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

Week 15 Tight End Waiver Wire Picks and Streamers

Tight end waiver wire pickups and streamers for Week 15 of the fantasy football season. Craig Rondinone recommends TE free agents to consider adding off waivers.

If your fantasy football season is over, either because you did not make your league’s playoffs or because you have had enough of failing in DFS contests, then this column is not for you.

Congratulations if you HAVE qualified for your fantasy league’s playoffs! To reach the postseason you must have received some decent play from the tight ends on your roster, but if you need one for your championship run than there should be a couple on your league’s waiver wire that can help you this week. And if you are just looking to make a couple of extra bucks to add to your holiday spending budget, feel free to find a tight end below to stream in a DFS contest!

Without further ado, here are my tight end waiver wire picks for Week 15!

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

 

TE Waiver Wire Options for Week 15

Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams – 24% owned

It took Higbee 57 games to finally have his first 100-yard-game. It only took one more to get his second. Higbee has the look of a Hall of Famer after racking up 14 receptions for 223 yards and touchdown over the past two weeks. Many fantasy pundits chalked Higbee’s first foray into triple-digit yardage territory a fluke because it came against Arizona’s pathetic pass defense, but now that he repeated the feat against Seattle I think it is time to take notice that Higbee is onto something.

L.A. head honcho Sean McVay has worried less about getting passes into the hands of Brandin Cooks and Todd Gurley this year and given those targets to Higbee and tight end teammate Gerald Everett, who has also thrived when he has been featured more often in the offense. But Everett’s knee injury has helped turn Higbee into a top-10 tight end in two weeks' time. Higbee will face a reeling Dallas Cowboys squad that allowed Chicago’s unknown duo of J.P. Holtz and Jesper Horsted to combine for seven catches for 92 yards last Thursday. Higbee should be able to post those numbers all by himself as long as Everett stays sidelined and the Rams continue designing plays for him.

Noah Fant, Denver Broncos – 41% owned

The quarterback carousel in Denver has caused Fant’s fantasy value to fluctuate on a weekly basis. Joe Flacco did Fant no fantasy favors, then Brandon Allen led Fant to his most productive stretch of the season, only to have Drew Lock bring it back down in his first NFL start. It looks like Lock and Fant are on the same page now, though, after Fant caught four passes for 113 yards and a touchdown in Denver’s shocking upset over the Houston Texans this past Sunday afternoon.

I realize Fant does not have an attractive matchup this Sunday – at Kansas City against an improved pass defense that has a 3-to-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio over its last three contests and held Fant to one measly catch earlier in the season. Fant has just as much short-term and long-term fantasy value as anyone in this column and mostly anyone on waiver wires these days, however, so he has to be considered one of the top prospects at the position for the present and future. One note of caution – Fant left the game early on Sunday with a foot injury, so make sure he is healthy and suiting up for sure this week if you need him for your playoff game.

 

Other Options to Consider

Hayden Hurst, Baltimore Ravens – 13% owned

Hurst has been overshadowed by Mark Andrews since the two tight ends were drafted by Baltimore in 2018, even though Hurst was drafted in the first round and Andrews the third. But now that Andrews has a leg contusion and might not play this Thursday against the New York Jets, Hurst will definitely be thrust into an important role in the Ravens passing attack since quarterback Lamar Jackson loves tossing to his tight ends. Hurst had three receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown this past week and could do it when the Jets come to town.

Mike Gesicki, Miami Dolphins – 38% owned

Gesicki has learned how to put his big body, soft hands and above-average speed to better use in recent weeks as he scored back-to-back touchdowns heading into Week 14. He picked the worst possible time to pull the fantasy plug on himself, however, as his one-catch, six-yard dud against a New York Jets secondary that was missing three starters might have killed many fantasy seasons. Give him another chance this week against a New York Giants defensive backfield that has been totally terrible throughout the campaign and Gesicki might reward you.

Jacob Hollister, Seattle Seahawks – 39% owned

Hollister continues delivering solid fantasy performances even though he was stuck behind Will Dissly, Ed Dickson and Luke Willson on Seattle’s depth chart at the start of the season. Hollister has 24 receptions for 199 yards and three touchdowns over his last five games and should do well against a Carolina team that appears to be giving up on the season now that Rob Rivera was canned as head coach.

Ian Thomas, Carolina Panthers – 13% owned

Thomas filled in nicely again for the oft-injured Greg Olsen this past weekend, catching five passes for 57 yards and a touchdown. If Olsen is not ready to return from his concussion this week, Thomas gets to face a Seattle secondary that just made Tyler Higbee look like Tony Gonzalez in his prime. Just know that if Olsen is slated to come back that Thomas holds no fantasy value in standard leagues whatsoever since he had only caught one four-yard pass all season up until Olsen was injured.

Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans – 19% owned

Smith has the athletic skills of a wide receiver, but you never know what you are going to get from him week in and week out. He looked like a Pro Bowl player when he hauled in a touchdown against Oakland this past Sunday and faces a Houston team that just allowed the aforementioned Fant to slice and dice their defense. Just know going in that Smith could break your heart as easily as he could make you cheer.

Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 21% owned

Brate needs the injuries or demotions of others to help create targets and opportunities in Tampa Bay’s offense for him. The latest open door comes via Mike Evans’ hamstring injury, which was key to allowing Brate to have 30 receiving yards and a TD this past weekend versus Indianapolis. If Evans misses this week’s game against Detroit’s bottom-of-the-barrel pass defense, Brate could be a pickup nominee in deep leagues as he will probably get three-to-six targets.

Jesse James, Detroit Lions – 7% owned

When James signed his $25 million deal with Detroit in the offseason, fantasy players probably thought the Lions were going to gift him with an important role in their offense. Turns out that role had much more to do with blocking than catching passes. First-round pick T.J. Hockenson got most of the tight end targets during the year but now that he is out with a season-ending ankle injury, James will see more passes thrown in his direction. Unfortunately, James can only be viewed as a longshot option, especially if Matthew Stafford is not the one throwing the passes.

 

Don’t Forget About…

T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions – 46% owned

Speaking of Hockenson, the rookie burst onto the fantasy scene with six receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown in his very first NFL game, but his value has gone as downhill as Lindsey Vonn since then. He was only able to add another 236 yards and one additional touchdown since Week 1 due to a shoulder injury, a concussion and tighter coverage from opposing defenses. Now that he is done for the season due to his ankle, take advantage of owners in dynasty leagues who set him free and pick him and stash him for 2020 and beyond.

Blake Jarwin, Dallas Cowboys – 11% owned

Who knows if Jason Witten’s return from retirement was a one-and-done situation? He may want to beg for another shot at the broadcast booth after the fiasco this season has become for the Cowboys. If Witten does call it quits again, Jarwin would be Dallas’ top tight end in 2020 and could be poised for 600 yards and six touchdowns if he progresses at the position.

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

Garrett Crochet

Shuts Out the Athletics
Royce Lewis

Launches Two Homers Monday Night
NBA

Mason Jones Takes His Talents to Australia
NBA

Talen Horton-Tucker Joins Reigning EuroLeague Champions
New York Knicks

Malcolm Brogdon on Knicks' Radar
Andrew Wiggins

Attracting Interest From Lakers
Miami Heat

Heat Interested in Reunion With Precious Achiuwa
Tyler Glasnow

Fans 11 in Seven No-Hit Innings Monday
Slade Cecconi

Takes No-Hitter Into Eighth Inning Monday
Max Muncy

Batting Cleanup in Return to Dodgers
New York Knicks

Ben Simmons Reportedly Declined Knicks' Contract Offer
Younghoe Koo

Falcons Auditioning Kickers, Could Replace Younghoe Koo
Denver Broncos

Sean Payton Says Broncos Need to be Better With Run-Pass Balance
Tank Bigsby

Eagles Acquiring Tank Bigsby From Jaguars on Monday
George Kittle

Likely Out 3-5 Weeks, Could Land on Injured Reserve
Chase Burns

to be Activated on Friday
Brock Purdy

Dealing With Multiple Injuries, Could Miss Week 2
Tyler Glasnow

Cleared to Start on Monday
Logan O'Hoppe

Placed on Concussion Injured List
Christian Yelich

Returning on Monday
Elias Pettersson

Feeling "Good" Ahead of Season
NHL

Alex Formenton Rejoins Swiss Team
NHL

Grigori Denisenko Heads Back Home
CAR

Kevin Labanc Joins Hurricanes for Tryout
Ross Colton

Healthy for Start of Season
Daniel Palencia

Cubs Place Daniel Palencia on Injured List With Shoulder Strain
Pete Crow-Armstrong

Returning on Monday
Sean Murphy

Done for the Year With Hip Labral Tear
Alec Bohm

Lands on Injured List With Cyst in his Shoulder
Trea Turner

Going on Injured List, Phillies Hope to Have him Back for Playoffs
Brock Bowers

Considered Day-to-Day With Knee Injury
Jonathan Taylor

is "Good" After Taking a Hit to his Neck in Week 1
Caio Borralho

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Kyle Stowers

Suffers Setback on Rehab Assignment?
Nassourdine Imavov

Extends Win Streak
Mauricio Ruffy

Gets Submitted
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Taps Out Mauricio Ruffy
Michael King

