Best TE? Kyle Rudolph's career totals in three seasons: 109 catches, 1,055 yards, 15 TDs. (USATSI)
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Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph has had a decent enough three-year career.
He caught 53 passes for nine touchdowns in 2012 and made the Pro Bowl, but he missed the second half of last season with a broken foot (he had been on pace, though, for 60 catches for 626 yards and six touchdowns).
So yeah, you could probably argue that Rudolph is one of the 10 best tight ends in the game.
But those aren't the terms Rudolph wants to debate. Here's Rudolph's answer when he was asked to name the best tight end in the NFL: "Me."
"There's a ton of talented tight ends in our game," Rudolph said, via the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "You have guys that play at a high level, like Jimmy Graham, Rob Gronkowski, Jason Witten and Vernon Davis. But I would put myself up there with them.
"I feel as a tight end, it's extremely important to be a guy that can contribute in the running game and also in the passing game."
By that, he means you have to be a strong blocker if you want to take the title of "best tight end in the game."
According to the Pro Football Focus metrics, he was competent as a pass blocker in 2013 but not so good as a run blocker. In 2012, he was above average in run-blocking and pass protection, but he wasn't anywhere near the blocking production of Colts tight end Dwayne Allen in 2012 or Panthers tight end Ben Hartsock last season.
But considering there's a new offensive coordinator in town -- Norv Turner, whose recent teams have featured Cleveland's Jordan Cameron (who caught 80 passes last season) and San Diego's Antonio Gates (eight-time Pro Bowl selection) -- we might see Rudolph catch even more passes in 2014.
"If you follow his coaching career, all the places he's been, the tight end has been really important in his offense," Rudolph said. "I'm looking forward to being a part of that. ... My goal every year is to be the best tight end in the NFL."
By my calculations, he still has a ways to go.
NFL Hot News
WR Britt to the Rams on one year deal
According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, the St. Louis Rams have added another wide receiver to the arsenal of quarterback Sam Bradford. Kenny Britt was signed Monday to a one year deal worth a reported $1.4 million, with $550,000 guaranteed.The 25 year-old, former first round draft pick has spent his first six seasons with the Tennessee Titans. He played in 12 games in 2013, catching only 11 balls for 96 yards.
Britt has never really lived up to expectations that come with being a first round draft pick. His career high in receptions is 45 and he's never eclipsed 800 yards in a season. His best season was 2010, when he caught 42 balls for 775 yards and nine touchdowns in 12 games. That was during his second season and had many experts believing his third year was going to be a breakout year. The 2011 season started off proving the experts right. Britt had 14 catches for 269 yards and three touchdowns after two games and had Music City begging for Britt. In Week 3, Britt tore his ACL and MCL, and has never been the same.That's the pessimist's view.The optimist's view is this: Britt is still only 25 years old and he's headed to St. Louis, where his head coach will be Jeff Fisher, who was also his head coach during his best season in 2010. He'll have one of the most promising, dynamic young wide receivers in the league on the other side in Tavon Austin. Britt is a 6'3", 225 lb wide receiver. That is something that any quarterback could grow to enjoy having, especially in the red zone. Speaking of quarterbacks, Sam Bradford is a pretty good one. He was enjoying the best year of his career in 2013 until tearing his ACL in week 7. He was on pace for 3,800 yards, 32 touchdowns and less than 10 interceptions. So, with all that in mind, it's possible that Britt could see a resurrection in his career in St. Louis.I expect that. I see Britt as a WR2 with upside. Talent doesn't just disappear. If the commitment is there, a 25 year-old wide receiver should be able to reach any success that he's had in the past. I like what the Rams offense is building, and expect Bradford to have a huge year in 2014. WIth Britt and Austin at WR, and Zac Stacy at RB, expect the Rams to have several viable fantasy options this coming season.
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