If you are in need of a fantasy tight end, this is not the best week to be you.

The only two tight ends on bye this week are Tampa Bay’s Cameron Brate and Minnesota’s Kyle Rudolph, two of the most popular pickups at the position in recent weeks.  But the options on fantasy waiver wires are limited.  The depth at tight end fantasy-wise is weak since the position is top-heavy with fantasy stalwarts but bottoms out quickly.

Here are three tight ends to consider on the waiver wire this week:

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
• Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Editor's Note: Once you're done here, be sure to read about more Week 6 waiver wire recommendations, for all other positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF - FAAB - CUTS

Week 6 Waiver Wire – Tight Ends (TE) 

Jesse James, Pittsburgh Steelers

James may have caught two touchdown passes in his first four games this season, but he was not doing any fantasy favors for anybody when it came to yardage.  He only amassed 85 yards over the first month of play, and his longest catch went for a staggeringly-low 11 yards.

James had his best game of the season this past weekend when he hauled in six passes for 43 yards and a touchdown on eight targets against the New York Jets.  He has replaced long-time tight end Heath Miller perfectly in Pittsburgh’s offense and has shown that he can become a reliable target for Ben Roethlisberger in the red zone. If he can catch more passes between the 20s then he can really be a fantasy force.

When Roethlisberger and the Steelers are heaving up 40 passes, James will have big fantasy days.  That is not going to happen every week, but with the firepower the Steelers have it will happen more than with most teams.  Antonio Brown can't catch every pass, so James will get his fair share of the leftovers.

Richard Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Jared Cook has wasted yet another opportunity to be an impact player.  Many fantasy experts (me included) thought Cook would come to Green Bay and supplant Rodgers as the Packers' starting tight end because of Cook’s superior pass-catching skills.  Instead, Cook has six receptions for 53 yards and a severely sprained ankle that will sideline him several weeks.

Rodgers is not going to the Pro Bowl this season, nor is he ever going to be confused with Mark Chmura or Jermichael Finley.  But Rodgers has a couple things going for him most that tight ends don’t.  He has Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback and he is part of an offense that scores plenty of points.

Rodgers is not blessed with Jordy Nelson-like speed, but he has a basketballer's body and dependable hands.  He is not going to run down the seams and make 30-yard catches, but he can make a difference near the end zone.  If you need a one-week stopgap at tight end, especially in a touchdown league, pick Rodgers up and hope he catches a TD against Dallas.

Will Tye, New York Giants

Tye was the best rookie tight end in 2015, which was not saying a whole lot considering the crop was underwhelming and none of the class broke the 500-yard plateau.  Yet he still lost the starting tight end competition to incumbent Larry Donnell during training camp, which negated his fantasy value almost entirely.

Tye had been about as valuable to fantasy owners this year as punters and long snappers by providing a paltry 40 yards over his first three games.  However, his opportunity to produce reemerged with Donnell's recent concussion.  Tye subsequently doubled his early-season output over the last two contests by grabbing six passes for 80 yards.

As long as Tye is starting he will likely be a help in deep leagues or for fantasy owners who have their starting tight end on bye.  If the Giants stop force-feeding Odell Beckham Jr. the ball 15 times per game, Tye should see some more looks from Eli Manning.

Other Options

C.J. Fiedorowicz, Houston Texans

Brock Osweiler has not found a groove with franchise receiver DeAndre Hopkins yet, but somehow he has built chemistry with Fiedorowicz.  Fiedorowicz was probably only drafted in AFC South-only fantasy leagues before the season started, but after having eight receptions for 109 yards and a score over his last two contests he will be picked up in some regular leagues.

C.J. Uzomah, Cincinnati Bengals

I swear this is not a conspiracy to name every tight end named C.J. in this column!  Uzomah has been targeted five times or more in four of his five games and is good for 40-50 yards.  At this rate there is no timetable for Tyler Eifert’s return, so Uzomah could be used in a pinch by fantasy owners next week.

Dion Sims, Miami Dolphins

Jordan Cameron is out indefinitely with another concussion, so Sims will be Miami’s starter for the foreseeable future.  I would feel better if Ryan Tannehill could hit the broad side of a barn and Sims had more than two catches for 15 yards over the past two weeks, but the tight end pickings are slimmer than a stamp, so in a deep league you might have to settle for Sims.