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 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.
Tight end is the shallowest position of them all. Finding production there on a weekly basis can be incredibly challenging, especially for those that did not invest in one of the top handful of options during fantasy drafts.
Success can be found at the position by carefully playing the waiver wire week-to-week. The goal here is to help fantasy managers do just that by finding low-rostered (under 75%) tight ends sitting in the best situations for the particular week.
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Tight End Waiver Wire Options (Week 1)
*** Rostered Percentage based on Yahoo! Leagues as of Sept. 5 ***
Evan Engram (JAC) at Washington Commanders: 26% Rostered
For several years running as the Eagles’ head coach (2016-20), Doug Pederson’s offense featured the tight end heavily. Often, the Jags’ new ringleader even oversaw two viable fantasy tight ends at the same time. Many will recall the tandem of Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert.
So, this past offseason, Engram landed in a great spot to utilize his pass-catching ability. He actually should be viewed as not just a waiver play for this week but a potential sleeper for the season. Health will play a significant role in that idea coming to fruition in the long term.
Over the first five years of his career, Engram averaged 52 grabs and 566 yards per season for the Giants while often dealing with nagging injuries and suspect quarterback play. He will now work as a safety valve for second-year QB Trevor Lawrence. This Sunday, the combo will face a Washington defense that gave up the ninth-most receiving yards to opposing tight ends in 2021.
Gerald Everett (LAC) vs Las Vegas Raiders – 23% Rostered
Another tight end that found a new employer this past spring, Everett will step in at the top of the depth chart for the Chargers. The 28-year-old replaces an aging Jared Cook, who caught 48 passes on 83 targets last season, gaining 564 yards and scoring four touchdowns across 16 games.
Following four campaigns with the Rams, Everett hauled in 48-of-63 targets for 478 yards and four touchdowns over 15 games during his one season in Seattle last year. That catch percentage (76.2) represents a career best.
Everett will make his debut for the Chargers’ high-flying passing game against one of the three defensive units that allowed double-digit touchdowns to opposing tight ends in 2021. In fact, the Raiders surrendered the third-most points per game against the position overall.
Tyler Conklin (NYJ) vs Baltimore Ravens – 1% Rostered
An option for those participating in really deep formats, Conklin found himself in the starting role for the Vikings last season and took advantage of the opportunity. The former fifth-round draft pick caught at least one pass in all 17 games last year, grabbing a season-high seven on two different occasions and finishing with five or more receptions five times.
Conklin was not the only tight end that the Jets signed this past March, as veteran C.J. Uzomah also inked a free-agent deal. Still, Conklin has emerged as a QB favorite this preseason for the Jets and has been on the field together with Uzomah quite a bit.
The Jets will kick off their season versus the Ravens. The way to attack the Ravens’ defense last year was certainly through the air, as it ranked dead last giving up 278.9 passing yards per game. On top of that, the unit allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Conklin should see plenty of targets and potential red-zone looks in Week 1.
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Nate Miller is a featured writer at FantasyPros and an 8-year veteran of the fantasy sports industry. For more from Nate, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @Miller_RotoDad.