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Craig Rondinone's fantasy football tight end waiver wire pickups for Week 16 of the 2022 NFL season. His free agent TEs to add, stream, and stash off waivers.
Where is Rob Gronkowski when you need him? Well, the good news is that fantasy footballers might not need him this week, even if they are as desperate for a tight end as Jakobi Meyers is to have that lateral back.
If fantasy football leagues did not already begin their postseason, they are starting this week. There should not be many teams who made the playoffs in need of a tight end at this late date, but if you are one of the few who do be advised that there are still some tight ends on your league’s waiver wire that could help your team with a championship. While Gronk is not an option, there are several others who are.
Without further ado, here are the best tight end waiver wire pickups for Week 16, starting with two tight ends from the same team!
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Top Tight Ends to Pickup - Week 16 Waiver Wire
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
Johnson may have missed a game, but the game-breaking tight end did not miss a beat when he returned. His 4-67-2 line versus the Atlanta Falcons this past Sunday made fantasy managers cry that they dropped him when he was banged up and his Saints were on their bye so he was out for two weeks. That might be a foolish mistake that ends up costing thousands of fantasy players thousands of dollars.
Johnson has now scored seven touchdowns over his last seven contests. He has transformed into the Travis Kelce of the NFC South. With New Orleans still in the hunt for a division title (somehow) and with the team’s receiving corps hampered by injuries and subpar play at times, Johnson will continue to be Andy Dalton’s top target during fantasy football’s most important weeks coming up.
Other Tight Ends to Consider Adding
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
The multi-dimensional Hill struck fantasy gold again in Week 15, this time with his arm (80 passing yards and a TD toss) while adding 30 yards on the ground for extra fantasy help. His next two games are against a middle-of-the-road Cleveland defense and a Philadelphia defense that might not have much to play for. Hill should be a prime target for teams needing a tight end for their playoff weeks with a schedule like that. Let’s just hope he qualifies as a TE in your league.
Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks
Fant has recorded 32 yards or more in five of his last six games and has scored touchdowns in two of his last three outings. He now seems more comfortable in Seattle’s offense and has a chance to be Geno Smith’s second-best option for passes if Tyler Lockett misses a game or two due to his fractured finger. He is a sneaky start this Thursday against the New York Jets.
Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee’s fourth-round pick from the 2022 NFL draft is surpassing veteran Austin Hooper on the team’s tight end depth chart. Okonkwo has 14 receptions for 167 yards and a touchdown over his past three games and should be primed for another solid game this week against Houston’s below-average defense.
Greg Dulcich, Denver Broncos
Dulcich has failed to score a TD over his last eight games in an attempt to make fantasy managers forget about him. Russell Wilson did appear to be playing better before he was concussed, however, so if Wilson returns in Week 16 then Dulcich could be an OK play against the L.A. Rams’ 22nd-ranked pass defense.
Do Not Forget About…
Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona’s rookie tight end has taken his time learning the ropes, but he had his best game of the year by far against Denver this past weekend, setting season-highs by catching four passes for 55 yards. With the loaded receiving corps the Cards have and with Kyler Murray sidelined for the season, McBride’s fantasy worth is low for 2022, but he should be someone to watch in 2023 depending on what the organization decides to do with Zach Ertz.
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With Cameron Brate back on the field, Otton is getting to be less of a part of the fold in Tampa Bay. The promising youngster has not had a 30-yard game in a month, so his value in standard year-to-year leagues is virtually nil, but his value in dynasty leagues is still decent considering he will undoubtedly be the Buccaneers’ top tight end in 2023.
C.J. Uzomah, New York Jets
Tyler Conklin has been the multi-million-dollar tight end who has been getting the pub from fantasy managers this year, while Uzomah has been busy blocking. But we all know Uzomah is good for a couple of crazy-good games each year, so his two-TD performance against Detroit should not have been shocking. I would not expect this touchdown barrage to continue, but I do believe Uzomah will be given more opportunities in the Jets' offense.
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