1 of 4 | San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates (85). UPI/Brian Kersey | License Photo
MIAMI, Sept. 14 (UPI) --Indianapolis Colts' second-string tight end Jack Doyle leads all players at the position in fantasy points after Week 1.
Yes, Doyle was better than New England Patriots' Rob Gronkowksi and the whole gang. Although many view Doyle's display as a possible career day, don't be surprised to see other great performances from lower tier tight ends again in Week 2. Guys like Indianapolis Colts' Dwayne Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars' Julius Thomas, and Detroit Lions' Eric Ebron also put up great stats in Week 1.
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To make the choice of who to start this week, I have ranked my top 20 tight ends for Week 2.
Washington's Jordan Reed, San Diego's Antonio Gates, and Gronkowski are obvious must-starts in Week 2 action. Reed is facing a Dallas Cowboys defense, which allowed just 31 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. The Cowboys also allowed the second least fantasy points per game to the position in 2015. But don't expect that to deter Kirk Cousins' most imposing target. Expect Reed to show up in a big way after being heavily targeted by Cousins on Monday Night Football against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Gronkowski should benefit from another week catching passes from the Patriots' able back up quarterback. Jimmy Garoppolo knows where to go with the football when in need of a big third down conversion and in the red zone. I expect Gronk to score here in a home game against the Miami Dolphins. Last year in a Week 8 contest against Miami, Gronkowski had six catches for 113 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown. Gates was targeted just four times in Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs. That will change after the loss of Allen. Expect Philip Rivers and Gates to band together for more success against the Jacksonville Jaguars, which allowed the fourth-most touchdowns to the position in 2015.
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SNEAKY PLAYS
Tennessee Titans' Delanie Walker could see a huge day against a Lions defense, which allowed seven receptions for 88 yards and three touchdowns to Indianapolis tight ends in Week 1. The Lions allowed the most touchdowns to tight ends in 2015. I expect a score here from Walker, who could end the week as fantasy football's top tight end. Likewise, Detroit's Ebron could also see a big day against Tennessee. The Titans allowed the second-most touchdowns to the position last season. Ebron caught all five of his targets for 46 yards and a touchdown last Sunday. Look for New Orleans Saints' Coby Fleener to be Drew Brees' productive third-option Sunday against the New York Giants. Fleener will face off against the team, which allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to tight ends in 2015. The Giants allowed 10 receptions for 87 yards to Dallas Cowboys tight ends last weekend.
LONGSHOTS
Atlanta Falcons' Jacob Tamme faces the Oakland Raiders in Week 2 action. Tamme caught six Matt Ryan passes for 51 yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but welcomes a match up against the team which allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to the position in 2015. Could this be the week Seattle's Jimmy Graham finally produces? The answer to that is likely not as clear as you would like it to be, but Graham could put up starter numbers against a Los Angeles Rams squad that allowed a Week 1 score to San Francisco's Vance McDonald. I expect a partially immobilized Russell Wilson to look for Graham and Luke Willson for closer connections, do to his inability to scramble outside with ease for his token deep tosses. Cincinnati Bengals' C.J. Uzomah was widely unknown in fantasy football circles before Week 1. But in the Bengals' opening week match up against the New York Jets, quarterback Andy Dalton targeted Uzomah five times, including in the red zone. With Tyler Eifert sitting out, don't expect Dalton to shy away from the big target against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which allowed eight catches and 84 yards to tight ends in Week 1. The Steelers allowed the fifth-most touchdowns to the position last season.
