The Week 5 waiver wire marks the quarter position of the fantasy season, and the tight end landscape around the NFL is just as murky as it was in the preseason.
If you missed out on a top-three TE in your draft, you more than likely are HURTING at the position. Paired with last week’s streaming options, consider targeting these sub-50% rostered TEs.
Disclaimer: If Jake Ferguson (54% rostered) or Cole Kmet (54% rostered) are available, aim for them first.
Note: Roster % based on Yahoo!
ZACH ERTZ, ARIZONA CARDINALS (27% ROSTERED)
PPR points by week: 8.1, 11.6, 2.6, 11.3
The surprise contributions of Arizona’s QB Joshua Dobbs have made most of the Cardinals’ skill players fantasy-viable, and Zach Ertz is no different. Ertz is second in TE targets thus far, trailing only TJ Hockenson, and is third in the entire league in targets without a touchdown with 30. Additionally, Ertz has six receptions in three of the first four games this year, solidifying his role as Dobbs’s security blanket. Arizona plays a floundering Cincinnati Bengals team in Week 5, so I expect more of the same production from Dobbs and Co.
JONNU SMITH, ATLANTA FALCONS (1%)
PPR points by week: 0.0, 8.7, 8.7, 15.5
In one of the more puzzling twists of the first quarter of the NFL season, Jonnu Smith is the TE to roster in Atlanta, not Kyle Pitts. Smith led the team in receiving in Week 4, hauling in all six of his targets for 95 yards as the Falcons played catchup all morning against the Jaguars. In terms of streaming value, this production looks to be here to stay: this was his third straight week of 4+ receptions and 37+ yards receiving.
HC Arthur Smith has so many fantasy owners livid with his personnel decisions. Smith’s involvement looks semi-permanent, with viable TE production available at rock-bottom prices.
LOOKING FORWARD
Outside of the guys mentioned earlier, the Week 5 streamers are pretty thin. If you have the roster space, look to stash either Cade Otton (2% rostered) or Noah Fant (3% rostered), both of whom are on bye this week but can be long-term fixtures in your lineup. Keep your eyes peeled next week for a breakdown of their value moving forward.
