X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Tight Ends Fantasy Football Waiver Wire - Week 18 TE Pickups Include Juwan Johnson, Tucker Kraft, Taysom Hill, and more!

Juwan Johnson - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Craig Rondinone's fantasy football TE waiver wire pickups for Week 18 of the 2023 NFL season. His free agent tight ends to add, stream, and stash off waivers.

If you have not focused your attention on your fantasy hockey and hoops teams yet and still care about fantasy football, this is the column for you!

This is my final tight end waiver wire column of 2023, and let me tell you there have been few dull moments. Fantasy footballers have needed tight ends thanks to Mark Andrews’ injury, Travis Kelce’s Taylor-Swift-induced slump, and many tight ends having subpar seasons. Thankfully, league waiver wires have produced many gems at the position that have helped people make the playoffs and win their leagues, including Detroit’s Sam LaPorta, Arizona’s Trey McBride, and Baltimore’s Isaiah Likely.

You might be in a league that uses Week 18 to determine its champion. Or maybe you just want a low-cost TE option to win a DFS contest to build up your bankroll. If you fit into one of these categories, read on and find the right tight end for you! Without further ado, here are the best tight end waiver wire pickups for Week 18, starting with the hottest of New Orleans’ tight ends these days.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Top Tight Ends to Pickup - Week 18 Waiver Wire

Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints

Johnson took his sweet potato pie time becoming relevant for fantasy football this year, but he has saved his best for the end of the season when fantasy footballers need him the most. The burly playmaker is back to being a dominant red zone threat, scoring touchdowns in each of his past three games. Unlike other times when he has been dependent on touchdowns to have any fantasy value, Johnson has also added 14 catches for 176 yards over this three-game hot streak.

Johnson has had some decent showings against the Atlanta Falcons in the last couple of years, scoring three touchdowns over his past four games when facing them. There is no danger of Johnson being rested considering the Saints-Falcons tilt has major ramifications when it comes to who is winning the NFC South title and heading to the playoffs. Johnson is easily the top tight end available on waiver wires for leagues that allow pickups during the last week of the regular season.

 

Other Tight Ends to Consider Adding

Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers

With four consecutive games with at least four receptions and 48 receiving yards, Kraft has become one of the more consistent fantasy performers in recent weeks. He has been lucky that top target Christian Watson and top tight end Luke Musgrave have been sidelined with injuries, and the rookie has taken advantage of the extra opportunities. With Green Bay hosting Chicago and its 21st-ranked pass defense this Sunday in a must-win game, look for Kraft to keep the solid stats rolling in.

Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints

New Orleans’ multidimensional threat has been held in check on the ground lately (four rushing yards over his last three games) but has still been putting up some numbers when running routes as a pseudo-tight end. He has had success against the Atlanta Falcons in recent years, so I would bank on him scoring a TD on a run, pass, or catch this weekend with the Saints pulling out every stop to win the division.

Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans

While Okonkwo’s 34-yard effort in Week 17 was his worst in over a month, the fact is that he has a string of six straight games of at least 30 receiving yards. He will not singlehandedly win a fantasy championship or DFS contest for you during the final week, but he will not torpedo your chances at winning money, either.

 

Do Not Forget About…

Mike Gesicki, New England Patriots

Gesicki has six catches for 50 yards and a TD in the two games he has subbed in for the injured Hunter Henry. If Henry cannot suit up for the season finale, Gesicki is a sneaky play considering he is facing an overrated New York Jets defense that just made Cleveland’s David Njoku look like the second coming of Shannon Sharpe last Thursday night.

Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers are so banged up at wide receiver that they might ask John Jefferson and Charlie Joiner to get back on the field even though they are senior citizens now. The Chargers have no choice but to target Everett often these days (four straight games of eight targets or more), but he has failed to score a touchdown in his last five contests and has zero 50-yard games on the season. Everett can get you five catches for 45 yards this week. Just do not expect much more than that.

Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams

Higbee is coming off securing a season-high six catches against the New York Giants, but his status for the final game of the season is in doubt due to a dislocated left shoulder suffered during the game. The Rams have a playoff berth locked up so do not be surprised if Higbee is kept out to rest up for the postseason. If he does play, however, he becomes one of the top-five tight ends on the waiver wire.

 



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Waiver Wire Adds and Pickups




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jaylen Waddle

Questionable for Week 3 Against Buffalo
Joe Burrow

Bengals Not Closing the Door on Joe Burrow Returning This Year
CFB

LaNorris Sellers to Play Against Missouri?
Kyle Tucker

Progress has "Plateaued"
Isaac Paredes

has "Outside Chance" to Return This Weekend
CFB

Kaidon Salter Expected To Start for Colorado on Saturday
Willson Contreras

Goes on 10-Day Injured List, Done for Season
Justin Fields

Ruled Out for Week 3 Due to Concussion
Jayden Reed

Out Indefinitely After Foot and Shoulder Surgery
Washington Commanders

Preston Smith Signs With Commanders
Trey Jemison III

Joins Knicks on Two-Way Contract
Kevin McCullar Jr.

Signs New Two-Way Deal With Knicks
Matt Ryan

Returns to Knicks on Exhibit 10 Contract
New York Knicks

Alex Len Signs Exhibit 9 Deal With Knicks
Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Expected to Take on Larger Offensive Role With Hawks
Thomas Sorber

Undergoes Surgery
Dominic Canzone

Has Five-Hit, Three-Homer Game Tuesday
Cal Raleigh

Sets Single-Season Home Run Record for a Switch-Hitter
Jayden Reed

Undergoes Clavicle and Foot Surgeries, Out for Foreseeable Future
Bo Bichette

to Miss Rest of Regular Season
Zach Neto

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Hand Injury
Yordan Alvarez

Out on Tuesday, Dealing With "Significant" Ankle Sprain
Aaron Jones Sr.

Vikings Place Aaron Jones Sr. on Injured Reserve With Hamstring Injury
CFB

Diego Pavia Refutes Report of Seeking Seventh Collegiate Season
Christian Kirk

Expected to Return in Week 3
CFB

Diego Pavia Seeking Another Year of Eligibility
Tarik Skubal

on Track to Start Thursday
CFB

Kevorian Barnes Questionable Against SMU
Bo Bichette

has Short-Term Knee Injury, Could Return for Postseason
Tosan Evbuomwan

Joins Knicks
NBA

Kai Jones Links Up With EuroLeague Team
Bismack Biyombo

Returns to Spurs
Bones Hyland

Rejoins Timberwolves
Kobe Bufkin

Moves to Brooklyn
Trey Yesavage

Sets Franchise Strikeout Record On Monday
Yordan Alvarez

To Receive MRI For Sprained Left Ankle On Tuesday
Willson Contreras

Exits Early Monday With Right-Biceps Tightness
Yordan Alvarez

Exits With Ankle Sprain
Brock Bowers

Officially Active on Monday Night
Jauan Jennings

Day-to-Day With Ankle Injury
Logan O'Hoppe

Activated Off Seven-Day Injured List
CBJ

Denton Mateychuk Dealing With Groin Issue
Bo Horvat

Fine for Training Camp
Kirby Dach

on Track to Be Ready for Opening Night
Jose Altuve

Returns Against Rangers
J.J. McCarthy

Expected to Miss 2-4 Weeks With High-Ankle Sprain
J.J. McCarthy

Likely Out for Week 3 With High-Ankle Sprain
Jean Silva

Gets Finished For The First Time In His Career
Aaron Jones Sr.

Unlikely to Play in Week 3 Due to Hamstring Injury
Diego Lopes

Returns To The Win Column
Jayden Daniels

' Week 3 Status in Doubt
Rob Font

Outclassed In The Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
David Martinez

Wins His Second UFC Fight
Jared Gordon

Suffers Brutal TKO Loss At Noche UFC 3
Rafa Garcia

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Brian Thomas Jr.

