It's tough for rookie tight ends to make an impact in the league. When a player goes over 800 yards in his first season, like Jeremy Shockey did back in 2002, it's an outlier kind of year. So there's little reason to have much interest in the likes of Maxx Williams or Tyler Kroft.
But a lot of people are in dynasty leagues, where today's rookie tight ends can be tomorrow's regular starters. And a couple of the better known names appeared in last night's Hall of Fame Game.
On the plus side, there was MyCole Pruitt of the Vikings, catching 4 passes for 51 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown was nothing special -- he ran a route out in the middle of the field and nobody on Pittsburgh's defense opted to cover him -- but it was a nice play anyway. Add in the fact that Pruitt caught 3 other balls and even threw a nice block on a screen pass, and it was an encouraging debut.
As anyone who drafted Kyle Rudolph last year is painfully aware, the starter has had some trouble staying healthy. So maybe Pruitt moves into a situation where he's starting at some point this season, and is Minnesota's long-term answer at the position.
Pittsburgh also has a rookie tight end in Jesse James, and considering Heath Miller is in the twilight of his career, and has been a very productive receiver over the years, some in dynasty leagues may have picked up James thinking he might be the future.
But James had a brutal game last night, dropping an easy touchdown on fourth down right before halftime, losing a fumble, and failing to catch another ball that was intercepted. Ugly.
There are four other exhibition games for both of these rookies to make an impression, for good or bad. But if you were out on your dynasty waiver wire today looking to add one, the one least likely to be there in a couple of days is Pruitt. James will need to put something positive (or at least not awful) on tape before he merits a roster spot.