NFL Fantasy Football Tight End: 2009 Travis Beckum Preview

Travis Beckum – Tight End -Wisconson Badgers (Big 10)

Height: 6’3″ to 6’5″ish

Weight: 235lbs

Best 40 Time: 4.54s

Projected 40 Time: 4.55

Projected Bench:20 Times @ 225lbs

Beckum’s been plagued by injuries this year, which leads me to be incredibly optimistic with his combine numbers.  It seems to be whenever someone gets hurt, they come back and put up ridiculous numbers.

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The fractured tibula he suffered on October 26th against those Fightin’ Illini shouldn’t be a problem.  He may be gun-shy for a bit, but he should be far enough along by the time the combine rolls around.

It wouldn’t be far fetched to assume  he’d come back for another year at Wisconsin, but the success of Garret Graham may lower his stock if he stays in for another year.

Now, onto the good stuff. The top  tier tight ends this year, are all exactly that: tight ends. Beckum has the ability to play as a tight end, or slot receiver in the mold of a Dallas Clark, or even Dustin Keller type player.

If he can match Keller’s 4.55 second 40 at the combine last year, which isn’t far fetched, he should be a solid draft choice and one of the better fantasy rookies heading forward.

I cant see Travis Beckum matching Keller’s 26 Bench reps at 225, but expecting something in the low 20s is a fair assessment.

Beckum lacks the ideal size for the tight end position, and he wont pull down the TDs like Pettigrew, Coffman, or Gresham. However, Beckum will more than likely amass the most yards between the 20s of all of the 2009 entry draft tight ends.

Beckum’s got great hands, and runs very solid routes. Considering how much he’s moved around, he seems to adapt well and have a good idea of the play-book.  This is often a problem when a player is *too* gifted.  He coped well with the offense spreading the ball around, and the initial drop in numbers — which bodes will for his attitude entering the draft.

His size, while not ideal for the tight end position, doesn’t limit him too much in the run blocking game. He blocks as well  as you’d expect an H-Back weighing 240 to block. He’s not going to blow people off the ball, but he’ll try his darndest.

His value comes in his speed and leaping ability though.  Combine that with great hands, and you’ve got yourself a solid tight end.

Hopefully the injury doesn’t linger, and he’s good to go by combine time because he should put up numbers equal to Keller’s.