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Why can’t every Sunday be National Tight Ends Day? Fantasy footballers would love it if the pseudo-holiday could be celebrated every week -- especially if tight ends rack up record-breaking numbers like they did this past weekend.
Tight ends accounted for 177 receptions and 16 touchdowns this past Sunday. It was the best single-day stats for the tight-end position in the history of the NFL. The man who created the holiday, San Francisco’s George Kittle, had six catches for 128 yards and a touchdown, and many of his allies did right by their fantasy managers as well.
Fantasy footballers will have to make do without Kittle and Pittsburgh’s Pat Freiermuth this week as their teams are on bye. Luckily, there are many solid options out there on league free-agent lists. Here are the top candidates available on fantasy waiver wires this week at the tight-end position, beginning with Tampa Bay’s new No. 1 pass-catcher.
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Top Fantasy Football Tight Ends to Pick Up - Week 9 Waiver Wire
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Otton was buried as a distant third on Tampa’s target totem pole behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Then, in one game’s time, he became Baker Mayfield’s top target. It is wild how bad luck for some can create good luck for others in the wonderful world of fantasy football.
Otton just had the two best games of his career in Weeks 7 and 8. He followed his 8-100-0 game versus Baltimore with a 9-81-2 game against Atlanta on Sunday. Whether he likes it or not, Otton is no longer the seven-yard backup plan now in the Buccaneers offense.
Until Evans returns from his hamstring injury, the sure-handed Otton will be the main man in the red zone and between the 20-yard lines.
GRONK SPIKE BY @CADEOTTON 😤
📺: #ATLvsTB on FOX
🎉: @BudLight #EasyToCelebrate pic.twitter.com/yy4ecTsuVJ— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 27, 2024
Otton’s competition for Tampa targets will come more from running backs Bucky Irving and Rachaad White than an inexperienced group of wide receivers thrust into starting roles. Even when Evans comes back, Otton will get more passes thrown his way than usual due to Godwin missing the season with his ankle injury.
Otton is by far the top tight end on waiver wires this week. Waste no time claiming him if you need an upgrade.
Other Fantasy Football Tight Ends to Consider Adding
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Henry continues to be New England’s most productive pass-catcher, which is akin to being the healthiest food item on McDonald’s menu. He has 16 receptions for 178 yards and a TD over his last three games. The only thing going against Henry is he faces Tennessee’s top-ranked pass defense this weekend (yes, the Titans are good at something).
Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens
The good news is that Likely woke up a little bit and had a 47-yard outing against Cleveland after only having 44 yards combined in the two prior games. The bad news is Mark Andrews has reassumed his position as the top tight end in Baltimore with his great back-to-back games the past two weeks.
Likely will be a feast-or-famine fantasy player this season, so do not count on him to be your true TE1 every week. Pick him up and pray you can guess when his good weeks will happen.
Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders
Ertz’s three best games of the season have come in a row in the past three weeks. He has recorded 15 receptions for 185 yards and a TD during that span and should continue to prosper since quarterback Jayden Daniels seems fine after his rib injury scare. A date against the lowly New York Giants this week should help Ertz out, too.
Tyler Conklin, New York Jets
Conklin was known for avoiding end zones like Chappell Roan avoids paparazzi. He only scored seven touchdowns in his first six seasons in the NFL. After failing to cross the goal line in New York’s opening half-dozen games this year, Conklin has scored in two consecutive contests. Do not expect him to pile up yardage with Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams needing their targets, but Conklin’s fantasy value is on the rise.
That's a hell of a catch by Tyler Conklin. Dude got lit up and snagged it with one hand pic.twitter.com/4jD1AuSgY1
— Ben Brown 🌻 (@BenBrownPL) October 27, 2024
Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins
Smith started catching some passes once Tua Tagovailoa was concussed. He had his two best games of the season by far when his starting signal-caller was sidelined. Now, Tua is back and Smith responds with a 20-yard dud that helped no fantasy managers. Let’s see how the next couple of weeks play out, but Tagovailoa has never been a Matt Ryan type who depends on his tight ends more than most quarterbacks.
Do Not Forget About…
Grant Calcaterra, Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas Goedert was the top tight end in fantasy football when he went down with his hamstring injury. Now, there is no need for him to rush back since Calcaterra has 67- and 58-yard games under his belt over the past three weeks.
Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks
Fant has 16 catches over his last four games and will be thrown to more if top target DK Metcalf remains sidelined with his knee injury. Plus, he is WELL overdue for a touchdown. Fant has not scored a TD in any of his past 27 games going back to the end of the 2022 campaign.
Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals
Gesicki managed to post seven catches for 73 yards against Philadelphia this past Sunday after being invisible for two games (one catch for two yards). He is hard to count on due to Joe Burrow saving his TD tosses for Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but Gesicki can be a decent low-cost play in DFS contests or as a one-off in standard fantasy leagues.
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