Yardbarker: Tony Gonzalez

Fantasy Football Tight End Ranking Breakdown: 1-10

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:07:29 -0500

It's come down to this – the ten best fantasy tight ends in the league. These are the guys you want on your roster, the guys that you plug in and forget about the position for the rest of the season (except on bye weeks, of course). So when the fourth or fifth round comes up, instead of picking up that second wideout, or grabbing a mid-tier QB, maybe start thinking about one of these guys. A good TE can make a lot of difference. So let's check out the ten best, after a short recap of 11-30.

AccuScore: FFL Draft Strategies - PPR Leagues

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:58:31 -0500

If you're looking for a change of pace from the usual standard leagues, why not try points per reception leagues. Tim Williams gives you his draft strategies for each position in PPR leagues.

2008 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets - RELEASED!

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:05:32 -0500

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War Room Scouts: Ranking the top 20 NFL tight ends

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:18:05 -0500

The modern NFL tight end can no longer get away with be a plodding, one-dimensional, nice-sized blocker and expect to stay on the field often for his team. Instead, the position has evolved as one for premier, basketball-style athletes whose teams hope they can change the entire dynamics of their passing offense. It's all about an impressive combination of size and speed that's hard to stop in both close quarters and on intermediate routes: 1. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers. Gates is the best receiving tight end in the business. He is a physical specimen who creates mismatches all over the field. 2. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys. Became a certified superstar in 2007 with an awesome 96-reception season. He's a vertical threat and also Tony Romo's favorite target underneath, but Witten also has become a very effective blocker, which aids the Cowboys' running game. 3. Kellen Winslow, Cleveland Browns. With 171 receptions over the past two seasons, Winslow has finally become the star everyone projected him to be. His rare combination of size, speed, and athleticism makes him a matchup nightmare, and his ability to align just about anywhere on the field opens up several options for the Browns' offense. 4. Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs. Gonzalez is called upon to do more blocking in the latter stage of his career as the Chiefs' current offensive line is a shell of its former self. So while that curbs his statistics, he remains a consummate pro who can still change a game with his receiving skills when given the chance and is as good as most offensive tackles in taking on run-blocking assignments. 5. Jeremy Shockey, New York Giants. Shockey's greatest weaknesses are his head and his mouth. If he would just stop complaining long enough, he would be recognized for the outstanding receiving threat he is. He is also a better blocker than most think -- he just doesn't like to block. 6. Dallas Clark, Indianapolis Colts. Clark, an athletic pass-catcher, owns the middle of the field because of his ability to outrun linebackers and outmuscle safeties, and his football IQ allows him to excel in the Colts' read option system. Clark can stretch the seam and does enough as a blocker to allow the team to keep him in any game situation. 7. Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers' change to a more pass-oriented attack in the red zone has created more opportunities for Miller. He is a top-flight end zone target, creates mismatches with his size in short and intermediate zones, and uses his body well to shield defenders. And because he plays for the Steelers, it's a given he excels as a run blocker. 8. Todd Heap, Baltimore Ravens. Injuries have gotten the better of Heap in two of the past four seasons. While he can't help the team from the sidelines, the fact that the Ravens already meager passing attack falls apart without him speaks volumes of his talents. Hands, speed, route-running, field vision -- he has it all. If Heap can somehow remain more durable, Cam Cameron's offense will be a boon for him. 9. Chris Cooley, Washington Redskins. More H-back than traditional tight end, Cooley is great around the ball, showing soft hands and the ability to find open field in zone coverage. He has deceptive speed, gets on defenders quickly and is underestimated as a deep threat. Cooley also blocks best in t he open field, as he lacks the strength and bulk to hold up as a physical inline blocker. 10. Alge Crumpler, Tennessee Titans. Crumpler comes to the Titans with some injury history and hasn't been an impact player with anyone other than Michael Vick under center. However, he has great size and can make plays in the open field. In the confines of the red zone, he also shows strength and power as a blocker. Vince Young relies heavily on his tight end, which could signal a needed rejuvenation for Crumpler. Winslow has finally become a star. 11. Randy McMichael, St. Louis Rams. McMichael is a big target in the middle of the field with great hands and enough speed to get behind linebackers in coverage. He is a strong blocker when aligned next to the tackle, but he is better sealing off linebackers in open field. Look for a bigger role for him in '08 as the Rams' wideout corps isn't what it used to be. 12. Benjamin Watson, New England Patriots. The arrival of wide receiver Wes Welker in the Patriots' spread sets has stolen some of Watson's thunder, but he remains a dangerous receiving threat in the middle of the field. 13. Desmond Clark, Chicago Bears. Clark's strength is his ability to read coverage and either find open field against zones or take routes deep on seams. He has all the tools to be a dangerous red zone threat and moves remarkably well for a 250-pounder. Greg Olsen is the Bears' heir apparent, and Clark needs a better QB, but he's still worthy of this ranking. 14. Owen Daniels, Houston Texans. Daniels is all pass catcher, capable of making plays both on deep balls to the perimeter and intermediate routes over the middle. He has great hands with which to make tough catches, but his blocking struggles and limited after-the-catch prowess keeps him in the middle of the pack. 15. Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers. An unbelievable athlete and an absolute physical stud who passes the eyeball test with flying colors. He has top-tier speed as a receiver, capable of stretching the field vertically. He also has an understanding of coverage beyond his years. He wins most one-on-one matchups, and is a strong inline blocker who has enough strength to set the edge in the running game. If Davis can stay healthy, he will break into the elite ranks. 16. L.J. Smith, Philadelphia Eagles. Smith was a top passing option for Donovan McNabb prior to '07 -- when he was healthy. He makes his home in the middle of the field and uses a soft pair of hands to catch most balls thrown his way. Smith isn't strong in traffic and lacks power as a blocker, but he is adequate in both areas. 17. Chris Baker, New York Jets. Baker has proved himself as both a receiver and a blocker in his time with the Jets, but his battle with team management and the arrivals of rookie Dustin Keller and former Packer Bubba Franks signal an end is near. Baker can still be a solid starter elsewhere. 18. Zach Miller, Oakland Raiders. There is little question about Miller's receiving skills, and his speed and quickness allow him to find openings in coverage unavailable to lesser athletes at his position. He's a 'tweener, however -- he can be an effective blocker only in open field. 19. Alex Smith, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Smith is full of potential and natural physical tools for the position, but despite his blocking abilities, both in close quarters and at linebackers, his athleticism has not been on display in the passing game. 20. Michael Gaines, Detroit Lions. Is equal parts blocker and receiver, though he doesn't excel at either. The former Panther and Bill could flourish in the Lions' more balanced offensive scheme in '08. Maybe next year? The top breakout candidate to crack the top 20 for '09: Ben Utecht, Cincinnati Bengals. Utecht brings his knowledge and experience of working in multiple tight end sets to the Queen City. Critics say a viable receiving threat at the position has been something Carson Palmer has sorely missed. Talking to Palmer recently, he raved about what Utecht can do for the Bengals' offense and the opportunities he will help open up for the their talented perimeter receivers. If Palmer has reason to be excited, so do we.

Chiefs Fantasy Depth Chart

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:23:07 -0500

A healthy Larry Johnson is looking to reclaim his status among the top running backs, but he'll be one of the few Chiefs with a high fantasy value. See which draft tier some of his teammates will be slotted, in our fantasy depth chart summary.

Can Gonzalez make it 10 straight Pro Bowls?

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:11:36 -0500

Tony Gonzalez has had over 180 fantasy points in nine consecutive seasons in point per reception leagues which year in and year out puts him amongst the top tight ends in the NFL. Gonzalez led all tight ends with 99 receptions last season but no tight end has ever had over 90 receptions in two consecutive seasons and new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey wants to use a power run offense. Find out what we think of this situation and what we project for Tony Gonzalez for the 2008 season.

Tony Gonzalez is a Hero - What Would The Rest Of The AFC West Have Done?

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:02:53 -0500

Ryan Brown talks about Kansas City Chiefs' tight end Tony Gonzalez saving a man's life from choking. He also looks at what the other stars of the AFC West would have done in a similar situation.

Life Imitates Art: Tony Gonzalez saves "choking" man

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:12:26 -0500

Chiefs' TE Tony Gonzalez saved a choking man's life by applying the Heimlich. "Tony saved my life. There's no doubt," Ken Hunter, a shipping company manager, told The Associated Press. "Tony came up behind me and gave me the Heimlich maneuver. Thank God he was there." Oddly enough, Tony was never taught how to administer the maneuver. Lets compare this with a Chuck Palahniuk (think Fight Club) novel, Choke, where the main character, Victor Mancini cannot afford the care that his mother is receiving so goes to various restaurants and purposely causes himself to choke mid-way through his meal, luring a "good Samaritan" into saving his life. He keeps a detailed list of everyone who saves him and sends them frequent letters about fictional bills he is unable to pay. The people feel so sorry for him that they give him money, send him cards and letters asking him about how he's doing, and even continue to send him money to help him with the bills. Choke hits theaters this fall. "I'm Tony's No. 1 fan now," Hunter said. "I'm going to be yelling for Tony to catch the ball," (and send me money). What do you think?

