RADIO
The 2020 NFL season has not been easy on fantasy football general managers.
If fantasy footballers did not already have enough to contend with between injuries (O.J. Howard, Noah Fant, Jordan Akins) and COVID preventing their players on Pittsburgh and Tennessee from taking the field, here comes the first round of byes! No game for the Green Bay Packers or the Detroit Lions this week, so no Robert Tonyan or T.J. Hockenson for fantasy players to use. There are some tight ends available on fantasy waiver wires and free agent lists heading into the upcoming week that should be able to help in a pinch, though.
Here are the top tight end candidates to pick up in fantasy football leagues heading into Week 5! Please note that Chicago Jimmy Graham, Cleveland’s Austin Hooper and Dallas’ Dalton Schultz are owned in about half of leagues, so while that is a little too much to make this column, one or more might be available in your league.
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Top Tight End Waiver Wire Options for Week 5
Mo Alie-Cox, Indianapolis Colts
33% rostered
One good week could be a fluke. Two good weeks could be the start of something. But three good weeks is a trend. Cox has done well for three straight weeks now, so it is time for the fantasy football world to take notice and take him seriously. He is using his basketball body and becoming a fantasy football force.
Cox has 174 receiving yards and two touchdowns over his past three games. There are warning signs with Cox, though. Veterans tight end teammates Jack Doyle and Trey Burton have both returned from their injuries. Cox only has five targets over Indianapolis’ last two contest, and his track record coming into 2020 was not exactly fantasy friendly. Cox is playing the best ball of his short career, however, and faces a Cleveland defense that just allowed Dallas’ Dak Prescott to throw for 500 yards this past weekend. Pick Cox up and ride his hot streak out --- if it ever ends.
Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
0% rostered
Remember this guy? For a three-year span between 2016 and 2018, Brate was finding the end zone as often as a nerdy guy finds the friend zone with pretty girls out of his league. Brate hauled in 20 touchdown passes over that time and was a fantasy force. Then O.J. Howard was drafted in the first round. Then Rob Gronkowski came out of retirement to join Tom Brady in Tampa Bay. Then Brate went from fantasy hero to fantasy zero.
A lot can change on a dime in fantasy football. Howard injured his Achilles, and Gronk is not looking like the Gronk that was the top tight end in fantasy football during his glory years in New England. The door is now open for Brate to become a decent points producer again. He has Brady throwing to him and has wonderful wideouts Mike Evans and Chris Godwin opening up the middle for him. Brate is not going to rack up more than 20-30 yards per week, but he could start scoring a touchdown every other game like he did back a few years ago. Do not be worried about Brate facing Chicago on Thursday night as the Bears have allowed tight ends to catch TD tosses three times in four games.
Other Tight End Options to Consider
Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers
25% rostered
Don't look now, but Tonyan has become a top-5 fantasy tight end! While Green Bay's receiving corps has been decimated by injuries, Tonyan has gone from being a pedestrian backup to being a Pro Bowl-caliber player. He leads all tight ends with five touchdowns and has become Aaron Rodgers' top target while Davante Adams and Allen Lazard have been sidelined. Tonyan's 6-98-3 line this past Monday night certainly won fantasy games and contests for millions in the fantasy football community.
Tonyan might be on bye this week, but that does not mean you cannot pick him up immediately and use him in Week 6 or 7. Just proceed with caution, though. Adams will probably be back in Week 6 and taking some of Tonyan's targets. Also remember that Tonyan's big game on Monday came against an Atlanta secondary that was practically pulling high school players off the street to fill in for all of their injured safeties and corners. Tonyan is a fine addition for fantasy teams, but temper expectations if you think he is going to be Travis Kelce-like all season long.
Greg Olsen, Seattle Seahawks
22% rostered
Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf hog all the targets and touchdowns in Seattle’s passing attack, but Olsen has 10 receptions for 96 yards over the Seahawks past two victories and is appearing more comfortable with quarterback Russell Wilson. Olsen will run routes against a Minnesota defense that is near the bottom of the league in pass defense, so pick him up whether you need him for this week or the next few.
Drew Sample, Cincinnati Bengals
3% rostered
The jury is still on out on what Cincinnati’s promising tight end is going to give fantasy managers this year. He could be the carbon copy of C.J. Uzomah in terms of stats and fantasy value, or he could turn into an above-average tight end that could be a benefit in dynasty leagues for years to come. Sample has broken the 40-yard barrier in two of his past three games and could have a fine fantasy future with franchise cornerstone Joe Burrow if things break right for him.
Jordan Akins, Houston Texans
13% rostered
Akins was concussed in his last game so his availability for this week is up in the air. What’s not up in the air is if this guy can play. Akins has had 39 receiving or more in three of his four outings this year and has passed Darren Fells on the depth chart at tight end. If Akins can suit up Sunday he has a mouthwatering matchup against a Jacksonville defense that made Tennessee’s Jonnu Smith look like a Hall of Famer a couple weeks ago.
Don’t Forget About…
Ian Thomas, Carolina Panthers
8% rostered
It’s not every day I tout a tight end who has five receptions for 30 yards and one touchdown…on the season. Thomas was banged-up entering the season and had to deal with a new quarterback, so patience was definitely needed. Thomas is a better pickup in a league where you can stash him for a few weeks before you press him into duty on your active roster. The kid has talent, but we need to know if he has his helmet on straight before we can count on him in fantasy leagues on a weekly basis.
Dan Arnold, Arizona Cardinals
0% rostered
I know what you are thinking. Craig has lost his damn mind. Couple things to consider, however. Arnold just had his best game of the short season (four receptions for 39 yards). More importantly, this week Arizona plays the worst team in the NFL, the New York Jets. Even Arnold could post some solid numbers against the Jets.
Tyler Eifert, Jacksonville Jaguars
9% rostered
Eifert would be a more attractive get if teammate James O’ Shaughnessy was not virtually matching his numbers on the season. Countless injuries have really robbed him of some of his physical gifts. Yet Eifert is serviceable and could find the end zone this week against an 0-4 Houston team that makes mental mistakes in pass coverage.
Albert Okwuegbunam, Denver Broncos
0% rostered
Say his name three times fast and I swear you magically get a mustache like Gardner Minshew’s appear on your face. Give it a try. Albert O. might find the field now that Noah Fant will be sidelined due to an ankle injury. Vets Nick Vannett and Jake Butt are warm bodies who can block. Okwuegbunam has pass-catching skills that make him a fantasy option the minute he is given a true opportunity. His odds of the rookie getting that opportunity are a little bit better with Fant out.
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