RADIO
Even though we are in the thick of the NFL season, no teams are on bye this week! That does not mean there are not millions of fantasy footballers in need of a tight end.
Tight ends have not exactly been tearing it up this season. You might be one of the millions of fantasy football general managers who have had trouble getting consistent production from your team’s tight ends. Many of the top-tier tight ends like Kansas City’s Travis Kelce and Baltimore’s Mark Andrews have gotten off the slug-like starts, and many of the up-and-comers like Detroit’s Sam LaPorta and Arizona’s Trey McBride have produced uneven results.
If you are looking for a tight end upgrade or just looking for a one-week stopgap until your tight end rights his ship, you are reading the right column. Without further ado, here are the top tight end candidates on the fantasy waiver wire for Week 8, beginning with a longtime favorite who is benefitting from a quarterback change:
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Top Fantasy Football Tight Ends to Pick Up - Week 8 Waiver Wire
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Henry has turned into the second coming of Rob Gronkowski since rookie signal caller Drake Maye took over the Patriots offense. New England’s top tight end has racked up 11 receptions for 133 yards over the past two games with Maye at the helm. The quarterback upgrade has definitely upgraded Henry’s fantasy value and should continue to do so throughout the season.
Fantasy footballers have known that Henry can find the end zone better than most tight ends (39 career TDs). The veteran has two things going for him that most tight ends in this column do not. One is a new quarterback that is actually and upgrade and not a downgrade. The second is that Henry is on a team without a true WR1 (or WR2 for that matter), so he might turn out to be Maye’s go-to guy from here on out.
If you need a third thing going for Henry, he will be running routes this weekend against a New York Jets secondary that might be missing its top three safeties and two of its best cornerbacks. Henry is the top TE on my waiver wire board this week because of all this.
Other Fantasy Football Tight Ends to Consider Adding
Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens
Likely has not yet played his Week 7 game yet, but he was the top choice on the waiver wire in my prior column after having another scintillating game. The problem is that while Likely has had two outstanding outings this season, he has also had four clunkers sprinkled in between. He also has the specter of Andrews lurking in the shadows, ready to take his tight end targets and playing time at a moment’s notice.
Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders
It appears that the top tight end spot on the Commanders will not be Ben Sinnott’s until 2025. Ertz has been obviously taking Big Gulp-like cups from the Fountain of Youth this year which have revitalized his career. After posting a season-high 68 yards in Week 6, Ertz scored his first TD of 2024 against Carolina on Sunday. The only thing that can slow him down now is if QB Jayden Daniels misses games due to his rib injury.
Do not adjust your screen. It is 2024 and Marcus Mariota just threw a TD to Zach Ertz. pic.twitter.com/MfvVypWX5U
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 20, 2024
Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins
It is odd that Smith’s fantasy value has gone up since Tua Tagovailoa went down with his umpteenth concussion. Smith worked wonders with Atlanta’s mediocre quarterbacks in 2023, and now has been piling up points with the likes of Tim Boyle and Tyler Huntley throwing to him.
Smith has a dozen grabs for 158 yards and a TD over this past two weeks. Meanwhile, WRs Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle combined for two receptions in Week 7.
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The king of the eight-yard catch is back in the column again and might move up a couple paragraphs depending on how he does against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night. He has 18 catches for 153 yards and a score over his past four contests and continues to be a solid-but-unspectacular option for both Baker Mayfield and fantasy managers.
Do Not Forget About…
Tyler Conklin, New York Jets
Now Conklin has to contend with Garrett Wilson AND Davante Adams’ need for targets, not to mention Allen Lazard and Mike Williams, who are stuck being WR3 and WR 4 when they could probably start on many teams. Despite these odds, Conklin scored his first touchdown of the season Sunday night. One thing is for sure – he will not be double-covered with all these talented receivers around him.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers
There is no reason to wait to throw Sanders to the fire now. Carolina’s season is already over and Sanders should be peppered with passes from here on out.
The rookie has 11 receptions for 110 yards during the last two weeks and should continue to prosper on a team so bad that it will usually be trailing in most second halves. That means the Panthers will be throwing a lot and Sanders should be able to muster up plenty of fantasy points during garbage time.
Ja'Tavion Sanders left yards on the field and still had a career best day. pic.twitter.com/3FxlUdtH5n
— Two Growls One Roar (@2growls1roar) October 21, 2024
Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks
Don’t look now, but Fant has posted back-to-back 60-yard games after barely registering a blip on the fantasy radar screen all season. He has failed to score a touchdown this season and remains an underachiever by many fantasy experts. Fant’s saving grace might be that he could have more Geno Smith spirals thrown his way in the coming weeks if DK Metcalf’s knee injury sidelines him for a while.
Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford has lost his top two targets to injury for multiple weeks now, so he has had no choice but to throw some passes Parkinson’s way. He has 117 receiving yards over his last three games and appears to be gaining confidence every week. When Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua finally return from their injuries, Parkinson’s fantasy value will drop down a couple flights of stairs.
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