Week 1 vs Rams
Jimmy Graham isn't the automatic No. 2 overall fantasy tight end, but doesn't mean he is not still a great fantasy option. The Seahawks have never really used their tight ends in the passing game during the Pete Carroll era, but they also never had a talent like Graham. Even against a very good Rams pass defense, Graham comes in as a top-5 fantasy tight end based on his talent alone. Start him in all leagues.
Fantasy Upside
We all know Jimmy Graham is one of the best tight ends in the NFL. He now moves from one great quarterback in Drew Brees to another in Russell Wilson. 89 catches, 1,099 yards and 12 TDs. Those are his averages over the past four seasons. He will be the Seahawks No. 1 target in the passing game and they will find ways to get him the ball. Catches and TDs should be right in line with where he has been in the recent past.
Fantasy Downside
Seattle's offense is very different in every way from New Orleans. Opposing defenses will focus on Graham more because the Seahawks receivers aren't as good as the Saints. We also don't know how they really will use him, so there could be some risk here.
Bottom Line
We still rank Graham as the No. 2 fantasy tight end after Gronk and I think Russell Wilson will be the key. If he focuses on Graham (and why wouldn't he?), the tight end will flourish. Though he is not a first or second round pick anymore, Graham will be a solid fantasy asset in 2015.
Week 17: Graham vs. Bucs
Jimmy Graham caught six-of-10 targets for 53 yards and a touchdown in the Saints' Week 16 loss to the Falcons. Graham had a potential touchdown taken away from him on the first play of the fourth quarter when it looked like the ball broke the plane of the goal line before Atlanta safety Kemal Ishmael stripped it away. After replay was shown to be inconclusive, the call of a fumble on the field stood and Graham lost what would have been his first touchdown of the day. (Even still, his lone score was his first touchdown since Week 12.) Graham ranks as our No. 1 tight end for Week 17 and is a must start against the Bucs.
Week 16: Graham vs. Falcons
Jimmy Graham caught five-of-seven targets for 87 yards in the Saints’ Week 15 win over the Bears. He tied with Marques Colston and Kenny Stills for a team-high in targets and racked up more than 80 yards receiving for the first time since Week 9. He has a great matchup against an Atlanta team that he has destroyed in recent past, so make sure he’s in your lineup for Week 16. He’s our No. 2 overall TE behind Rob Gronkowski for this week.
Week 15: Graham vs. Bears
Following his goose egg in Week 13, Jimmy Graham responded with another dud in Week 14, catching three passes for 25 yards in the Saints’ blowout loss to the Panthers. He was targeted 11 times but he had a drop and had another catch taken away by penalty. It was yet another frustrating day for Graham owners but he remains a TE1, especially against a horrific Chicago defense on Monday night. Graham is our No. 2 overall TE behind Rob Gronkowski for Week 15.
Week 14: Graham vs. Panthers
Jimmy Graham had fantasy owners checking out his injury status after he failed to catch a pass in the Saints’ Week 13 win over the Steelers. Despite being completely healthy, Graham wasn’t even targeted despite Drew Brees throwing five touchdown passes in the victory. Credit Pittsburgh for bracketing Graham in coverage but it was still shocking that the tight end failed to generate even one target. Look for a huge bounce back performance this Sunday against the Panthers.
Week 13: Graham vs. Steelers
Jimmy Graham caught six-of-10 targets for 47 yards and two touchdowns in the Saints' Week 12 loss to the Ravens. The two touchdowns saved Graham's fantasy night, but he was mostly blanketed in coverage by safety Will Hill, who had a pick-six when he jumped a Graham route midway through the third quarter. Graham still remains one of the top fantasy tight ends in the league and has a great matchup this Sunday against a Pittsburgh defense that ranks 24th versus fantasy TEs this season. Keep Graham in your lineup.
Week 12: Graham vs. Ravens
Following his monster 10-catch, 76-yard, two-touchdown performance against the 49ers in Week 10, Jimmy Graham caught just three passes for 29 yards in the Saints’ Week 11 loss to the Bengals. The tight end took a cheap shot from safety George Iloka that appeared to re-injury his shoulder but Graham stayed in the game and should be fine for Monday night. He’s our No. 2 TE for Week 12 and despite the low target total against the Bengals, Graham is due for a massive rebound.
Week 11: Graham vs. Bengals
Jimmy Graham caught 10-of-13 targets for 76 yards and two touchdowns in the Saints’ Week 10 loss to the 49ers. Graham may have had a third touchdown, the game-winning touchdown, in fact, had he not clearly pushed off on Drew Brees’ Hail Mary pass to the end zone at the end of regulation. Regardless, Graham now has four touchdowns in his last three games and is no longer listed on the team’s injury report. He’s back to being a fantasy monster and should be in your lineup on a weekly basis. He’s our No. 2 TE behind Rob Gronkowski for Week 11.
Week 10: Graham vs. 49ers
Jimmy Graham caught 7-of-7 targets for 83 yards and a touchdown in the Saints’ Week 9 win over the Panthers. He’s now caught two touchdown passes in each of his last two games and looks completely healthy after a shoulder injury limited him in a Week 7 loss to Detroit. While the 49ers have the No. 1 fantasy defense versus tight ends this year, Graham is a must start in all formats. He ranks as our No. 1 TE for Week 10 with Gronk on a bye.
