5 Tight Ends to Target in Your Fantasy Football Draft

Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers

ADP: 63 (5.12)

While Greg Olsen perhaps isn't the flashiest name on your draft board, he is one of the most consistent. Olsen has finished as the eighth-ranked tight end or better in each of the last three seasons, including last season when he finished fourth at the position.

What's even more encouraging is that his safe TE1 floor also comes with a relatively nice ceiling. His receiving stats have steadily increased in each of his last four seasons in Carolina, culminating in career-best marks nearly across the board last season, tallying 84 receptions, 1,008 yards, and 6 touchdowns.

And this is despite a relative lack of production in the touchdown department. The most touchdowns Olsen has ever scored in a single season was eight back in 2009 as a Bear. This might actually be a good thing for Olsen. Less touchdown-dependent than some of his tight end counterparts, his steady stream of production in the receptions and yardage department makes him less volatile on a week-to-week and season-to-season basis.

On that note, in terms of efficiency Olsen's 0.70 Reception Net Expected Points (NEP) per target ranked him 10th among all tight ends with at least 50 targets last year.

And though he hasn't been spectacular in terms of touchdowns, as you might expect, he has been consistent in this aspect: with the exception of his rookie year, Olsen has caught at least five touchdowns in every season of his career. Now with red zone weapon Kelvin Benjamin on the shelf for the year after receiving just 18 red zone targets in 2014, Olsen could see that number rise even with big-bodied rookie Devin Funchess lining up on the outside.

So thanks to his high floor and relatively high ceiling, Olsen makes an excellent pick in the middle rounds of your draft to hold down the tight end position for your fantasy football squad this year.