Two great things about Thanksgiving week – plenty of turkey and no NFL teams on bye!
Zero tight ends will be missing in action this week because their teams are off, so that makes life easier for fantasy footballers heading into the crucial part of their schedules where playoff berths and division titles are clinched. Week 12 was a killer for fantasy managers since there was a half-dozen teams with the week off.
Fantasy managers might still be in need of a tight end despite all NFL teams being on the field during Turkey Week, though. Without further ado, here are the top tight ends available on fantasy waiver wires for unlucky Week 13, beginning with the jack-of-all-trades from New Orleans.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Top Fantasy Football Tight End Pickups for Week 13
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
For the fantasy managers who passed over Taysom Hill last week due to his Saints being on bye, this is their last chance to scoop him up in leagues where he is still somehow available. The multidimensional superstar is coming off his best game of the season by far – 138 rushing yards, eight catches for 50 yards, and three total touchdowns.
Taysom Hill simply can't stop making plays.
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/HJB01IXc4F
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 17, 2024
With New Orleans trotting out unknowns at wide receivers after being decimated by injuries, the offense has revolved around Hill more in recent weeks. He now gets to run, pass, and catch against a Los Angeles Rams defense that just made Saquon Barkley look like the best running back in the history of the NFL. Another trio of touchdowns could be in the well-rested Hill’s future. He is the top tight end on waiver wires in the fantasy leagues where he is a free agent.
Other Fantasy Football Tight Ends to Consider Adding
Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders
Zach Ertz continues to be mentioned in every column this year, the model of marginal consistency. He is in the midst of his most productive stretch of the season, however. Ertz has scored touchdowns in back-to-back games and has caught 12 of the 15 passes Jayden Daniels has thrown to him in those contests. Only problem for him this week is he is facing the top-ranked pass defense in the NFL, the Tennessee Titans.
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears
Chicago’s offensive struggles over the past month have ruined the fantasy values of virtually of the Bears skilled-position players, including Cole Kmet. After a two-TD game in Week 6, he only had eight receptions for 69 yards and no scores over his past four games, causing him to be dropped in many fantasy leagues. But Caleb Williams and the Bears passing attack have righted themselves, and Kmet caught seven passes for 64 yards against Minnesota.
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Hunter Henry is at it again, doing just enough to get his name mentioned in my column, but not enough to be picked up in more than half of the fantasy leagues out there. The longtime veteran has 11 catches for 107 yards over his past two outings and has amassed 40 yards or more in six of his past seven games. Henry’s matchup this week against Indianapolis’ 27th-ranked pass defense is favorable as well.
Will Dissly, Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers head honcho Jim Harbaugh deserves a lot of credit for turning this team around, and one of the biggest improvements has been the development of quarterback Justin Herbert and his young receiving corps. Will Dissly has benefitted greatly as well and has already broken his career-highs in receptions and yards and still has seven games to go.
Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens
One week, Isaiah Likely is Lamar Jackson’s top tight end. The next week, Mark Andrews is the top tight end. The third week, both could be ignored and Baltimore just hands the ball to Derrick Henry 25 times and calls pass plays for receivers you did not even know were on the roster. The risk/reward with using Likely is sky high, so if you pick him up I hope he gives you more of the latter from here on out.
Do Not Forget About…
Theo Johnson, New York Giants
Theo Johnson’s fantasy value should not be affected now that Daniel Jones has been replaced by Tommy “Cutlets” DeVito as the Giants starting signal caller. New York’s top tight end has now topped the 35-yard mark in four consecutive contests. Just imagine what the kid could do in 2025 if the organization finds its future quarterback.
Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans
You should not pick up a player just because of one big play, but Chig Okonkwo’s 70-yard TD against Houston this past weekend showed off his impressive wheels and shows why fantasy pundits thought he would be a sleeper the past two years. Tennessee QB Will Levis is improving, so keep an eye on Okonkwo this upcoming week and see if he has another strong showing.
Chig Okonkwo gets in open space for a 70-yard TD!
📺: #TENvsHOU on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/98scOwfisp— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024
Tommy Tremble, Carolina Panthers
Tommy Tremble will likely be called upon to take over TE1 duties for Carolina after rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders’ scary neck injury on Sunday. Do not expect him to rack up the receptions, but he could score a TD or two if he starts the next month.
Noah Gray, Kansas City Chiefs
Travis Kelce might have the Hall of Fame numbers, the popular podcast, and the pop star girlfriend, but Noah Gray is the one who has scored four touchdowns over the past two weeks. I am not sure how long this hot streak will last, but I would not be surprised to see Gray score again on “Black Friday” against the hapless and hopeless Las Vegas Raiders.
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!