle @SimmerDownBruhh @Blake Bortles @`7Sports` @124715
Jurisprudence Jones, OL ![[Image: cYhSwFY.png]](https://i.imgur.com/cYhSwFY.png)
![[Image: USs0IGI.jpg]](http://i.imgur.com/USs0IGI.jpg)
