Streaming Tight Ends
Another week, and another Trey McBride touchdown. Or at least that has been the trend over the last month, as he has scored 5 over that time and 6 overall this season. He has now doubled his scores from last year. George Kittle had his best game of the year on the back of 9 catches, 84 yards, and a score, and did so with Mac Jones. Juwan Johnson finishes as the TE3 on the week and compiled 92 yards from the rookie Tyler Shough, including a 30-yard catch in the end zone. Dalton Schultz and Theo Johnson were two of our streams last week, and both found themselves in the top eight. Tyler Warren tore it down in Berlin as he came just a yard shy of a hundred on eight catches. Cade Otton had his best game of the season… still don’t care, though. I just can’t find myself putting him in lineups. We saw Jackson Hawes step in for an injured Dalton Knicaid. I’d imagine he’ll be out for a bit again with this injury. And in Rams fashion, we saw their four tight ends land in the top 28. Not great as a playable asset, but wild to see that many from one team in the top thirty.
Brock Bowers walked away from Week 10 with just the one catch, but it was in a divisional game with one of the best defenses, so a bounce-back should be coming in Week 11. Marvin Harrison Jr. is out this week, leaving an opportunity for Trey McBride to be the best skill player of the week. Jake Ferguson hasn’t scored in three weeks, and that is where most of his production has come from. He has three hard matchups upon him, so it might be time to get out if you can. Oronde Gadsden left last week with a thigh bruise but is on track to play this week. He also gets one of the best matchups this week. Kyle Pitts should be in line for a better game after two weeks of mediocre production. Theo Johnson lost his rookie quarterback, Jaxson Dart, to a concussion last week, but I’m throwing him in lineups with the nod to Jameis Winston under center. Darius Slayton also missed practice on Wednesday.
And now, here are a handful of my favorite deeper streaming options for you all to consider this week:
Luke Musgrave
Tucker Kraft 2.0?
It wasn’t a great first game for Luke Musgrave, who filled in for Tucker Kraft. But that was to be expected, as was brought up because of the matchup with the Eagles. The good takeaway was the fact that he took the majority of snaps for the tight ends. Wide receiver Romeo Doubs left the game on Monday, and rookie Mathew Golden is also dealing with injuries. Jordan Love needs to move this offense more, and clearly leaning on Josh Jacobs all the way won’t get it done against better teams. I like Luke Musgrave to give a solid floor in a better matchup and the potential to carve out a decent role with 15% plus target share.
Pat Frieremuth?
One of these guys will come through, right?
Do I really feel great about this one? Yeah, we are looking at one of the three Steelers tight ends who sees targets. So why take the chance? Well, you see, the Steelers play the Bengals, who are on pace to give up historic production to the tight end position. The last time these teams met this season, all three guys scored a touchdown. I think again, everyone has an equal chance to score. I want to lean on Pat Freiermuth, who has more athletic ability to add yards to his goal-line work. At this point in the season, the Bengals are allowing over 9 points over expectation at the position. Not to mention, this offense has been abysmal with DK Metcalf being the only other pass-catching threat, and he has disappointed a lot lately. The Steelers are on a skid outside of their win in Indy a couple of weeks ago. I’m taking the risk with this team putting up points in a divisional shootout with Cincinnati.
Greg Dulcich
Never thought I’d add him
Last one, and we are going deep! We are also taking a trip to Spain in the NFL’s final international game. The Dolphins have been on a hot streak over the past month. The team lacks talent, but its heart is evident on the field. For the beginning of the season, Darren Waller was a touchdown machine, but since going to IR, the Dolphins have missed his presence. Enter Greg Dulcich! A freak athlete, we have seen him bounce around from team to team and never truly secure a starting job. Long term, this isn’t something I would suggest, but in a matchup against a team in the bottom third of the league at the position, I like the play. His route participation over the last three weeks is 35.5%, 44.4% and 73.9%. We have reached the threshold that I am ready to play him as a streamer. Play him with limited expectations, but even if he’s just highlighted near the end zone, his touchdown upside is something I’m flirting with this week.
Let me know what you think about these players! Any questions? Please find me on Twitter/X @TooMuch_Brian.
Feature image by Michael Packard (@CollectingPack on Twitter) / Photography by Rich Graessle / Icon Sportswire & Paris Bilal/Unsplash