2007 NFL Draft -- Top Tight End / Kicker Prospects

Want More 2007 NFL Draft Prospects?

POSITION

Quarterback

Running Back

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends/Kickers

2006 was a draft class with a lot of potential at the TE position. 2007 is another story altogether. If any more than 3 guys from these two positions combined end up highly ranked in any 2007 fantasy football predictions I'll be surprised. There are only 2 TE's and 1 K who really stand out as having the special talent to provide fantasy football help in 2007. Long term there might be a couple more, but TE is really top heavy with a bunch of mediocre prospects and PK has 2 or 3 who may emerge eventually.

Tight Ends

1. Greg Olsen, Miami, 6’5”, 255 lbs: Olsen is a pass catching TE with playmaking ability. Great speed for the position (4.50, 40), solid route running, and sure hands easily make him the top prospect for fantasy football purposes. On the downside for Olsen is that he is a poor blocker and that may mean he is a one dimensional TE.

2. Zach Miller, ASU, 6’4 3/8” 256 lbs: Miller possesses great hands and concentration. He fights for passes and isn’t afraid to take a hit. A good route runner and a decent, albeit not dominant, blocker Miller has the tools to succeed in the NFL. The only thing he lacks is speed to stretch the seam.

Others to watch:

Ben Patrick, Delaware, 6’3”, 268 lbs: Slimmed down to 252 for the NFL combine to get more speed. Went from a 4.8 to a 4.74 in the 40. Good athlete and reliable pass catcher who blocks well too. Patrick just isn’t special in any part of his game.

Matt Spaeth, Minnesota, 6’7”, 260 lbs: A good blocker and decent receiver. Rehabbing a separated shoulder injury and while that is normally a concern, Spaeth has been very durable throughout his college career.

Martrez Milner, Georgia, 6’4, 256 lbs: Outstanding athlete with hit or miss pass catching skills. Drops easy catches but can make the spectacular grab. Not a motivated blocker.

Scott Chandler, Iowa, 6’7”, 270 lbs: Tall and a good pass catcher, but lacks speed and isn’t as dominant a blocker as size would indicate.

Kickers

1. Mason Crosby, Colorado, 6’1”, 214 lbs: A big time leg and accurate within 50 yards (17-19 within 50 yards in ’06; 7 of his 9 misses were from 50+), Crosby could be the only PK taken in the draft. Has a career long of 60 yards in college. His technique is questionable though as he hits his kicks too low sometimes. It also needs to be noted that his leg strength may have been helped by kicking in the thin air of Colorado.

Others to watch:

Nick Folk, Arizona: Good leg strength and technique, but accuracy could be better as he was only 6-10 outside of 40 yards in ’06.

Justin Medlock, UCLA: Strong leg (2-2 on 50+ in ’06) and accurate (26-30 total in ’06), Medlock’s problem is character as he pled guilty to DUI in 2006. That may scare team’s in the new crackdown of bad boys in the NFL.

See Russ's other 2007 NFL Draft Preview articles:

• 2007 NFL Draft Preview: Quarterbacks
• 2007 NFL Draft Preview: Running Backs
• 2007 NFL Draft Preview: Wide Receivers

Russ Bliss is Fantasy Football Starters' exclusive fantasy football expert, a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, and for 11 years has been the radio host of "The Red Zone, Talking Fantasy Football and the NFL," in Phoenix, Arizona.

Copyright © 2007 Ready-Set-Go Fantasy Sports, LLC. All rights reserved.