RADIO
Week 7 is going to lay a hurtin’ on millions of fantasy football rosters.
A half-dozen NFL teams are on bye this week, slashing the number of helpful players on the waiver wire just when fantasy footballers need help the most. The best tight end out of action this week is Houston’s Dalton Schultz, who was probably picked up by thousands of fantasy managers last week when he was the top tight end mentioned in this column. Tennessee’s Chigoziem Okonkwo and Dallas’ Jake Ferguson are also on vacay this week.
Without further ado, here are the best tight end waiver wire pickups for Week 7, starting with one of the few bright spots on the Washington Commanders!
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Top Tight Ends to Pickup - Week 7 Waiver Wire
Logan Thomas, Washington Commanders
It shows how shallow the tight end position is right now that Thomas is the top guy available in many leagues when he is coming off catching one two-yard pass. Everyone has a clunker here and there, though. Paul McCartney made a couple of mediocre solo albums. Seinfeld saved its worst for last with its series finale. Bill Belichick thought it was a good idea to have a defensive coordinator and a special teams coordinator run the Patriots' offense last year. So cut Thomas some slack.
Thomas has 14 catches for 140 yards and two scores in the three weeks leading up to the two-yard debacle. Focus more on that series of work. Washington QB Sam “Don’t Call Me Thurston” Howell likes throwing to Thomas, especially in the red zone where Thomas can use his basketball body to box out undersized defensive backs. He should do okay against the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles in the next two weeks as long as the targets turn back toward his direction. Pick him up if you need a tight end and he should play a role on your fantasy roster from here on out.
Other Tight Ends to Consider Adding
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears
After a dozen catches, including three touchdowns, over the two weeks prior, Kmet came crashing down to earth like someone whose parachute popped. A nine-yard game only helps the fantasy managers playing against him. That is the problem with Kmet. The shaky quarterbacking he deals with on a regular basis costs him catches and yards in certain scenarios. And things will not get better for Kmet’s fantasy value if Justin Fields misses a significant chunk of time due to his thumb injury. All that said, Kmet is better than most available options at TE on waiver wires these days.
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans
He might be off this week, but what about Weeks 8 through 18? Those count, too, you know. Schultz has been playing like his helmet is on fire. He has touchdowns in three straight games and has established a connection with rookie franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud. Pick up Schultz this week if you can be patient and live with him sunbathing rather than scoring this weekend. His two games after the bye are favorable matchups versus Carolina and Tampa Bay.
Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders
I did not think I would like The Golden Bachelor, but I always knew I would like Mayer. The second-round rookie has filled the gigantic shoes Darren Waller left behind and has accounted for 114 receiving yards over the past two weeks. Mayer has a mouthwatering matchup this week against Chicago’s 29th-ranked pass defense, so pencil him in as a sneaky pickup and/or DFS play and you might watch him score the first TD of his bright NFL career.
Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers
You know my feelings about Everett. I think his fantasy value will turn up a notch due to WR Mike Williams’ season-ending knee injury, but it would go up 100 notches if Keenan Allen would just get out of the way. Quarterback Justin Herbert only has eyes for Allen, which leaves Everett with table scraps for targets at times. Watch Everett on Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys and see how he is utilized before making your decision on whether or not to pick him up.
Do Not Forget About…
Jonnu Smith, Atlanta Falcons
I am now firmly a believer that Smith can be counted on in certain spots to deliver as a solid fantasy tight end. He has racked up five straight games with 35 receiving yards or more and is consistently producing even though Kyle Pitts is finally factoring into the Atlanta offense as well. I cannot rate Smith higher in this column when he is still a TE2 on his own team, but thanks to a thin tight end field on most waiver wires, he gets top billing in this subsection.
Tommy Tremble, Carolina Panthers
Tremble has hardly had defensive backs trembling during his short career, but he has been outperforming veteran Hayden Hurst in recent weeks and is suddenly challenging to be Carolina’s top tight end. There was a reason why the Panthers drafted him in the third round in 2021. Tremble might be turning the corner in his development, so keep an eye on him in the coming weeks.
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
He runs, he throws, and now he catches! We all know how dangerous Hill is inside the red zone as a quarterback who runs better than many running backs. His seven-catch, 49-yard performance as a triple threat disguised as a tight end came out of left field, however. Hill is a special fantasy performer because of where he qualifies. I would rate him higher on the tight end totem pole this week if he was not facing Jacksonville’s third-ranked run defense.
Tyler Conklin, New York Jets
Conklin’s fantasy value is stunted by Zach Wilson’s penchant for passing games of under 200 yards, no doubt. He also NEVER scores touchdowns (seven in six seasons). That said, he has had five straight games of 24 yards or more and topped the 50-yard plateau in three of those contests. That is not bad for someone working with so little. Do not forget about Conklin even though he is on bye.
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