Most Dominant Fantasy Players Since 1950: Tight Ends

by Chase Stuart on July 18, 2015

in Fantasy, Statgeekery

An alternate uniform for the greatest tight end ever

Over the last three days, we’ve looked at the most dominant fantasy quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers. Today, we look at tight ends, using the methodology described over the three previous days.

I am using the following scoring system throughout this series: 1 point per 20 yards passing, 1 point per 10 yards rushing/receiving, 4 points per passing TD, 6 points per rushing/receiving TD, 0.5 points per reception.

You probably expect to see Rob Gronkowski’s 2011 season grade as the best fantasy season by any tight end. But, as it turns out, an AFC West tight end had one season that was ever so slightly more dominant.

You might think I’m talking about Tony Gonzalez, who has an unreal eleven seasons in the top 200. Or Kellen Winslow, who has eight top-200 seasons, half of which rank in the top 25. And if not one of those two, then surely Antonio Gates, who has nine top-200 seasons, including two in the top twenty. Or Shannon Sharpe, of course, who also has nine top-200 seasons, with six of those being in the top 70.

In fact, AFC West teams ^[1]And we don’t even need to include Seattle, which has 0 entries in the top 200 have 14 of the top 25 seasons by a tight end in fantasy history, and and 19 of the top 35 years. No division has dominated this position like the AFC West, but the best tight end season in fantasy history came from someone else: Oakland’s Todd Christensen.

Let’s compare Christensen’s 1983 season to what Gronkowski did 28 years later. In 2011, Gronk caught 90 passes for 1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns, and also “rushed” for a two-yard touchdown on a screen pass. That gave him an unbelievable 285.9 fantasy points, or 17.87 FP/G. In 1983, Christensen caught 92 passes for 1,247 yards and 12 touchdowns, for a slightly less impressive 242.7 fantasy points, or 15.17 FP/G. But it was a lot more common for tight ends to produce good numbers in 2011 than it was in 1983. TE12 in 2011 averaged 7.94 FP/G, while TE12 in 1983 averaged 5.18 FP/G. As a result, Christensen averaged 9.99 FP/G over the baseline, compared to 9.93 for Gronk. We multiply each player’s difference by 16 to get their VBD score, but obviously Christensen will come out slightly ahead.

The table below displays the top 200 seasons in fantasy history by a tight end:

