What do we know about tight ends?

Well, they're more touchdown-dependent than players at other positions, there aren't a lot of reliable options and the most popular one is the guy everyone's targeting in the first round.

Everything else is up for grabs, including who the second-best tight end in Fantasy is. Or the third. Or the fourth ...

I could go on about how Rob Gronkowski, our tight end superhero, finished 13th among all non-quarterbacks in Fantasy points. Or that he was one of three tight ends who finished in the Top 30, or six in the Top 50, or 11 in the Top 100. But that's old news that still paints the same portrait of tight end frustration. There isn't anybody like him and there aren't enough big-time tight ends to go around.

This is when you have to decide just how important tight ends are to you. Would you take one over a stud receiver or running back? Would you rather get a quarterback first, or be set at running back before taking one? Like every position, you can hope to bump into a good one late in the draft or on waivers and find a good starter that way. But if headhunting for guys who can (hopefully) deliver eight points in a week isn't your thing, then chances are you'll prioritize drafting a good tight end.

It's early in the offseason but already it looks like there's a shortage at tight end. At least there was depth last year, and that was with two guys missing the start of the season. This time around if you whiff on the first nine or 10 tight ends you could be left with choices that might make you puke.

So, at this point, there are two recommended strategies:

1. Go Gronk in Round 1. By opting for the big lug, you eliminate the week-to-week stresses everyone else will have with their tight ends. You'll also have a theoretical advantage because your tight end should be the best in the league. You'll also have to pass over some really great receivers and running backs in the process, but receiver is so deep and many owners will take a cautious approach with running backs and quarterbacks, pushing good options past Round 1. You won't lose much of an edge taking Gronkowski with your first pick.

2. Make sure you get a Top 7 tight end. If Gronk's not in the cards then target any one of Tyler Eifert, Jordan Reed, Greg Olsen, Delanie Walker, Gary Barnidge or Travis Kelce. And go for one of them before the end of Round 6 (Round 5 in PPR). Make no mistake, this won't be like last year when tight ends fall in drafts -- people will chase after these specific guys and make them priorities.

What happens if you're not one of the people in your league with a Top 7 tight end? You can still get a recognizable name with some potential but there's more risk involved. Names like Julius Thomas, Zach Ertz, Jimmy Graham -- if he's healthy. None of them, even Graham, would be worth taking until at least the mid-point of a non-PPR draft.

Does a tight end matter to you? It's one of the first questions you have to answer for yourself before building your roster.