The tight end position matters greatly in fantasy football. They are not as flashy as their blazing-fast, route-running counterparts at wide receiver. They also do not get the same volume of touches as fantasy-relevant running backs. That can sometimes lead to them being overlooked or treated as an afterthought. Do not make that mistake.
The tight end pool is the shallowest of them all in terms of fantasy. Finding production there weekly can be incredibly challenging, especially for those who did not invest in one of the top TE options during their drafts.
How might one find success at the position? Well, one way can is by carefully playing the waiver wire week-to-week. The goal of this weekly article is to help fantasy managers do just that by finding low-rostered (under 75%) TEs in the best situations for that particular week.
Tight End Waiver Wire Options for Week 1
Greg Dulcich (DEN) vs. Las Vegas Raiders
The Russell Wilson redemption tour kicks off at home in Denver against the AFC West rival Raiders on Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, Wilson’s projected No. 1 target in the offense will most likely be completely out of action, as Jerry Jeudy is recovering from a hamstring injury sustained back on Aug. 24.
Courtland Sutton is the obvious “next man up” in the Broncos’ passing attack, but it would be unwise to sleep on Greg Dulcich. Over his 10 games as a rookie last season, the third-round pick out of UCLA hauled in at least four passes in half of them while also topping 40 yards five times.
Dulcich caught an 11-yard TD from Wilson in Week 16 of last season before sitting out the final two games. The veteran QB should be looking the young TE’s way plenty, particularly in the red zone, against a Raiders’ defense that allowed seven scores to the position during the 2022 campaign.
Russ connects with Dulcich for the TD
📺: #DENvsLAR on CBS/NICK
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/xXDYpCJpC1 pic.twitter.com/iqLW7c7VF4— NFL (@NFL) December 26, 2022
Juwan Johnson (NO) vs. Tennessee Titans
Juwan Johnson established himself in the Saints’ passing game last season. During a solid third-year breakout that few seem to be discussing, he recorded 42 receptions while clearing the 500-yard threshold. More importantly, the 6-4 TE hit paydirt seven times in 16 games. Johnson was targeted 11 times in the red zone, the 13th-most at the position.
The Saints have upgraded to Derek Carr under center, which should benefit Johnson even more. Carr has certainly been a boon for his TEs during his tenure with the Raiders – see Darren Waller’s stats while paired up with Carr in recent years.
With WRs like Chris Olave and Michael Thomas in the mix, Johnson isn’t likely to be a high-volume pass catcher, so the upside is mostly wrapped up in his scoring potential. The Titans’ defense struggled to slow down opposing TEs throughout last season. They were one of only three units to give up both 1,000 yards and at least eight touchdowns to the position.
Hayden Hurst (CAR) at Atlanta Falcons
Like the Saints, the Panthers are transitioning to a new QB. Unlike the Saints, the Panthers’ new QB has zero NFL experience. That doesn’t mean that 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young lacks ability. However, even most casual NFL fans know that transitioning from the college game to the pros takes time and can be quite difficult.
Early in the development process of young quarterbacks, experienced receivers often play a vital role. Hayden Hurst fits that bill, as he’s played in 70 games over his five years in the league. That includes last season when he made 52 grabs across 13 games for the Bengals. Young will likely look Hurst’s way on short, high-percentage routes more than a couple of times in his debut this week.
Another wrinkle for Hurst in Sunday’s season opener is that he will be visiting Atlanta for the first time since spending two years in a Falcons’ uniform from 2020 to 2021. He matched up with the Falcons in Cincinnati last season, catching six of eight targets for 48 yards. The Falcons’ defense was one of six to surrender 90-plus receptions to opposing tight ends in 2022.
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Nate Miller is a featured writer at FantasyPros and a 9-year veteran of the fantasy sports industry. For more from Nate, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @Miller_RotoDad.
Fantasy Football Tight Ends Streamers & Waiver Wire Targets (Week 1) - FantasyPros
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