2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Kevin Boss, TE, New York Giants

2010 Stats	35 rec. / 531 yds.	5 TDs
2011 Projected	41 rec. / 565 yds.	5 TDs


The Giants have always valued their tight ends and Boss is latest in a line of productive players. While Boss' numbers don't jump off the screen, he has averaged five or more touchdowns the past three seasons. With so many talented offensive players in the Giants, it's easy to see why Boss only caught 35 passes last year. Still, Boss is a consistent redzone target who finds ways to score a handful of touchdowns each year. Consider Boss a number two fantasy football tight end. 

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Dustin Keller, TE, New York Jets

2010 Stats	55 rec. / 687 yds.	5 TDs
2011 Projected	59 rec. / 705 yds.	5 TDs

Keller had an up and down year in 2010, and wide receiver Santonio Holmes may be the one to blame. Keller got off to a great start last season with 19 catches for 254 yards and five touchdowns in the first four games. After that (once Holmes returned from suspension), Keller had just 433 yards and zero TDs the final 12 weeks of the season. Keller's numbers were still very good, but disappointing after his hot start. Despite his drop in yards and touchdowns last season, Keller was still targeted 101 times by quarterback Mark Sanchez. Consider Keller a number two fantasy football tight end, with the potential to be a number one. Buy low and hope for a full season of stats like he produced the first four weeks of 2010.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Brent Celek, TE, Philadelphia Eagles

2010 Stats	41 rec. / 511 yds.	4 TDs
2011 Projected	42 rec. / 515 yds.	4 TDs

Celek was a big disappointment for fantasy football owners who drafted him in the mid-rounds of last year's draft. Celek finished 2010 with 41 catches for 511 yards and four touchdowns, a far cry from his breakout season in 2009 when had 76 catches for 971 yards and eight touchdowns. With quarterback Michael Vick favoring wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin more, it's not wise to believe Celek will return to his 2009 form. Consider Celek a number two fantasy football tight end.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Todd Heap, TE, Baltimore Ravens

2010 Stats	40 rec. / 599 yds.	5 TDs
2011 Projected	42 rec. / 515 yds.	5 TDs


Heap's number have declined in recent years, but he still catches around 5-6 touchdowns a season. Heap toughed out 13 games last season, battling neck and hamstring injuries along the way. When healthy, Heap is a fantastic redzone target for quarterback Joe Flacco and Heap still has the ability to catch 6-7 touchdowns. The concern with Heap is durability. He's 31 now and missed time last year with an injury. Heap is entering a contract year, which could bring some extra motivation. Consider Heap a fringe number one tight end, but only once he shows he's 100% healthy.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Cincinnati Bengals

2010 Stats	52 rec. / 471 yds.	4 TDs
2011 Projected	58 rec. / 555 yds.	5 TDs

Gresham looks like a player who can develop into a solid tight end. As a rookie, Gresham had 52 catches for 471 yards and four touchdowns. With uncertainty at the wide receiver position, look for Gresham to take a bigger role in the Bengals offense. While he does need to work on his consistency, Gresham does have tremendous upside. One concern with Gresham is his injury past. He missed week 17 last year with a knee injury (minor) and missed his final season at Oklahoma with a knee injury. Consider Gresham a number two tight end, with the potential to be a number one tight end eventually.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Aaron Hernandez, TE, New England Patriots

2010 Stats	45 rec. / 563 yds.	6 TDs
2011 Projected	47 rec. / 595 yds.	5 TDs

Hernandez quickly became a big part of the Patriots offense in his rookie season. The tight end from Florida finished 2010 with 45 catches for 563 yards and six touchdowns. The season did take a toll on Hernandez, who underwent hip surgery in the offseason. He should be 100% healthy when the season starts and ready to pick-up where he left off last season. While fellow New England tight end Rob Gronkowski is the Pats best redzone threat, Hernandez is more of a yardage guy. Still, Hernandez's ability to flex-out and play like a wide receiver allows him to stay on the field when New England's in the redzone. Look for about the same statistical output from Hernandez in 2011.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Detriot Lions

2010 Stats	71 rec. / 722 yds.	4 TDs
2011 Projected	67 rec. / 705 yds.	6 TDs

With wide receiver Calvin Johnson getting so much attention on the outside for the Lions, Pettigrew will be the beneficiary of a lot of single coverage this year. Pettigrew finished off a solid sophomore season in Detroit where he caught 71 passes for 722 yards and four touchdowns. Pettigrew has tremendous upside and made great stride in 2010. Look for him to keep improving in his third season and consider him a sleeper pick on draft day, with the potential to be a solid number one tight end eventually.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Tony Gonzalez, TE, Atlanta Falcons

2010 Stats	70 rec. / 656 yds.	6 TDs
2011 Projected	63 rec. / 595 yds.	6 TDs

Gonzalez is entering his 15th season in the NFL and is starting to show his age. Gonzalez had a good year last season, but statistically it was one of his worst as a pro. Gonzalez has been great for so long that even when he has a down year, it's still better than most tight ends. What Gonzalez brings to the Falcons is a solid redzone threat. That shouldn't change this year, even with the arrival of rookie wide receiver Julio Jones. Jones may take catches and yards away from Gonzalez, but not touchdowns. Gonzalez is no longer a must start each week, but he does still have fantasy football value, especially in leagues that require tight ends.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Zach Miller, TE, Seattle Seahawks