Tony Gonzalez Saves Chargers Fan's Life.......What?!?!

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:53:07 -0500

While dining in Huntington Beach, Tony Gonzalez saved a man from choking to death, and he was a San Diego fan. Oh the irony...

Tony Gonzalez Does it All

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:36:42 -0500

Chiefs Pro Bowl Tight End Tony Gonzalez isn't happy with his 9 Pro Bowls. Chiefs Pro Bowl Tight End Tony Gonzalez isn't happy with his 8 All-Pro nominations. Chiefs Pro Bowl Tight End Tony Gonzalez isn't happy with his multiple Tight End NFL Records. Chiefs Pro Bowl Tight End Tony Gonzalez is happy when he's saving lives.

Tony Gonzalez' Best Play: The Heimlich Maneuver

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:35:19 -0500

I don't know a thing about football, but something tells me new dad Tony Gonzalez just scored another touchdown. A California man says the Kansas City Chiefs tight end saved him from choking to death...

koolaid's favas

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 10:13:20 -0500

this iz an allstar team dat can win

1997 NFL Draft Re-mix

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:17:28 -0500

Here's a look back at the 1997 NFL Draft to see who the teams would take if they could do it over knowing what they know today. This was a lot of fun making. I hope you enjoy it. #1 St. Louis Rams - Orlando Pace Hard to argue with a Hall of Fame Tackle that helped you to a couple of Super Bowl berths. Pace has been named All-Pro five times and been a Pro Bowler seven times. #2 Oakland Raiders - Walter Jones I was debating between Jones and Jason Taylor for the second pick. I decided to go with the Hall of Fame Tackle. Jones is a five-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler. #3 Seattle Seahawks - Tony Gonzalez Losing Walter Jones would be tough, but acquiring a talent like Gonzo would soften the blow. He is the best pass-catching TE in NFL history. He leads his class in Receptions (820), Receiving Yards (9882), and TDs (66) regardless of position. He's and eight-time All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowler. #4 Baltimore Ravens - Jason Taylor Can you imagine adding Jason Taylor to Baltimore's defense? The Dancing with the Stars' star has been named the Defensive Player of the year, All-Pro three times, and a Pro Bowler six times. He has 662 Tackles and 117 Sacks in his brilliant career. #5 Detroit Lions - Priest Holmes He may not have been drafted originally, but after witnessing his dominance, the Lions would jump at the chance to add the 2002 Player of the Year. Having Priest Holmes follow up Barry Sanders' act would ensure the Lions weren't the bottom feeders they've become. He's been an All-Pro and a Pro Bowler three times each. He has 8172 Rushing Yards, 2962 Receiving Yards, and 94 TDs (86 Rushing). #6 Seattle Seahawks - Tarik Glenn While he's no Walter Jones, Tarik Glenn was a pretty solid Tackler, earning three trips to the Pro Bowl. He helped guide an offensive line that was among the league leaders in rushing, as well as fewest Sacks allowed. #7 New York Giants - Tiki Barber The G-Men will have to take Tiki with the 7th pick (rather than the 36th pick where he actually went) if they want his production in their backfield. The three-time All-Pro/Pro Bowler ran for 10,449 Yards and 55 TDs, while adding 5.183 Receiving Yards and 12 TDs. #8 New York Jets - Ronde Barber It's only fitting that the Twins go back-to-back. Ronde has earned five All-Pro and four Pro Bowl nods. He has 857 Tackles, 21 Sacks, and 33 INTs. #9 Arizona Cardinals - Trevor Pryce The Cardinals beef up their defensive front with teeh four-time Pro Bowl DE Trevory Pryce. He has 379 Tackles and 79 Sacks. He has recoreded at least 7 Sacks seven times. #10 New Orleans Saints - Darren Sharper The Saints bolster their secondary by adding four-time All-Pro/Pro Bowl Safety. He has 798 Tackles, 7 Sacks, and 53 INTs (which is tops among his class). #11 Atlanta Falcons - Derek Smith The Falcons go with the leading tackler of the class, LB Derek Smith. He has 1092 Tackles and 13.5 Sacks. He had at least 90 Tackles in his first nine years in the league. He's reached the 100 mark six different times. #12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Corey Dillon Although Warrick Dunn was a great player for Tampa Bay, the turn