Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski had 17 receiving touchdowns last season -- more than any wide receiver, including Megatron himself, Calvin Johnson.

Gronkowski's 90 receptions trailed only four wideouts in 2011, and his 1,327 receiving yards ranked sixth in the league.

So where do you draft a tight end who will give you elite wide receiver numbers?

ESPN and Yahoo! have Gronkowski ranked 14th overall, and the CBS guys have him ranked Nos. 21, 26 and 30.

I would side with ESPN and Yahoo! on this and take Gronk early in Round 2.

Look at Larry Fitzgerald's numbers (80 receptions for 1,411 yards and eight TDs last season). Imagine getting an upgrade from Fitzgerald, and playing him at tight end.

In a 12-team league, Gronkowski is a no-brainer early in the second round -- especially in point-per-reception formats.

Aug. 16 update: We dropped Jason Witten from No. 4 to No. 7 because of concerns about his lacerated spleen.

On to the tight end rankings ...

Rank, player, team (bye week): GP, Receptions-Yards-Avg, TD

1. Rob Gronkowski, NE (9): 16, 90-1,327-14.7, 17

2. Jimmy Graham, NO (6): 16, 99-1,310-13.2, 11

3. Antonio Gates, SD (7): 13, 64-778-12.2, 7

4. Aaron Hernandez, NE (9): 14, 79-910-11.5, 7

5. Vernon Davis, SF (9): 16, 67-792-11.8, 6

6. Jermichael Finley, GB (10): 16, 55-767-13.9, 8

7. Jason Witten, Dal (5): 16, 79-942-11.9, 5

8. Tony Gonzalez, Atl (7): 16, 80-875-10.9, 7

9. Brandon Pettigrew, Det (5): 16, 83-777-9.4, 5

10. Fred Davis, Was (10): 12, 59-796-13.5, 3

11. Brent Celek, Phi (7): 16, 62-811-13.1, 5

12. Jacob Tamme, Den (11): 16, 19-177-9.3, 1

13. Jared Cook, Ten (11): 16, 49-759-15.5, 3

14. Jermaine Gresham, Cin (8): 14, 56-596-10.6, 6

15. Dustin Keller, NYJ (9): 16, 65-815-12.5, 5

16. Owen Daniels, Hou (8): 15, 54-677-12.5, 3

17. Kellen Winslow, Sea (11): 15, 75-763-10.2, 2

18. Coby Fleener, Ind (4): Rookie

19. Kyle Rudolph, Min (11): 15, 26-249-9.6, 3

20. Greg Olsen, Car (6): 16, 45-540-12.0, 5

NOTE: Statistics are from the 2011 season.

QUICK SLANTS: Once the no-doubt-about-it choice as the top tight end, Gates has been limited to 23 games the last two years. He played in all 16 games from 2006-09. … Witten has played in all but one game in his nine-year career. ...  Gonzalez has had at least 70 receptions each year since 2003, and he has had 867 yards or more in eight of the last nine years. … Pettigrew has 154 catches combined the last two seasons, but only nine TDs in that span. … In the last nine games of 2011, Celek had 42 catches for 602 yards and three TDs. … Former Colt Tamme had 67 receptions for 631 yards and four touchdowns with Peyton Manning in 2010. … Gresham has averaged 54 catches the last two seasons. ... Winslow has never had more than five TDs in a season.

PREVIOUS RANKINGS: Quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers

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If you drafted Steven Jackson, we can only hope you had a backup plan in mind.

Ditto for Marques Colston.

Let's play the waiver-wire game, and hope Jackson doesn't stub his toe on the way to the trainer's room this week.

1. Devery Henderson, WR, Saints (owned in 15.1 percent of the leagues on ESPN.com): We believe he's the best available free agent this week (unless you play in a very shallow league) because of injuries to Colston and Lance Moore. Colston is expected to miss four weeks because of a broken collarbone, and Moore sat last week with a groin injury. Henderson had six receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown on Thursday at Green Bay. It was his first 100-yard game since 2009 and he has only 18 TDs in 93 career games, so don't get too excited if he's available. But he is capable of making a big play (Henderson's career average is 18.6 yards per catch), and Drew Brees has to throw to a wideout other than Robert Meachem.

