Streaming Tight Ends
We had another exciting week from the tight end position. We weren’t aware that the game ended Thursday night, but we watched Dallas Goedert put up the best showing that night as the best at the position. Trey McBride and Tyler Warren continue to stay elite and finish with top scoring. Michael Mayer has proven that he can deliver comparable results in filling in for Brock Bowers. Zach Ertz bounced back this week with six catches and a score. Tucker Kraft and Jake Ferguson had a lower target share this week, but both found the end zone. Travis Kelce may have played his last game where you feel confident playing him. Rashee Rice comes off suspension this week, and he eats in the same spot in the field as Travis Kelce. Nate Adkins rounds out the top 12 finishers as he scooped up Evan Engram‘s points.
George Kittle looks to be on track to return this week, and he would plug right into the top-four rankings. Joe Flacco seems to have brought some hope to this Bengals offense, and as Mike Gesicki is out for some time, Noah Fant finds himself in a great matchup with the Steelers on Thursday. Ja’Tavion Sanders has returned from injury, and he matches up with a weak defense. He hasn’t established a large target share yet, but we have seen him get involved over his first year. Darren Waller scored in Week 6, but the involvement was limited. I like him this week playing the Browns. They are a tough defense, but they can be beaten by the tight end as they funnel passing work in his area of the field.
And now, here are a handful of my favorite deeper streaming options for you all to consider this week:
Harold Fannin Jr.
Let the rookie emerge
Quarterback Dillion Gabriel has shown his love for tight ends through his first couple of starts. Harold Fannin Jr. earned 10 targets, catching seven of them for 81 yards. The Dolphins are bottom seven in expected points allowed to the tight end, but in all honesty, they are dumping points to every position. The Browns have an implied team total of three touchdowns, giving Fannin ample opportunity to come out of this game with a solid points showing. Start him up, and if David Njoku is sidelined for a bit longer, Fannin could find himself as a key role player not only for the Browns but for your fantasy team.
Cade Otton
No receivers, no problem
Look, I don’t have a problem with Cade Otton at all. But! He is, by far, the most unsexy player you can possibly have. He is incredibly talented and athletic, and should be the No. 1 or 2 target in this offense, given the onslaught of injuries that have hit the receiving core. The Buccaneers play the Lions this week in our first Monday night game, and the Lions are middle of the pack when defending the tight end. In all honesty, though, Otton could be going against the best defense ever, and it’s hard to see how he wouldn’t walk out of this game without a handful of targets. He also has what would be the MVP, tossing the rock to him, and it’s hard to believe Baker Mayfield won’t be putting up points.
Mason Taylor
Last Man Standing
Folks, I’ll start with an apology. I leaned into Mason Taylor last week, and it was a dud. To be frank, that was due to one of the worst showings by a quarterback. Unfortunately, that doesn’t change for this Week 7 game with the Panthers, but what has changed is the health of star wide receiver Garrett Wilson. Wilson finds himself working through a knee injury, and there is a lack of talent after him. Are we really going to expect to play Allan Lazard? There is still a great chance that this offense struggles this week, but it’s hard to find a waiver wire Tight End that is the number one target for his team. I’ll be starting him with hesitancy but purely from the pieces around him, not opportunity.
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 John Byrum / Icon Sportswire