to the leading rusher of the class in Corey Dillon. Dillon put together 11,241 Rushing Yards and 82 TDs. He ran for 1100 yards or better in seven of his first eight seasons. He has four 1300 Yard seasons to his credit. #13 Kansas City Chiefs - Peter Boulware With most of the treasured offensive players plucked from their grasp, Kansas City turns to the class' Defensive Rookie of the Year. The one-time All-Pro/four-time Pro Bowler had 403 Tackles and 70 Sacks. He racked up at least at least 7 Sacks in each of his first seven seasons (including three double-digit sack seasons). #14 Cincinnati Bengals - Warrick Dunn The beauty of Warrick Dunn is that he's like the anti-Corey Dillon. He is considered one of the nicest people to ever strap on a helmet and play pro football. He's not a bad player either, earning three Pro Bowl nods while producing 14,190 total yards (10181 Rushing) and 62 TDs (47 Rushing). #15 Miami Dolphins - Sam Madison The Fins jump up to take CB Sam Madison (they actually took him with the 44th pick. The four-time Pro Bowler has 470 Tackles and 37 INTs, which is good for second of his class. #16 Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Derrick Mason The Bucs grab the best wideout of the class. Mason has been an All-Pro once and Pro Bowler twice. He has the most Receptions (710), Yards (9,024), and TDs (47) of the receivers in the draft. #17 Washington Redskins - James Farrior The Redskins go with Pro Bowl LB James Farrior, who has notched 1017 Tackles, 21 Sacks, and 10 INTs. He has four seasons of 120+ Tackles. #18 Tennessee Oilers - Mike Vrabel I was trying to figure out a way that I could keep Vrabel on the Patriots, but knew that would be wrong. Instead, Tennessee gets the All-Pro. Vrabel has 600 Tackles, 51 Sacks, and 10 INTs. He also has 8 career TD receptions. #19 Indianapolis Colts - Jamie Sharper Like I said, this wasn't a great draft for offensive players so the Colts turn to LB Jamie Sharper, who had 882 Tackles and 25.5 Sacks in his career. He really blossomed for Houston with three straight 130+ Tackle seasons. #20 Minnesota Vikings - Mike Minter The Vikes grab Safety Mike Minter who finished his career with 817 Tackles, 11 Sacks, and 17 INTs. He had at least 79 Tackles in all but two seasons in his career. #21 Jacksonville Jaguars - Shawn Springs Springs has been decent, but injuries have kept him from being one of the game's best. He's been to one Pro Bowl. For his career he has 616 Tackles, 7.5 Sacks, and 31 INTs. #22 Dallas Cowboys - Jake Plummer While he wasn' great, he would help bridge the gap between Troy Aikman and Tony Romo. The Pro Bowler has 29,253 Passing Yards, 161 TDs (161 INTs), a 57.1% Completion Percentage, and a 74.6 Passer Rating. He added 17 Rushing TDs. #23 Buffalo Bills - Antowain Smith Antowain was decent at times for the Bills (and later for New England). Smith is fourth in the class with 6881 Rushing Yards and third with 54 Rushing TDs. He had a pair of 1000 yard seasons. #24 Pittsburgh Steelers - Marcellus Wiley The Steelers go with Pro Bowl DE Marcellus Wiley. He finished his career with 324 Tackles, and 44 Sacks. #25 Philadelphia Eagles - Ike Hilliard The Eagles WRs over the years have typically been so bad that Ike Hilliard would be an upgrade. Ike has 499 Receptions for 5,973 Yards, and 31 TDs. #26 San Francisco 49ers - Jake Delhomme Jim Druckenmiller certainly didn't pan out for the 49ers. They would much rather have taken the undrafted Cajun QB. The Pro Bowler has 14,589 Passing Yards, 100 TDs (64 INTs), 59.7% Completion Percentage, and a 85.2 Passer Rating. #27 Carolina Panthers - Bertrand Berry I'm not even going to go into the scumbag the Panthers took with this pick. Instead I'll focus on who they would take. They would grab Pro Bowl DE Bertrand Berry, who has 289 Tackles and 54 Sacks. He had a pair of double-digit sack seasons in 2003 & 2004. #28 Denver Broncos - Kenard Lang He finished his career with them, why not start out with them since Trevor Pryce already got snagged? He had 455 Tackles and 50 Sacks before hanging 'em up. #29 New England Patriots - Al Harris The Pats add Pro Bowl CB Al Harris to the mix. He has 395 Tackles and 19 INTs. #30 Green Bay Packers - Dexter Coakley The Pack finish it up with three-time Pro Bowl LB Dexter Coakley. He had 797 Tackles, 9.5 Sacks, and 13 INTs in his career. He had 90+ Tackles five times.

tcbailey24's Top 20 Tight Ends

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:48:36 -0500

With the 4th of my 7 part NFL series, I will give you my top 20 tight ends today. Tight end is a very unique position in today's NFL, as they are now a huge part of the offense in both blocking and receiving. Some are mainly blocking oriented, some are receiver oriented, and some can do both. Anyway, tight ends can really improve an offense immensely. 1.Antonio Gates, Chargers: Gates has been a premier TE in the game for a few years now, and he shows why every Sunday. His combination of size and athleticism make him very hard to cover and tackle, and therefore he records many TD's. 2.Jason Witten, Cowboys: Witten is a physical TE who puts up receiver-like numbers. His size helps him plow through defenders and his toughness does the rest. 3.Kellen Winslow, Browns: Winslow had a breakout year last season with Derek Anderson at the helm. He posted career bests in yards and TD's. He is also a pretty good blocker. kellen is also a soldier. 4.Dallas Clark, Colts: As usual, Clark had another solid year with the Colts, and caught 11 touchdown passes. He seems to do everything a TE is suppose to do well. 5.Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs: What can you say about Gonzo? He has achieved everything a tight end can hope for and still is playing at a high level today, even though he will enter his 12th season in two months. 6.Todd Heap, Ravens: Heap could probably be the definition of "solid." Even though he was out for a lot of the season last year, he was on pace for another good season. 7.Chris Cooley, Redskins: Cooley has a well-rounded game and has real good numbers for only being in the league for four years. 8.Heath Miller, Steelers: Miller is a young, physical tight end who can block well, and also be solid on the receiving end. 9.Tony Scheffler, Broncos: Tony has exceeded expectations in his first two years with the Broncos. Yes, he was supposed to be a decent pass catching TE, but he has flourished into a really good young talent. 10.Owen Daniels, Texans: Average sized tight end that has played much better than average in his first two seasons with Houston. I think we'll be poised for an even bigger season this year as the Texans make a run at their first playoff appearance in their history. 11.Ben Watson, Patriots: Watson doesn't have the best numbers due to Randy Moss and Wes Welker, but he is a tight end that can get it done when given the opportunity. He has some decent speed as well. 12.Jeremy Shockey, Giants: Shockey has always been a tough player who could throw a good block. His receiving skills are solid as well, but we will see how he comes off his injury. 13.Daniel Graham, Broncos: Graham is possibly the best, if not the best, blocking TE in the league. He fits well in Denver as he poses as an extra blocker for Denver running backs in the zone blocking system. He can also catch a few passes. 14.Vernon Davis, 49ers: Davis, like Gates, is an extremely athletic end and has improved in both seasons in the NFL, which is saying something when you don't have a decent QB throwing to you. 15.Greg Olsen, Bears: Olsen was a good performer for the Bears as a rook last season, and should get a bigger role this year, as he will be the Bears best pass catcher. 16.Zach Miller, Raiders: Miller was strong at the end of the year last season and I expect it to carry over to this season. If JaMarcus Russell can get him the ball, things for the Raiders O will improve all around. 17.L.J. Smith, Eagles: Smith has some good talent, and if he can become a better pass catcher, Smith could be a top 10 TE by the end of the season. 18.Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars: Lewis has good size and is able spread the D, and I think he could play a bigger role this year as the Jags try and make a run at the Super Bowl. 19.Kevin Boss, Giants: Boss has good upside and filled in for Jeremy Shockey very well last season when Shockey was injured. He also came up big in the Giants Super Bowl victory. 20.Alge Crumpler, Titans: Crumpler is a very dependable TE, who has good blocking size and is a decent receiver.

Fantasy Football: Is there a Raider in any top 5 list?

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:38:56 -0500

Tonight, I'll be representing MVN in an expert fantasy football mock draft at one of our partner sites, Mock Draft Central. The site was created to give any fantasy junkie the chance to participate in multiple mock drafts in order to prepare to out draft their league foes when the real draft came around. If you're into fantasy sports at all, it wouldn't be a bad idea to check this site out. It will definitely give you the opportunity to see if that guy you think is a sleeper pick truly IS a sleeper. In the spirit of being prepared to 'represent,' I tallied a list of top 5's at the QB, RB, TE, WR, and K positions. Let's see how I did...