Dustin Keller

Dustin Keller

40-Year-Old Tight EndTE
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Dustin Keller in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Signed a one-year, $4.25 million contract with the Dolphins in March 2013.
TEFree Agent
April 30, 2014
Keller is visiting the Patriots, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.
ANALYSIS
The report adds that the physical on Keller's knee went very well, which is not insignificant, given that the tight end tore his ACL, MCL and PCL (while also suffering a dislocated kneecap) last August. Assuming his health, Keller would provide the Patriots with insurance for Rob Gronkowski, who is coming off a serious knee injury of his own that clouds his Week 1 status. Moreover, in a scenario when both tight ends are healthy, it's not hard to imagine the duo potentially working well together when the Patriots employ two-tight end sets.
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Dustin Keller lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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2024 Dustin Keller Split Stats
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
Hamstring and ankle injuries limited Keller to eight games last season with the Jets. But all was not lost. He improved his catch rate by more than 20 points to 78 percent, and his yards per target increased to 8.8. This season, he heads to Miami to take over the starting tight-end job for the Dolphins. Keller plays more like big wide receiver as he has good speed and excellent body control in the air. His skill set should fit nicely in coach Joe Philbin's offensive system, and Ryan Tannehill is an upgrade over Mark Sanchez. Moreover, having Mike Wallace stretch the field on the outside should open space for Keller to work down the seam. Anthony Fasano, now with the Chiefs, saw 68 targets in a similar role last season for the Dolphins, but Keller could surpass that given his pedigree and Tannehill's expected development in Year 2.
In his fourth year in the league, Keller turned in a career season, leading the Jets with 65 receptions for 815 yards and five touchdowns. He benefited from a lackluster wideout corps, garnering a team-high 115 targets. Keller’s rapport with quarterback Mark Sanchez, though, continues to be a work in progress as Keller caught just 56.5 percent of his targets, 28th among qualified tight ends. That led to inconsistency as he posted five games of less than 40 yards receiving. What’s more, his 20 red-zone targets and nine targets inside the 10-yard line (third among tight ends) suggest he should have found the end zone more often. His goal-line numbers might not improve this season, depending on how the Jets use Tim Tebow. The addition of rookie wideout Stephen Hill, though, could help open up the middle of the field for Keller to operate. Although he’s small for a tight end at 6-2, his size also allows him to get down field with good speed (12 receptions of 20-plus yards last year).
At 6-2, 250, Keller shows excellent speed to get open downfield and uses his quickness to make himself an easy target. After the catch he shows good ability to break tackles and get extra yardage after contact. Those skills led to 11 catches of 20-plus yards last season, tied for fourth most at the position. One area in need of improvement, however, is his hands. Keller dropped seven passes last season, none more important than an end-zone drop Week 16 in Chicago. Quarterback Mark Sanchez also became more comfortable with his wide receivers as the year went on, and Keller’s role shrank. In the first five games, Keller was targeted nine times in the red zone, including seven times inside the 10, and scored five touchdowns. He never made it into the end zone again, receiving red-zone targets in just three of the final 11 games. As Keller showed early last year, he has plenty upside, but he’ll need to remain a significant part of the team’s attack. With Santonio Holmes' return, plus the additions of Plaxico Burress and Derrick Mason, Keller's role is a little cloudy, but he's still an important piece of the puzzle.
Keller’s outstanding postseason performance in which he scored in all three Jets games might make him a bit overvalued heading into the 2010 season. The Jets remain a run-first team and have a number of receiving options after acquiring Braylon Edwards last year and Santonio Holmes (who will serve a four-game suspension) during the offseason.

While the development of Mark Sanchez is the likely culprit, it’s worth noting that Keller’s yards per target dropped in his sophomore season from 6.9 to 6.4 yards, neither of which is a decent number. And for the second year in a row his production tailed off late in the season when he caught just nine passes in the final five weeks. Also, while Keller was targeted 11 times in the red zone, he scored only twice. Sanchez’s continued development will help Keller, but probably not enough to make him a weekly fantasy starter unless the team gives him more looks from in close.

Keller’s another tight end who fits the “better receiver than blocker” mold, which is perfect for fantasy purposes. His production predictably tailed off in tandem with the Jets’ demise as he only had 76 total receiving yards over the last four games and didn’t find the end zone after Week 10. Morever, Keller will be playing with an inexperienced quarterback at the helm – either Mark Sanchez or Kellen Clemens – limiting some of his upside in 2009. It’s worth noting that young quarterbacks often use the tight end as a security blanket, so an increase in catches and yards would not be a surprise.
He's a tight end for our purposes but an H-back in reality, which is a cute way to say that Keller is more receiver than blocker at this point in the game. The Jets have too many options at tight end for anyone to go of in 2008, but Keller should become a nice Dallas Clark clone in a couple of years. Clip and save.
More Fantasy News
TEMiami Dolphins
Knee - ACL + MCL
August 22, 2013
While Keller tore his ACL, PCL and MCL, he did not suffer any nerve or cartilage damage in his right knee, which he blew out Saturday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.
ANALYSIS
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Dustin Keller: Major Knee Injury Ends Season
TEMiami Dolphins
Knee - ACL + MCL
August 18, 2013
Keller was diagnosed with a torn ACL, MCL, PCL, and a dislocated right knee, which he suffered in Saturday's preseason game, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.
ANALYSIS
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TEMiami Dolphins
Knee - ACL + MCL
August 18, 2013
Keller will miss the 2013 season with a knee injury suffered in Saturday's preseason game against the Texans, ESPN's Adam Schefer reports.
ANALYSIS
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TEMiami Dolphins
Knee - ACL + MCL
August 18, 2013
The Dolphins are preparing for Keller (knee) to miss the entire 2013 season, the Miami Herald reports.
ANALYSIS
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Dustin Keller: Suffers Apparently Serious Knee Injury
TEMiami Dolphins
Knee - ACL + MCL
August 17, 2013
Keller suffered what appeared to be a severe knee injury during Saturday's preseason contest against the Texans, NFL.com's Jeff Darlington reports.
ANALYSIS
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