Dealing with Wrist Injury
Dustin Stoltzfus

Drops A Decision At Noche UFC 3
Kelvin Gastelum

Gets Back In The Win Column
Diego Ferreira

Suffers Second-Round TKO
Alexander Hernandez

Extends His Win Streak With A Brutal TKO
Quang Le

Suffers First-Round Knockout
Santiago Luna

Shines In His UFC Debut
Christopher Bell

Earns his First Bristol Cup Series Victory
Alex Bowman

Falls Short of Advancing Through Cup Series Playoffs
Chase Briscoe

Collects his Third Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

Strong Top-Five Bristol Performance Advances him to the Playoffs
Corey Heim

Earns his First Career Cup Series Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Leads Greece to Bronze Medal
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Drops 28 Points in EuroBasket Finals
CFB

Indiana's Lee Beebe Jr. Out for Season with Knee Injury
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Named EuroBasket MVP
Bryce Eldridge

Giants to Promote Bryce Eldridge
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Progressing in Recovery
Jonathan Kuminga

Receives New Offer From Warriors
Kenneth Walker III

Bounces Back with Big Week 2 Performance
Bijan Robinson

Rushes for 143 Yards in Week 2
Justin Fields

Currently in Concussion Protocol
Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Calling Around to Available Free-Agent Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow

to Undergo Surgery, Out at Least Three Months
Emil Heineman

Aiming to Take the "Next Step" This Season
Braeden Cootes

Good to Go for Camp
Ivan Fedotov

Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Fedotov From Flyers
Aaron Jones Sr.

Injures Hamstring During Sunday Night Football
Garrett Crochet

Punches Out 12 in Win
Cole Ragans

to Return on Wednesday
George Kirby

Strikes Out 14 in Win
Carlos Estévez

Carlos Estevez Exits with Back Tightness
Quentin Grimes

Still Not Close to a New Contract Agreement
Joel Embiid

"Looking Slender, Spry and in Positive Spirits"
Ty Gibbs

Has Arguably his Best Career Drive, but Only Finishes 10th
Chase Elliott

Despite Crashing Out at Bristol, Chase Elliott Advances to Round of 12
Austin Dillon

Misses Round of 12 After Extremely Mediocre Bristol Run
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Fails to Advance to Round of 12
Josh Berry

Finishes Last in All Three Round of 16 Races to Fail to Advance
CFB

Ryan Williams Explodes In Return To Field
CFB

Drew Allar Plays Mediocre Game In Blowout Win
CFB

LaNorris Sellers Exits Game In Blowout Loss
CFB

DJ Lagway Tosses Five Interceptions In Loss
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Plays Game Manager in Saturday's Win
CFB

CJ Carr Remains Poised In Narrow Loss
CFB

John Mateer Leads Oklahoma In Rout
CFB

Arch Manning Struggles Against UTEP
CFB

Jeremiah Smith Impresses In Win
CFB

Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contact Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Corey Perry

Out 6-8 Weeks Following Surgery
Kyle Busch

Should DFS Managers Roster Kyle Busch at Bristol?
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Too Risky to Consider Rostering at Bristol?
Michael McDowell

Could be A Solid Value Option For Bristol DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

Probably Won't Factor in for Bristol Win
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

Needs to Win to Make Round of 12
Ross Chastain

has Never Led at Bristol but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
CFB

Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Dealing With a "Tweak"
BUF

Alexandar Georgiev Joins Sabres on One-Year Deal
Corey Perry

Injured During Pre-Camp Skate
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
CFB

CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
CFB

Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
Rafa Garcia

An Underdog At Noche UFC 3
Jared Gordon

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Kelvin Gastelum

In Dire Need Of Victory
Diego Ferreira

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Malcolm Brogdon

Heading to Knicks on One-Year Deal
Landry Shamet

Staying with the Knicks
Adam Lowry

Aims for Early-Season Return

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP