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It only took one week of NFL action to have fantasy football managers antsy about their tight ends. Not every tight end caught two touchdown tosses like Rob Gronkowski. While many superstars at the position started the season well --- T.J. Hockenson and Travis Kelce to name two --- some others remained injured (Evan Engram, Irv Smith Jr.) and others struggled (Mike Gesicki, Robert Tonyan).
One week should not force any fantasy GM to panic, but if you prefer to be proactive when it comes to retooling your roster, feel free to pick up one of the tight ends featured in this column.
Here are the best options available on fantasy football waiver wires at the tight end heading into Week 2.
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Tight End Waiver Wire Options
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints - 13% rostered
Unless you were a fan of Johnson's work as a wide receiver at the University of Oregon, you probably never heard of him -- until he started catching some passes in preseason games this August, when New Orleans' tight end corps was decimated by injuries. The fantasy football world knows him now, though, after he hauled in two touchdown passes in the Saints' shocking Week 1 demolition of the Green Bay Packers.
You cannot add Johnson to your fantasy roster without some reservations though. Adam Trautman had twice as many targets in Week 1, and is probably still New Orleans' No. 1 receiving tight end. Johnson also went undrafted after leaving Oregon, so it is not as if he had the hoopla coming out of college Kyle Pitts had. Yet he is looking like a red-zone favorite of Jameis Winston on a team who is starved for pass-catching playmakers with Michael Thomas on IR. Scoop up Johnson and see if his keeps finding the end zone in the coming weeks.
Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills – 23% rostered
Knox lucked out that Buffalo did not trade for Philadelphia’s Zach Ertz or any other tight end during the offseason, so he remains Josh Allen’s No. 1 TE. The Bills added Allen’s former college teammate Jacob Hollister to the tight end fold during the offseason, but he was released at the end of training camp. Knox is Buffalo’s ride-or-die tight end for 2021, and that makes him an attractive get for fantasy managers needing depth at this position.
Knox caught all four of the passes thrown his way in Week 1, which is a humongous step up from last year when he had the worst reception-to-target percentage among Buffalo pass catchers. Knox finished last season with five touchdown receptions over his last nine games (regular season plus postseason) and should be targeted inside the red zone as often as any Bills receiver other than Stefon Diggs. Pick him up and he could play his way into being your TE1 later in the campaign.
James O'Shaughnessy, Jacksonville Jaguars – 8% rostered
Being Jacksonville’s top tight end has been akin to being the person who makes the salads at McDonald’s --- it is not viewed as an important position. Tyler Eifert did not fix the problem last season for the Jaguars, and Tim Tebow was hardly the answer during training camp. But with Urban Meyer leading the team and Trevor Lawrence leading the offense, could O’Shaughnessy finally be the decent tight end the Jaguars have desperately needed all this time?
O’Shaughnessy has never really had an honest chance to prove he is or isn’t a starting tight end in the NFL thanks to injuries, scattershot quarterbacks, and coaching staffs that did not utilize him in the passing plans. His six catches (on eight targets) for 48 yards cannot make you forget that he has three touchdowns in 73 career contests, but he has the best opportunity, quarterback, and head coach he has ever had since being a Jaguar. Taking a flyer on him is not the worst idea in the world.
Others Tight Ends to Consider
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns – 16% rostered
Njoku is part a three-headed tight end monster that is part of a run-first offense in Cleveland, so it is difficult to bank on him on a weekly basis. His 76 receiving yards led the Browns in Week 1, though, and he should be aimed at more than usual as long as top target Odell Beckham Jr. misses time with his balky knee.
Kyle Rudolph, New York Giants – 15% rostered
Big surprise! Evan Engram is hurt again and missing games! This is about as shocking as Travis Kelce NOT missing games. This opens the fantasy door for Rudolph, who becomes Daniel Jones’ top tight end while Engram nurses his injured calf. If Engram missed a second straight game this Thursday night against Washington, you can pick up and plug in Rudolph if you need an emergency TE and/or Engram insurance.
Tyler Conklin, Minnesota Vikings – 12% rostered
Minnesota traded for former New York Jets disappointment Chris Herndon to fill the void left behind by the knee injury that knocked Irv Smith Jr. out of action, but block-first Conklin was the better receiver out of the two in Minnesota’s opening game. Conklin caught four Kirk Cousins passes for 41 yards and should continue to be the best fantasy tight end on Minnesota until Herndon is fully comfortable with the Vikings playobook.
Dallas Schultz, Dallas Cowboys – 20% rostered
It is extremely doubtful that Dak Prescott will keep throwing 58 times per game like he did in Week 1, but his presence helps Schultz’s fantasy worth. No. 3 WR Michael Gallup’s calf injury should open up a couple targets for Schultz the next couple weeks --- as long as tight teammate Blake Jarwin does not steal them.
Pharoah Brown, Houston Texans – 2% rostered
Brown popped onto fantasy radars after catching four passes for 67 yards and being Houston’s No. 1 tight end in Week 1. I do not trust him, nor do I trust Tyrod Taylor to continue to put the ball in his hands, but he does have a juicy Week 2 matchup against a Cleveland secondary that just allowed Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill to run wide open on virtually every pass route.
Do Not Forget About…
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers – 37% rostered
Pittsburgh’s second-round draft choice this year will need time to develop like all rookie tight ends do, plus he has to overcome veteran Eric Ebron and leapfrog him on the depth chart before he becomes relevant fantasy-wise. That said, you cannot sleep on talented tight ends like this, especially in dynasty leagues. Rookie tight ends have quiet games, especially Week 1. That does not mean you forget about them.
Albert Okwuegbunam, Denver Broncos – 10% rostered
You know I must think something of Denver’s No. 2 TE if I took the time to spell his name correctly. One touchdown does not make him a fantasy superstar, but the former fourth-round pick is healthy and is one Noah Fant injury away from being a major player in Teddy Bridgewater’s passing attack.
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