2. Cadillac Williams, RB, Rams (14.3 percent): Jackson strained his quad on his opening carry of the season -- a 47-yard touchdown run -- leading to a flashback game from Williams. The Cadillac, who hasn't averaged more than 3.9 yards per carry in a season since his 1,178-yard rookie year (2005), had 19 carries for 91 yards and five catches for 49 yards last week. With Jackson out at least this week, Williams will be the Rams' primary back Monday against the Giants.

3. Dustin Keller, TE, Jets (40.8 percent): He had five catches for 61 yards and a TD last week. Keller is underrated after a productive 2010 (55 receptions for 687 yards and five scores) and should be considered a lower-level starting tight end in a 12-team league.

Five other possible free agents of note:

-- Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Bills (41.9 percent): We ranked him as the top Peyton Manning replacement option last week, and all Fitzpatrick did Sunday was throw for 208 yards and four TDs at Kansas City. That gives him 27 TDs and 15 interceptions in 14 games dating to the start of 2010.

-- Aaron Hernandez, TE, Patriots (35.1 percent): We like Rob Gronkowski better, and Tom Brady might, too, but when the Pats throw for 517 yards, there are plenty of catches to go around. Hernandez had seven receptions for 103 yards and a TD on Monday night, slightly better than Gronkowski's six catches for 86 yards and a score. Both are quality starting options, and both are better than Chad Ochocinco, who had all of one catch in his New England debut.

-- Ben Tate, RB, Texans (33.5 percent): If you own Arian Foster, we're assuming you already have Tate. If not, it might be too late after the latter rushed for 116 yards and a TD on 24 carries against the Colts. Derrick Ward, who was expected to split the carries last week with Foster out, sprained his ankle, allowing Tate to show he can be a featured back. Foster might return this week, and if he does, Tate is a fantasy reserve. Regardless, he's a must-have for anyone who invested a first-round pick on Foster.

-- Nate Burleson, WR, Lions (18.7 percent): He had five catches for 60 yards last week and caught 55 passes for 625 yards and six TDs in 2010. If Matthew Stafford can stay healthy, Burleson should be productive enough to consider a low-end No. 3 fantasy receiver.

-- Jermaine Gresham, TE, Bengals (8.4 percent): Is it me, or are there more quality tight ends than ever before (no jokes please)? Greshman had six receptions for 58 yards and a TD last week, and he caught 52 passes as a rookie last season.

If you drafted Packers tight end Jermichael Finley -- or if you're like the owner in one of my leagues who made what looked like a lopsided deal for Finley (before karma struck like an unblocked Matt Roth) -- you probably figured you didn't need a backup at the position.

After four games, you had a tight end on pace for 84 receptions for 1,204 yards, aka PPR Gold. In Week 5, however, Finley suffered a knee injury and was scheduled for surgery this week that we were led to believe would sideline him for 3 to 6 weeks.

Later in the week we learned the damage to Finley's knee was worse than originally believed, and he could be done for the season.

If you're looking for a tight end on the waiver wire, here are eight who are owned in fewer than 50 percent of the leagues on ESPN.com:

1. Brandon Pettigrew, Lions (owned in 7.8 percent of the ESPN leagues): His low ownership percentage is baffling, especially considering the 2009 first-round pick has at least six receptions in three of Detroit's five games and 91 yards or more in two of five contests. Pettigrew is on pace for 83 catches for 880 yards.

2. Aaron Hernandez, Patriots (44.1 percent): The rookie has 17 receptions in his last three games, and the trade of Randy Moss should result in more targets and a quick end to his touchdown drought.

3. Tony Moeaki, Chiefs (11.9 percent): Another rookie, Moeaki has 16 catches for 173 yards and two TDs in four games. Dwayne Bowe has been so bad, Kansas City's best receiving threats are a tight end and a running back (Jamaal Charles).

4. Heath Miller, Steelers (46.1 percent): We'll write more about Miller's increase in value because of Ben Roethlisberger's return in a column for Saturday's print and online editions, but here's a quick snippet: The tight end had 76 receptions for 789 yards and six TDs last season, but has been dropped in many leagues because the Steelers had the league's worst passing attack without their suspended QB.

5. John Carlson, Seahawks (23 percent): He's not going to be a huge help in PPR formats, but Carlson can be expected to produce similar numbers to his stats from his first two NFL seasons (an average of 53 catches for 601 yards and six TDs in 2008 and '09).

