Some rookies are slow on the come-up, gain comfort, and develop into usable options in the fantasy football world with time.
Some players are Tyler Warren.
The pride of Penn State cleared 75 receiving yards and had a carry in each of his first two games, production that caught us all a bit off guard, given our skepticism around their passing game. Now that we know what he has to offer and aren’t as worried about the environment, this is a player who deserves his ADP.
Should You Draft Tyler Warren in Fantasy Football?
The top tier at the position is largely spoken for by way of Trey McBride and Brock Bowers, but after that? Warren has as good a claim as anyone to be next in line, and I’d argue that he’s a better pick at cost than either of the elites.
Last season, as Warren warmed up to the speed of the pro game, he and Michael Pittman accounted for 46.4% of targets on passes thrown fewer than 15 yards downfield.
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In case you haven’t heard, Pittman is a Steeler now. There is triple-digit catch potential in this profile, and that’s rare. Warren can be a bull in a china shop, so let’s not rule out the potential for a Deebo Samuel-esque hybrid role that sees this offense find creative ways for him to get involved.
He’s coming off draft boards in Round 5 this offseason, and that’s a fine price. I think you’d be hard-pressed to reach beyond that (I like him, but I can’t pick him over Lamar Jackson or Tee Higgins, to name a few fourth-rounders), though I don’t think it’s likely that you regret spending whatever it takes to acquire him this summer, no matter what you think of the QB situation.
Warren’s Dynasty Fantasy Football Value
Warren turned 24 in May, and that would normally be a huge factor in his dynasty ranking, but because of how young the top shelf tight ends are, it’s more about keeping pace than outrunning the field.
For me, it’s going to be hard to catch the talent of McBride or the ceiling of Bowers in dynasty leagues until we have some clarity on who is going to lead this offense. The raw skills are there for him to join that top tier, that I’m sure of. We, however, can’t assume that this franchise solves the QB puzzle, and with that moving piece, Warren can only be ranking so high.
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I like him to push for 1,000 yards this season, and his physical style of play positions him well for TD equity. Warren can be an active member in your run to the top of your standings regardless of the state of your roster: he should be a top-5 contributor at a onesie position for the next handful of years, and plenty of dynasty champions are crowned on the back of players like this.
