Charles Clay

Quick, name the three best wide receivers on the Bills. Heck, can you name anyone in that messy passing game? That's the main reason we keep coming back to Clay for fantasy relevance, at least for a few weeks every season. There's not much else going on in Buffalo. Clay has turned into a "what you see is what you get" player. He's finished TE19, TE17 and TE18 (half-PPR scoring) since joining the Bills, scoring nine TDs in 41 games. He managed 14.6 YPC in his rookie season in 2011, but he hasn't topped 11.8 since. He'll generally catch about two-thirds of the passes in his direction, and he's missed at least one game in four straight seasons. The first order for Clay is to get something going with the new quarterbacks - AJ McCarron arrives from Cincinnati and Josh Allen was snagged in the draft. Someone in this offense will push for 750 receiving yards and 5-7 touchdowns. We're not going to bet on Clay being that man, but we do run into injuries and bye weeks. That's what Clay is - one of those temporary targets you rent for a short time, then toss back on the wire.

Is the glass half full or half empty with Clay? Although he's battled chronic knee problems since joining the Bills -- missing four games and hobbling through many others -- he has been reasonably productive. He's produced as the No. 17 fantasy tight end over that period, ranking 13th in catches and 15th in yards. This might not be Charles in Charge, but he hasn't exactly been Chuckles the Clown. That established, the Bills realize Clay is a player they have to handle with kid gloves. Coach Sean McDermott said in late May that the club is "concerned with (Clay's) knee situation." With that in mind, it seems foolish to push Clay's projection past what he's shown the last two years, and he probably offers more downside than upside. If you wind up rostering Clay at any point this year, you'll probably have to balance him out with another tight end.

Much was expected of Clay when he left Miami to sign a lucrative deal with the Bills last offseason, but it didn't work out the way most hoped. The expectation was that speedsters Sammy Watkins and Percy Harvin would stretch the field, allowing Clay to roam free underneath. But Watkins, though he piled up stats, missed three games and was limited in a few others by hip, calf and ankle injuries, while Harvin played only five games before his career ended. The Bills' coaching staff blamed first-year starter Tyrod Taylor's inexperience, as he often couldn't find Clay open across the middle. Clay also dealt with knee and calf injuries and missed the final three games with a back injury. He still averaged the same TPG (six) as his last year in Miami, though it's a bit skewed because one-third (26) of his 77 targets came in two games. In his remaining 11 games he averaged 4.6 TPG. Worst, after 34 red-zone targets and 20 inside the 10 his last two years with the Dolphins, Clay had three and two, respectively, his first year in Buffalo. At 6-3, 255, Clay isn't as big as most TE, but has good speed (4.62 40) and reliable hands. The Bills hope to make better use of his skills this year, and might have to. Watkins is uncertain for the regular season following foot surgery. Continued development by Taylor would go a long way, as well.

Clay signed a hefty free-agent deal this offseason with the Bills after posting serviceable numbers the last couple years with the Dolphins. In Miami, Clay made due in an offense that had trouble stretching the field. That shouldn't be an issue in Buffalo where the Bills boast two of the league's fastest receivers in Sammy Watkins and Percy Harvin. With that deep-threat duo drawing safety attention to the outside, the middle of the field should be open for the elusive Clay, who had nearly half his yards come after the catch the last two years. Clay is not a big tight end at 6-3, 255, but he had 20 red-zone targets (4th among TE) last season and 13 inside the 10 (2nd). He only converted two of those into touchdowns, however, after five in 2013. The Bills plan to use Clay in tight, split wide, in the slot and in the backfield, which should ensure a healthy number of targets. He might need the help because the Bills have a number of pass-catchers to feed, including LeSean McCoy, Fred Jackson and Robert Woods in addition to Watkins and Harvin.

Dustin Keller's knee injury in training camp last year opened the door for Clay, who went on to have a top-10 fantasy season at tight end. Clay is more of an H-back than a traditional tight end at an undersized 6-3, 255, but he is elusive in the open field and makes defenders miss. He totaled 382 yards after the catch last season, fifth among tight ends. And despite his stature, he still caught 10-of-14 passes in the red zone for five touchdowns, including 6-of-7 inside the 10-yard line for four scores. Clay should again see a large share of the targets, though second-round pick Jarvis Landry, a possession receiver with good hands, could potentially cut into his third-down work. Clay had a team-leading 18 third-down receptions last season with a third of his targets coming on third down. The passing game was mediocre last season, but a better deep ball by Ryan Tannehill -- the Dolphins ranked 26th last year with only 24 pass plays of 25-plus yards -- would give Clay more space to work underneath.

Clay is likely to compete with rookie Dion Sims as the Dolphins' No. 2 TE.

Clay was an intriguing project under the Tony Sparano regime. It remains to be seen how the Joe Philbin regime will use him. Anthony Fasano, current starter, may not be a fit in the new offense, so Clay could see more time on the field if he can adapt to the west coast offense quicker then Fasano.

Clay can play either fullback or tight end and could be a threat to Anthony Fasano if the Dolphins decide that TE is his best position in the pros. The Dolphins have not been happy with Fasano and Clay could possibly challenge for the starting position with a strong camp. That being said Clay could at least eat in Fasano's playing time as the season progresses but neither TE is a fantasy target as the Dolphins don't possess the greatest of offenses.