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If you are in one of the few fantasy football leagues that makes the final week of the NFL regular season part of its championship week, I have two words for you — good luck!
A wise man once said, “Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy.” Well, neither is figuring out who to use in fantasy football during the final week of the season. Players are already sitting between COVID protocols and concussions. Now, they are sitting because they are getting protected for the playoffs or rested for 2022 if their NFL team has no playoff spot to play for. It is the crapshoot of all crapshoots when it comes to guessing who the top tailback, top target, or top tight end is going to be on many NFL squads this Sunday. If you need a tight end for your title tilt, you have come to the right place.
Here are the best available tight end options on fantasy waiver wires heading into Week 18!
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Top Tight Ends to Pickup - Week 18 Waiver Wire
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers – 54% rostered
It is fitting that Freiermuth heads the last list of the season. He was unceremoniously dropped in many leagues after suffering his second concussion in a month, but he is back and ready to catch Ben Roethlisberger’s dying quails for fantasy managers. The revved-up rookie has scored touchdowns in six of his last eight games heading into his Monday night matchup with Cleveland. He should be a premium play in Week 18 considering he will face Baltimore’s 32nd-ranked pass defense in Big Ben’s swan song.
Gerald Everett, Seattle Seahawks –51% rostered
It is hard to be mad at Everett as he is in the midst of his best stretch of the season, yet fantasy managers in their playoff or championship contests were probably disappointed that he only posted a 3-36-0 line when Seattle scored 51 points. His stock remains high compared to most others available at tight end in fantasy leagues, though. Everett has scored three touchdowns over his last half-dozen games and has become a reliable red zone target for Russell Wilson during the second half of the season.
Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 4% rostered
Wideouts Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown are done (for much different reasons), so Brate magically has re-entered the pass-catcher rotation and has become a Tom Brady favorite inside the red zone. Brate has three touchdowns over his last five outings. He is as touchdown-dependent as they come, though, since he has only broken the 30-yard barrier in one game in 2021.
Others Tight Ends to Consider Adding
Tyler Conklin, Minnesota Vikings — 39% rostered
Conklin might not have Kirk Cousins throwing to him if the franchise quarterback does not clear COVID protocols in time, but Minnesota’s top tight end and the king of the nine-yard grab is one of the better waiver wire options at the position. Conklin is coming off a game where he tied his season-best with nine targets as he has benefitted from Adam Thielen’s season-ending ankle injury, and he has a home game against Chicago and its disappointing defense.
Austin Hooper, Cleveland Browns – 30% rostered
Hooper’s fantasy worth has been stunted all season long thanks to Cleveland’s run-first offense and due to the Browns having one of the deepest tight end corps in the NFL, but he should do OK in “The Battle of Ohio” this Sunday against a Cincinnati secondary that is rated towards the bottom in pass defense. I put him as having a 30-percent chance of scoring a touchdown and a 50-percent chance of putting up at least 35 yards.
Evan Engram, New York Giants — 30% rostered
I never thought fantasy managers would beg to have Daniel Jones return. Engram can only do so much with the XFL-caliber quarterbacks throwing to him this season, but the good news for him this final week is he will be running routes against a Washington defense that is ranked 30th against the pass. Engram has also had success against the WFT in the past, catching 19 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns over his last five games against them. Now, if only Phil Simms could come out of retirement for this meaningless game, then we could be sold on Engram having some fantasy worth this week.
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears – 32% rostered
Kmet still has not scored a touchdown this season. Some third-string running backs, block-first fullbacks, and backup offensive linemen have caught TD tosses this year, but not him. Yet, Kmet is still an intriguing idea as a tight end waiver pick because he has a game against the reeling Minnesota Vikings, whose pass defense is one of the worst in the NFL. Kmet also had a season-high 71 receiving yards versus the Vikes earlier in the season.
John Bates, Washington Football Team – 1% rostered
Someone has to play tight end for Washington in Week 18 as hamstring injuries and cameramen have taken out its top two tight ends. Bates is a solid No. 3 TE and has 80 yards and a touchdown over his past two games. You could do worse than picking him up and playing him against the inept New York Giants.
Do Not Forget About…
C.J. Uzomah, Cincinnati Bengals – 22% rostered
Uzomah has not scored a touchdown since before Halloween and has only one game of 50-plus yards over that horrific span. He is averaging six targets per game over his last five contests despite Cincinnati having arguably the best wide receiver trio in the NFL. Uzomah has also found the end zone three times in his last five outings against the Cleveland team he is up against this weekend.
Brevin Jordan, Houston Texans – 1% rostered
There is not much to get excited about in Houston these days if the Astros are not playing and Joel Osteen is not preaching. Jordan might be a young talent you could hang your helmet on for 2022 if you are in a dynasty league and have the roster room. Outside chance he does something this weekend against an up-and-down Tennessee pass defense.
Foster Moreau, Las Vegas Raiders – 22% rostered
Moreau has been keeping Darren Waller’s seat warm for him, but he followed up back-to-back 60-yard performances with a one-catch for nine yards clunker that could have cost fantasy managers their league championships. He is hard to trust in a huge fantasy spot since his usage and targets seesaw from game to game.
Anthony Firkser, Tennessee Titans – 5% rostered
It is amazing that Tennessee might end up being the No. 1 seed in the AFC despite losing to both the Houston Texans and the New York Jets. Firkser will now see more tight end targets in this week’s rematch against Houston due to the gruesome injury suffered by tight end teammate MyCole Pruitt. Firkser is a longshot play but will run more routes and did score a touchdown this past Sunday.
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