Rk	Player	Yr	Tm	REC	RECYD	RECTD	FP	G	FP/G	Base	Diff	VBD
1	Todd Christensen	1983	RAI	92	1247	12	242.7	16	15.17	5.18	9.99	159.8
2	Rob Gronkowski	2011	NWE	90	1327	17	285.9	16	17.87	7.94	9.93	158.8
3	Kellen Winslow	1982	SDG	54	721	6	135.1	9	15.01	5.8	9.21	147.4
4	Pete Retzlaff	1965	PHI	66	1190	10	212	14	15.14	6.01	9.14	146.2
5	Tony Gonzalez	2000	KAN	93	1203	9	220.8	16	13.8	4.81	8.99	143.9
6	Jackie Smith	1967	STL	56	1205	9	210.1	14	15.01	6.14	8.86	141.8
7	Mike Ditka	1961	CHI	56	1076	12	207.6	14	14.83	6.11	8.71	139.4
8	Jimmy Graham	2013	NOR	86	1215	16	260.5	16	16.28	7.66	8.62	137.9
9	Kellen Winslow	1980	SDG	89	1290	9	227.5	16	14.22	5.6	8.62	137.9
10	Antonio Gates	2004	SDG	81	964	13	214.9	15	14.33	5.37	8.96	134.4
11	Tony Gonzalez	2004	KAN	102	1258	7	219.3	16	13.71	5.37	8.34	133.4
12	Ben Coates	1994	NWE	96	1174	7	207.4	16	12.96	4.7	8.26	132.2
13	Todd Christensen	1986	RAI	95	1153	8	210.8	16	13.18	4.95	8.23	131.6
14	Shannon Sharpe	1996	DEN	80	1062	10	206.2	15	13.75	4.98	8.77	131.6
15	Kellen Winslow	1983	SDG	88	1172	8	209.2	16	13.08	5.18	7.89	126.3
16	Mark Bavaro	1987	NYG	55	867	8	162.2	12	13.52	4.05	9.46	121.1
17	Antonio Gates	2005	SDG	89	1101	10	214.6	15	14.31	6.34	7.97	119.5
18	Jimmy Graham	2011	NOR	99	1310	11	246.5	16	15.41	7.94	7.46	119.4
19	Jerry Smith	1967	WAS	67	849	12	190.4	14	13.6	6.14	7.46	119.3
20	Tony Gonzalez	1999	KAN	76	849	11	188.9	15	12.59	4.8	7.79	116.9
21	Tony Gonzalez	2008	KAN	96	1058	10	213.8	16	13.36	6.07	7.29	116.7
22	Kellen Winslow	1981	SDG	88	1075	10	211.5	16	13.22	5.99	7.23	115.6
23	Shannon Sharpe	1993	DEN	81	995	9	194	16	12.13	4.92	7.21	115.3
24	Wesley Walls	1999	CAR	63	822	12	185.7	16	11.61	4.8	6.81	108.9
25	Rich Caster	1972	NYJ	39	833	10	163.4	14	11.67	4.88	6.79	108.7
26	Willie Frazier	1967	SDG	57	922	10	180.7	14	12.91	6.14	6.76	108.2
27	Dave Casper	1982	HOU	36	573	6	112.2	9	12.47	5.8	6.67	106.7
28	Rob Gronkowski	2014	NWE	82	1124	12	225.4	15	15.03	7.94	7.08	106.2
29	Dave Casper	1976	OAK	53	691	10	156.1	13	12.01	4.92	7.09	105.3
30	Jason Witten	2007	DAL	96	1145	7	204.5	16	12.78	6.31	6.48	103.6
31	Tony Gonzalez	2003	KAN	71	916	10	187.1	16	11.69	5.24	6.45	103.2
32	Charle Young	1973	PHI	55	854	6	157.3	14	11.24	4.84	6.39	102.3
33	Shannon Sharpe	1994	DEN	87	1010	4	168.5	15	11.23	4.7	6.53	98
34	Dallas Clark	2009	IND	100	1106	10	221.7	16	13.86	7.82	6.04	96.6
35	Tony Gonzalez	2007	KAN	99	1172	5	196.7	16	12.29	6.31	5.99	95.8
36	Ozzie Newsome	1982	CLE	49	633	3	105.8	9	11.76	5.8	5.96	95.3
37	Ozzie Newsome	1983	CLE	89	970	6	177.5	16	11.09	5.18	5.91	94.6
38	Ted Kwalick	1972	SFO	40	751	9	150.2	14	10.73	4.88	5.85	93.6
