Faceoff - TE Todd Heap, Baltimore Ravens

Posted 6/15, exclusive to Footballguys.com

Upside - by Chris Smith

I believe almost everyone involved in fantasy football believes that Todd Heap is a special talent and a top-five tight end. He has finished in the top-four in four of the last five years and missed finishing there in the fifth year due to injury. So in this face-off I guess it comes down to whether you believe Todd Heap is the second-best option at tight end or is behind Jeremy Shockey, Tony Gonzalez and Alge Crumpler.

Reasons to believe Heap is a top-two tight end

Heap is entering the prime of his career. Most tight ends take a couple of years to find their stride in the NFL and then stay on the top of their game for several years. Heap is at the top of his game and should put up numbers similar to 2006 at a minimum (73 receptions, 765 yards and 6 touchdowns).

1. QB Steve McNair loves using his tight ends: McNair struggled somewhat in the first half of last year in his first season with the Ravens before finding his stride during the 2nd half of the year. McNair is an experienced, veteran quarterback who loves using his tight ends in the passing attack. (Titan tight ends caught 147 passes in 2005).
2. Was close to #2 last year: Heap was just 13.5 FP away from being the 2nd best tight end last year even with Crumpler catching a career-high 8 touchdowns.
3. TE Tony Gonzalez is aging: Gonzalez has been an elite tight end since 1999 but he is getting a little long in the tooth and may be forced to stay in and help with pass protection more this season with the offensive line in a transitional period.
4. Is just two years removed from a 127 FP season: His output in 2005 would have placed him #2 last season.
5. Consistency: Last year he had at least 3 receptions in all sixteen games. In comparison, Crumpler had five games with 2 or fewer receptions.

The reality is right now there is a clear-cut #1 at the tight end position in Antonio Gates and then several players who all can make a legitimate claim for the #2 ranking at the position. When ranking Jeremy Shockey, Todd Heap, Alge Crumpler and Tony Gonzalez it really comes down to which player you have the most confidence in this season. That person for me is Heap due to his consistency over the years and McNair's penchant for using the tight end position.

Downside - by Andy Hicks

This face-off will be a bit more unusual that the standard ones assigned. I have Todd Heap higher overall in my rankings than his average draft position. His ADP and most of the staff have him ranked as the second or third tight end off the board, but I have him ranked fourth. So if it appears as though I have a foot on either side of the fence, apologies, but I think ranking Heap as the second or third tight end is a conservative move.

Why do I rank Heap in the late fifth round, yet won't take him there? Drafting players in the order of fantasy points they'll accrue misses the fundamentals of Value Based Drafting. Once drafts hit the fifth and sixth rounds, value turns to the second-tier tight ends (with Antonio Gates being the obvious first tier). With the tight end pool quite deep, and it can be argued that it will be even deeper this year, it would be worth considering leaving the tight end position until the seventh or eighth round and seeing who's left. There is likely to be little between these guys by the seasons end. By using your fifth and sixth round picks on other positions, you can still get someone almost as productive, and in a couple of cases more productive than Heap and Tony Gonzalez a round or two later.

Why isn't Heap worthy of being the second or third tight end drafted? First of all, I think Heap is a consistent pro who will be solid all season, but won't threaten 1000 yards receiving, 80+ receptions or more than six or seven TDs. If I'm drafting a tight end in the fifth or sixth round, I am looking for a guy that can potentially exceed those marks in at least one (but preferably two or three) of these categories. Heap isn't the man.

I'd rather take a guy that is more likely to have BIG games during the course of a season. Alge Crumpler has upped his touchdown figure in the last few seasons, and that alone propelled him to the #2 ranking last year. Shockey is more than capable of exceeding 900 yards and gets his share of TDs. Gonzalez, Chris Cooley, Kellen Winslow and Jason Witten all could approach or exceed Todd Heaps figures. Vernon Davis could be anything.

The bottom line is that by taking Heap as the second or third tight end off the board (which is what you'll have to do to get him), you restrict your draft options. In years gone by you had to jump in early or miss out on quality from the tight end position. Not so anymore. Relax, take it easy and see who falls in your lap.