It’s the off-season, time to take stock of our teams, players and plans for future fantasy football glory. This off-season, the Music City Drive In NFL Team is here to help. If you’ve been following along with the Happy Hour Podcast, you know we’re tackling our consensus Top 10s at QB, RB, WR and TE this March. Each Friday, in conjunction with our weekly panel discussion, we’ll be releasing the Top 10 right here. The panel of voters is Jason Astarita (@astataritajason), John Hamelers (@iheartcaravans), Ricky Valero (@rickyvalero_) and Matthew Fox (@knighthawk7734).
Here’s the process: each panelist submits a list of their Top 10. Each player is scored according to position, from 10 points to 1 point. Then the scores of each are added to determine a Top 10, with the highest score possible being 40 points. Below is the Top 10 along with some analysis and score information.
No. 1 Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
Total Score: 38
First Place Votes: 3
About: Pitts was THE tight end in the 2021 rookie class, and figures to be a game-changer. The Atlanta Falcons weren’t really good enough to let him be all that he can be, and still he caught 68 passes for 1,026 and a touchdown. He’s about all the 2022 Falcons have in the passing game presently, and he looks to be a force at tight end for years to come.
No. 2 Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
Total Score: 35
First Place Votes: 1
About: Andrews is coming off a career year. He saw 153 targets, catching 107 passes for 1,361 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s a key cog in the Ravens’ passing game who keeps getting better. He’s a great bet at a tough position.
No. 3 T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions
Total Score: 28
Highest Placement: No. 2
About: Hockenson is a great talent and a huge part of the Lions passing game. While two panelists had him at TE2, one had him all the way down as TE8. There are questions about Jared Goff and the Lions’ offense, but Hockenson is a young tight end worth rostering.
No. 4 George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
Total Score: 27
Highest Placement: No. 3
About: Kittle is an explosive force and a great receiver. There are only two questions—can he stay on the field and is the 49ers’ passing game robust enough to keep him at the elite level. Either way, his talent makes him worth the risk.
No. 5 Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
Total Score: 22
Highest Placement: No. 2
About: Kelce has been a stalwart at the position for years. In fact, he’s caught 80 or more passes each of the last six seasons. While one panelist had him at No. 2, others have him lower. This is likely due to age and the beginning signs of decline in the Chiefs’ offense. He’s still a great player to have at the position, but his reign at the top spot is over.
No. 6 Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders
Total Score: 20
Highest Placement: No. 4
About: Waller has been a huge part of the Raiders’ passing attack the last few seasons. He’s a monster at the position capable of putting up huge numbers. The emergence of Hunter Renfrow and the addition of Davante Adams could well change the balance in Las Vegas. Waller is still an elite option but his ceiling might have lowered.
No. 7 Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
Total Score: 19
Highest Placement: No. 4
About: Goedert has long had the talent, the question has been the situation. When Zach Ertz was dealt to the Cardinals, that cleared the desks for Goedert. Now the question is volume in the passing attack led by Jalen Hurts.
No. 8 Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
Total Score: 15
Highest Placement: No. 6
About: While Pitts was clearly the top of the heap in the TE class in 2021, the draft produced another good tight end in Freiermuth. He made his presence felt, catching 60 passes for 497 yards and seven touchdowns. Now he’s the future of the Steelers’ passing attack along with Diontae Johnson and Najee Harris.
No. 9 Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills
Total Score: 7
Highest Placement: No. 7
About: Knox broke out big in 2021, catching 49 passes for 587 yards and nine touchdowns. He figures to be a key cog in the passing game along with Stefon Diggs. The addition of O.J. Howard did little to change the minds of our panelists.
No. 10 Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys
Total Score: 5
Highest Placement: No. 8
About: Heading into last season, the question was whether it would be Schultz or Blake Jarwin taking the most snaps and targets at tight end, and how much any of them would get among all the Cowboys receivers. Schultz responded with 78 receptions for 808 yards and eight touchdowns. Jarwin is gone, Amari Cooper’s been traded and Schultz received the franchise tag. He should form the heart of the pass-catching offense along with CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup. That makes him an easy selection to jump into the final spot here.
Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.
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