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Craig's tight end (TE) fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 6 of 2025. His top TE fantasy football pickups, free agents to add, tight end streamers.
New England’s Hunter Henry and Seattle’s A.J. Barner might not be available on the waiver wire in your fantasy football league anymore, but there are still some solid tight ends that you could pick up and plug into your lineup this week.
Only two teams are on bye this week, so fantasy managers will have to do without Minnesota’s T.J. Hockenson and Houston’s Dalton Schultz. Neither of these two has been lighting up box scores this season, so there might not be as many desperate fantasy managers scouring the waiver wires for tight ends as there were the week before.
Here are the top candidates at tight end to pick up on fantasy waiver wires heading into Week 6, starting with a longtime fantasy force who stepped away from football, then stepped away from a music career to come back to the NFL:
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Top Tight End to Pick Up - Week 6 Waiver Wire
Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins
I know Darren Waller walked away from the NFL to try to be the next Ne-Yo. I also know that he has not had a 1,000-yard year since 2020 and has been one of the most injury-prone players at his position in recent years. All that said, the 33-year-old is the top tight end to pick up for Week 6.
Waller has scored three touchdowns in his first two games since returning to the league, and thanks to the untimely season-ending injury to top target Tyreek Hill, Waller and WR1 Jaylen Waddle are the top two threats in Miami’s mediocre passing attack. So Waller will be peppered with passes between the 20s and inside the red zone as long as he stays healthy and does not leave the league again to collab with Doja Cat on an album.
Don’t let the tough times take you out your element.. Know it’s better on the other side, I’m the testament. pic.twitter.com/n9wtvE2LSp
— Darren Waller (@Rackkwall83) October 6, 2025
Other Tight Ends to Consider Adding
Kyle Pitts Sr., Atlanta Falcons
Pitts Sr. is still available in leagues because Atlanta had the week off due to a bye, so feel free to pounce on him like my father-in-law pounces on pork chops on sale at his local grocery store. The tight end has 20 catches for 205 and a touchdown over four games, which should be cause for celebration after how sluggish his stats have been over the past couple of seasons.
If franchise QB Michael Penix Jr. can keep playing like he did in Week 4 and the Falcons offense is more imaginative than handing the ball to Bijan Robinson 30 times per game, Pitts could have the best year of his career. Pick him up now before someone else in your league realizes he is somehow still available.
Evan Engram, Denver Broncos
Is it just me, or does anyone wearing the number 1 look smaller on TV? It might be my eyes, it might be an optical illusion, or I might have a number bias and think anybody with that number should be a scrambling quarterback or a 160-pound speedster running back.
Engram is still a tight end despite wearing the number 1. The veteran has been targeted 13 times over his past two games and caught eight Bo Nix passes for 62 yards and a score. I love that he is part of a Sean Payton offense. I also love that Engram’s next three games are against the New York Jets, New York Giants, and Dallas Cowboys. Get him now!
Do Not Forget About…
Theo Johnson, New York Giants
A fantasy manager can never ignore a two-TD game. Theo Johnson had the first of his career on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, plus he caught a half-dozen passes for 33 yards in the process. Now that Malik Nabers is done for the year with a torn ACL, Johnson’s role has expanded, and his fantasy value has blown up instantly.
Another week, another Jaxson Dart opening drive TD 🎯
NYGvsNO on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/CEJuXypf96
— NFL (@NFL) October 5, 2025
Hunter Long, Jacksonville Jaguars
With Brenton Strange going on the injured reserve due to a hip injury, Hunter Long becomes the next man up out of Jaguars tight ends. Long has already found the end zone twice this season despite playing a limited amount of snaps (Strange has zero TD). Quarterback Trevor Lawrence obviously focuses on his tight ends considering how many passes Strange and Evan Engram have had thrown their way in recent seasons. Do not be surprised to see Long score a couple more times while Strange is on the shelf.
