RADIO
While there were plenty of movers and shakers on the fantasy scene, the tight end position didn't see as much volatility. Injuries have been the biggest story in the tight end world, but the tight ends remained healthy, at least during this past week.
So here we are, feverishly looking to analyze statistics and projections to justify an addition to our fantasy football teams.
Below are my Week 9 waiver wire adds for tight ends. Following this past week's games, this is a list of tight ends you should consider adding to your roster.
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Tight End Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 9
Austin Hooper (TE, ATL) - 47% owned (FAAB Bid: 3%)
Just one week after seeing merely a single target, Austin Hooper rebounded to catch four of six targets for 47 yards and a touchdown. It should've been two. It is still exceedingly difficult to find useful TEs so we look for players seeing enough targets to contribute. Hooper once again makes the list. Next week at Carolina is a challenge with Luke Kuechly roaming the middle, but he has three favorable matchups after that.
Vernon Davis (TE, WAS) - 12% owned (FAAB Bid: 5%)
Vernon Davis saw four targets again last week, which is about what he was seeing every week since week 3. The Redskins had been playing all three of their TEs with some regularity. They are now down to just Davis after Jordan Reed pulled a hamstring and Niles Paul was concussed. If Reed is out this week, Davis immediately becomes a TE1 streamer and that's enough to get him on this list. He's almost become a must own for Reed owners.
Deeper League Options
Dion Sims (TE, CHI) - 0% owned (FAAB Bid: 0%)
I hate that I have to put Dion Sims on here because of what happened to Zach Miller's knee. Injuries and happen and unfortunately, Miller suffered one of the worst in NFL history. Sims saw five targets last week and is likely the starting TE going forward on a depleted pass catching corps. He could have some TE2 value.
David Njoku (TE, CLE) - 10% owned (FAAB Bid: 0%)
The Browns' rookie TE still isn't really producing on the field, but any time a TE sees seven targets, I notice. David Njoku has the raw athletic ability to be an excellent pass catching TE. He just needs to put it together. It is exceedingly difficult when your QB is Deshone Kizer, who very well may be the worst starting QB in the league, but targets are targets. The Browns are on bye this week so you can probably hold off on Njoku until next week anyway. He's worth a shot for the TE needy.
Must Hold Tight Ends
The following players are a complete and exhaustive list of all the Tight Ends you absolutely cannot drop. Anyone not listed below can be safely cut.
Initially, I was going to list a couple names that you can drop if you needed to. Upon review of the state of the tight end position, I am amending my approach on the fly. If your TE is not found listed below, that does not mean you should run out and drop him right now. Don't do that. Just understand that if you had to drop him, you should not feel compelled to keep him because of something like ownership percentage or name value.
- Rob Gronkowski (TE, NE)
- Travis Kelce (TE, KC)
- Zach Ertz (TE, PHI)
- Hunter Henry (TE, LAC)
- Austin Seferian-Jenkins (TE, NYJ)
- Cameron Brate (TE, TB)
- Evan Engram (TE, NYG)
- Jimmy Graham (TE, SEA)
Here is what I wrote last week regarding Jordan Reed's nonappearance on this list:
"Despite Jordan Reed's breakout performance, I am not adding him to this list. We all knew this was possible. The issue is that it is unreliable and unpredictable. I believe game script and the injury to Jordan Hicks played a huge role in Reed's week 7 breakout. His snap share was still under 80%. I want to see it again before I permit him to reenter the circle of trust."
What happened in week 8 was exactly why I declined to add Reed to this list after his week 7 apparent breakout. He is just impossible to trust. Sure enough, Reed followed up with a complete dud capped off by an injury. I am so done with Jordan Reed.
