by Natalie Faulk

Created on: September 09, 2007   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Alright, everybody knows the top ranked NFL tight ends in the league today. Of course, while most analysts concur that Antonio Gates is number one, there exists considerable discussion with regards to how the other elite tight ends should be ranked.

I will break the monotony of existing analysis and rank the lesser-known, lesser-drafted, and, probably, lesser-paid tight ends this season. And I'm sure there are several fantasy players who, like me, drafted running backs, quarterbacks, and defenses ahead of tight ends; therefore, by the time our turn came to select these players, the top-ranked players had already been drafted.

As always, opinions are like...tight ends. Everybody has one.

1. Owen Daniels, Texans - Granted, there is a new quarterback in town in Matt Schaub, but it wasn't the play of David Carr which failed to rank Daniels higher on the list. It was the poor offensive line in Houston not offering much protection to enable any quarterback to be successful. Daniels is fast with reliable hands, and the majority of his receptions last season were in third-down situations in which he was able to convert. Plus, he led all rookie tight ends in touchdowns with five.

2. Tony Scheffler, Denver - Rookies Jay Cutler and Scheffler hooked up well during the latter part of last season, with all four of Scheffler's touchdown receptions and the majority of his receiving yardage occurring in December. Look for these second-year guys to continue developing their rapport, particularly on a Broncos team where tight ends are historically productive.

3. Courtney Anderson, Oakland - Seriously, what do the Raiders have to lose? With a poor running game and the loss of Randy Moss, whichever Oakland's quarterback-du-jour starts will be scrambling and looking for any receiver. With Anderson's 6'6" height, he will be a visible target and should fare well this season.

4. Eric Johnson, Saints - Two words: Drew Brees. If Johnson can stay healthy, which he hasn't historically been able to do, he could have a great year. His size and athleticism lend himself well to the Saints' productive passing game and Brees has a history of utilizing his tight ends well (think Antonio Gates.)

5. Alex Smith, Tampa Bay - With a new quarterback in Jeff Garcia, Smith's potential might just be realized this season. Smith offers great speed off the line, reliable hands, and is considerably more athletic than his counterpart Anthony Becht.

6. David Martin, Miami - With a less-than-illustrious career in Green

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