Expected to Return on Tuesday
Russell Wilson

Remains the Giants Starter
Trea Turner

Undergoing MRI Exam on Monday
Paul Craig

Retires After UFC Paris Loss
Denny Hamlin

Earns his First Cup Victory at Gateway
Kyle Larson

Damage Ruins Kyle Larson's Chance At a Top Finish at Gateway
Christopher Bell

Scores his Third Top-10 Finish at Gateway
Joey Logano

Maintains his Perfect Top-Five Streak at Gateway
Ryan Blaney

Struggles and Recovers for a Top-Five Finish at Gateway
Modestas Bukauskas

Scores First-Round Knockout
Bolaji Oki

Suffers Second-Round TKO Loss
Xavier Worthy

Week-to-Week with Dislocated Shoulder
Mason Jones

Scores Comeback Win
Rhys McKee

Suffers Third-Round TKO Loss
Axel Sola

Successful In His UFC Debut
Robert Ruchała

Robert Ruchala Unsuccessful In His UFC Debut
William Gomis

Bounces Back In The Win Column
Derrick Henry

Scores Twice but has Costly Fumble on Sunday
Lamar Jackson

Shines With Three Total Touchdowns in Loss to Bills
Keon Coleman

Leads the Team With 11 Targets on Sunday
Josh Allen

Totals Four Touchdowns in Win Over Ravens
Chase Elliott

Gets Lucky but Still Has Best Run at Gateway
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Wins Stage 2, but Was Let Down by Strategy
Tyler Reddick

Despite Bad Luck, Tyler Reddick Does What he Needed to Do
Chase Briscoe

Recovers from Incident with Daniel Suarez to Finish Second
William Byron

Late Caution Foils William Byron's Shot at Gateway Victory
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Dominates Targets in Seattle, Records 124 Receiving Yards in Week 1
Puka Nacua

Leads Rams in Targets, Catches, and Receiving Yards in Week 1
Logan O'Hoppe

Exits After Concussion Scare, Status Remains Unclear
Christian McCaffrey

Logs 31 Touches in Season Opener
Travis Etienne Jr.

Dominates Backfield Touches in Jacksonville, Posts Monster Day
Jayson Tatum

"Moving Around Way Better"
Russell Wilson

Giants Won't Commit to Russell Wilson as Week 2 Starter
Drake London

Day-to-Day with Shoulder Sprain
George Kittle

and Jauan Jennings to Undergo MRIs
Jake Moody

49ers to Evaluate Kicker Position After Jake Moody Struggles
Daniel Palencia

to Miss Time With Shoulder Injury
Byron Buxton

Exits Early With Knee Contusion
Trea Turner

Suffers Hamstring Strain
Ryan Blaney

Should Contend at Gateway
Denny Hamlin

Fastest in Qualifying, the Favorite to Win at Gateway
Christopher Bell

Looking for Redemption at Gateway
Joey Logano

Has Been Elite at Gateway
Austin Cindric

Should Be On Your Radar at Gateway
AJ Allmendinger

Could Be a Sleeper Again at Gateway
Tyler Reddick

Southern 500 Near-Miss Makes Tyler Reddick a Stronger Option for Gateway
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace a Likely Gateway Contender
Alex Bowman

a Long Shot to Advance in Playoffs
Austin Dillon

Richard Childress Racing Looks Slower at Gateway, Which Will Hurt Austin Dillon
Shane Van Gisbergen

Starts 18th in Gateway Debut
Jeremy Swayman

Ready to Get Back on Track
Connor McDavid

Aiming for More Goals
NJ

Luke Glendening Signs Tryout Deal With Devils
Dylan Harper

Hoping to be Ready for the Opener Versus Dallas
EDM

Derek Ryan Retires From Hockey
Connor Zary

Agrees to Three-Year Deal With Flames
Carey Price

Canadiens Trade Carey Price to Sharks
Rasmus Hojgaard

Finishes Tied For Second at Omega European Masters
Tyrrell Hatton

Finishes Tied for 32nd at LIV Indianapolis
Matt Fitzpatrick

Finishes Fifth at Omega European Masters
Patrick Cantlay

Finishes Tied For Second in 2025 FedEx Cup Standings
Xander Schauffele

Finishes 42nd in 2025 FedEx Cup Standings
Caio Borralho

Set For A Title Eliminator Bout
Nassourdine Imavov

Looks To Earn A Title Shot
Mauricio Ruffy

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Set For UFC Paris Co-Main Event
Modestas Bukauskas

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Paul Craig

In Dire Need Of Victory
Mason Jones

Set for Main-Card Bout
Bolaji Oki

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Rhys McKee

Set To Open Up UFC Paris Main Card
Jon Rahm

Looks to Prove His Importance on European Ryder Cup Team
Tommy Fleetwood

Among Leaders of European Ryder Cup Team
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Close to Triple-Double Versus Serbia
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Fills Box Score Against Turkey
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Shakes Off Minor Injury
E.J. Liddell

Inks Two-Way Deal With Nets
NBA

Ben Simmons Reportedly Considering Retirement
P.J. Washington

Agrees to Four-Year, $90 Million Extension
Sepp Straka

Gets Captain's Pick to Join Team Europe
PGA

Victor Hovland to Make Third Ryder Cup Appearance for Team Europe
J.J. Spaun

Set to Represent Team USA for First Time at Bethpage
Russell Henley

Makes First Ryder Cup Appearance at Bethpage
Harris English

Named to Ryder Cup Team for Second Time
Justin Thomas

Making Fourth Ryder Cup Team Appearance at Bethpage
Ben Griffin

Making First Career Ryder Cup Appearance at Bethpage
Bryson DeChambeau

Set to be Part of Team USA at Bethpage

RANKINGS

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