The tight-end position matters greatly in fantasy football. They are not as flashy as their blazing-fast, route-running counterparts at wide receiver. They also do not 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 on a weekly basis can be incredibly challenging, especially for those who did not invest in one of the top TE options during their drafts.
How might one find success at the position? Well, one way can be 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 (under 75%) TEs in the best situations for that particular week.
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Tight End Waiver Wire Options for Week 3
Rostered Percentages based on Yahoo! Leagues as of Sept. 19
Dalton Schultz (HOU) at Jacksonville Jaguars: 51% Rostered
Dalton Schultz barely blipped on the radar in a Week 1 loss at Baltimore, catching just two passes on four targets for a total of four yards. However, the veteran rebounded in Week 2, as rookie QB C.J. Stroud looked his way seven times. Schultz secured four of those targets for 34 yards and should continue to be a safety blanket for Stroud moving forward. Their Week 3 opponent, the Jaguars, have allowed 12 receptions for 123 yards and a score to opposing tight ends through two weeks.
Jake Ferguson (DAL) at Arizona Cardinals: 38% Rostered
Jake Ferguson found the end zone in Week 2, and he is a TD-dependent fantasy option. Still, that touchdown potential is quite high, as no other tight end in the league has seen anywhere near Ferguson’s eight red-zone targets through two games. Overall, he has caught only five of 11 targets for a measly 22 yards on the campaign, but the Cardinals have allowed 11 receptions for 136 yards to the position so far.
Jake Ferguson TD!
The @DallasCowboys‘ hot start to the season continues.
?: #NYJvsDAL on CBS⁰?: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/FhXtx7w3wW pic.twitter.com/IjGYRudORV
— NFL (@NFL) September 17, 2023
Zach Ertz (ARI) vs. Dallas Cowboys: 11% Rostered
Even in his 11th season and coming off an injury, Zach Ertz is showing his prowess as a route-runner and pass-catcher remains intact. The three-time Pro Bowler has caught six passes in each of the Cardinals’ first two games and currently leads all tight ends with 18 targets. Now, he’s only gained 77 yards on his 12 receptions, but 56 came this past Sunday against the Giants. The Cowboys’ defense is monstrous, but Jets TE Tyler Conklin came up with five catches for 50 yards against them in Week 2.
Cade Otton (TB) vs. Philadelphia Eagles: 2% Rostered
Rather shockingly, the Eagles’ talented defense has allowed the most receptions (17), the most TDs (three) and the second-most yards (171) to opposing tight ends through the first two weeks of the NFL season. Cade Otton was hardly involved in the Bucaneers’ Week 1 win in Minnesota, but he showed up in the home-opening victory over the Bears this past Sunday, grabbing all six of his targets for 41 yards.
Otton flashed potential at times during his rookie campaign, eclipsing 60 yards on two occasions and coming up with four-plus receptions in five different games. The second-year TE is a true sleeper at the moment.
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Nate Miller is a featured writer at FantasyPros and a nine-year veteran of the fantasy sports industry. For more from Nate, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @Miller_RotoDad.
