Tight Ends

	SI PLAYER RANKINGS FOR 2006 With 2005 stats	GAMES	CATCHES	REC. YARDS	YARDS /CATCH	YARDS /GAME	100-YARD GAMES	TDS	BYE WEEK
1.	Antonio Gates, Chargers	15	89	1,101	12.4	73.4		10
2.	Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs	16	78	905	11.6	56.6
3.	Todd Heap, Ravens	16	75	855	11.4	53.4
4.	Jeremy Shockey, Giants	15	65	891	13.7	59.4
5.	Chris Cooley, Redskins	16	71	774	10.9	48.4
6.	Dallas Clark, Colts	15	37	488	13.2	32.5
7.	L.J. Smith, Eagles	16	61	682	11.2	42.6
8.	Jason Witten, Cowboys	16	66	757	11.5	47.3
9.	Alge Crumpler, Falcons	16	65	877	13.5	54.8
10.	Heath Miller, Steelers	16	39	459	11.8	28.7
11.	Vernon Davis,? 49ers *	11	51	871	17.1	79.2
12.	Jerramy Stevens, Seahawks	16	45	554	12.3	34.6
13.	Randy McMichael, Dolphins	16	60	582	9.7	36.4
14.	Kellen Winslow,? Browns			50	10.0	25.0
15.	Alex Smith, Buccaneers	16	41	367		22.9
16.	Ben Watson, Patriots	15	29	441	15.2	29.4
17.	Erron Kinney, Titans	14	55	543	9.9	38.8
18.	Chris Baker, Jets		18	269	14.9	33.6
19.	Ben Troupe, Titans	15	55	530	9.6	35.3
20.	Jeb Putzier, Texans *	16	37	481	13	30.1
21.	Zachary Hilton, Saints	15	35	396	11.3	26.4
22.	Bryan Fletcher, Colts	16	18	202	11.2	12.6
23.	Bubba Franks, Packers	10	25	207	8.3	20.7
24.	Daniel Graham, Patriots	11	16	235	14.7	21.4
25.	Joe Klopfenstein,? Rams *	13	33	468	14.2	36.0
26.	Anthony Fasano,? Cowboys *	12	47	576	12.3	48.0
27.	Kris Mangum, Panthers	14	23	202	8.8	14.4
28.	Marcedes Lewis,? Jaguars *	12	58	741	12.8	61.8		10
29.	Aaron Shea, Chargers *	12	18	153	8.5	12.8
30.	Ernie Conwell, Saints		13	165	12.7	20.6
31.	Steve Heiden, Browns	15	43	401	9.3	26.7
32.	Jermaine Wiggins, Vikings	16	69	568	8.2	35.5

ON THE RISE

HEATH MILLER, Steelers
With Jerome Bettis retired and Antwaan Randle El gone as a free agent, Miller will play a larger role in the offense, especially in the red zone.

TODD HEAP, Ravens
Coming off career highs in catches and yards, he'll benefit from Baltimore's upgraded passing attack.

ALEX SMITH, Buccaneers
His 41 catches were tops among rookie TEs last year; he'll likely start ahead of Anthony Becht this season.

ON THE DECLINE

DANIEL GRAHAM, Patriots
The tight end pass-catching duties in New England are shifting to the emerging Ben Watson.

STEVE HEIDEN, Browns
With Kellen Winslow back, catches will be few and far between for Cleveland's second TE.

MARCUS POLLARD, Lions
Don't expect much out of the former top-tier tight end while he's playing in Mike Martz's system.

SLEEPERS

BRYAN FLETCHER, Colts
Caught multiple passes in nine games after starting the season as Indy's third TE; worth a late pick.