There is plenty to watch heading into training camp. The most intriguing part of camp is of course the position battles. It’s a whole different ball game once the pads go on later this month. There are a ton of jobs up for grabs this offseason and they will have a major impact on the fantasy season. This article will focus on the tight ends.

Atlanta Falcons

Jacob Tamme and Tony Moeaki

Levine Toilolo has been relegated to a blocking back, which is why he’s not listed for those of you wondering. The job will be battled out between Tamme and Moeaki. Tamme has been productive at times but only when he benefited from injuries and with Peyton Manning under center. Now on the wrong side of 30, to say fantasy owners are skeptical would be an understatement. He is currently the frontrunner for the job but this battle is far from over.

That’s because Moeaki is a very gifted tight end that really flashed during his days in Kansas City and reemerged last season in Seattle. Unfortunately, he tends to find himself on the injury report more than in the stat sheet. Hopefully Atlanta isn’t just a new warmer climate city for him to watch games from the sidelines on Sundays.

What they should do

If Moeaki can actually manage to stay healthy, he was way more upside. He’s much more athletically gifted than Tamme and has much more big play ability. Tamme doesn’t bring a whole lot to the table that NFL defenses don’t see on a week-to-week basis. Moeaki, on the other hand, does. He could be a big time sleeper this season.

Denver Broncos

Owen Daniels and Virgil Green

I see Daniels as more of a sure-handed security blanket and Green as the playmaker. Daniels is a veteran who is familiar with new head coach Gary Kubiak’s system from their days together in Houston. However, he’s also had an injury plagued career and will be turning 33 years old in November. Daniels is now in the twilight of his career and slowing down significantly. There is a very good chance you see his snaps diminish as the season wears on.

Green is a raw talent that we really haven’t seen do much of anything during his four-year tenure with the Broncos. Now opportunity knocks and it’s up to him to answer. He’s a raw but athletic tight end that could profit from Manning’s reliance on his tight ends in the red zone. Green will almost certainly be the primary red zone threat at TE.

What they should do

Fantasy owners will not approve of this but Denver should deploy a split-tight end system. Both TEs bring a different skill set to the field that the team could take advantage of. From a fantasy perspective Green is the tight end to own. Especially since he currently has a significantly lower ADP than Daniels.

Green Bay Packers

Richard Rodgers and Andrew Quarless

Quarless was the clear-cut favorite for this job after a very strong showing at offseason workouts, even garnering high praise from Aaron Rodgers who named him as one of two players that will make a big jump this season. Then Fourth of July in Miami happened as it so often does for professional athletes. After a confrontation he discharged his registered firearm in public and fled the scene not long before getting arrested. Now he will almost certainly face some sort of discipline from the league. The team does not intend to release him but now plans on getting Rodgers much more involved in the offense.

Second-year tight end Rodgers is clearly the main benefactor from Quarless brush with the law. The Packers will most likely have to rely on Rodgers to be the primary tight end for at least part of the season. Especially since Brandon Bostick was cut after his part in the nightmarish end to the Packers seasons.

What they should do

It doesn’t really matter what they should do, what they will do is throw to their $20 million worth of receivers and get the ball to their star running back. The tight ends in Green Bay are always tantalizing fantasy options with Rodgers under center, nevertheless, they are not major contributors in their offense. As of now we just have to wait and see what happens with Quarless. Until then just avoid the whole situation all together.

Oakland Raiders

Mychal Rivera vs Clive Walford

Rivera is a talented kid who made a nice jump last season catching 58 passes for 534 yards and four TDs. He should be in line for a breakout season. That was until the Raiders drafted University of Miami all-time receiving leader for tight ends Clive Walford. Walford is a better pass-catcher, blocker and red zone threat. He was by far the best and most NFL-ready TE in this year’s draft. Walford became the leading receiver at The U topping TEs like Kellen Winslow II, Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey.

What they should do

They need to get the ball to Walford early and often. It’s unfortunate for Rivera, but Walford will be a star in this league. He’s a must add in dynasty leagues and is a great value pick in redrafts. Rivera is worth monitoring though.