Fantasy football roundtable: Tight end edition

Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the tight end position going into the 2016 NFL fantasy draft season, courtesy theScore's team of fantasy experts (▲: player is trending upward; ▼: player is trending downward):

Will anyone challenge Rob Gronkowski for TE1 honors?

Potter: In a word, yes. But the odds are that Gronk reigns supreme once again. The man I'm interested in is Bengals TE Tyler Eifert, who scored 13 TDs to Gronk's 11 in two fewer games. If Eifert can see an increase in targets this season, he should be able to narrow the gap in PPR formats.

Wilson: I'll hedge my bets here. Gronk will still be the best TE in fantasy, but he's in no way worth drafting where you'll have to select him. There are too many good to great tight ends like Jordan Reed, Greg Olsen and stars in the making like Coby Fleener or Ladarius Green who could be had at comparative discounts.

Wegman: Unless the Madden curse haunts Gronk worse than any previous cover athlete, there's no chance anyone surpasses him as the top fantasy tight end. No tight end as the physical skillset Gronkowski possess, and no other starting tight end has Tom Brady throwing them passes.

Ghatak: While it is unlikely someone usurps Gronkowski as the top tight end, the expanding crop of competition is undoubtedly catching up. Last year, four TE's topped 1,000 yards - an NFL record - and five topped 150 fantasy points. With tight ends now looking and playing like over-sized wideouts, Gronkowski's separation atop the TE depth chart is dwindling.

Which surprise TE from 2015 is primed for a fall?

Potter: What are the chances that Titans TE Delanie Walker, coming off a breakout season in the 10th year of his career, can maintain that production at age 32? Marcus Mariota will take greater command of the offense and won't have to settle on safety valves passes to Walker to the degree that made him the fifth-best QB. Expect Walker's stats to drop across the board.

Wilson: Hear me out, but the answer is Dolphins TE Jordan Cameron. He's going to appear on lists as a bounce-back candidate, and while that is possible it could lead to people overvaluing him in an attempt to look savvy. With the passing attack in Miami much more likely to go through the talented wide-outs, Cameron could once again be ineffectual.

Wegman: Gary Barnidge was virtually a nobody until last season. Seven of his eight highest scoring weeks all came with Josh McCown under center. With Robert Griffin III likely to take the reins, there is plenty of uncertainty. To top it off, the 30-year-old is coming off sports hernia surgery. Not an easy injury for anyone to recover from, let alone an ageing tight end.

Ghatak: Barnidge has to be the answer here. Emerging out nowhere to catch 94 passes for 1,043 yards and nine touchdowns had to be one of 2015's most surprising storylines. Achieving that feat, in Cleveland as a tight end, for back-to-back years seems impossible. Barnidge's outlook is almost completely dependent on Cleveland's absolute mess of a quarterback situation.

What is the best plan of attack for addressing the position in standard 10- or 12-team leagues?

Potter: Target veteran TEs with catching ability that play with rookie QBs - that's what made Walker a surprise stud. Take a close look at how the preseason position battles play out in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. Short possession routes aren't sexy but rookies typically develop their NFL timing with those safer options rather than airing it out.

Wilson: Bide your time, but not too much of it. Target a tight end in the seventh or eighth round after stocking up at the other positions. There's a chance that a panic run will commence, but you need to stand your ground. Barnidge was a waiver pickup in 2015. If you miss out on the best options in the draft, don't sweat it and pay close attention to the wire afterwards.

Wegman: If you're picking at the end of round 1, don't hesitate to pull the trigger on Gronk. He puts up WR1 numbers virtually every week and is far and away the best player at his position. If you own a top-5 pick, Gronk is a steal in the second round, but he likely won't be there. In this case, fill your RBs and WRs first then take two TEs in the later going. There's plenty of depth.

Ghatak: With plenty of legitimate TEs available, the best strategy is to pass on Gronkowski and secure a quality option between picks 40-60. One of Olsen, Walker, Travis Kelce, Reed, Eifert, or Barnidge can obviously be had in that range. In 2016, half of 12-team leagues are sure to have TE1-caliber players each and every week.

What is your bold TE prediction for 2016?

Potter: Zach Ertz will be a top-5 tight end in 2016. He finished seventh among all TEs in receiving yards but just 10th in overall scoring. That's because he only caught two TDs, with three TDs and 398 receiving yards being diverted to aging veteran Brent Celek. Ertz has emerged as the more dynamic receiving threat. He'll be the go-to option if the Eagles give Carson Wentz the QB job.

Wilson: The New Orleans Saints' newest piece, Coby Fleener, will provide the best return on investment relative to the position. He's projected as the seventh TE off draft boards. The Saints have generated great success at TE between Jimmy Graham from 2010-15 and Benjamin Watson a season ago. Fleener is better than both and has shown spurts of excellence in limited time.

Wegman: Ladarius Green will be the second-highest scoring TE. A physical specimen, Green stands at 6-foot-6 and ran a 4.53 40 at the 2012 scouting combine. With Martavis Bryant suspended for the season, Green's jump-ball ability and large catch radius will be counted on the red zone as a compliment to undersized WRs Antonio Brown and Markus Wheaton.

Ghatak: The emergence of Eric Ebron. In his second year of action, Ebron caught 47 balls for 537 yards and five touchdowns. With Calvin Johnson out of the picture, Ebron is guaranteed to see an increased workload, especially in the red zone. Expect 800 yards and eight touchdowns, which would make him one of the top tight ends not named Gronkowski.