RADIO
Week 6 is not going to be kind to fantasy football managers at the tight end position.
Four teams are on bye, which means fantasy players will not have Las Vegas’ Darren Waller, New Orleans’ Jared Cook, Los Angeles’ Hunter Henry, and Seattle’s Greg Olsen at their disposal. On top of that, fantasy footballers might have to live another week without Denver’s Noah Fant and Philadelphia’s Dallas Goedert due to their injuries. And do I even have to mention how COVID and the NFL’s rescheduling of games has wreaked havoc on fantasy GMs across the country?
If you need a tight end for your fantasy squad this week, you are shopping at the right store! Here are the top tight end candidates to pick up in fantasy football leagues heading into Week 6!
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Top Tight End Waiver Wire Options
Jimmy Graham, Chicago Bears
40% rostered
Graham is getting to be the Cris Carter of 2020 --- all he does is catch touchdown passes. The veteran fantasy stud has four touchdowns in Chicago’s first five games and has been equally as comfortable whether Nick Foles or Mitchell Trubisky is his quarterback.
Graham is not racking up lots of yardage (34 yards per week) and is not busting many long gainers (9.9 YPC, no 30-yard receptions yet), but he is more dependable and reliable than most tight ends on fantasy waiver wires at this juncture. Graham has a rough matchup in Week 6 against an above-average Carolina Panthers pass defense that has not allowed a tight end TD over its first five games, but even if Graham does not help fantasy managers this week he certainly should during other weeks later this season.
Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2% rostered
Tampa Bay has as many injured pass catchers as Texas Roadhouse has steaks. That is why it was no surprise Brate started seeing many more Tom Brady passes head his direction, especially because O.J. Howard suffered his season-ending Achilles injury, elevating Brate as Tampa’s No. 2 TE behind Rob Gronkowski.
Brate caught five passes for 44 yards on six targets this past Thursday night and should continue to be given ample opportunities on passes over the middle of 10 yards or less, along with inside the red zone. Brate is facing a stiff challenge from a Green Bay defense that should be fresh coming off a bye and that has not allowed a tight end to score this year, but he hauled in two touchdowns in his only career game against the Packers so do not be shocked if he has a solid outing.
Other Tight End Options to Consider
Mo Alie-Cox, Indianapolis Colts
36% rostered
Fantasy GMs should not kick Cox to the curb over one poor performance. He has been one of the pleasant surprises at the position this season and should not be punished for last game, where he went catchless against Cleveland. Cox recorded 174 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the three games prior and has a mouthwatering matchup versus the pitiful Cincinnati Bengals and their inexperienced secondary up next. Jack Doyle has done nothing to deter Philip Rivers from throwing to Cox since returning from injury.
Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota Vikings
6% rostered
Smith was an invisible man over the opening month of the season (two catches for 14 yards), but quarterback Kirk Cousins found the young upstart for a couple nice plays this past Sunday night. Smith racked up four receptions for 64 yards and should be included in the Vikings offensive game plans much more regularly after this prime-time effort. Smith should have no trouble having another plus game this Sunday against Atlanta, whose secondary is too banged-up and not talented enough to cover most NFL-caliber pass catchers.
Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Rams
1% rostered
Before Tyler Higbee lost his mind and had his scintillating five-game stretch for the Rams at the tail end of the 2019 campaign, Everett had a four-game span where he caught 18 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns before being derailed by an injury. Everett is looking now like he did during that hot streak. The big man caught four passes for 90 yards against Washington in Week 5 and could push for a bigger role in the Rams passing attack if he keeps contributing like this. Everett is one to watch for in deep leagues, but it is too early to peg him as a savior in standard leagues.
Don’t Forget About…
Darren Fells, Houston Texans
2% rostered
Fells’ fantasy value has fallen off the charts this season as up-and-coming Jordan Akins has overshadowed and outplayed him. With Akins concussed and not in uniform this past weekend, however, Fells regained his 2019 form and gifted shrewd fantasy managers 57 yards and a touchdown for easily his best game of the young season. If Akins misses more time, Fells could be a low-cost spot starter for fantasy purposes.
Drew Sample, Cincinnati Bengals
4% rostered
Cincy’s second-round pick from 2019 has two 40-yard games over the past month, but he has yet to find the end zone or become a consistent fantasy threat. If you can be patient with Sample, though, he could develop his chemistry with QB Joe Burrow over the course of the season and become a decent piece of your roster in dynasty leagues for 2021.
Greg Olsen, Seattle Seahawks
29% rostered
Olsen’s numbers are not as flashy or as helpful as they were during his prime with the Carolina Panthers, but the longtime veteran is still serviceable for fantasy football. Olsen is on bye this week so he will be of no use to fantasy players in the short term, and it would be nice if he was the Seahawks tight end catching Russell Wilson TD tosses and not Will Dissly. If you could use a better backup on your fantasy roster, however, Olsen could help, especially Wilson starts trusting him more as the season wears on.
Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills
2% rostered
Knox is now caught in a timeshare situation with Tyler Kroft, which does not do any fantasy favors for either man. But while Kroft is the multimillionaire veteran, Knox is the future and needs to be kept an eye on over the next several weeks. If Knox shows any signs of life, scoop him up in dynasty leagues and stash him at the bottom of your roster. One of these days the light will go on and he will become a decent fantasy option.
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