The tight end position matters greatly in fantasy football. Tight ends are not as flashy as their route-running counterparts at wide receiver. Most of them do not normally 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 options during draft season.
One way to find success at the position 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 tight ends in the best situations for that particular week.
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Week 5 Fantasy Football Tight End Streamers & Waiver Wire Pickups
The following tight ends are rostered in fewer than 75% of Yahoo! leagues.
Darren Waller (TE – MIA) at CAR | 8% Rostered
Finally able to get on the field after missing the first three weeks of the season due to injury, Waller showed he’s still got something left in the tank for the Dolphins on Monday night. The previously retired veteran only played 16 snaps against the division-rival Jets, but he secured 3-of-4 targets for 27 yards, including a pair of red-zone touchdowns.
Waller’s snap share should tick up weekly going forward, and his rostered rate in fantasy leagues is about to soar. The Dolphins will need all of their remaining playmakers on the field as much as possible following Tyreek Hill‘s season-ending knee injury. Expect QB Tua Tagovailoa to continue looking for Waller, especially near the end zone, in a favorable matchup with the Panthers.
Mason Taylor (TE – NYJ) vs. DAL | 6% Rostered
Speaking of the Jets, their new tight end turned in a strong showing Monday night as well. With Justin Fields back behind center after missing Week 3, Taylor had his best performance as a pro yet. The second-round rookie out of LSU caught 5-of-7 targets for 65 yards, trailing only WR Garrett Wilson among Jets route runners in all three categories.
Taylor highlighted his Week 4 performance with a team-long 27-yard reception late in the third quarter. His further development with Fields will be something to watch, as the Jets get a shot at the lowest-ranked pass defense in the league this Sunday. Taylor could be settling in as the No. 2 option behind Wilson.
Theo Johnson (TE – NYG) at NO | 5% Rostered
Another young TE looking to break out, Johnson hauled in his first touchdown of the season and second of his career in the Giants’ upset victory over the Chargers on Sunday. With rookie Jaxson Dart making his first NFL start, Johnson grabbed 3-of-5 targets for only 17 yards overall. The 2024 second-round pick’s most appealing fantasy factor, however, is his red-zone usage.
Johnson is a physically imposing weapon for the Giants’ offense. He is one of just five tight ends in the league to see as many as five targets in the red zone so far this season. The Saints have given up two touchdowns to the position over the first four weeks, so Johnson certainly has a chance to hit paydirt for the second straight game.
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