RADIO
The playoff race is heating up in fantasy football leagues around the country, so this is not the week to be stuck with Ian Thomas, Tommy Sweeney or Cameron Brate as your top tight end. Another four teams are on bye this week, but the only notable tight ends missing action this week because of it are Cincinnati’s C.J. Uzomah and New York’s Evan Engram.
The problem is the portion of the tight end group that might miss action due to injuries. Tampa Bay’s Rob Gronkowski, Washington’s Logan Thomas, and Buffalo’s Dawson Knox are all question marks because they are banged up, so their fantasy managers better have backup options as they enter the 10th week of fantasy play.
Here are the best available tight end options on fantasy waiver wires heading into Week 10!
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Top Tight Ends to Pickup - Week 10 Waiver Wire
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers —40% rostered
Freiermuth was my top tight end waiver pick heading into Week 9 and then hauled in two touchdown tosses from Ben Roethlisberger on a national stage Monday night, so he has to be No. 1 for the second week in a row. Freiermuth was scooped up in 30 percent of leagues last week, yet he is still available in more than half of leagues entering Week 10. By Week 11, he will be unavailable in most leagues.
Freiermuth has taken full advantage of the absence of injured Eric Ebron. He has 16 receptions for 145 yards and a trio of touchdowns over his last three games while Ebron has been unable to take some of his targets and playing time. Freiermuth uses his big body to out-muscle smaller safeties and corners for 50-50 balls inside the end zone, and he should continue to do that this week when Pittsburgh hosts the winless Detroit Lions. Pick up Freiermuth and keep enjoying his fantasy surge as your squad heads into this crucial fantasy stretch of the season.
Dan Arnold, Jacksonville Jaguars — 27% rostered
Who predicted that Arnold would end up being the top target in Jacksonville’s passing attack this season, especially since he did not even begin the year there? If you somehow did then I need you to tell me who I should start Week 16 when my fantasy team is in the playoffs.
Arnold, who has NEVER been mentioned in the same breath as Tony Gonzalez, Shannon Sharpe, or Antonio Gates, has gone from unheralded journeyman to the guy opposing defenses have to prepare their pass-defense plans for. Yes, Dan Arnold!
Fantasy managers know that a high volume of targets leads to a higher rate of receptions and yards whether you are Pro Bowl-caliber or XFL-caliber. Arnold has 12 catches on 17 targets for 128 yards over his most recent pair of games. Jacksonville has nobody at receiver challenging Arnold for targets. Marvin Jones looks like he is 100 years old. Laviska Shenault has gone from fantasy sleeper to being sound asleep fantasy-wise since he has no touchdowns. Pick up Arnold now and enjoy an underrated amount of receptions and yards from this point forward as you sure up the tight end spot in your fantasy lineup.
Others Tight Ends to Consider Adding
Tyler Conklin, Minnesota Vikings — 38% rostered
It just shows how light the tight end position is with waiver wire talent that Conklin has been mentioned in this column almost every week throughout the season even though he has one touchdown in eight games. He has 13 receptions for 173 yards over Minnesota’s last three games and is always targeted by Kirk Cousins between four-to-eight times per week. Conklin might not have Irv Smith Jr.’s nose for the end zone, but he can muster up 40-60 yards for fantasy managers in a pinch this week.
O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 2% rostered
I know Howard has only had one good fantasy game out of seven on the season and needs Rob Gronkowski not to play to have any chance of being a worthwhile one-week investment. That said, if he is Tampa’s top tight end this week he will face a Washington defense that is ranked dead last against the pass, so that cannot be ignored. Howard could be your Gronk insurance policy if the tight ends higher than him in this column are not available.
Evan Engram, New York Giants — 40% rostered
Fantasy managers cannot forget about Engram since he has gotten better as the season has progressed. He will be a fantasy zero this week since he is on bye, but he could be a fantasy hero from here on out if he stays healthy and he does not have a terrible case of the “dropsies” like he did down the stretch during the 2020 campaign. Engram has TDs in back-to-back games, has caught at least three passes in each of his past half-dozen outings, and has a date with Tampa Bay’s beatable secondary in Week 11.
Donald Parham Jr., Los Angeles Chargers —1% rostered
If only Parham Jr. and Jared Cook were on different teams. Their fantasy values would be much different – and much higher. While Cook is the better bet in PPR and yardage leagues, Parham Jr. is the one with the better compass for the end zone. Three of his 10 receptions have gone for touchdowns, so it would be great if the Chargers could find more plays and ways to get him the ball.
Do Not Forget About…
Josiah Deguara, Green Bay Packers — 0% rostered
Fantasy managers still have no idea what Deguara will bring to the table as Green Bay’s No. 1 pass-catching tight end with Robert Tonyan out for the season with a torn ACL. Deguara could not do much (nor could any Packers pass catcher) with Jordan Love at the helm of the offense, so let’s hope and pray Aaron Rodgers is clear of COVID and able to be Green Bay’s QB this week against Seattle below-par pass defense.
Adam Trautman, New Orleans Saints — 5% rostered
The one player on the Saints with any fantasy value is Alvin Kamara. Otherwise, picking a Saint and hoping he produces is like picking lottery numbers and hoping you hit the Powerball. Trautman has topped the 35-yard mark in three of his last four games and gets a slight fantasy boost now that Michael Thomas has been ruled out for the rest of the regular season. Trautman could be New Orleans’ No. 1 pass catcher some weeks and go without a catch in others.
Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts – 1% rostered
The flip-flop of who Indy’s top fantasy tight end has now swung back in Doyle’s direction after Mo Alie-Cox seemed to be the better buy for a solid month. The longtime veteran has scored touchdowns in back-to-back games and now faces a Jacksonville defense that cannot possibly play above its head two games in a row after what the Jaguars pulled on the Buffalo Bills this past weekend.
Ryan Griffin, New York Jets — 0% rostered
Griffin is coming off his best game of the season (which is not saying much) after posting a 4-28-1 line versus Indianapolis on Thursday night. He is no the de facto top tight end for the Jets with Tyler Kroft out due to a lung injury, so if you are desperate in a deep league devoid of tight end talent, feel free to claim him and wish that he finds and falls into the end zone again.
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