Iowa football: George Kittle is an underrated fantasy player in 2019

Fantasy draft season is right around the corner and two former Iowa football players are on Michael Fabiano’s top 200 fantasy list.

The Iowa football team isn’t exactly known for producing top-end skill position players outside of the tight end group, and by taking a quick look at Michael Fabiano’s Top 200 Fantasy Players in 2019, this notion holds true.

Only two former Iowa football players appear on this list and surprise, surprise, they are both tight ends.

Current San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, fresh off a record-breaking 2018 season, is ranked 34th overall on the list. He is the 3rd ranked tight end behind Philadelphia’s Zach Ertz and Kansas City’s Travis Kelce.

The other Iowa football player making this list is rookie tight end TJ Hockenson who is ranked a173rd on this list and the 21st tight end.

Personally, I think both of these rankings are a little low, and I am also confused why rookie tight end Noah Fant is not on this list.

To begin, Kittle just put together one of the best statistical seasons ever for a tight end. His 1,377 weren’t just best among tight ends this season, it was best among tight ends ever and was 8th best overall last season. He did that with an undrafted rookie playing quarterback for most of the season. Imagine what he can do with presumed starter Jimmy Garoppolo. Given that, I would be willing to draft Kittle at the end of the second round. Good tight ends are hard to come by.

Hockenson’s ranking makes a little more sense given he is a rookie, but with the lack of receiving options on the Detroit Lions and an above average quarterback in Matt Stafford, I think Hockenson could see the field early and put up solid numbers. Last month I went as far to say I think the All-American Iowa football player could win rookie of the year.

Finally, I believe Noah Fant should be on this top-200 list. Like Hockenson, I think Fant could be in the running for rookie of the year in 2019. Joe Flacco loves going to his tight ends and the Broncos new offensive coordinator is the same guy who assisted San Francisco’s offense last season when Kittle exploded on the scene. One writer even thought Fant could lead the Denver Broncos in catches this season. If that’s the case, he most certainly will perform well enough to be a top-200 fantasy player by seasons end.

Outside of those three, I don’t foresee any other Iowa football players even coming near the top-200 fantasy players list unless CJ Beathard makes the 49ers and is thrust into a starting role again.