Today's poll kicks off the first of three polls down future Hall of Fame row, recognizing three truly fantasy greats of the game over the last decade-and-a-half or so. Few players are more worthy of an automatic first-ticket Hall of Fame ballot as Tony Gonzalez. Heading into his 16th NFL season (12 with Kansas City, soon 4 with Atlanta), Gonzalez has been a 12-time Pro Bowl selection and he holds the NFL records for most receptions by a tight end in a single season (102 in 2004), most career receptions for a tight end (1,149) and is 2nd all-time overll to Jerry Rice, plus Gonzalez holds the career tight end records for touchdowns (95) and reception yards (13,339). Gonzalez will go against four enticing options in Jared Cook, Coby Fleener, Kyle Rudolph and Jabob Tamme.
Defying Father Time last season, at age 35 Tony Gonzalez finished as the #4 fantasy TE (80-875-7 TDs). Gonzalez has missed only two games in his entire career. Gonzalez was one of the league's most targeted tight ends under Mike Mularkey last year so there is some uncertainty with new OC Dirk Koetter. Gonzalez has stated 2012 with likely be his last season in the NFL so this is likely your last chance to have the truly great Tony Gonzalez in your fantasy lineup.
After two NFL seasons and 13 games into his third season, Jared Cook was best described as a fantasy tease. Loaded with talent he had done little in the NFL. Then over the last three games of the season last year Cook erupted for 335 yards on 21 receptions (Cook was the #3 TE over those final three games). Cook won the Triple Crown at the 2009 Combine; among TEs he was first in the forty (4.50), broad jump (10'3), and vertical jump (41"). The Titans dealt a 2010 2nd round pick to move up and select Cook in the 2009 draft.
The Andrew Luck era will start with a friendly face in Coby Fleener, with both Colts' rookies having played together at Stanford. Fleener scored 10 TDs last year, averaged nearly 20 yards per catch and posted a 4.45 40-time at the Combine.
Kyle Rudolph had a fairly quiet rookie season at 26-249-3 TDs but the potential is certainly there for more in his second NFL season. According to NFL Network's Michelle Beisner, Rudolph was the "MVP" of the Vikings’ training camp and recently HC Leslie Frazier stated that Rudolph has "a chance to be special."
Jacob Tamme goes from underused receiving target in Indianapolis last year to potentially being a super-sleeper in Denver reunited with former Colt teammate Peyton Manning. On the flipside, over the last two seasons Tamme averaged 9.4 YPC, next-to-last along TEs with at least 50 receptions.
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