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The bye weeks are here to wreak havoc on the fantasy football world. Philadelphia’s Dallas Goedert, Buffalo’s Dawson Knox, Los Angeles’ Tyler Higbee, and Minnesota’s Irv Smith Jr. are all on bye.
Fantasy football general managers will have their hands full trying to find replacements for these fellows. Have no fear, though! There are several suitable stopgaps available on league waiver wires, along with a couple of tight ends with the ability to be full-time fantasy starters the way things are going for them.
Without further ado, here are the best tight end waiver wire pickups for Week 7!
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Top Tight Ends to Pickup - Week 7 Waiver Wire
Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers
Tonyan had the breakout game everyone was waiting for against the surprising New York Jets. He topped Packers pass catchers with 10 receptions and 90 yards on a dozen targets. It is getting very apparent that Aaron Rodgers knows he can only count on Tonyan and No. 1 WR Allen Lazard now that he no longer has Davante Adams to throw to. And if Randall Cobb’s new ankle injury keeps him sidelined for a couple of games, Tonyan should have even more targets come his way.
Green Bay has three straight road games coming up, but two of those tilts are against Detroit and Washington, whose pass defenses are below-average. Tonyan looks better every week as he appears to be fully recovered from his torn ACL from last year. Pick him up for your fantasy team and he should start adding some touchdowns to all these receptions he is piling up.
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
If you had any doubts that Otton was going to become Tampa Bay’s top tight end before the season’s end, they should have been erased when Cameron Brate was carried off the field this past Sunday. We do not know how long Brate will be out with his serious-looking neck injury, but we do know that Otton will be the one filling in – and he will probably be the Buccaneers’ top TE from here on out.
Otton was drafted this season to be Tampa Bay’s future starting tight end, but the timeline just got sped up. With Brate out indefinitely, Otton will now play the role of Tom Brady’s safety valve over the middle. He has eight catches over his last two games, and now fantasy managers need to see Brady aim for Otton when the Bucs get close to the goal line. If you want more of a sure bet in standard leagues, Tonyan is the guy. If you want someone who has dynasty keeper potential and can contribute in the coming weeks as well, Otton is the guy.
Other Tight Ends to Consider Adding
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
For the fantasy managers who dropped Henry once Bailey Zappe took over as New England’s starting signal caller, pick him back up! Henry and Zappe are no Gronkowski and Brady, but they are clicking together for the past two weeks. Henry has 115 receiving yards and a touchdown during that span and looks to have righted his ship to save his fantasy season.
Daniel Bellinger, New York Giants
Do we have the second coming of Mark Bavaro on our hands here? Bellinger has scored touchdowns in back-to-back weeks, is averaging 30 receiving yards per game over the last month, and set season-highs with five receptions and 38 yards versus Baltimore this past Sunday. If Bellinger keeps making plays, who else will Daniel Jones throw to? The QB does not have many better or healthier options these days.
Hayden Hurst, Cincinnati Bengals
I think Hurst has found his way into every column this season as he does just enough to be a worthy pickup, but not enough that there is a cattle call for his fantasy services. Cincy’s top tight end has three catches or more in five of his six games this year, yet the best you can hope from him is that he averages 25-40 yards per week and scores the occasional touchdown for your fantasy squad.
Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars
Engram has 11 receptions (on 16 targets) for 109 yards over the past two weeks, so it seems quarterback Trevor Lawrence has gained confidence in him. Fantasy managers need Engram to get into the end zone, though, as he has yet to score a TD in 2022 and has an eight-game scoreless streak dating back to last season. Think of picking him up only in PPR leagues until he proves he can do damage inside the red zone.
Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks
It only took six weeks, but Seattle’s coaching staff has finally figured out that Fant should have some passes thrown his way. The talented tight end is building momentum with back-to-back games of 45-plus yards after only mustering 56 yards over his first four games. Fant is a good get if available in standard or dynasty leagues.
Do Not Forget About…
Jelani Woods, Indianapolis Colts
Woods is the new Cris Carter. All the guy does is score touchdowns. Woods only has five catches on the season, but three of them ended up with him being in the end zone. He has more upside than Mo-Alie Cox and could be featured more often as the season progresses since the Colts have a lack of playmakers among their receiver group.
Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota Vikings
Smith Jr. is the epitome of a touchdown-dependent tight end. His strange 4-7-1 line against Miami belies that. He might be on bye this week, but you should not forget about him when considering tight end waiver picks.
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
Thanks to New Orleans’ receiving corps dealing with its top three wideouts being injured, Johnson stepped up and caught four passes for 41 yards against Cincinnati in Week 6. If the Saints receivers continue to miss games, Johnson will continue to see extra targets and could be a deep sleeper in fantasy leagues.
Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens
We all know Mark Andrews is the second-best tight end in fantasy football and is not going anywhere, so Likely’s fantasy value can only go so high. Yet the rookie tight end keeps getting looks from Lamar Jackson and would certainly be one of the QB’s top targets if Andrews went down with an injury at some point.
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