Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Tight Ends (Week 1)

Amazing how quickly fantasy football draft season comes and goes, isn’t it? Some of you still have last-drafts coming up in the final days before the NFL’s Thursday-night opener, but most of us have shifted from draft mode to in-season mode. Most leagues have a waiver wire run just before Week 1, so it’s time to roll up your sleeves and start managing.

Not that you’re obligated to do any waiver wire shopping this week. Maybe you’re perfectly content with the hand you’re holding. No problemo.

Some fantasy football managers confuse activity with productivity, doing more harm than good with restless overmanagement. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your fantasy football team is nothing. There is a concept of Taoism called wu wei, which essentially means “do without doing.” In other words, inactivity is sometimes the most prudent choice.

On the other hand …

Early waiver wire shopping has its benefits. A year ago, this Week 1 waiver wire article included Puka Nacua, De’Von Achane, Jake Ferguson, Jayden Reed and Jordan Love. All were rostered in under 50% of Yahoo leagues heading into Week 1, and all became impactful fantasy assets.

Who among this summer’s widely undrafted players might be able to help your fantasy football team? Let’s have a look at our top fantasy football waiver wire pickups ahead of Week 1. Below we dive into our top fantasy football Week 1 waiver wire pickups at Tight Ends.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Tight Ends

Tight Ends

Taysom Hill (TE – NO): 49% rostered

Obviously, Hill’s fantasy value hinges on his TE eligibility. If he’s only eligible at QB, he’s unrosterable. Hill’s week-to-week production can be volatile. He had four games last season in which he scored more than 14 fantasy points (0.5 PPR) and six games in which he scored fewer than three fantasy points. But Hill finished TE10 in fantasy scoring, and the Saints say he’ll continue to be prominently involved in their offense. I, for one, believe them.

Hunter Henry (TE – NE): 27% rostered

Despite the Patriots’ 2023 quarterback woes, Henry had 42 receptions in 14 games and has six of New England’s 16 TD catches. The Patriots’ WR corps is one of the least accomplished in the league, so Henry could play a major role in 2024. Two of Henry’s first three games are against the Bengals and Jets, who both allowed double-digit fantasy points per game to tight ends last year.

Cade Otton (TE – TB): 21% rostered

Otton ran more pass routes than all but one other tight end last season. He didn’t have much to show for it, finishing with TE27 in fantasy scoring with 47-455-4, but the level of involvement was nevertheless encouraging. After a Week 1 game against the Commanders, Otton faces the Lions, who gave up the eighth-most fantasy points to TEs last season, and the Broncos, who gave up the most points to TEs.