Harold Fannin, Jr., Cleveland Browns
The good news is that Harold Fannin Jr. was a Cleveland tight end who scored a touchdown when the Browns lost in London. The bad news is, he was not the only one. David Njoku scored one as well and racked up six catches for 67 yards, so Fannin Jr. is still the TE1B to Njoku’s TE1A with the Browns.
Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers
Jonnu Smith always seems to find himself in situations where he is part of a talented tight end duo that negatively impacts both players’ fantasy values. This occurred in New England when he was there with Henry and in Atlanta when he lined up with Pitts. Now it is happening again in Pittsburgh with Pat Freiermuth.
Mason Taylor. New York Jets
Jason Taylor’s son is putting his own stamp on the NFL and the fantasy football world. With back-to-back 65-plus-yard games and 25 targets over the last three weeks, Mason Taylor has quickly emerged as a fantasy force. It is just Taylor and top target Garrett Wilson catching passes these days for the lowly Jets, and the Jets will be trailing – and throwing – in most of their games from here on out.
Jake Tonges, San Francisco 49ers
Tell George Kittle to start shining up his wrestling boots and make his way to the WWE. Jake Tonges has three touchdowns in five games and has been filling in more than admirably for the injured Kittle. Since San Francisco consistently has the most injured skilled-position players, and it does again this season, Tonges will continue to see targets until Kittle ultimately returns from his hamstring injury.
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans
If you are looking for a tight end who catches five passes for 35-60 yards weekly, Dalton Schultz is your man. Yes, I know that fantasy managers would typically look for more than that out of their starting tight end, but Schultz will not kill your fantasy squad’s chances of winning. He has the week off as Houston is on bye, though, so you will have to wait for him until Week 7.
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears
The Colston Loveland era has been delayed. Cole Kmet is sticking his cleats into the turf and is not going anywhere. Kmet has 116 yards and a TD over the first month and could provide more punch if quarterback Caleb Williams keeps improving as he learns Ben Johnson’s offense.
Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans
Is Tennessee's rookie signal-caller Cam Ward starting to figure things out? I cannot tell for sure. But I know that if Ward starts completing more passes, that will be good for Okonkwo’s fantasy value since he is the second-best target on the team behind multimillion-dollar receiver Calvin Ridley.
Tommy Tremble, Carolina Panthers
Tommy Tremble’s name is at the bottom of this column for one reason and one reason only. His team plays the Dallas Cowboys next weekend, owners of the worst pass defense in the NFL. Tremble is never much for reception totals or yardage numbers, but he can score touchdowns. He has a decent chance against Dallas if you want to use him as a low-priced DFS contest play.
Who Should I Pick Up Tool
Trying to decide who to pick up off the waiver wire? Check the Who Should I Pick Up" tool here:
Compare up to four players and we'll tell you who to pickup...
Who Should I Pick Up? Some common 2025 fantasy football waiver wire decisions are regarding players like Darren Waller, Kyle Pitts Sr., Evan Engram, Theo Johnson, Cole Kmet, Dalton Schultz, Jake Tonges, Brenton Strange, Mason Taylor, Jonnu Smith, Harold Fannin. But not to worry, we are here to help make these waiver wire decisions and build winning teams in 2025. Set your optimal fantasy football lineups in 2025. Our free Who Should I Pick Up? tool will help make your fantasy football waiver wire decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to pick up ... all free! Make the right decisions.
2025 Player Decisions. Today's focus is on Kyle Pitts, Brenton Strange, Dalton Schultz, A.J. Barner, Chig Okonkwo, Mason Taylor, Tommy Tremble, Theo Johnson. They are some of the most common searches for tight-end fantasy football waiver wire pickups.
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Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Pick Up
Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Pickup tool for 2025 for Darren Waller, Kyle Pitts Sr., Evan Engram, Theo Johnson, Cole Kmet, Dalton Schultz, Jake Tonges, Brenton Strange, Mason Taylor, Jonnu Smith, Harold Fannin:
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