Seahawks Gerald Everett is a major TE target

By Calvin K (Twitter: @Calvin_SGF)

The tight end position is always tough to evaluate in fantasy football. Every year, there are many tight-end prospects hyped up as potential late-round targets. However, most of them will never work out simply due to the volatility of the position. That’s why picking one of the few elite tight ends early in fantasy drafts is a very viable strategy.

It can, however, be just as viable to wait on the position, deciding not to reach for a mediocre guy and taking a chance on someone late instead. While, again, it is difficult to predict who will break out, it’s certainly worth it to try and find a player who could be good at a cheap cost. Here are three guys to look for at the end of your drafts.

1. Gerald Everett (Seattle Seahawks)

Everett is currently the TE22 in FantasyPros’ Expert Consensus Rankings, a spot that seems much too low given his borderline top-12 upside. The fifth-year pro just signed a one-year, $6 million deal to join Seattle this offseason, a contract that indicates potentially a solid amount of targets. With Jacob Hollister gone, Will Dissly is Everett’s only competition for receptions at the position, and Seattle’s tight end spot is one that’s likely to be utilized more than people might think.

Seattle’s offense relied on lots of downfield passes last year, and as we know, that offense got very predictable after a while. The Seahawks have committed to running the ball more in 2021, but that doesn’t mean they won’t need a change of pace from constant deep shot passes. Everett, who has received at least 60 targets in each of the last two seasons (he missed three games in 2019 due to injury as well), could thrive in the role of security blanket, and he could handle the most work of his career now that he’s gone from fellow TE Tyler Higbee and the Rams. Everett’s target share could be inconsistent due to the number of weapons in Seattle’s offense, but his ranking means he could be available in the last round of fantasy drafts, which is a great value on someone with his potential.

2. Adam Trautman (New Orleans Saints)

Trautman was a third-round pick for the Saints in 2020, and he will have an opportunity to step up this year, as there is a major void in New Orleans’ tight end room (and pass-catching room as a whole). The Saints cut tight ends Jared Cook and Josh Hill this offseason, leaving Trautman as the clear number one tight end in an offense that doesn’t have an established number three pass catcher behind Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara.

Trautman is a very good athlete, an essential trait for a tight end to produce big numbers in fantasy. He was also an excellent vertical threat in college, and his physical play style leaves open the possibility of being a dominator in the future. Trautman is also an excellent blocker, which should help him stay on the field for plenty of snaps in year two. Trautman has only shown mild flashes so far in his young career, but if he can take a step up in year two, he could be a major value at his TE23 FantasyPros price.

3. Anthony Firkser (Tennessee Titans)

Firkser is an incredibly deep option right now, one who really isn’t being drafted in redraft leagues (as indicated by his TE26 ranking on FantasyPros). Despite the low ranking, Firkser actually could have a chance to produce this year, and he’s probably a favorite to emerge as the Titans’ number three target behind A.J. Brown and Julio Jones.

Brown and Jones will definitely take up lots of targets, and with superstar RB Derrick Henry in that offense as well, there may not be much room for Firkser to put up numbers. However, both Jones and Brown dealt with major injuries last year, so if either of them go out, meaningful fantasy production could be much easier for Firkser to come by. The addition of Jones certainly hurts his potential value, but it shouldn’t be forgotten that Corey Davis and Jonnu Smith both left Tennessee this offseason. Firkser had 53 targets in a part-time role this year, and if Ryan Tannehill continues to give him some favor in the passing game, he could fill the void that the Titans have at tight end.