Week 3 at Tennessee Titans
Jimmy Graham has been a star the past couple of seasons for fantasy owners, but the first two weeks of 2017 have been pretty bad: 10 targets, 4 catches, and only 9 yards. Yes, that's not a typo—9 yards. Graham is also having health issues and is questionable this week. He didn't practice Thursday because of an ankle issue so he might not play Sunday. If he does, we still think he will bounce back so start him as a low-end TE1.
Week 2 vs. San Francisco 49ers
It wasn't a good start offensively for Jimmy Graham in 2017, catching only 3 passes for 8 yards. The good news is he was targeted 8 times and should be No. 2 on that list every week behind Doug Baldwin.
This week looks better for Graham, who caught 10 passes for 164 yards last season in the two meetings with San Francisco, including a 100-yard receiving effort at home in Week 3.
Start Graham in all leagues and expect top-five fantasy numbers at the tight end position.
Week 1 vs Green Bay Packers
Jimmy Graham has settled into the Seattle offense and should be a fantasy factor all season long. Graham will face an average Green Bay defense who was 17th in aFPA to tight ends last season. He did not fare well against the Packers in their regular season meeting last year, catching only one pass for 16 yards.
Seattle as a whole played awful that game and we expect Week 1 to be different. Start Graham in all leagues and formats; you will see a top-five fantasy tight end performance from him at Lambeau.
Fantasy Upside
Look who is back as an impact tight end. After a mediocre first year in Seattle, Jimmy Graham bounce-backed with a season that saw him produce as a TE1 most weeks. Graham is still not piling up the catches like he did in New Orleans, but the offense is very different in Seattle. He did manage 923 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns and also stayed healthy for all 16 games. With QB Russell Wilson starting the season healthy, Graham should improve on this numbers.
Fantasy Downside
We already mentioned this is not New Orleans. Graham is unlikely to catch 80 balls, eclipse the 1,000-yard receiving mark or record double-digit touchdowns. The offense in Seattle has never been tight-end friendly, so Graham is not going to be in the top-two of overall fantasy tight end scoring like he has been in the past.
2017 Bottom Line
Maybe not the top tight end, but Graham is definitely a top-5 fantasy tight end. Graham's ADP is 53 overall, which sees him come off the board in the fifth round. Don't reach to get him because he is a little bit behind the top-4 ranked tight ends. If he falls in your lap in the fifth, he will give you numbers worthy of that draft spot.
Divisional Round at Atlanta
Jimmy Graham was held to three catches for 37 yards last week against Detroit. It was a disappointing performance by this week's top-rated tight end. The passing game wasn't needed much, because the Seahawks ran the ball so well.
In the first meeting with Atlanta, Graham had six catches for 89 yards and the Falcons are ranked 10th in aFPA to tight ends. Still, Graham is very dangerous, and expect QB Russell Wilson to look his way often. He is our top-rated tight end for Divisional Playoff weekend.
Graham is again highly-rated as the Falcons this week.
Wild Card Round vs Detroit
Jimmy Graham has been one of the strongest fantasy tight ends in the 2016 regular season so it safe to say that should continue in the postseason. He caught 65 passes for 923 yards and 6 touchdowns. In a weekend when there are not a lot of strong tight ends, Graham is definitely on top of the list.
Detroit was 25th in aFPA to tight ends which is even more reason to like Graham. Start him as the best fantasy tight end for Wild Card Weekend.
Week 16 vs Cardinals
Jimmy Graham has been quiet the last two games with only two receptions. He was only targeted a total of two times last game. Graham is still very dangerous and don't let the recent numbers fool you.
It won't be any easier this week, as Arizona is ranked No. 1 in aFPA to tight ends. Graham had five receptions for 53 yards in the first meeting this season.
Start Graham in all leagues and formats, but as a solid TE1 (not high-end) as he has been most of the season.
Week 15 vs Los Angeles
Seattle has struggled on offense, and it had a big effect on Jimmy Graham last week. The tight end was only targeted four times, which produced one reception for 16 yards. Don't blame Graham as Russell Wilson has been bad lately., but we do expect a bounce back at home on Thursday Night Football.
The Rams have been pretty good against tight ends and are ranked fourth in aFPA . But we still expect the Hawks to get back on track and Graham return to the numbers we are used to this season. Start Graham as one of the top fantasy tight ends for Week 15.
Week 14 at Green Bay
Jimmy Graham had another six-catch performance last week against Carolina and also scored his fifth TD of the season. There is no doubt that Graham is back as a force for the Seahawks and at the tight end position for fantasy. He is averaging about 6.5 targets per gam, which is a significant increase from last season.
Graham will face the Packers this week, who are 12th in aFPA to tight ends, but that shouldn't matter. Start Graham in all leagues and formats as the best overall fantasy tight end for Week 14.
Week 13 vs Carolina
Jimmy Graham continued his strong 2016 campaign with another six receptions and 67 yards last week. He has been very reliable in the passing game and had a gigantic game against Carolina last season with eight receptions for 140 yards.
The Panthers have the worst aFPA to tight ends in the NFL, so expect another big game for Graham. Start him as the top fantasy tight end for Week 13.
