We were ahead of the game last week, telling you to add Trey McBride and Gerald Everett. Unfortunately, Michael Mayer did not work out, but his quarterback situation was not ideal, and we still like him long-term as he checks in at TE15 on The Wolf’s Rest of Season Rankings.
Unlike the last few weeks, all teams are playing this week, but the hunt to find a tight end streamer remains the same. Be sure to check out our Week 8 Waiver Wire for more ways to bolster your fantasy roster this week.
Note: Roster % is based on Yahoo and streamers are less than 50% owned
First check: Dalton Kincaid (63%), Tyler Higbee (57%), Jake Ferguson (50%)
TAYSOM HILL, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (36%)
JUWAN JOHNSON, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (11%)
As the resident Taysom Hill hater, it’s been a tough few weeks. Hill, who has 11 receptions on 13 targets with Juwan Johnson (calf) out of the lineup over the last two weeks, is finding ways to stack fantasy points. Last week, he made a terrific contested catch down the seam and punched in a touchdown on the goal line as a Wildcat quarterback.
However, Johnson is expected to play this week against the Colts, meaning Hill’s targets will likely dry up. Still, he could always make a red zone impact as a tight end in 12 personnel or play Wildcat quarterback for a team that has trouble finishing drives.
Johnson has yet to make a significant impact this season, but he’s run a route on 68% of dropbacks and could also cure the Saints’ red zone blues. If you’re in a deeper league and the likes of Jake Ferguson, Logan Thomas, Jonnu Smith, and Hill are unavailable, Johnson could be an intriguing streamer against a soft Colts’ defense.
HUNTER HENRY, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (30%)
Following a hot start to the season, where Hunter Henry saw at least five targets over the first four weeks, he cooled off significantly. Sure, it could be because the offense completely fell off a cliff, but after putting up 29 points on the Bills in Week 7, the offense showed a pulse.
In this Week 8 matchup, Henry is purely a streamer this week against a Dolphins team that Henry recorded a season-high six receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown back in Week 2. The Dolphins have given up the sixth-most fantasy points to tight ends this season, and Henry is a Mac Jones favorite in the red zone. I’d feel good about a Hunter Henry touchdown in Week 8.
TREY MCBRIDE, ARIZONA CARDINALS (7%)
How the hell is Trey McBride still available in 93% of leagues? Zach Ertz landed on IR on Tuesday morning, leaving the former Mackey Award winner as the team’s lone athletic tight end.
With the ability to move around from in-line to slot to even the X receiver, McBride has all the tools to be a mismatch around the line of scrimmage. If you dive into the analytics, he ranks top-ten in both yards per route run and overall receiving grade, per PFF. It’s a classic case of a guy who probably should have been playing significantly more than he was and now has the opportunity to prove what we all have known all along. The best tight end of the 2022 rookie class should’ve been out there over Ertz from the get-go.
Assuming Kyler Murray returns soon, the second-year tight end could be in for a massive rest-of-season bump.
