Dynasty Shopping Mall Part Four (Tight Ends)

Posted 8/22 by Jeff Tefertiller, Exclusive to Footballguys.com

Just like any other shopping mall, this will have different products at different levels of quality and price. We will shop around at department stores like Bloomingdales, Macy's, Sears, even the Dollar Store and look for products to buy. The focus will be on value. Many times the expensive products are worth the price. Some times they are not. We will examine opportunities to buy at a reasonable price compared to value. The products we are purchasing are fantasy players for our dynasty team. This is the fourth article in the series and will be examining the tight end position. These first three installments focused on quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers that will be free agents next offseason. This is the time to buy. Let's remember Chester Taylor. Two years ago, you could have bought him very cheap or picked him up off of the waiver wire. Last year, he was a pretty good back with very high value considering the price paid originally for him a year earlier.

There are several high and low profile tight ends slated for free agency in 2008. Below is a list of the ones to consider buying this offseason:

Chris Cooley

Chris Cooley has been a quite stud tight end the last two years with two top five finishes. That is incredible considering how poor the Redskin quarterbacks performed in 2006. The Redskins have stated that they want to re-sign their fourth year star from Utah State but it has not happened. Chris Cooley is still young, at twenty-five years old, and has a bright future.

Outlook: Top 5 finish once again in 2007. Expect Cooley to be a Redskin in 2008, but it is far from certain.
Store: Macy's. Cooley offers the production of a Bloomingdales tight end, at a lesser price. Cooley is not flashy, but produces big fantasy numbers.
Price: Less than a 2008 1st round pick and more than a 2008 2nd round pick or a very good prospect.
Recommendation: Buy today if you can get a good price. Cooley should be a top tight end for many years to come.

L.J. Smith

Smith has had a tough time coming back after surgery to repair a sports hernia. That sounds so painful. Not to mention, the Eagles drafted Brent Celek from the University of Cincinnati and still have Schobel at tight end.

Outlook: He will most likely be with a different team in 2008. Much of the value questions for L.J. will depend on where Smith plays next year.
Store: Banana Republic. He is a fashionable option for many fantasy owners waiting until later in the draft to take a tight end, but he is overpriced. The veteran tight end Smith could be good in 2007 as long as Smith comes back well from the injury. But, the uncertainty of the future makes it a risky proposition.
Price: A 2008 2nd or 3rd round pick or prospect.
Recommendation: Let someone else pay the price until more is known about Smith's injury and where he will play in 2008.

Eric Johnson

Eric Johnson has produced well in the past. He had some great years in San Francisco. He is now in New Orleans on a one-year contract. One issue is the Saints offense revolving more around Reggie Bush and the young wide receivers than the tight end position.

Outlook: Johnson is fighting for a chance to start. He is battling Billy Miller for the privilege, but should prevail. The veteran is probably only an average bet to stay in New Orleans into the 2008 season.
Store: Dollar Store. If you need a backup tight end, pick up Johnson off of waivers, if available, or trade a low round pick for him.
Price: 2008 3rd round pick waiver wire.
Recommendation: Johnson is an average fantasy tight end at this time. He has had health issues and needs to prove he can stay off of the injury report.

Ben Troupe

Ben Troupe has a world of talent but cannot seem to stay healthy. He was so promising coming out of the University of Florida and showed a lot of potential. He, like Johnson above, has found it difficult to stay off of the injury report. He is a big, fast, option for the Titans.

Outlook: Troupe looks to split time in 2007 with Bo Scaife with Scaife staying in Tennessee as the tight end of the future. Scaife was the college teammate of quarterback, Vince Young, and has a solid rapport with the signal caller.
Store: Radio Shack. He looks like the next best thing, but when you look around and compare, Troupe is overvalued. He is the Radio Shack where you pay $20 for some electronics that Wal-Mart sells for $6.50 and you do not realize it until it is too late.
Price: 2008 3rd rounder or mid-level prospect.
Recommendation: Some really like Troupe's ability and future. Let someone else pay the price for the athletic tight end, which will continue to disappoint.

There are other wide receivers to consider. There is a couple listed below to watch this season and pick up if the opportunity presents itself:

Kris Wilson: Wilson has been known as a blocking tight end and even used as a H-Back after Tony Richardson departed for the land of lakes. Wilson catches a few touchdowns each year. But, we have no idea to the skill level of the young tight end with the venerable Tony Gonzalez starting in Kansas City. He could be a starter on some NFL teams.
Marcus Pollard: Marcus Pollard is ancient in NFL terms at the age of thirty-five. He signed a one-year contract with the Seahawks, who let the oft-troubled Jerramy Stevens go to Tampa Bay. Pollard could catch as many as fifty receptions in Seattle this year. He is athletic and has produced in the past, especially while in Indianapolis. He is an ideal tight end in redraft and a great one or two year stop gap as a backup tight end in dynasty leagues.
Jerramy Stevens: Stevens played well over the years in Seattle, but seemed to always have personal issues. Tampa Bay has given him a chance to prove himself. Stevens has shown questionable hands in the past, but could land in the right situation in 2008.
Donald Lee: Lee had thirty-three receptions in 2005, but is still a virtual unknown in fantasy circles. The Packers saw unheralded tight end, David Martin, sign in Miami and is now the Dolphin's unquestioned starter at tight end. He is definitely a guy to keep an eye on during the 2007 season and the 2008 offseason.

Each team in each league is different. Not every team is in a position to acquire a player this year in hopes of cashing in next year. Chris Cooley is the only tight end that can be recommended. The others are all "wait and see". Cooley is a top tight end and should be pursued regardless if the Redskins re-sign him or he signs elsewhere.

This concludes the series on players that will be free agents in 2008. There will be more articles, on varying groups of fantasy players, to come very shortly.