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The tight end position in fantasy football this year has been top-heavy.
Baltimore’s Mark Andrews and Kansas City’s Travis Kelce are racking up receptions, yards, and touchdowns like they were supposed to. None of the other tight ends in the league are doing anywhere near as well, though. There is a lot of mediocrity in the middle of the tight end pack. But if you are looking for an upgrade at your TE1 or TE2 positions on your fantasy roster, there are some interesting candidates to choose from on your league’s waiver wire.
Without further ado, here are the best tight end waiver wire pickups for Week 4!
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Top Tight Ends to Pickup - Week 4 Waiver Wire
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
You knew there had to be a reason Cleveland paid Njoku multimillions this offseason when his track record did not warrant such a humongous windfall. The Browns’ top tight end broke out with a 9-89-1 line against division rival Pittsburgh this past Thursday and appears to be the second-best option in the passing attack behind No. 1 WR Amari Cooper.
Things will only be better for Njoku late this season and in 2023 when Deshaun Watson returns from his suspension. This makes him a great get whether you are in a standard league that redrafts every year or a dynasty league where you could stash Njoku on your roster for the next five years. His only drawback is that he has been maddeningly inconsistent throughout his career, so let’s hope he does not follow this game up with back-to-back 20-yard outings.
Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota Vikings
Smith Jr. looks 100 percent and has managed to give fantasy managers 68 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets over his past pair of games. He is never going to pile up tons of catches and 100-yard games due to the wonderful wideouts on Minnesota’s roster, but the touchdown-dependent tight end can certainly help when used in the right fantasy situations.
Before you write me off as someone who needs a straitjacket and a room in the looney bin, remember how great Smith Jr. was at the end of the 2020 season. He scored five touchdowns in six games and entered 2021 as a tight end many fantasy experts thought was ready to be among the top-10 at the position. Injuries have derailed him, but if Smith Jr. can get on a touchdown roll, he will help fantasy managers more than he will hurt them.
Other Tight Ends to Consider Adding
Jelani Woods, Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis’ third-round pick from this year’s draft is already paying off handsomely. Two catches, two touchdowns against AFC powerhouse Kansas City. Woods has little competition at tight end on the team (Mo-Alie Cox?), so he could be the favorite to be Matt Ryan’s top target inside the red zone as the season progresses. Pick him up and he could blossom into a fantasy force in dynasty leagues.
Tyler Conklin, New York Jets
Conklin cleaned up during garbage time in the Jets' loss against the Cincinnati Bengals and finished with eight receptions for 84 yards. He continues to be averse to scoring touchdowns (five TD in 67 career contests) but he is supplying solid numbers for fantasy managers this year, especially in PPR leagues.
Logan Thomas, Washington Commanders
I would not give up on Thomas just because of one bad game as most of the Commanders stunk up FedEx Field against Philadelphia this past weekend. The one worry is that Thomas could be lost in the target shuffle since receivers Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, and Jahan Dotson are all performing well at the moment.
Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers
Tonyan was second on the Packers in targets against Tampa Bay, yet somehow pulled off the feat of not having a 10-yard catch even though he hauled in six Aaron Rodgers passes. Rodgers needs to aim for Tonyan near the end zone more before Tonyan can be ranked higher among available fantasy tight ends, but there is a good chance that could happen sooner or later.
Hayden Hurst, Cincinnati Bengals
The shine is dimmer on Hurst’s spotlight after posting 46 yards in Week 1, 24 in Week 2, and just seven in Week 3. That is not the trajectory fantasy managers want to see. He has Joe Burrow as his QB and three game-breaking receivers to free him up in secondaries, though, so do not give up on Hurst just yet.
Do Not Forget About…
Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The longtime Bucs veteran had five receptions for 52 yards against Green Bay and continues to be Tampa Bay’s No. 1 TE as he holds off Kyle Rudolph and Cade Otton. If Tom Brady’s troops continue to be down a couple of wide receivers in the coming weeks, Brate will keep seeing plenty of passes heading his way.
Jordan Akins, Houston Texans
It is hard to get excited about Akins’ 31 yards and a TD in Week 3 considering he did not catch a pass the first two weeks and was passed by Brevin Jordan and O.J. Howard on Houston’s tight end depth chart. But keep an eye on the Texans' tight end rotation in the coming weeks, and if Akins emerges as the top guy, then taking a flyer on him in a deep league is not the worst idea.
Foster Moreau, Las Vegas Raiders
Moreau is one of the best backup tight ends in the NFL and could start for many teams. He outplayed and outgained Pro Bowler and tight end teammate Darren Waller this past Sunday and could be given more targets and opportunities if he keeps producing when thrown to.
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