Should I Pick Up Trey McBride? Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Outlook

It's a risky proclamation, but the tight end position may be uncharacteristically deep right now.

A number of key injuries have propelled younger players into premier roles. Dalton Kincaid is one example of that and he scored on Thursday Night Football last week. Another is Trey McBride, who set records in his first game as the full-time starter this season.

Zach Ertz (quad) will be on the shelf for at least three more games and quarterback Kyler Murray is getting close to a return. That makes McBride a player to target off of the waiver wire.

What Did Trey McBride Accomplish In Week 8?

McBride saw 14 targets against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8. That volume does not happen for most tight ends, let alone one who is just 23 years old. The targets converted into 10 receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown. The second-year tight end wasn't out there to block, either. He claimed an 88 percent route share.

Prior to this contest, the Baltimore Ravens surrendered the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. McBride dropped them down a few spots in the rankings.

Should I Pick Up Trey McBride?

Darren Waller (hamstring) is a risk of missing Week 9. Weekly starters Sam LaPorta and George Kittle are on bye this week. That's at least three fantasy managers who may need to find a tight end to play this week. McBride is a legitimate option.

There are some concerns. As noted above, the Ravens were the best team against tight ends heading into Week 8. McBride's Week 9 opponent is the new king of the throne. The Browns have allowed just 16 catches for 133 yards through seven games. If McBride sees a similar target share as he did last week, the matchup may not matter but it should cause some pause before adding him into a starting lineup.

The second issue is the quarterback. Joshua Dobbs was shipped off to Minnesota before the trade deadline so the man heavily targeting tight ends is no longer under center. Either rookie Clayton Tune or Kyler Murray will get the start. The initial plan, as reported, was that the Cardinals wanted to bring Murray back for Week 10. That could change now that Dobbs isn't on the roster.

If it's Murray, we know that he targets tight ends at a respectable rate. Zach Ertz was a top-10 tight end with Murray running the offense before tearing his ACL last season. If it's Tune, it's a wild guess. The fifth-round rookie has thrown one pass in the NFL so his tendencies are unknown.

Regardless, McBride is the best tight end option on the waiver wire this week. He's worth taking the gamble on in a tough matchup, especially if he's just a one-week replacement. But he could offer so much more when the schedule softens and his quarterback returns to form.

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