When tight end Jimmy Graham signed with the Green Bay Packers last offseason, many were excited about the potential. However, there's really no other word but “average” to describe Graham's first year with the team.

Jimmy Graham reeled in 55 receptions for 636 yards and two touchdowns last season. Definitely not a bad year by any means – but not a great one either. That being said, a lot of people seem to be overblowing just how “bad” it was. To be fair to them though, this could be because you usually expect ridiculous seasons from the tight end – so pedestrian seems bad.

However, now Graham will be entering year two with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. That could make things trend upward once again. Should you risk it and try to snatch him a little earlier – or wait and see?

Jimmy Graham, Packers
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Where exactly should you consider targeting Green Bay Packers tight end Jimmy Graham in fantasy football drafts?

The first thing you have to do when trying to answer this question is to figure out which tight ends are definitely ahead of Graham. With Rob Gronkowski retired (we'll see how long that lasts though), everyone gets to move up a spot.

Due to that, there are only three tight ends that should be put ahead of Jimmy Graham with 100% confidence. Those three tight ends are Zach Ertz, Travis Kelce and George Kittle.

A lot of players make their case though. Eric Ebron will be taken ahead of Graham. However, with just one great fantasy year – it's not a certainty he'll perform better than him in 2019. He did still have drop problems.

Then there are players like Austin Hooper and Jared Cook. They had great seasons last year as well, but can they replicate it? Were they good enough to be higher on everyone's board over Graham?

What about someone like Jordan Reed? When healthy he's elite – one of the best tight ends in football without question. However, the health is such a big question it destroys his stock.

With Gronkowski gone, it's hard to imagine a tight end going in round one. That pushes everything back considerably. Ertz is a PPR machine, so he could be a second-round pick. Kelce, Kittle, and Ebron will be taken somewhere between the second and fourth as well.

Then come Graham and a slew of others. A lot of people see Graham as a risk because his numbers weren't great last season. However, they were serviceable – and with another year to get comfortable with Rodgers things could improve.

The Packers have Davante Adams, and that's it when it comes to elite weapons. Graham is undoubtedly their number two option. That should push him ahead of most (if not all) other tight ends.

Jimmy Graham, Packers
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Especially when you consider players like David Njoku and Kyle Rudolph aren't their teams' number two options by a long shot. They might be three, but the difference between two and three on the teams is hefty.

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The only other tight end close to Graham at this point when it comes to the role will be Jordan Reed. He's possibly the Washington Redskins number one, but his health causes problems.

Rookies like T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant could make waves, but it's way too risky to take them that early.

All that being said, you don't want to take Graham too early just because you think he's the next best available tight end – his margin over some of the others simply isn't good enough for that.

Due to that, it would be smart to wait until after the fifth round to take him. Don't get thrown off if the four ahead of him are taken by round three. There are a lot of tight ends at that point that could fill in nicely.

Snatching up Jimmy Graham in something like the sixth or seventh rounds would be a smart play. He's good enough to take a little early but too risky to reach for. If you can get him in the seventh (or somehow hold off another round or so) your fantasy football season will be off to a fantastic start.