The hype building around New York Giants tight end Evan Engram this offseason has been substantial. He’s been called the most athletic tight end in football with some NFL executives openly raving about him.
However, there have also been some that suggest Engram should be avoided in fantasy football drafts due to his history of injuries, which also brings down his real-life value.
That’s precisely how Pro Football Focus recently looked at it when breaking down their list of the top 15 tight ends, ranking Engram at No. 12 overall largely due to his inability to stay healthy.
12. EVAN ENGRAM, NEW YORK GIANTS
The biggest thing with Engram is health. If he hadn’t dealt with injuries over the past two seasons, he would likely be higher on this list. He’s had stretches — the close to the 2018 season and the beginning to the 2019 season are two that come to mind — where he’s proven he can be difficult for defenses to handle. You don’t see too many players listed at 230-plus pounds running 4.42-second 40-yard dashes. That has helped him become one of the top tight ends in the NFL with the ball in his hands after the catch, averaging 6.2 yards after the catch per reception across his first three NFL seasons.
The injuries have certainly played a role, but Engram is entering his fourth season and still hasn’t put everything together for an entire year, which is the reason he comes in at just 12th. He’ll look to buck that trend next season as his second contract approaches.
Engram has made it a point this season to tune out his detractors while also placing an emphasis on health.
“I’m not really worried about what all the other people are saying. I can only control what’s in front of me each and every day. That’s coming in, working hard during training camp and learning this offense and being a good teammate and a good leader,” Engram told reporters earlier this week.
The Giants will rely heavily on Engram in 2020 and should he stay healthy, the sky is the limit.
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