2010 Stats	60 rec. / 685 yds.	5 TDs
2011 Projected	65 rec. / 755 yds.	6 TDs

Miller has become a reliable tight end and he's headed to Seattle where he'll play an important role in Darrell Bevell's west coast offense. Despite finishing last season with just five touchdowns and 685 yards receiving, which was down from 775 yards the year before, Miller has a ton of upside. Miller, who turns 26 in December, played much of last season with a lingering foot injury. Miller is healthy again this year, but he is hurt by Seattle's quarterback situation.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Marcedes Lewis, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars

2010 Stats	58 rec. / 700 yds.	10 TDs
2011 Projected	55 rec. / 660 yds.	7 TDs

Lewis made himself a lot of money last season finishing with 700 yards receiving and ten touchdowns. His numbers were good enough that the Jaguars placed the franchise tag on Lewis, guaranteeing the sixth-year tight end more than $7 million for this season. Lewis once again enters a contract year in 2011 and he's looking to cash in on a long-term deal. While Lewis won't get many yards, he is the main redzone threat on a team that doesn't have a lot of solid receiving options. Look for Lewis to get a fair share of redzone passes again this season.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Owen Daniels, TE, Houston Texans

2010 Stats	28 rec. / 471 yds.	2 TDs
2011 Projected	65 rec. / 745 yds.	6 TDs

After an ACL injury sidelined Daniels in 2009, he struggled to regain his form in 2010. Daniels was slow to recover from his knee surgery and wasn't a factor for the Texans until week 14. When Daniels was finally healthy enough to come back, he ended 2010 with a solid four game stretch where he caught 22 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns. Daniels is fully healed now and recently signed a four-year contract to stay with Houston. With wide receiver Andre Johnson and running back Arian Foster garnering most of the defense's attention, look for Daniels to get plenty of opportunities in Houston's offense this season.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Chris Cooley, TE, Washington Redskins

2010 Stats	77 rec. / 849 yds.	3 TDs
2011 Projected	72 rec. / 820 yds.	6 TDs

Cooley benefited from a Redskins offensive attack that prominently featured the tight end. Cooley's 77 catches for 849 yards and three touchdowns where some of the best numbers of his career. The three touchdowns were disappointing, especially after he scored 27 TDs his first four NFL seasons (he has just six TDs the past three seasons). Look for Cooley to be over 70 catches and at least 800 yards this season, and hopefully more touchdowns.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans Saints

2010 Stats	31 rec. / 356 yds.	5 TDs
2011 Projected	55 rec. / 605 yds.	7 TDs

Graham enters his second season with the Saints and there are high expectations for the former third-round pick. Graham is looking carry-over his strong finish in 2010 to this year. During the final three games of the season, Graham scored in all three games, including a two touchdown game in Baltimore in week 15. While it was clear Graham is still learning the NFL game, he does appear to have a knack for getting open in the redzone. Which is especially good when quarterback Drew Brees is throwing him the ball.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Kellen Winslow, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2010 Stats	66 rec. / 730 yds.	5 TDs
2011 Projected	70 rec. / 805 yds.	6 TDs

Winslow has quietly put together a solid five-year stretch that has included back-to-back seasons of over 700 yards receiving and five touchdowns. After battling injuries in 2008, Winslow has stayed healthy the past two seasons and has emerged as a top target for quarterback Josh Freeman in Tampa Bay. Winslow is a low-risk pick who has a chance at 800-900 yards and eight touchdowns.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Jermichael Finley, TE, Green Bay Packers

2010 Stats	21 rec. / 301 yds.	1 TDs
2011 Projected	61 rec. / 825 yds.	7 TDs

Injuries have become the norm for Finley, who missed 11 games to a knee injury last season and missed three games in 2009. When healthy, Finley looks like a star in the making. He's big, fast and creates mismatch problems for opposing defenses. Considering this is a contract year for Finley, you can expect the Packers will give him every chance to shine in their high-powered offense. So as long as Finley can stay healthy, he's a great option at tight end. Consider Finley a high-risk, high-reward player - but I'm buying him for this season.


2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots

2010 Stats	42 rec. / 546 yds.	10 TDs
2011 Projected	55 rec. / 615 yds.	7 TDs

Gronkowski was a popular addition to many fantasy football teams last season. His ten touchdowns were tops among Patriots receivers and by the end of the year he was New England's best redzone target. Gronkowski will share time with tight end Aaron Hernandez, but not enough to impact his numbers. Look for Gronkowski to play a prominent role once again in New England's explosive offense.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Vernon Davis, TE, San Francisco 49ers

2010 Stats	56 rec. / 914 yds.	7 TDs
2011 Projected	68 rec. / 995 yds.	8  TDs

Davis is a physical freak who can create all sorts of match-up problems for opposing defenses. The past two seasons, Davis has scored 20 touchdowns (13 TDs in 2009, 7 TDs in 2010) and caught 134 passes for nearly 2,000 yards. Those stats are even more impressive when you consider the Niners have struggled to find consistency at quarterback. San Francisco's offense will look different this year with Jim Harbaugh taking over as head coach, but that shouldn't impact Davis all that much. In fact, the change to an offensive-minded coach like Harbaugh could improve Davis' production.