LOOKING BACK
I might have actually found a sleeper for you DFF Army! Tyler Kroft has bounced around the league in his six-year career, most recently with Buffalo, where he had very little opportunity and success. Not only was he in a less than ideal situation with the Bills, who haven’t typically featured a tight end in their offense, but he also missed a ton of time due to injuries over the last three years. He suffered a foot injury in both 2018 and 2019, then contracted COVID-19 in 2020 completely derailing his season. He finished the year with 12 receptions 119 yards and three touchdowns. Not all that bad for just 16 targets.
Kroft isn’t a totally unknown asset, however. Once upon a time, he completed the illustrious third-year breakout we all hope for from young budding tight ends. In 2017 Kroft finished the season catching 42 of 62 targets for 404 yards and seven touchdowns for the Cincinnati Bengals. Good for TE15 on the year. The following season he suffered an injury that landed him on IR, ending his season. He signed with Buffalo in 2018, officially ending his fantasy relevancy until this year. Sadly, Kroft never got his chance to improve on a fairly productive 2017 season.
THE HERE AND NOW
Tyler Kroft has found himself a new home with the New York Jets, who have also found themselves a shiny new quarterback in rookie Zach Wilson. Wilson has impressed in camp and preseason games, but what stood out was his connection with Kroft, who looked rejuvenated with his new team. The rookie hit Kroft twice for 36 yards and two touchdowns in what by all accounts was the dress reseal, meaning the starters would be playing most of the game. Kroft, the starter? I doubt many had money on that prop bet.
Then we come to find out the Jets traded tight end, Chris Herndon, to the Minnesota Vikings for a fourth-round pick. Tyler Kroft just fell into a solidified starting role and appears to have built some chemistry with the young star under center. It’s worth mentioning Ryan Griffin, who signed a one-year deal with the Jets in 2021, is currently slotted ahead on the depth chart but he’s also 31 years old and not quite the athlete he once was. Kroft should lead the tight end room in targets by a good margin. At best, Kroft could see 50-60 targets securing 40 for 500 yards and seven touchdowns. DFF’s own @ChrisMiles1017‘s projections had Chris Herndon pegged for 39 receptions for 256 yards and two touchdowns, but I believe Kroft to be far more involved.
DYNASTY ANALYSIS
Truthfully, Kroft is a 28-year-old journeyman so it’s unlikely he goes on to produce multiple fantasy-relevant seasons but he was, and may still be, on waivers in almost all of your leagues. And there’s always a chance! He’s built a rapport with Zach Wilson and young quarterbacks tend to lean on their safety blankets and most trusted targets. His nose for the end zone makes him an attractive option for Zach Wilson during his rookie campaign. So, for contending teams I think Kroft is an easy add and probably one the cheapest buys prior to the 2021 kickoff.
It’s unlikely Kroft will break through the top 12 at the end of the season, but he certainly has upside on a week-to-week basis if you’re a dynasty contender. If you’re rebuilding this is the perfect way to turn a waiver add into a future rookie pick in just about any round. Good dynasty managers turn nothing into something.
Thank you for reading. If you have any thoughts or would like to discuss, you can find me on Twitter @WillieBeamanDFF.
