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Week 2 fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Zach Ertz, Brenton Strange, Chig Okonkwo in 2025. Read their waiver wire outlooks for fantasy football.
Finding dependable tight ends is always a challenge in fantasy football, and Week 2 presents a few intriguing waiver wire options. Managers streaming the position or seeking depth should pay close attention to Washington’s Zach Ertz, Jacksonville’s Brenton Strange, and Tennessee’s Chig Okonkwo, all of whom carved out meaningful roles in their season openers.
Ertz continues to be a steady veteran presence, proving he still has fantasy value as a trusted safety valve in Washington’s offense. Strange looks like a breakout candidate in Jacksonville, leading the team in receiving yards in Week 1 and benefiting from defenses stretched by explosive playmakers. Okonkwo hasn’t delivered on his opportunities yet, but his snap share suggests he could become a reliable target for rookie quarterback Cameron Ward.
Each comes with different levels of risk, but with favorable Week 2 matchups, these tight ends are worth considering as streaming options or speculative adds.
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Zach Ertz Waiver Wire Outlook
Rostered: 41% of leagues
Baller Move: Add in 12+ Team Leagues
Veteran tight end Ertz continues to prove his value as a reliable fantasy option, making him a sneaky waiver wire target ahead of Week 2. In Washington’s season opener, Ertz logged 64% of offensive snaps and drew five targets, converting them into three receptions for 26 yards and a touchdown. His 16.7% target rate shows second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels trusts him as a check-down and red-zone option in an offense that already looks more explosive than expected.
8️⃣6️⃣ for our first 6️⃣!!!
📺 #NYGvsWAS FOX pic.twitter.com/bItGn0hvYT
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 7, 2025
At 34 years old, Ertz isn’t the field-stretching threat he once was, but his role in the Commanders’ passing game is secure. He runs dependable routes, gets open in short-yardage situations, and remains a steady safety valve. That makes him especially useful in PPR formats, where consistent volume paired with touchdown potential can turn into weekly fantasy relevance.
Looking ahead, Ertz has a favorable matchup against the Green Bay Packers. In Week 1, Green Bay’s defense surrendered 79 yards on six receptions to Lions tight end Sam LaPorta, who beat his 2024 average of 45.4 receiving yards per game. If Daniels continues to lean on Ertz, another solid outing could be in store. He’s a strong streaming option in 12-team and deeper leagues.
Brenton Strange Waiver Wire Outlook
Rostered: 20% of leagues
Baller Move: Add in All Leagues
Brenton Strange emerged as one of Jacksonville’s most reliable weapons in Week 1, catching all four of his targets for 59 yards while leading the team in receiving. Strange played on 79% of the Jaguars’ offensive snaps, a clear indication that his role as the primary tight end is secure heading into 2025. His performance builds on a strong finish to last season, where he began earning the trust of quarterback Trevor Lawrence and carving out a consistent role in the passing game.
.@BrentonStrange led the Jaguars in receiving yesterday but that's not what's going to catch the eyes of his peers in the NFL. Watch 85 on tape run block. Nothing makes offensive coordinators more happy then skill players who wanna drop their manhood on someone! Love this sh*t! pic.twitter.com/rEzvmIYDwx
— Breiden Fehoko (@BreidenFehoko) September 8, 2025
After a 2024 campaign that saw Strange haul in 40 receptions for 411 yards and two touchdowns, expectations are rising for the third-year tight end. With explosive playmakers like Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr. stretching defenses vertically, Strange benefits from open lanes across the middle of the field. His ability to exploit that space makes him a valuable target for Lawrence, particularly on third downs and chain-moving plays.
Week 2 brings a favorable matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, who surrendered 10 receptions for 100 yards to Browns tight ends David Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr. in their opener. Strange has an excellent opportunity to deliver another strong outing, making him a potential top-10 fantasy tight end for Week 2.
Chig Okonkwo Waiver Wire Outlook
Rostered: 11% of leagues
Baller Move: Add in 12+ Team Leagues
Okonkwo logged one of the heaviest workloads of any tight end in Week 1, playing 88% of Tennessee’s offensive snaps. Despite that opportunity, he managed just three catches for 19 yards on four targets, leaving fantasy managers underwhelmed. Still, the sheer volume of snaps suggests the Titans view Okonkwo as a central piece of their offensive structure, even if the production has yet to materialize.
Okonkwo enters Week 2 with a favorable matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. In their opener, the Rams allowed seven receptions for 50 yards to Texans tight ends Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover, showing vulnerability in defending the position. Rookie quarterback Ward could lean on quick throws, and Okonkwo has the potential to emerge as a reliable safety valve in this offense.
The downside is that Tennessee’s offensive identity still revolves around establishing the run to ease Ward’s transition into the NFL. That philosophy could cap Okonkwo’s target volume in the short term. For now, he’s best left on watch lists outside of 12+ team leagues. However, his heavy snap share and matchup potential make him a name to monitor closely, with streaming value possible if his usage trends upward.
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