39	Dave Casper	1978	OAK	62	852	9	170.7	16	10.67	4.84	5.83	93.2
40	Aaron Thomas	1967	NYG	51	877	9	167.2	14	11.94	6.14	5.8	92.8
41	Rodney Holman	1989	CIN	50	736	9	152.6	16	9.54	3.76	5.78	92.5
42	Joe Senser	1981	MIN	79	1004	8	188.1	16	11.76	5.99	5.76	92.2
43	Jason Witten	2004	DAL	87	980	6	177.5	16	11.09	5.37	5.73	91.6
44	Paul Coffman	1983	GNB	54	814	11	174.4	16	10.9	5.18	5.72	91.5
45	Bob Trumpy	1969	CIN	37	835	9	156	14	11.14	5.47	5.67	90.7
46	Walter White	1976	KAN	47	808	7	147.8	14	10.56	4.92	5.64	90.2
47	Rob Gronkowski	2012	NWE	55	790	11	172.5	11	15.68	7.52	8.16	89.8
48	Antonio Gates	2007	SDG	75	984	9	189.9	16	11.87	6.31	5.56	89
49	Vernon Davis	2009	SFO	78	965	13	213.5	16	13.34	7.82	5.53	88.4
50	Keith Jackson	1988	PHI	81	869	6	163.4	16	10.21	4.69	5.53	88.4
51	Shannon Sharpe	1998	DEN	64	768	10	168.8	16	10.55	5.05	5.5	88
52	Bob Tucker	1971	NYG	59	791	4	132.7	12	11.06	4.68	6.38	87.5
53	Shannon Sharpe	1997	DEN	72	1107	3	164.7	16	10.29	4.97	5.33	85.2
54	Antonio Gates	2010	SDG	50	782	10	163.2	10	16.32	7.89	8.43	84.3
55	Jerry Smith	1969	WAS	54	682	9	150	14	10.71	5.47	5.24	83.9
56	Marv Cook	1991	NWE	82	808	3	139.8	16	8.74	3.53	5.21	83.3
57	Wesley Walls	1996	CAR	61	713	10	161.8	16	10.11	4.98	5.14	82.2
58	Jimmy Graham	2012	NOR	85	982	9	194.7	15	12.98	7.52	5.46	81.9
59	Mike Ditka	1963	CHI	59	794	8	156.9	14	11.21	6.15	5.06	80.9
60	Kellen Winslow	2007	CLE	82	1106	5	181.6	16	11.35	6.31	5.04	80.7
61	Jackie Smith	1968	STL	49	789	2	149.7	14	10.69	5.69	5.01	80.1
62	Ben Coates	1995	NWE	84	915	6	169.5	16	10.59	5.59	5.01	80.1
63	Rich Caster	1974	NYJ	38	745	7	135.5	13	10.42	5.07	5.35	79.5
64	Antonio Gates	2009	SDG	79	1157	8	203.2	16	12.7	7.82	4.88	78.1
65	Pete Retzlaff	1964	PHI	51	855	8	159	12	13.25	7.56	5.69	78.1
66	Todd Heap	2002	BAL	68	836	6	157.4	16	9.84	4.97	4.87	77.9
67	Mark Bavaro	1986	NYG	66	1001	4	157.1	16	9.82	4.95	4.87	77.9
68	Shannon Sharpe	2003	DEN	62	770	8	156	15	10.4	5.24	5.16	77.3
69	Eric Green	1993	PIT	63	942	5	155.7	16	9.73	4.92	4.81	77
70	Todd Christensen	1984	RAI	80	1007	7	182.7	16	11.42	6.61	4.81	76.9
71	Todd Christensen	1982	RAI	42	510	4	95.4	9	10.6	5.8	4.8	76.8
72	Ozzie Newsome	1981	CLE	69	1002	6	172.7	16	10.79	5.99	4.8	76.8
73	Julius Thomas	2013	DEN	65	788	12	183.3	14	13.09	7.66	5.43	76
74	Eric Green	1991	PIT	41	582	6	114.7	11	10.43	3.53	6.9	75.9
75	Bob Tucker	1972	NYG	55	764	4	134.5	14	9.61	4.88	4.73	75.7
76	Todd Christensen	1985	RAI	82	987	6	175.7	16	10.98	6.27	4.71	75.4
77	Ben Coates	1997	NWE	66	737	8	154.7	16	9.67	4.97	4.7	75.2
78	Mickey Shuler	1988	NYJ	70	805	5	145.5	15	9.7	4.69	5.01	75.2
79	Antonio Gates	2006	SDG	71	924	9	181.9	16	11.37	6.68	4.69	75.1
