Another week, another battle to figure out the tight end spot. This week, Travis Kelce managers are scrambling for a streamer, while Dallas Goedert owners are trying to find a rest of season replacement for their tight end after a forearm fracture.
Week 10 is a big week for tight end streamers, sleepers, and stashes. So, let’s get it!
Week 10 Bye Weeks: Chiefs, Rams, Dolphins, Eagles
LAST CHANCE FOR TREY MCBRIDE (56%)
VS FALCONS
Somehow, someway, Trey McBride is still available on nearly 45% of waiver wires. On one hand, it makes sense because he put up a measly 22 yards on three receptions last week. But, that was with the horrific Clayton Tune under center. Did people forget he broke out with 95 yards and a touchdown on ten receptions the week before?
This week marks the return of Kyler Murray, which will be seismic for the young tight end. Murray sneaky loves to target his tight ends, as Zach Ertz has 87 receptions for 807 yards and five touchdowns in his 17 games with Murray starting at quarterback. With Ertz on injured reserve, McBride will be a key red zone and chain mover alongside James Conner, Marquise Brown, and Michael Wilson.
Expect McBride to be a rest-of-season fantasy starter with Murray under center.
HUNTER HENRY, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (41%)
VS COLTS (GERMANY)
Hunter Henry is one of my favorite weekly streamers. Last week, he found the end zone for the first time since Week 2, but it was the first game without Kendrick Bourne, so it was nice to see Henry move back to the top of the target totem pole alongside Demario Douglas. Henry tied Douglas and JuJu Smith-Schuster for the team lead in targets with seven.
This week, he gets a Colts defense that lands in the middle of the pack against tight ends. The Colts’ defense has allowed nearly nine targets, six receptions, and 60 receiving yards per game against tight ends but only one touchdown on the season. Luckily, Mac Jones likes to target Henry in the red zone, and if they get down there, he should find pay dirt.
GERALD EVERETT, LA CHARGERS (30%)
VS LIONS
I can’t quit Gerald Everett. He hasn’t done much this year at all, but with Mike Williams and Josh Palmer on IR, the targets should eventually come for the tight end. In a game where the Jets’ secondary locked down on the perimeter, he should’ve eaten — especially coming off back-to-back touchdown games in Weeks 6 and 7.
In Week 10, Everett gets a Lions’ defense that has let up the third-most fantasy points to tight ends. Through eight weeks, the Lions have allowed an average of 7.75 targets, 5.75 receptions, and 60 receiving yards to that position. Even better, they’ve let up four touchdowns. Earlier in the season, they had back-to-back games against the Seahawks and Falcons, where they allowed 20 total receptions on 28 targets.
This marks the week where Everett breaks out. Book it.
STASH: CADE OTTON, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (21%)
VS TITANS
After Cade Otton’s last three games, the fantasy world has to take notice. In Week 9, Otton saw a team-high nine targets culminate in six catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns. For the two weeks prior, Otton had seen six targets in back-to-back games.
It should be noted that the Texans came into Week 9 very solid at defending wide receivers (4th best) but susceptible to tight ends (2nd worst). That script may flip during the next two weeks against the Titans (26th vs WRs, 2nd vs TEs) and 49ers (29th vs WRs, 7th vs TEs).
To be fair, Otton’s production has not consistently correlated with the opposing defense’s strength versus the position. He’s blown up in tough spots, and fizzled out in plenty of juicy ones, whether with Baker Mayfield or Tom Brady.
Available in 79% of leagues, Otton is a prime stash candidate for those who aren’t too desperate at the position.
