This ranking might seem well off the beaten path, but Bell’s career numbers are among some of the most impressive for the tight end position in recent years. Despite currently projecting to be a Day 3 pick in the NFL draft, Bell’s athletic profile is going to be crucial in translating to the NFL, and when combined with his high-end receiving metrics, there’s a case that Bell is on par for potential long-term fantasy success as the slightly-higher-ranked Sanders.

Bell’s 2.31 career yards per route run ranks among the 89th percentile of all tight end prospects since 2018 while his 3.67 yards per route run in 2021 is the best single-season mark among all tight end prospects who ran at least 100 routes in a season (an admittedly, slightly lower threshold) over that span. While Bell did regress in yards per route run over the next two seasons, he still delivered enough to keep him in that higher range for his career, and doing so as one of the best with the ball in his hands. Bell’s career 6.90-yard average depth of target is low, but his ability to create after the catch speaks to both South Carolina and Florida State just wanting to get the ball in his hands, as he delivered a 97th percentile yards after catch per reception (9.24). Bell’s opportunity to show off his high-upside receiving ability is going to depend on his landing spot.

Jaheim Bell’s stable metrics and tight end ranks since 2021: