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If you drafted the wrong tight end in your fantasy football league, you came to the right place!
Now that every league’s draft/auction has been conducted and we are through the first week of NFL action, the tight end free-agent pool is now officially open for business. If it has taken you just one week to realize that you need to upgrade the tight end position on your fantasy roster, the good news is there are plenty of options available on your league’s waiver wire.
Without further ado, here are my tight end waiver wire picks for Week 2!
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TE Waiver Wire Options for Week 2
T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions – 54% owned
Looks like Detroit has found itself a tight end! It usually takes tight ends a season to get the hang of how to run routes in the NFL, but it did not take Hockenson more than one game. The eighth overall pick in this past April’s NFL draft torched Arizona’s startled secondary for six catches, 131 yards and his first professional touchdown.
Hockenson is only owned in a little more than half of the leagues out there, so there is still time to pounce on him like the Ravens pounced on the Dolphins in Week 1. Hockenson is a rare tight end with big-play ability who can stretch the field on seam routes and can cause matchup problems for most defenses. Matthew Stafford has a gem on his hands, and fantasy owners (especially in dynasty leagues) should try and snag this rookie before another TE-hungry owner in his/her league does. Hockenson is home to an above-average Chargers Defense in Week 2, but you should not shy away from him just because of that.
Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts – 37% owned
The one guy who fantasy players figured would not suffer in the wake of Andrew Luck’s surprise retirement was Doyle. The underrated PPR monster had the best year of his short career (80 receptions for 690 yards) when Luck missed 2017 due to injury. Doyle had no trouble racking up receptions with Jacoby Brissett as his quarterback that year, so he should be able to keep the good work with Brissett in 2019, especially since he is over the injuries that ruined his 2018 campaign.
Doyle has had success in recent seasons against division rival Tennessee. He has caught 28 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns over his last five contests and should be looked at a lot by Brissett this upcoming weekend. Do not worry for a second about Doyle’s one-catch, 20-yard dud he put up against the Los Angeles Chargers. He is bound to bounce back this week.
Darren Waller, Oakland Raiders – 38% owned
Waller’s role in Oakland's offense certainly got bigger once Antonio Brown was released, didn't it? All he did Monday night was lead Raiders pass catchers with seven receptions on eight targets as he had no trouble getting open against Denver's secondary, while quarterback David Carr had no trouble finding him and getting the ball in his hands. Waller is a wide receiver trapped in a tight end's body and has already stamped himself as a monster matchup for most NFL defenses.
Waller was considered a sleeper darling leading up to fantasy drafts and auctions, but now he is known in many households where there is a fantasy player or two. Kansas City’s pass defense was a car wreck last week as it allowed Jacksonville backup Gardner Minshew to complete 22 of 25 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns. Waller should have no issues getting open against the Chiefs secondary and giving fantasy owners some solid stats in a game where the Raiders are bound to be trailing and throwing on almost every down in the second half.
Other Options
Vernon Davis, Washington Redskins – 9% owned
Davis might be 100 years old, but the veteran can still make big plays as evidenced by the 48-yard highlight-reel touchdown he scored against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1. As long as the perpetually-injured Jordan Reed remains in concussion protocol, Davis has the opportunity to be a decent fantasy tight end, especially if the Skins can keep up this efficiency in the passing game. He is definitely worth looking at in 12 or 14-team leagues.
Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams – 5% owned
Fresh off signing a multimillion-dollar deal to make him one of the highest-paid blocking tight ends in the NFL, Higbee opened up the season with four receptions including one for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers. His new contract might be a sign that head coach Sean McVay wants to focus on Higbee more in the passing attack. He won't be a weekly option but those who stream or have space on their bench may consider adding him.
