Chicago’s Cole Kmet is coming off a two-TD game. Too bad he will have to wait until Week 8 for an encore.
Kmet and Dallas’ Jake Ferguson are on bye this week, so millions of fantasy footballers will need a tight end this week with these two off. The problem is the amount of solid options on league waiver wires dries up as the season wears on.
Tight ends had a pretty good Week 6, though, so there might be more decent tight ends available in your league than you would think at this point of the campaign. Without further ado, here are the top tight end waiver wire pickups for Week 7, beginning with Baltimore’s TE1 or TE2, depending on which week it is:
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Top Fantasy Football Tight Ends to Pick Up - Week 7 Waiver Wire
Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens
Likely has been a feast-or-famine fantasy player this year. He has had two great fantasy outings (Weeks 1 and 5), but he has also gone five straight games without breaking the 30-yard barrier in a game. This past Sunday he was overshadowed by Mark Andrews, who finally had his first superb game of the season.
Likely remains the top tight end on the waiver wire in many leagues, though. He has receiver-like skills and receiver-like wheels, and in Week 7 he should get open early and often against Tampa Bay’s 28th-ranked pass defense. If Likely is still out there in your league, scoop him up and hope that this week is his week and not Andrews’.
Other Fantasy Football Tight Ends to Consider Adding
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Henry has two major things going for him as he heads into Week 7. One is that rookie Drake Maye is now the starting signal caller in New England, and Henry had 41 yards and a TD in Maye’s first start. The second thing is that Henry will be facing the worst pass defense in the NFL when he runs routes against Jacksonville this weekend.
Drake Maye improvises and finds Hunter Henry for a big gain!
The #Patriots rookie QB just needs to show flashes, that’s all we can really ask for. pic.twitter.com/GdaCyNHjHE
— Carlos Talks Pats (@LosTalksPats) October 13, 2024
Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders
Ertz has made every column this season, and there was no doubt he would make it again after racking up a season-high 68 yards on Sunday against Baltimore. With Washington in the playoff hunt instead of rebuilding, Ertz has a much better chance now of holding off rookie Ben Sinnott and being the Commanders’ top tight end for the remainder of the season.
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
While it seemed like Chris Godwin caught every pass Baker Mayfield threw on Sunday in New Orleans, Otton was lucky enough to catch a pass in the end zone. Otton has now had four games in a row where he has either had 40 receiving yards or a TD. He will never give you big chunk plays (9.4 career YPC), but he can give you precious receptions in PPR leagues if you need a spot starter TE2.
Grant Calcaterra, Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas Goedert went from one of the best tight ends in fantasy in 2024 to being out for an undetermined time due to a hamstring injury suffered on Sunday. That opens the door for understudy Calcaterra, who had four catches for 67 yards filling in for Goedert against Cleveland. If Goedert misses some games, picking up Calcaterra is not a bad fantasy idea.
Do Not Forget About…
Tyler Conklin, New York Jets
Conklin has a 91-yard game and a 55-yard game to his credit this season. He only has 33 yards combined in his other three games, though. We shall see if the shakeups among the coaching staff have a positive effect on Aaron Rodgers and the Jets' offense. If they do, Conklin’s numbers and fantasy value should go up.
Theo Johnson, New York Giants
Johnson is not making Giants fans forget about Mark Bavaro, but the rookie has eight catches for 78 yards over his last two games. Short-armed Daniel Jones is starting to like tossing to him, so expect Johnson to keep compiling catches in the coming weeks, especially if top target Malik Nabers remains sidelined.
Ja'Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers
Carolina’s fourth-round pick this past April was supposed to be their future tight end, but the future is now. After posting just eight catches in his first five contests, Sanders had five catches for 49 yards versus Atlanta. Feel free to pick him up in dynasty leagues if he is available and hope Sunday’s sample was just a glimpse of what is yet to come.
Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins
Do not forget about Smith because he was on bye this past week. Miami’s top tight end had his best game of the year in Week 5 and could turn into Tyler Huntley’s favorite short-throw pass catcher. Smith also has a favorable matchup this Sunday against Indianapolis’ 26th-ranked pass defense.
Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams
Parkinson piled up season-highs across the board with seven catches for 52 yards on 13 targets in Week 5 and should be well-rested since he was on a bye in Week 6. Until Pro Bowl wideouts Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua return from their injuries, Parkinson will be one of Matthew Stafford’s top-three targets in the Rams passing attack.
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