6. Todd Heap, Ravens (19.8 percent): He had six receptions for 72 yards in Week 1, but has only 12 catches for 138 yards in four games since. At this point in his career, he's better suited to be a bye-week replacement option and not much more.

7. Benjamin Watson, Browns (4.6 percent): He has 20 receptions for 214 yards and one TD in his last four games. That's the good news. The bad: Rookie Colt McCoy will be his quarterback, and it might be for longer than this week's game at Pittsburgh.

8. Jermaine Gresham, Bengals (10.4 percent): Like Pettigrew, I'd expect Gresham to be a fantasy starter in Year 2, which in the latter's case is 2011. The 2010 first-round pick has had 35 receiving yards or fewer in four of five games, but is on pace for 70 catches.

If you're looking into acquiring Matt Hasselbeck on the waiver wire, one or two things have happened.

1. You're desperate.

2. You drafted Brett Favre as your starting quarterback. If this is the case, No. 1 also applies.

If you have Favre and didn't draft a quality backup, Hasselbeck is a decent one-week option with Favre on a bye.

The Seahawks play Sunday at the Rams, who rank 24th against the pass, allowing 730 yards in three games.

All of which brings us to our free-agent selections for Week 4. The picks are available in more than 50 percent of the leagues on ESPN.com -- this week, they are available in at least 66 percent.

QB: Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks (25.3 percent)

Mark Sanchez is available in 53 percent of the ESPN formats, but I'd rather have Hasselbeck this week. He hasn't been very good since 2007, but he's averaging 208 passing yards per game this season and could throw for a couple of scores vs. St. Louis.

RB: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Patriots (28.7 percent)

Someone has to get the carries in New England -- and fortunately for Green-Ellis, Fred Taylor left last week's game with a toe injury and missed practice Wednesday, Kevin Faulk is on injured reserve and Laurence Maroney is in Denver. Green-Ellis had 16 carries for 98 yards and a touchdown last week. Sunday, he'll face a Dolphins defense that is allowing 117.3 rushing yards per game, 4.5 yards per attempt and has given up two rushing TDs this season.

WR: Brandon Lloyd, Broncos (33.6 percent)

He's been Denver's best receiver, and I have reluctantly jumped aboard the bandwagon after a three-week stretch in which he's had two games with at least 117 yards. Lloyd has 14 receptions for 339 yards and a score. Don't expect a huge game Sunday at the Titans, who are the league's fifth-best pass defense and have given up only one TD toss (compared to three interceptions).

WR: Lance Moore, Saints (12.2 percent)

He caught six passes for 149 yards and two scores last week, and as I wrote late Sunday night, he should get a lot more chances with Reggie Bush out. Moore, who had three catches in New Orleans' first two games, was productive in 2008 (79 receptions, 928 yards, 10 TDs), and his Week 3 was better than the three-game totals for both Devery Henderson (seven catches, 89 yards) and Robert Meachem (four catches, 38 yards).

Of the three receivers on this list, Moore has the best Week 3 matchup. The Panthers have allowed six touchdown passes (the fifth-most) in three games.

WR: Jabar Gaffney, Broncos (19.0 percent)

That crafty Kyle Orton is spreading the ball around in Denver -- Gaffney has 26 targets, Eddie Royal 24 and Lloyd 22. Gaffney has 17 receptions for 189 yards, but because of the matchup at Tennessee, is the worst play of the three wideouts in this space.

TE: Aaron Hernandez, Patriots (23.5 percent)

The rookie has 12 receptions for 166 yards the last two weeks, and he is averaging 16.2 yards per catch on the season. He has 13 receptions on 15 targets (the erratic Randy Moss has nine on 21 targets), and he could be a top-10 tight end in PPR formats. Monday, the Pats play at Miami, which ranks ninth against the pass.

TE: John Carlson, Seahawks (27.1 percent)

He's surprisingly undervalued after averaging 53 receptions and six touchdowns in his first two NFL seasons. Carlson has 10 catches the last two weeks, and he had five for 61 yards and a TD in Week 3. His 24 targets are eight more than any other Seattle receiver.

Carlson also has a much more favorable Week 4 matchup than Hernandez. The aforementioned Rams are allowing 243 passing yards per game.