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2016 Bounce-Back Tight Ends (Fantasy Football)

2016 Bounce-Back Tight Ends (Fantasy Football)
Martellus Bennett

Martellus Bennett will look to bounce back with his new team

Disappointing seasons happen to even the best players in the NFL and across all sports in general. Whether it’s a down year due to battling nagging injuries, inability to pick up a new offense or quarterback, or serious injury sidelining them for the entire year – they’re virtually bound to happen. I’ve gathered four tight ends who suffered a disappointing campaign in 2015 and are looking to rebound.

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Jimmy Graham (SEA): ADP TE12
Perhaps the most glaring candidate for a bounce-back campaign is the Seahawks’ starting tight end. His season was cut short after suffering a torn patellar tendon Week 12 vs. Pittsburgh. After a frustrating first few months of the season trying to create chemistry with quarterback Russell Wilson and finding his way in the new offense, Graham was just starting to find his role in the team’s offense when he went down with injury. The tight end emphasized recently that his top priority is connecting with Wilson. Even with the recovery of his serious injury, Seattle has been unwavering all off-season stating Graham will be ready for Week 1. They even took him off the Physically Unable to Perform list back on August 10th. Graham lost 15 pounds over the offseason and is currently at 260 – the same weight he weighed in at the Combine coming out of Miami (FL). If he can get his knee near 100%, which is a big if, keep playing at his reduced weight, and continue building chemistry with his quarterback, Graham could be the steal of this year’s fantasy draft – especially at his current #132/16 TE ADP. You’ve seen him take over games before and ruin your fantasy football weeks. He’s bound to do it again.

Martellus Bennett (NE): ADP TE13
In 2015 with the Chicago Bears, the mammoth tight end logged his lowest receptions, yards, touchdowns, average yards per catch, and games played since his final season since 2011 with the Dallas Cowboys. Now in New England, all signs point to a near every-down role for Bennett after he’s played early and often in the first two preseason games drawing consistent attention from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo catching 5-of-6 targets for 59 yards. ESPN Patriots reporter Mike Reiss stated last week he believes the Patriots could play two tight ends in 80% of their offensive snaps. Plus, with oft-injured weapons Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, and Rob Gronkowski, Bennett could see an increase in his targets if any of these reverts back to their injury-plagued days. He should be in the back-end TE1 conversation.

Jordan Cameron (MIA): ADP TE24
The USC product came over from Cleveland via free agency prior to last season. Cameron, like the rest of the Dolphins team and coaching staff, underachieved mightily in 205 on their way to a disappointing 6-10 record and last-place finish in the AFC East. This after offseason playoff hype following their Ndamukong Suh free agency signing. Sixteen catches over his last nine games contributed to averaging a lackluster 14.3 yards per game on the season. He dealt with various growing pains after he joined the Dolphins last year, including meshing with quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Although, the coaching staff didn’t do him any favors as they frequently misused him in the offensive attack not playing to his strengths at all of high-pointing the football in the red zone. This could all change this year with a new regime headed by Adam Gase who implements a TE-friendly system. Just ask Julius Thomas.

Jared Cook (GB): ADP TE19
I know he’s burned you in the past. And, most likely, repeatedly so. But Cook is in a good place in Green Bay. Incumbent Richard Rodgers‘ red-zone targets could become supplanted if Cook showcases his elite athleticism and playmaking ability. Plus, the Packers could elect to play two tight end sets depending on their WR options beyond Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. Nelson is also coming back from a serious knee injury, and Cobb has gone through his share of injuries the past few years. If either of them go down, Cook could easily become a fixture in the Packers’ offensive game plan.

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Derek Guilford is a correspondent at FantasyPros. You can read more from Derek by checking out his archive or follow him @derekguilford.

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