Top 5 Tight Ends of 2019-2020

Top 5 Tight Ends of 2019-2020

If you need a big target that can give you a mismatch look no further than the tight end position. Today we are looking to see the players that are the best at the tight end position in the NFL. We are looking strictly at the 2019-2020 season, meaning we bring in no baggage from the previous years. A minimum of 10 games had to be played this year in order to be considered for this list since you have to be healthy to produce. You are here for the rankings so let's get right into them. 

5.Mark Andrews (Baltimore Ravens)

Explosiveness is the key to Mark Andrews' game. He led the team in both targets and receptions making him the MVP’s most reliable target. Andrews had 98 targets and 64 receptions on the year. He also had 852 yards and led all tight ends in touchdowns with 10 of them. The reason I say he is explosive is because he led tight ends in yards per reception with 13.3. Andrews also had 9 catches that went for 25 or more yards also leading in the position. The Ravens were not a pass first team but that did not hurt Andrews productivity. He is a problem for both man and zone coverage performing consistently with both looks. Who knows what kind of numbers Andrews could have put up if he had the same volume as the other tight ends on this list. 

4.Zach Ertz (Philadelphia Eagles)

In an incredibly injured wide receiver core Zach Ertz was the shining light in the Eagles passing game. Like Andrews, Ertz led the team in receptions, targets, and yards being the only receiver to play more than 10 games in the season. Ertz had the second most targets in the position with 136 and had 88 receptions. Ertz also led tight ends in targets per game with 9 and brought in 5.8 receptions per game. Those receptions led to 10.4 yards per reception. He had 916 yards to go along with 6 touchdowns also which is the second highest on the list. These stats gave him a tight ends rating of 92 being third best in the position. Being able to produce while teams are planning their pass defense game plan around you is very impressive. Teams knew for a fact the ball was going to Ertz nine times out of ten and he was still able to catch it 65.2% of the time.

 

3.Darren Waller (Las Vegas Raiders)

Darren Waller was a nightmare for defenses last year. It did not matter if you put man coverage or zone coverage on him, he was coming down with the ball. He was another number one option at the tight end position for his team but not for the same reason as Ertz, he was simply just the best receiving option on the team. Waller had 117 targets with 90 receptions giving him the second highest catch percentage at 76.9%. He was also second to Andrews in yards per reception with 12.7. Waller also had the second most yards with 1,145 but only brought in 3 touchdowns. If you needed yards after catch he was there for that too with 570 of them this year also second best. He led all tight ends in games with 100 plus yards with 5 of them. He also tied Andrews with the most 25 plus yard receptions with 9 of them. He was first in yards per route run vs man coverage with 2.9 and fourth vs zone coverage with 2.4. That just shows you no matter what coverage you are in Waller is going to make something happen. 

2.Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs)

Travis Kelce is a wide receiver at the tight end position. He was the leader in targets, receptions, and yards for a team that had an air raid offense. He led the position in those three stats also with 136 targets, 97 receptions, and 1,229 yards. Kelce turned those targets and receptions into a 71.3% catch percentage which was third best in the position. He was also able to bring in 5 touchdowns this year. He had two games with 100 plus yards and had seven 25 plus yard catches on the season. Kelce also got the most first downs out of all tight ends with 66 of them. He got 76.8 yards per game also leading the league. His 12.6 yards per reception was third best in the league being edged out by Waller by .1.  Kelce also had the second best tight end rating with a 98. If you prefer your tight end to simply have the ability to catch the ball then you would have him at number one on your list. He is the best receiving tight end in the league, but if you are looking for the best all around tight end in the league then you will go with the number one spot on my list. 

1.George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers)

Receiving, blocking, explosiveness, separation ability, or anything else if you can name it George Kittle has it. You give him the ball he is able to get yards before and after the catch. You have him run block and he will create a hole for you, he is just a play-maker in every sense. Kittle had 107 targets, 75 receptions, and 1,053 yards leading his team in each of those categories. He was able to turn those targets and receptions into a 79.4% catch percentage which is the best in the league. Kittle also had the best tight end rating at 99. Kittle had the most yards after catch in his position with 602 of them. He also tied Kelce with 5 touchdowns this season. If you want big plays, Kittle had the second most 100 plus yard games with 3 and tied with Andrews and Waller in 25 plus yard catches with 9. He also had 12.6 yards per reception. With all of this he only dropped the ball twice on the season. Kittle also led the league in yards per route run at 2.8. Kittle had the second highest run blocking rating out of all tight ends with the first being Maxx Williams who only had 15 catches in the season. Kittle is the only tight end to be top 10 in both receiving and blocking where he was first and second respectfully. Kittle is a threat in every aspect and that is why is the best tight end in the league.