Something curious happened in Denver as the news of Peyton Manning's signing sent shock waves throughout the NFL. It was a mere whisper to Manning's monster contract but it marked what could become a growing trend in the NFL thanks to Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.
Thanks to players like Aaron Hernandez fantasy owners will need to approach the tight end position with more respect in 2012.
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Short on tight end options that can handle the football, the Denver Broncos decided to bring both Jacob Tamme and Joel Dreessen to the Mile High City. Frankly, neither will make anyone forget the combination of Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski, but it does mark what could be a significant change in strategy for the Broncos and Manning entering the 2012 season.
After all, who can blame the Broncos for such a strategy? They were burnt by New England 45-10 in the AFC playoffs last season. Gronkowski caught ten passes totaling 145 yards (three touchdowns) while Hernandez nabbed five passes for 55 yards (one touchdown and he ran for 61 yards).
In the larger scheme, Denver figures if you can't beat them with your own game you might as well try it with theirs.
Jacob Tamme signed a three-year $9 million deal with Denver a few weeks ago. He filled in for Dallas Clark spectacularly in 2010 where he caught 67 passes for 631 yards and three TDs. With Manning out of the line-up last season, he was merely an afterthought in the passing attack of the Indianapolis Colts.
The same day the Broncos signed Tamme, they inked Joel Dreessen. A competent pass catching tight end, he has scored 10 TDs in the last two seasons and is a proven threat in the slot.
It may be a stretch to state that Tamme and Dreessen will combine to make the next great pass catching combo at tight end but it does signal an interesting change of scope for the position. In years past it would be stretch to consider a team would invest heavily in two slightly better than average tight ends to bolster their passing game. Yet that's exactly what the Broncos did.
For that reason fantasy owners must take note. In the new world of the NFL, seven tight ends caught 70 or more passes and two (Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham) combined for 28 TDs in 2011.
It will be interesting to see where the 2012 NFL draft goes regarding the position. It would not be shocking for the experts to be surprised with the number of tight ends that could potentially be drafted in the early rounds.
Tamme and Dreessen get a boost in value on 2012 draft boards. Playing with Peyton Manning in Denver should supply each a bevy of opportunities to contribute offensively. Tamme has slightly greater value over Dreessen in the early going but that will be a training camp match-up deserving attention.
Nonetheless, fantasy owners need to keep their ears to the ground and begin the process of placing higher values on tight ends for 2012. If Denver believes it's worth investing heavily in the position, you can bet others will as well.
Sources: Yahoo! Sports
Robert Watkins is former investment professional and partner. A native New Yorker until 9/11, he considers Pa. his adoptive home. A passionate Giants fan, fantasy football fanatic, and Pennsylvania sports enthusiast, Robert is a frequent contributor to Yahoo! Sports and News
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