80	Brent Jones	1994	SFO	49	670	9	145.5	15	9.7	4.7	5	75
81	Jason Witten	2010	DAL	94	1002	9	201.2	16	12.58	7.89	4.69	75
82	Vernon Davis	2013	SFO	52	850	13	189	15	12.6	7.66	4.94	74.1
83	John Mackey	1966	BAL	50	829	9	161.3	14	11.52	6.91	4.61	73.8
84	Ben Coates	1996	NWE	62	682	9	153.2	16	9.58	4.98	4.6	73.6
85	Riley Odoms	1973	DEN	43	629	7	131.7	14	9.41	4.84	4.56	73
86	Tony Gonzalez	2001	KAN	73	917	6	167.1	16	10.44	5.93	4.51	72.2
87	Ted Kwalick	1971	SFO	52	664	5	128.6	14	9.19	4.68	4.51	72.1
88	Steve Jordan	1986	MIN	58	859	6	150.9	16	9.43	4.95	4.48	71.7
89	Tony Gonzalez	2002	KAN	63	773	7	150.8	16	9.43	4.97	4.46	71.3
90	Dan Ross	1982	CIN	47	508	3	92.3	9	10.26	5.8	4.46	71.3
91	Ted Kwalick	1973	SFO	47	729	5	130.1	14	9.29	4.84	4.45	71.2
92	Ozzie Newsome	1979	CLE	55	781	9	160.2	16	10.01	5.68	4.33	69.3
93	Riley Odoms	1978	DEN	54	829	6	146.4	16	9.15	4.84	4.31	68.9
94	Ozzie Newsome	1984	CLE	89	1001	5	174.6	16	10.91	6.61	4.3	68.8
95	Raymond Chester	1979	OAK	58	712	8	148.2	14	10.59	5.68	4.9	68.7
96	John Mackey	1965	BAL	40	814	7	144.1	14	10.29	6.01	4.29	68.6
97	Jeremy Shockey	2005	NYG	65	891	7	163.6	15	10.91	6.34	4.57	68.5
98	Dallas Clark	2008	IND	77	848	6	159.3	15	10.62	6.07	4.55	68.3
99	Raymond Chester	1972	OAK	34	576	8	122.9	13	9.45	4.88	4.58	68
100	Mickey Shuler	1985	NYJ	76	879	7	167.9	16	10.49	6.27	4.23	67.6
101	Shannon Sharpe	2000	BAL	67	810	5	144.5	16	9.03	4.81	4.23	67.6
102	Jay Novacek	1992	DAL	68	630	6	133	16	8.31	4.09	4.23	67.6
103	Tony Gonzalez	2012	ATL	93	930	8	187.5	16	11.72	7.52	4.2	67.2
104	Jerry Smith	1970	WAS	43	575	9	135.9	14	9.71	5.57	4.14	66.2
105	Jim Whalen	1968	BOS	47	718	7	137.3	14	9.81	5.69	4.12	65.9
106	Aaron Hernandez	2011	NWE	79	910	7	177	14	12.64	7.94	4.7	65.8
107	Ben Coates	1998	NWE	67	668	6	136.3	14	9.74	5.05	4.69	65.6
108	Freddie Jones	2000	SDG	71	766	5	142.1	16	8.88	4.81	4.08	65.2
109	Rickey Dudley	1997	OAK	48	787	7	144.7	16	9.04	4.97	4.08	65.2
110	Wesley Walls	1997	CAR	58	746	6	139.6	15	9.31	4.97	4.34	65.1
111	Ethan Horton	1991	RAI	53	650	5	121.5	16	7.59	3.53	4.06	65
112	Henry Childs	1977	NOR	33	518	9	122.3	13	9.41	5.04	4.37	65
113	Dallas Clark	2007	IND	58	616	11	159.5	15	10.63	6.31	4.33	64.9
114	Jason Witten	2008	DAL	81	952	4	161.8	16	10.11	6.07	4.04	64.7
115	Jimmy Graham	2014	NOR	85	889	10	191.4	16	11.96	7.94	4.02	64.3
116	Robert Awalt	1987	STL	42	526	6	108.7	12	9.06	4.05	5.01	64.1
117	Pete Retzlaff	1963	PHI	57	895	4	142	14	10.14	6.15	3.99	63.9
118	Mike Ditka	1962	CHI	58	904	5	149.4	14	10.67	6.69	3.98	63.7
119	Bob Tucker	1973	NYG	50	681	5	123.5	14	8.82	4.84	3.98	63.7
