2007 Fantasy Football Tight End Sleepers

Since the rest of this article will zoom in on some of the sleepers at the tight end position, I'll use this space at the top to do a bit of editorializing. If you're like me, then right near the end of the third round ? early fourth round of the fantaasy football draft, you're thinking "Antonio Gates is gone ? eh." In fact, at the completion of my most recent draft - a PPR league with two active roster slots to accommodate TE's - this is exactly what I said at pick 4.3, and it cannot have been any more devoid of gusto had I intended it to be. To translate, the "eh" means that there's a significant drop-off in production from Gates to the second and third tiers, which also means that virtually every other Gates-less team will receive similar production from their tight ends in a standard scoring league with 10 or 12 owners. Here's where the Bruno Boys are useful: if you you're preparing for a draft in a deeper league with space to play two tight ends each week (as described above), or just looking for a capable backup to hold the fort down in the event your primary tight end must sit due to injury (fantasy gods forbid!) or bye week, then you'll want to take notice of our Snooze Alarm fantasy football sleeper tight ends below. After the top 10 tight ends are off the board, there is a lot of wire fodder to wade through, but we think we've found some capable players that are more than just glorified blockers. __________________________ Owen Daniels ? Houston Texans Daniels showed a nose for the pylons as a converted rookie tight end last season. Despite a shoulder injury that limited Daniels to one reception in the final three weeks of the 2006 season, he still accumulated 34 receptions, five of which were scores. In week 8, Daniels let everyone get a sneak peak at his upside when he posted nine catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns. The scouting report on Daniels says that he has plus speed and hands ? not surprising given that his coaches at University of Wisconsin felt he had enough ability to line up as a wideout. After Andre Johnson, one would need to look long and hard at the rest of receiving corps to find a player who will steal red zone targets from Daniels, which is why it's very conceivable for Daniels to total another five or six touchdowns this season. And for new quarterback Matt Schaub, Daniels should make for an easy guy to find underneath, even if he isn't the savviest of blockers. But luckily, most of you are not in leagues that reward points for pancakes, so only worry about the blocking ineptitude if you're a Schaub or Ahman Green owner. Also, the Schaub acquisition has some surmising that the Texans will open up the offense more this season, in part because of the belief that Schaub will be a more efficient passer than exiled David Carr and to also lighten the load on the increasingly fragile Ahman Green. Couple this with his lack of competition and impressive physical tools, and Owen Daniels deserves FOUR SNOOZE ALARMS. Ranked 16th in the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Draft Cheat Sheet, Daniels should be one of the better TE2s available for your squad. Even if he doesn't break the 40-reception plateau, he is one of the better scoring options and a good matchup play that will still be available in the later rounds. To read more about which other Tight Ends the Bruno Boys target as sleepers, click here: