Cameron Brate (TE, TB) - Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues

OWNED IN: 20% of Leagues

ANALYSIS: Why are we talking about Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate again after he caught just two balls for 16 yards? First, Jameis Winston is back and we know he loves him some Brate. Second, O.J. Howard suffered an ankle injury and is done for the season, putting Brate in a real opportunity for TE1 production.

Did we mention that Winston loves Brate? If you forgot, Brate had 57 receptions for 660 yards in 2016 with Winston as the quarterback in Tampa. A dip in statistics in 2017 (to 48 receptions and 591 yards)? That could be because Ryan Fitzpatrick QB'd the Bucs for five games, four of which Brate was under five targets. Also, Brate caught 14 touchdown passes over the last two seasons, showing that the Bucs are comfortable working him into the offense in the redzone. It should not be a shock that Brate only has been targeted 26 times this season, one because Fitzpatrick was the quarterback and two because Howard was a legitimate high-caliber TE1.

Looking at matchups, the Buccaneers play the 49ers, who rank 11th against fantasy TE, before posting positive matchups against the Panthers in Week 13 and the Cowboys in Week 16. Howard caught six balls for 53 yards against Carolina on November 4 and, with the Panthers ranked last against TE, this could be a great opportunity for Brate to be a top-five play at TE. It is rare that players in the top-10 of their position are available this late in the season; if you need a TE (a lot of us do), Brate is the perfect guy for you.