120	Keith Jackson	1994	MIA	59	673	7	138.8	16	8.68	4.7	3.98	63.6
121	Todd Heap	2005	BAL	75	855	7	165	16	10.31	6.34	3.98	63.6
122	Walter White	1977	KAN	48	674	5	121.1	13	9.32	5.04	4.28	63.6
123	Jay Novacek	1991	DAL	59	664	4	119.9	16	7.49	3.53	3.96	63.4
124	Keith Jackson	1990	PHI	50	670	6	128	14	9.14	4.68	4.46	62.5
125	Alge Crumpler	2004	ATL	48	774	6	137.4	14	9.81	5.37	4.45	62.2
126	Keith Jackson	1989	PHI	63	648	3	114.3	14	8.16	3.76	4.41	61.7
127	Ben Coates	1993	NWE	53	659	8	140.4	16	8.78	4.92	3.86	61.7
128	Antonio Gates	2014	SDG	69	821	12	188.6	16	11.79	7.94	3.84	61.5
129	Jim Mitchell	1970	ATL	44	650	6	131.3	14	9.38	5.57	3.81	60.9
130	Dan Ross	1981	CIN	71	910	5	156.5	16	9.78	5.99	3.79	60.6
131	Billy Cannon	1967	OAK	32	629	10	138.9	14	9.92	6.14	3.78	60.5
132	Keith Jackson	1992	MIA	48	594	5	113.4	13	8.72	4.09	4.64	60.3
133	Fred Dugan	1961	WAS	53	817	4	132.2	13	10.17	6.11	4.05	60.2
134	Riley Odoms	1974	DEN	42	639	6	123.4	14	8.81	5.07	3.74	59.9
135	Rich Caster	1975	NYJ	47	820	4	129.5	14	9.25	5.52	3.73	59.7
136	Kellen Winslow	1984	SDG	55	663	2	105.8	7	15.11	6.61	8.5	59.5
137	Henry Childs	1978	NOR	53	869	4	137	16	8.56	4.84	3.72	59.5
138	Charle Young	1974	PHI	63	696	3	122.9	14	8.78	5.07	3.71	59.3
139	Milt Morin	1968	CLE	43	792	5	131.5	14	9.39	5.69	3.71	59.3
140	Steve Jordan	1988	MIN	57	756	5	134.1	16	8.38	4.69	3.69	59.1
141	Jordan Cameron	2013	CLE	80	917	7	173.7	15	11.58	7.66	3.92	58.8
142	Mike Ditka	1964	CHI	75	897	5	157.2	14	11.23	7.56	3.67	58.7
143	Carroll Dale	1966	GNB	37	876	7	148.1	14	10.58	6.91	3.67	58.7
144	Chris Cooley	2007	WAS	66	786	8	159.6	16	9.98	6.31	3.67	58.7
145	Shannon Sharpe	1995	DEN	63	756	4	131.1	13	10.08	5.59	4.5	58.5
146	Brent Celek	2009	PHI	76	971	8	183.1	16	11.44	7.82	3.63	58
147	Brent Jones	1990	SFO	56	747	5	132.7	16	8.29	4.68	3.61	57.8
148	Todd Christensen	1987	RAI	47	663	2	101.8	12	8.48	4.05	4.43	56.7
149	Jason Witten	2012	DAL	110	1039	3	176.9	16	11.06	7.52	3.54	56.6
150	Tony Gonzalez	2006	KAN	73	900	5	156.5	15	10.43	6.68	3.76	56.4
151	Don Hasselbeck	1981	NWE	46	808	6	139.8	14	9.99	5.99	3.99	55.9
152	Pat Richter	1968	WAS	42	533	9	128.3	14	9.16	5.69	3.48	55.7
153	Kellen Winslow	1986	SDG	64	728	5	134.8	16	8.43	4.95	3.48	55.6
154	Alvin Reed	1968	HOU	46	747	5	127.7	14	9.12	5.69	3.44	55
155	Jermaine Wiggins	2004	MIN	71	705	4	130	14	9.29	5.37	3.92	54.8
156	Dave Casper	1977	OAK	48	584	6	118.4	14	8.46	5.04	3.42	54.7
157	Doug Cosbie	1982	DAL	30	441	4	82.9	9	9.21	5.8	3.41	54.6
158	Keith Jackson	1991	PHI	48	569	5	110.9	16	6.93	3.53	3.4	54.4
159	John Mackey	1968	BAL	45	644	5	127.2	14	9.09	5.69	3.4	54.4
160	Jim Mitchell	1971	ATL	33	593	5	108.3	13	8.33	4.68	3.65	54.3
