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.

• Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
• Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
• Fantasy Football Trade Tools

Want to read about only your players? Sync your team (free) to get My Primer

Tight End Waiver Wire Options for Week 12

Rostered Percentages based on Yahoo! Leagues as of Nov. 21

Logan Thomas (WAS) at Dallas Cowboys: 65% Rostered

Logan Thomas made it five straight games with at least four receptions this past Sunday. He also reached 40-plus yards for the seventh time in nine games this season, gaining 58 yards while coming up with five of eight targets against the Giants. The Cowboys feature the league’s second-best pass defense, allowing just 157.1 passing yards per game. However, the Dallas secondary is tied for the most touchdowns allowed to opposing tight ends with six.

Cade Otton (TB) at Indianapolis Colts: 20% Rostered

After a poor showing against the Titans in Week 10, Cade Otton rebounded a bit in a matchup with the rugged 49ers’ defense Sunday afternoon. The second-year pro secured four of five targets for 49 yards, giving him a minimum of four receptions in four of the last five weeks. Additionally, Otton has gained more than 40 yards three times in that span. The Colts have managed to hold opposing TEs to just one touchdown through 10 games, but they are in the bottom fourth of the league in receptions (58) and receiving yards (573) allowed to the position.

Michael Mayer (LV) vs. Kansas City Chiefs 11% Rostered

The matchup here for Michael Mayer is not ideal. The Chiefs’ fourth-ranked pass defense (170.8 yards per game) has been excellent against tight ends, surrendering the third-fewest total yards to the position so far this season. Still, the rookie TE displayed his play-making ability with his first NFL touchdown grab opposite a different top-five secondary back in Week 10.

Mossed him ‼️

?: #NYJvsLV on NBC
?: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/lfCP1NFAnO pic.twitter.com/q31apA1XZR

— NFL (@NFL) November 13, 2023

In Week 11, Mayer followed up with four receptions for 46 yards. Both of those marks are his second-highest total in each category for the campaign. Mayer has gotten five looks in each of the last two games from fellow rookie Aidan O’Connell, as the duo continues to build a nice rapport.

Isaiah Likely (BAL) at Los Angeles Chargers: 4% Rostered

Unlike Mayer, Isaiah Likely has an excellent matchup on tap as he steps into the large shoes of Mark Andrews (ankle) at tight end for the Ravens. The Chargers have allowed the second-most yards and third-most receptions to the position this season. Likely failed to come up with either of his targets this past Thursday. In fact, he has just nine grabs for 89 yards on the season.

Still, the 2022 fourth-round selection showed promise in his rookie campaign and was an absolute star on the college gridiron at Coastal Carolina. Likely is in a great spot to show what he can do in Week 12.

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.