Several old wives' tales persist in the present-day culture. One such piece of wisdom claims that the groom shouldn’t see the bride before the wedding. Another tale states that coffee stunts your growth. This tale is sacrilegious since coffee generates all movement in my day. A third tale postulates that TV is bad for your eyes. Although false, parents exploit this notion in order to convince their children to spend a few hours away from the tube.  

An old wives’ tale connected with fantasy football surrounds when to draft your tight end.

Conventional wisdom has suggested that an owner can wait until the middle to later rounds to draft a tight end, and that selecting running backs and wide receivers early was more important. The rationale was that most tight ends were basically the same—like quarterbacks, kickers and defenses—so it was important to stock up on running backs, which were seen as a scarce commodity. As for wide outs, since three or so are required in the lineup each week, it was important to get at least two dependable players (in other words, "studs") and some good third and fourth options for bye weeks and in case of injury.

This wisdom, however, is flawed. There are several serviceable running backs available every year, many of which are found in the later rounds or on the waiver wire. The same goes for wide outs. A few recent examples of unheralded players who sufficed as fantasy performers include Ryan Grant, Chris Johnson, Matt Forte, Tim Hightower, Marques Colston, Roddy White, Eddie Royal and Lance Moore

In essence, finding strong, prolific players at these positions isn’t as challenging as the tale makes it seem. Even on bye weeks, when frustration can creep in while you attempt to fill the starting lineup with viable options, there are usually adequate possibilities if you drafted well or scoured the waiver wire with due diligence.

Tight ends, on the other hand, are the most difficult start each week.

Unless you play in a crazy format, you have to start at least one TE a week. Filling this spot most weeks is easy if you own Antonio Gates, Jason Witten, or Tony Gonzalez. However, after the few fantasy phenoms, most TEs are a hit-or-miss proposition.  

Very few TEs contribute consistent numbers. One week they might score you a touchdown or snag six passes for 80 yards; the next, they offer squat.

The scarcity of productive TEs makes the good ones valuable commodities. Since you must start one each week, it’s vital to have one that can deliver worthwhile stats. There are five in the league this season that do so regularly:

• Witten
• Owen Daniels
• Chris Cooley
• Gates
• Gonzalez

Dallas Clark and Kellen Winslow can be excellent options, although they have struggled at times this season. Beyond these players, selecting a tight end is like Russian roulette—squeeze the trigger and pray that this isn’t the week that the bullet’s in the chamber.

This week, I’m stuck starting mediocre tight ends. Jason Witten, who I rely on in both leagues, is off. Truthfully, I have less than favorable backups. In the auction league (which rewards double points for TE yardage, mind you), I’m starting either Anthony Fasano or Zack Miller. Ugh. The situation in my big-money league is no better. I actually dropped Greg Olsen, whose match up with the Titans scared me silly, for Visanthe Shiancoe. This move reeks of desperation and, as a wise man once said, desperation is a stinky cologne. Yes, that's me with the offensive odor.

The remarkable thing is that I owned effective running backs to replace my stud RBs on their bye weeks. I also had QBs and WRs. Heck, I even found excellent replacements at kicker and defense.

Not at tight end.

The truth is that if we are supposed to draft players based on how thin the position is in terms of fantasy studs, the first pick should be a TE every time. I'm not saying you should make Witten the first overall pick in next year's draft, but don't buy into the old wives' tales blindly, either. Otherwise, you'll believe that gum takes seven years to digest and that you should hold your breath when passing a cemetery or else you will breathe in a dead person's spirit.   

The Fantasy Game of the Week

New York (NFC) at Philadelphia: The Giants and Eagles are ranked fifth and sixth in total offense. They also rank in the top-five in scoring offenses. Most importantly, they hate each other, which should make for a fun-filled Sunday nighter.  

All-Pro

• Chad Pennington meets the feeble Seattle secondary this week, making him viable as a fantasy QB.
• Look for solid numbers from DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart against the pitiful Raiders.
• Dwayne Bowe could provide a spark this week against the last-place Chargers pass defense.
• Bo Scaife squares off with Chicago, who permits 247 passing yards a game. As one of Kerry Collins’ favorite targets, this may mean a nice output from the Tennessee TE.

All-Pine

• Byron Leftwich has been a hot name on the waiver wire this week. Even if he starts against the Colts, don’t play him—Indianapolis possesses one of the best pass defenses in the league.
• The Vikings stifle opposing rushers, holding them under 70 yards a game. Based on this, expect lower totals from Ryan Grant this week.
• Kevin Walter has been a solid third receiver/flex option at times, but this week he’s much less valuable against the sturdy Baltimore defense.
• Dallas Clark may find the pickens slim this week against the solid Pittsburgh linebackers and safeties.