Tom Brady

Fantasy Football late-round tight end options include Ertz, Ebron, Bennett

Published Jul. 5, 2016 8:08 a.m. ET

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You opt against using a first-round pick on Gronk. A few more rounds go by, and you pass on Jordan Reed, Greg Olsen and Travis Kelce. After that, you'd rather grab backup running backs and wide receivers than a low-end TE1 such as Gary Barnidge or Julius Thomas, because the value doesn't seem right to you. And then ... OMG I DON'T HAVE A TIGHT END WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?

You're going to be fine. As long as you're OK without the likely elite production of the top three guys -- and the draft cost that comes along with them -- waiting on a tight end isn't such a bad idea. Here are a handful of players you should be able to get in Round 10 or later that carry plenty of potential.

(ADP's courtesy of FantasyFootballCalculator.com)

Zach Ertz, Eagles

ADP: 120 overall, TE12

Ertz finished the 2015 season as TE10 in FOXSports.com fantasy scoring, thanks to a strong finish that saw him catch 35 passes over his final four games. After the season, Ertz signed a five-year, $42.5 million contract extension, and better production might be on the horizon.

Ertz's career highs in receptions (75) and yards (853) ranked sixth and seventh at his position, but he caught only two touchdown passes. It seems likely that a similar volume level will result in more scores for Ertz, and if he had caught six TDs -- for example -- instead of two last season, he'd have been fantasy's No. 7 tight end. He carries both a high floor and decent upside for a low cost.

Martellus Bennett, Patriots

ADP: 144 overall, TE14

After basically pulling an Operation Shutdown (Google Derek Bell for background) on the Bears to force his way out of town, Bennett has a new home as Tom Brady's second tight end. The last time the Pats had a strong option in that role, it was Aaron Hernandez catching 79 passes for 910 yards and nine touchdowns in 2011. Heck, Tim Wright caught a half-dozen touchdowns for them in 2014.

Also, while you never want to take too much stock in optimistic offseason chatter, Bennett has apparently been working well with Brady, with WEEI Radio going as far as to say the eight-year vet has gained "entry into Brady's circle of trust." Sixty catches and six scores seem like a good baseline, and if Gronk misses any games, Bennett will be a locked-in TE1.

Dwayne Allen, Colts

ADP: 151 overall, TE15

With Coby Fleener off to New Orleans, Allen should get most of the snaps in a pass-heavy offense. When Andrew Luck with healthy in 2014, Allen caught eight TD passes in 13 games.

Eric Ebron, Lions

ADP: 160 overall, TE16

With Calvin Johnson retired, Ebron figures to take on a much bigger role in the Lions' passing game. There's some concern in Detroit about whether Ebron will take his game to another level, but he progressed to 47-537-5 in his second season, and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said recently that Ebron is ready to make "big strides."

Remember that Ebron was drafted 10th overall in 2014 because of his immense receiving skills -- the talent is certainly here. In the late rounds of a fantasy draft, Ebron is worthy of strong consideration.

Jordan Cameron, Dolphins

ADP: 174 overall, TE19

My colleagues at FOXSports.com accuse me of having a fantasy crush on Cameron, and I won't deny it. New head coach Adam Gase has talked about Cameron being in his plans for 2016, and in three seasons as an offensive coordinator, Gase's tight ends have caught 34 touchdowns.

Cameron won't be a primary option in a receiving corps that includes DeVante Parker and Jarvis Landry, but he could be a solid red-zone threat. Remember Cameron's 80-917-7 season with the Browns in 2013? I still can't get it out of my head.

Zach Miller, Bears

ADP: 185 overall, TE21

With Bennett off to New England, Miller gets to settle in as the Bears' No. 1 tight end. In four games without Bennett last season, Miller caught 20 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns, including an 18-211-1 line in Weeks 14 through 16.

Miller and Bennett combined for 126 targets last season, and now most of those targets should be Miller's. This is a nice, deep sleeper.