161	Randy McMichael	2004	MIA	73	791	4	139.6	16	8.73	5.37	3.36	53.7
162	Dave Parks	1972	NOR	32	542	6	105.5	12	8.79	4.88	3.91	53.7
163	Chris Cooley	2005	WAS	71	774	7	154.9	16	9.68	6.34	3.34	53.5
164	Willie Frazier	1965	HOU	37	521	8	118.6	12	9.88	6.01	3.88	53.2
165	Jimmie Giles	1982	TAM	28	499	3	82	9	9.11	5.8	3.31	53
166	John Mackey	1963	BAL	35	726	7	132.4	14	9.46	6.15	3.31	52.9
167	Tony Gonzalez	2013	ATL	83	859	8	175.4	16	10.96	7.66	3.3	52.8
168	Johnny Mitchell	1994	NYJ	58	749	4	127.9	16	7.99	4.7	3.29	52.7
169	Jeremy Shockey	2004	NYG	61	666	6	133.1	15	8.87	5.37	3.5	52.6
170	Shannon Sharpe	2002	DEN	61	686	3	117.1	13	9.01	4.97	4.04	52.5
171	Frank Wycheck	2000	TEN	70	636	4	129.3	16	8.08	4.81	3.27	52.4
172	Heath Miller	2012	PIT	71	816	8	165.1	15	11.01	7.52	3.49	52.3
173	Emery Moorehead	1982	CHI	30	363	5	81.6	9	9.07	5.8	3.27	52.3
174	Rickey Dudley	1999	OAK	39	555	9	129	16	8.06	4.8	3.26	52.2
175	Monty Stickles	1961	SFO	43	794	5	130.9	14	9.35	6.11	3.24	51.8
176	Greg Olsen	2014	CAR	84	1008	6	178.8	16	11.18	7.94	3.23	51.7
177	Antonio Gates	2008	SDG	60	704	8	148.4	16	9.28	6.07	3.21	51.3
178	Willie Frazier	1970	SDG	38	497	6	122.7	14	8.76	5.57	3.19	51.1
179	Kellen Winslow	1987	SDG	53	519	3	96.4	12	8.03	4.05	3.98	50.9
180	Russ Francis	1980	NWE	41	664	8	134.9	15	8.99	5.6	3.39	50.9
181	Keith Jackson	1996	GNB	40	505	10	130.5	16	8.16	4.98	3.18	50.9
182	Frank Wycheck	1997	TEN	63	748	4	130.3	16	8.14	4.97	3.18	50.8
183	Cam Cleeland	1998	NOR	54	684	6	131.4	16	8.21	5.05	3.16	50.6
184	Marcus Pollard	2001	IND	47	739	8	145.4	16	9.09	5.93	3.16	50.5
185	Johnny Mitchell	1993	NYJ	39	630	6	118.5	14	8.46	4.92	3.55	49.6
186	Eric Johnson	2004	SFO	82	825	2	135.5	16	8.47	5.37	3.1	49.6
187	Henry Childs	1979	NOR	51	846	5	140.1	16	8.76	5.68	3.08	49.2
188	Chad Lewis	2000	PHI	69	735	3	126	16	7.88	4.81	3.07	49.1
189	Rob Gronkowski	2013	NWE	39	592	4	102.7	7	14.67	7.66	7.01	49.1
190	Alge Crumpler	2005	ATL	65	877	5	150.2	16	9.39	6.34	3.05	48.8
191	Antonio Gates	2011	SDG	64	778	7	151.8	13	11.68	7.94	3.73	48.5
192	Derrick Ramsey	1984	NWE	66	792	7	154.2	16	9.64	6.61	3.03	48.4
193	Brent Jones	1992	SFO	45	628	4	109.3	15	7.29	4.09	3.2	48
194	Steve Jordan	1991	MIN	57	638	2	104.3	16	6.52	3.53	2.99	47.8
195	Jay Novacek	1995	DAL	62	705	5	131.5	15	8.77	5.59	3.18	47.7
196	Mark Chmura	1995	GNB	54	679	7	136.9	16	8.56	5.59	2.97	47.5
197	Alge Crumpler	2006	ATL	56	780	8	154	16	9.63	6.68	2.95	47.2
198	Doug Cosbie	1985	DAL	64	793	6	147.3	16	9.21	6.27	2.94	47
199	Jason Witten	2013	DAL	73	851	8	169.6	16	10.6	7.66	2.94	47
200	Brent Jones	1993	SFO	68	735	3	125.5	16	7.84	4.92	2.93	46.8

