With some downtime before training camp, we will be ranking each positional group in the AFC West entering the 2019 season to gear you up for the upcoming campaign.
Yesterday, we ranked the wide receivers. Today, we rank the five tight ends in the division.
No. 5, Virgil Green, Chargers
Due to an ACL injury that Henry suffered last offseason, Green became the team’s No. 1 tight end and split playing time with Antonio Gates. Green, who came in known more as a blocking tight end, proved to be reliable as a pass-catcher, reeling in 19 passes for 218 yards and one touchdown.
With Henry back this season, Green will likely see a slight dip in his targets. But nonetheless, his production and impact as a player throughout the course of his eight years as a pro make him the best backup tight end in the division.
No. 4, Darren Waller, Raiders
Last season, the Raiders had Jared Cook as their top tight end and he proved to be one of the best in the division. Cook is now with the Saints, and it appears that Waller will be the guy that Oakland is calling upon to fill in that role.
2018 was his first season with the Raiders, but he didn’t do anything spectacular. He saw live action in four games. He had six receptions for 75 yards during that stretch. Waller, the slightly unknown player, has hauled in just 18 catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns throughout his professional career.
After the loss of Cook, the Raiders aren’t particularly deep at the position, Waller and newly acquired Luke Willson will be quarterback Derek Carr’s options from the positional group.
No. 3, Noah Fant, Broncos
The Broncos spent their first-round selection on the former Iowa tight end, as the team was in need of shoring up the positional group. Like the quarterback position, Denver has struggled to find a consistent tight end and Fant is a proven player to fill that need.
Fant finished his 2018 season for the Hawkeyes with 39 receptions for 519 yards and seven touchdowns. He was splitting time with Lions’ T.J. Hockenson, which limited his numbers quite a bit but he still proved to be a threat to opposing defenses.
Even though he’s a rookie, Fant should still have an impact in Denver’s offense. With a slight upgrade at quarterback, he will see his targets in the passing game and he is an effective blocker, as well.
No. 2, Hunter Henry, Chargers
Following a phenomenal sophomore campaign, Henry missed the entire 2018 season due to an ACL injury. He returned for just 14 snaps during the team’s playoff loss to New England, missing out on what could have been a year that resulted in him as a top tight end in the league.
Henry, now healthy, is in a perfect spot to flourish and secure a significant target share in 2019 with quarterback Philip Rivers still slinging it. He’s been a matchup nightmare since coming into the league, showing an ability to win on shorter routes or as a threat in the middle of the field.
In 2017, Henry, hauled in 45 receptions for 579 yards and four touchdowns in 13 starts.
No. 1, Travis Kelce, Chiefs
Kelce has been phenomenal since his arrival into the league and just keeps improving. In 2018, he recorded a career high in receptions with 103 and had a career year in yards too, with 1,336 and 10 touchdowns.
Kelce, 29, hasn’t shown that many signs of regression. Even when Alex Smith was under center, Kelce was the best weapon on the field, but with Patrick Mahomes taking over, the best is yet to come for the Chiefs tight end.
There’s no denying that not only is he the best tight end in the division, but you can make a strong argument that he sits atop of the entire league.
