RADIO
If you are reading this column, you are either in the midst of your fantasy football league’s playoffs, you are looking to make money in a DFS contest to spend on holiday gifts, or you are a downright bored football fan.
Week 15 is here and fantasy football managers are more excited about their postseason prospects than Cam Newton is when he shops for a new suit. If you made it this far and have a shot at your league title, you probably have a decent tight end. But if you think your normal tight end has a tough matchup and you need an upgrade for this week, there are plenty of possibilities down below.
Here are the top tight end candidates to pick up in fantasy football leagues heading into Week 15!
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Top Tight End Waiver Wire Options
Dan Arnold, Arizona Cardinals
1% rostered
I said in last week’s column that Arnold needed to be picked up. He went from being rostered in zero percent of leagues to one percent. Way to listen to me, RotoBallers! Well, Arnold made me look like a genius by catching his fourth touchdown pass in four games against the New York Giants on Sunday.
The one thing going against Arnold is his lack of targets. Even though he is playing the best ball of his career and catching passes like he is a Mark Bavaro clone, he has not seen more than four targets in any game this season. But what is important is that Arnold is converting those scarce targets into touchdowns and yards, and the target total may climb in the coming weeks now that he has earned the respect and trust of quarterback Kyler Murray and head coach Kliff Kingsbury. Arnold faces a Philadelphia defense that has allowed tight end touchdowns in back-to-back weeks and is known more for its front seven than its secondary. Pick up Arnold if you need a tight end, fantasy folks!
Jimmy Graham, Chicago Bears
29% rostered
Graham had been harder to find than a fugitive the past several weeks while Chicago’s offense was in a total free fall, but he popped up this past Sunday to score his first touchdown in over a month against hapless Houston. Graham has now scored a half-dozen touchdowns on the season, which is a great thing since he is a TD-dependent player in the twilight years of his storied career now that his legs and knees have robbed him of the above-average speed that made him such a downfield threat when he was at his best.
Graham can only do as well as his quarterback, inconsistent scattershot Mitchell Trubisky, and the rest of the Bears offense does. The Bears appear to have figured out how to block for top tailback David Montgomery and how to get balls in the hands of top target Allen Robinson. That means more scoring opportunities for Mr. Graham. It also helps that Graham will face Minnesota’s pass defense this weekend, which has been near the bottom of the rankings for most of the campaign.
Other Tight End Options to Consider
Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota Vikings
6% rostered
Smith made a triumphant return after missing a couple games due to injury and scored for the third time in three games versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Smith has topped the 55-yard mark in three of the past six games he has suited up for and has made his mark in Minnesota’s passing attack. Now that he has healthy he can definitely help a TE-starved fantasy squad this week as the Vikings battle the Chicago Bears in a humongous game with playoff ramifications.
Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
48% rostered
Higbee has been a major fantasy disappointment as minor injuries, Gerald Everett, and Sean McVay’s run-first game plans have ruined his fantasy value over the course of the season. Higbee might be in the middle of a late-season bounce back, though. He has six receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown over his last two outings, and he is set to face the 0-13 New York Jets, a team that has not found a tight end they couldn’t allow a TD to.
Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys
21% rostered
Schultz has now caught at least three passes in six straight games despite having quarterbacks with XFL-caliber talent throwing to him at times. The problem is he only has one touchdown and one 50-yard week over his last nine contests. Schultz is not going to kill your fantasy squad since he will probably catch a couple passes this Sunday, but he probably will not win your game for you, either.
Don’t Forget About…
Jordan Akins, Houston Texans
5% rostered
Houston is running out of receivers as quickly as department stores are running out of wrapping paper. Akins has been targeted nine times over the past two games and should continue to have Deshaun Watson darts aimed his way from here on out. It would have been nice if he caught that sure TD toss this past Sunday against Chicago, though.
Will Dissly, Seattle Seahawks
5% rostered
Dissly seems to be the better fantasy option over Jacob Hollister in Seattle at the moment. He found the end zone easily against the N.Y. Jets this past Sunday. Just know Dissly's fantasy ceiling is low due to the volume of passes DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett see and the increased running plays called now that Chris Carson is healthy.
Drew Sample, Cincinnati Bengals
1% rostered
Sample has now been targeted 20 times over Cincy’s last four contests. That’s the same amount atargets into many fantasy points, but neither did the aforementioned Logan Thomas early in the season and look where he is now. Sample’s matchup next Monday night against Pittsburgh is not fantasy-friendly, however.
Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts
6% rostered
Doyle was the Indy tight end who got the most play this past weekend with his three catches for 44 yards. None of the Colts tight ends can be trusted these days because you never know which one will get his number called the most each week. The good thing going for Doyle and his tight end teammates this week is that the Colts are home against a Houston Texans team that just made Chicago’s Mitchell Trubisky look like Joe Montana did in his prime.
Nick Vannett, Denver Broncos
0% rostered
The veteran tight end filled in for an ill Noah Fant and was able to haul in four Drew Lock passes for 20 yards and a surprising score. It is too early to tell if Fant will miss additional games so if Fant is on your fantasy roster and the pickings are slim on your league’s waiver wire, Vannett is a one-week emergency option if you are desperate.
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