At the career level, Gonzalez emerges as the clear #1, and it will take a long time for Gronk to threaten that role. There’s a “Big 3” tier after Gonzalez of Sharpe/Gates/Winslow, but it’s going to take Gronk a couple of years to break into that group, too. More likely to happen in the immediate future: Gronkowski (or Jimmy Graham) breaking into the top 5 in the near future, and to do that, he’ll need to pass his nemesis from today.

Rk	Player	First Yr	Last Yr	VBD
1	Tony Gonzalez	1997	2013	1185
2	Shannon Sharpe	1990	2003	855
3	Antonio Gates	2003	2014	776
4	Kellen Winslow	1979	1987	703
5	Todd Christensen	1979	1988	577
6	Jason Witten	2003	2014	567
7	Ben Coates	1991	2000	488
8	Ozzie Newsome	1978	1990	487
9	Keith Jackson	1988	1996	485
10	Dave Casper	1974	1984	467
11	Rob Gronkowski	2010	2014	413
12	Jimmy Graham	2010	2014	404
13	Jackie Smith	1963	1978	383
14	Wesley Walls	1989	2003	381
15	Jerry Smith	1965	1977	361
16	Mike Ditka	1961	1972	343
17	Riley Odoms	1972	1983	320
18	Pete Retzlaff	1956	1966	316
19	Mark Bavaro	1985	1994	315
20	Brent Jones	1987	1997	310
21	Steve Jordan	1982	1994	306
22	Mickey Shuler	1978	1991	293
23	Eric Green	1990	1999	292
24	Bob Tucker	1970	1980	288
25	Rich Caster	1970	1982	285
26	Jay Novacek	1985	1995	283
27	John Mackey	1963	1972	282
28	Dallas Clark	2003	2013	260
29	Raymond Chester	1970	1981	260
30	Todd Heap	2001	2012	258
31	Frank Wycheck	1993	2003	249
32	Ted Kwalick	1969	1977	237
33	Bob Trumpy	1968	1977	235
34	Vernon Davis	2006	2014	231
35	Jeremy Shockey	2002	2011	222
36	Charlie Sanders	1968	1977	219
37	Paul Coffman	1978	1988	214
38	Willie Frazier	1964	1975	212
39	Henry Childs	1974	1984	205
40	Rodney Holman	1982	1995	199
41	Chris Cooley	2004	2012	199
42	Charle Young	1973	1985	197
43	Doug Cosbie	1979	1988	194
44	Aaron Thomas	1961	1970	190
45	Kellen Winslow	2004	2013	188
46	Alge Crumpler	2001	2010	177
47	Jimmie Giles	1977	1989	172
48	Dan Ross	1979	1986	171
49	Walter White	1975	1979	161
50	Russ Francis	1975	1988	158
51	Jim Mitchell	1969	1979	156
52	Freddie Jones	1997	2004	153
53	Owen Daniels	2006	2014	144
54	Greg Olsen	2007	2014	143
55	Rickey Dudley	1996	2004	139
56	Johnny Mitchell	1992	1996	137
57	Jackie Harris	1990	2001	128
58	Billy Joe DuPree	1973	1983	128
59	Marv Cook	1989	1995	123
60	Julius Thomas	2011	2014	115
61	Marcus Pollard	1995	2008	113
62	Alvin Reed	1967	1975	113
63	Joe Senser	1980	1984	110
64	Heath Miller	2005	2014	110
65	Jim Whalen	1965	1971	108
66	Jean Fugett	1972	1979	107
67	Milt Morin	1966	1975	104
68	Aaron Hernandez	2010	2012	104
69	Randy McMichael	2002	2012	102
70	Dave Parks	1964	1973	99
71	Mark Chmura	1993	1999	97
72	Pete Metzelaars	1982	1997	90
73	Pete Holohan	1981	1992	88
74	Mike Barber	1976	1985	79
75	Robert Awalt	1987	1993	78

Yes, the top 5 tight ends by VBD all played the majority of their careers in the AFC West.

Mike Ditka has the #7 fantasy season as a rookie in 1961, and finished as the top tight end in ’62 and ’63. He was #2 in ’64, but that was about it for Da Coach. His career shined brightly, but it was only dominant for those four seasons. As a result, he’s #16 on the career list.

Jason Witten may be on an insane trajectory when it comes to receptions — he is still the leader in receptions through age X, which is now 32 — but he has never been much of a scoring threat. As a result, he ranks “only” 6th in career VBD, even in a PPR scoring system.

>What stands out to you?

References[+]

References
↑1	And we don’t even need to include Seattle, which has 0 entries in the top 200

Tagged as: Tight Ends

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