RADIO
The NFL season is more than halfway over. That means the fantasy football season is coming down the homestretch! With the fantasy playoffs in most leagues only a handful of weeks away, this is not the time to put ham-and-eggers in your fantasy lineup because your starters are on bye.
Fantasy football general managers will be without Seattle’s Noah Fant, Tampa Bay’s Cade Otton, Miami’s Mike Gesicki, and Jacksonville’s Evan Engram this upcoming week at the tight end position. None are among the top-10 TEs in fantasy football, but they are on many fantasy rosters right now and are probably being started in several fantasy formats. So if you are one of the GMs who need a one-week replacement for one of these fellows, keep reading!
Without further ado, here are the best tight end waiver wire pickups for Week 11!
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Top Tight Ends to Pickup - Week 11 Waiver Wire
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears
Kmet’s scoreless season last year is now a faded memory – and then some! After scoring his first touchdown in a year and a half on Mischief Night, Kmet has followed with back-to-back two-TD games. He has now firmly entrenched himself as Justin Fields’ top target even though 1,000-yard man Darnell Mooney is on the team and newly-acquired Chase Claypool was brought in because of his game-breaking ability.
Kmet can only do so much when Fields runs for as many yards as he throws for, so his fantasy value has a ceiling unless Fields averages 200-250 passing yards on a weekly basis. There is no doubt Kmet is the best available tight end in fantasy leagues this week, though, especially since his next game is against the Atlanta Falcons, who have the worst pass defense in the NFL. Pick up Kmet whether you are in a standard league or a dynasty league and he will deliver like a mailman.
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
It is officially time to take Johnson seriously as a fantasy threat. Forget about all the games he would only see one or two targets and turn many into scores as a TD-dependent tight end. Not only has he scored four touchdowns over his past four games, Johnson has broken the 30-yard mark in four of his past five outings.
New Orleans’ injury-prone receivers just cannot all stay on the field at the same time. It does not matter how many vitamins they take or how much milk they drink. That means Johnson will be a key cog in the passing attack no matter what, especially since every time they throw to him he makes big plays. Look for Johnson to have another good game this week against an L.A. Rams team that is reeling on both sides of the ball.
Other Tight Ends to Consider Adding
Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens
Is Mark Andrews in danger of losing his top tight end spot on the Ravens? Hardly. But Likely and his super skills have made more of an impact than any fantasy prognosticator could have imagined. He has 91 yards and two touchdowns on 12 targets over his last two contests. Just know that if Andrews is 100 percent healthy after coming back from Baltimore’s bye it might dent Likely’s fantasy worth.
Foster Moreau, Las Vegas Raiders
Now that we know that Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller is on the injured list, fantasy managers know Moreau will be Las Vegas’ top tight end for the next month. Moreau had his best game of the season against Indianapolis over the weekend, catching three Derek Carr passes for 43 yards and his first touchdown of 2022. Moreau also made me kick myself for using Raiders WR Mack Hollins in my DFS contest rather than going with him.
Greg Dulcich, Denver Broncos
Dulcich had the first lackluster game of his young career against Tennessee as he was held to one measly catch for 11 paltry yards on four targets. Russell Wilson and Denver’s passing offense are showing signs of life, though, and that can only mean good things for this talented tight end from here on out. If Jerry Jeudy’s ankle injury keeps him off the field for a while, Dulcich’s target total and overall fantasy numbers should trend upward.
Hayden Hurst, Cincinnati Bengals
Hurst’s numbers are not going to blow you away unless your expectations are low, but his target total should continue to be respectable as long as top target Ja’Marr Chase is sidelined with his hip injury. What is surprising is that Hurst only has one less target than Tyler Boyd and averages just one fewer target per game than Tee Higgins gets.
Do Not Forget About…
Austin Hooper, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee’s passing attack is better served with Ryan Tannehill at the helm than rookie Malik Willis. Hooper’s fantasy value will get a slight uptick now that Tannehill is back throwing to him. Hooper set season-highs with five receptions on seven targets this past Sunday against Denver.
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Henry had this past week off due to the bye but should not be forgotten when it is your turn to pick on the waiver wire this week. He is overdue for some touchdowns considering he only has one in nine games when he averaged six per season in the five years prior.
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Otton is averaging 45 yards per game over the past month and seems to have more chemistry with Tom Brady than Gisele does these days. The two things going against Otton, though, are that he is on bye this week and that veteran Cameron Brate has returned from his neck injury and will take some TE targets from Otton down the stretch.
Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks
Fant has the week off to recoup and recharge after racking up eight receptions for 130 over his last two games heading into his bye week. When he does return he has a very favorable schedule to look forward to since Seattle faces Las Vegas, the Los Angeles Rams, and Carolina in their next three games. Maybe picking up Fant this week to use in future weeks could be a shrewd move Howie Roseman would be proud of.
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