No tight ends moved at this year’s trade deadline, so we’ll have familiar faces in the same systems as we prep for fantasy football Week 9.
That’s not to say that the TE landscape isn’t constantly shifting: streaming at the position is paramount with the Lions, 49ers, Jaguars, and Broncos all on bye this week. The first three teams all boast a top-6 TE this season in Sam LaPorta (TE3), George Kittle (TE5), and Evan Engram (TE6), respectively. But don’t fear; the waiver wire landscape has a few stopgaps worth a look.
Note: Roster % based on Yahoo!
TREY MCBRIDE, ARIZONA CARDINALS (49%)
Trey McBride has been one of the heavy-hitting features of this series, and he sits near the top of Roto Street Journal’s waiver targets in Week 9.
McBride broke out in front of our eyes in Week 8, tallying 95 yards and a score on ten receptions (14 targets). This also marked a season-best in snap % from the second-year man, playing 82% of Arizona’s loss to Baltimore. His 265 yards match exactly his output from his entire rookie season, done in half the games.
The loss of Josh Dobbs may hurt McBride’s overall standing in positional rankings, but a reliable big body for rookie Clayton Tune should alleviate any concerns from managers moving forward. McBride is the top addition for Week 9, worth a hefty FAAB drop if you need a rest-of-season starter.
CHIGOZIEM OKONKWO, TENNESSEE TITANS (26%)
In stark contrast to McBride, Chig Okonkwo entered this season with high expectations for his second year. The former fourth-rounder dazzled in the second half of 2022, finishing the season with 450 yards and three scores, good for TE25. It’s been a slow start for just about everyone in Tennessee, but it seems rookie signal caller Will Levis has energized the Titans’ skill group.
Similarly to the Tune/McBride situation in Arizona stated above, Okonkwo should benefit as a check-down safety valve for Levis with big play potential. If the young TE can replicate some of his late-season slash lines from his last campaign (14/167/1 from Weeks 13 to 15) he will be worth a look on the waiver wire as we enter the back half of the season.
LUKE MUSGRAVE, GREEN BAY PACKERS (21%)
The rookie has cooled down after a solid start to his NFL career after finishing with only nine yards on two receptions in Week 8 against the Vikings. However, he gets a favorable matchup against the Rams, who have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to his position. Over the last five games, the Rams’ defense has allowed 39 targets and four touchdowns to tight ends.
It’s extremely tough to trust anyone on the Packers’ offense right now, but the matchup is there for Musgrave to hit 50 yards and find the end zone for the first time in his short career.
