Top 4 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Tight Ends (Week 13)

We will have you covered throughout the 2023 fantasy football season with our bevy of tools, including our Waiver Wire Assistant. Find the top available players and get detailed analysis on how potential waiver wire adds will impact your team. Of course, our team of analysts will also have written advice each week. Check out some of our top waiver wire targets for the week below. And check out all of our Week 13 fantasy football waiver wire advice.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets

TIGHT ENDS

Written by Derek Brown

Pat Freiermuth (PIT): 48% rostered

• Next Opponents: ARI, NE, @IND
• True value: $6
• Desperate need: $9
• Budget-minded: $4

Analysis: OH MY LORD! Well, that didn’t take long, did it? Freed from the shackles of Matt Canada, the Steelers’ offense looked reborn, with 421 total yards and 6.2 yards per play against the Bengals on Sunday. To add some context to the yards-per-play mark from a season-long perspective, that would be the third-highest mark in the league behind only the Dolphins and 49ers. Freiermuth finished Week 12 with a 33.3% target share, nine receptions and 120 receiving yards. Even if we cut those numbers in half, that’s TE1-worthy usage every week. If Freiermuth is available, grab him now. A new day has dawned in Pittsburgh.

Juwan Johnson (NO): 9% rostered

• Next Opponents: DET, CAR, NYG
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $6
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: The New Orleans WR depth chart was decimated in Week 12. Chris Olave left the game with a concussion, while Rashid Shaheed sustained a quad injury. Johnson was a beneficiary, soaking up an 18.4% target share and producing 45 receiving yards. Johnson is a plug-and-play option at tight end this week. He could be the second option in the target pecking order behind Alvin Kamara against a Detroit Lions defense that has allowed the fifth-most receiving touchdowns per game to tight ends.

Tucker Kraft (GB): 1% rostered

• Next Opponents: KC, @NYG, TB
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Kraft assumed the starting role last week with Luke Musgrave out with a lacerated kidney and had an 82% route run rate and a 6.3% target share (per Fantasy Points Data). Those numbers aren’t amazing, but Kraft did spike a touchdown to save his day. Kraft is an uber-talented and athletic tight end in the mold of Musgrave, whose primary role in the offense is as a receiver. Kraft is worth stashing even if you are set at tight end. We could easily see his role grow weekly as long as Musgrave is sidelined.

Tyler Conklin (NYJ): 16% rostered

• Next Opponents: ATL, HOU, @MIA
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Conklin makes this list as a matchup-based streaming option only. Conklin has at least four grabs and 33 receiving yards in three of his last four games. Add a touchdown to any of those stat lines, and we’re talking about a TE1 for the week. I have zero faith in the Jets’ offense or the arm of Tim Boyle, but the matchup is right for Conklin in Week 13. Atlanta has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.