The two biggest tight end days from last week came from tight ends that are just outside this article’s eligibility requirements, but they are worth being celebrated anyway. Taysom Hill (38.5 fantasy points, 54% rostered) filled the box score with rushing yards, passing yards, receiving yards, three touchdowns, and even 42 return yards as he had one of the best tight end days we have ever seen in fantasy football.
Jonnu Smith (28.1 fantasy points, also 54% rostered) destroyed the Las Vegas Raiders with six catches, 101 yards, and two touchdowns for Miami. Both players are now top ten at the position in fantasy points per game this year, which tells you how volatile tight ends have been in 2024. Who will have unexpected big games in Week 12? There are plenty of low-rostered options.
This weekly column helps identify tight ends that are strong streaming options for the week ahead. Whether it’s due to bye weeks, injuries or overall lack of production, these tight ends are often widely available on the waiver wire (all are fewer than 50% rostered in Yahoo! leagues) and have matchups worth exploiting for fantasy football.
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Fantasy Football Tight End Streamers & Waiver Wire Pickups
Will Dissly (TE – LAC) vs. Baltimore Ravens | 24% Rostered
Before Week 11, Will Dissly‘s roster percentage jumped from 1% to 24% rostered ahead of a great matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Now that he had a game with four catches, 80 yards, and a touchdown, I expect that number to jump well over 50% before the Chargers take on Baltimore next week. The Ravens allow the eighth-most fantasy points to the tight end position this season and have generally been horrific against opposing passing attacks this year.
Will Dissly‘s previous career highs as a receiver prior to this season:
Targets – 38
Receptions – 34
Yards – 349
His current 17 game pace with the Chargers:
Targets – 81
Receptions – 63
Yards – 598
One of the league’s best blocking tight end’s has suddenly turned into a very real… pic.twitter.com/voDYWXXmrF– Steven Haglund (@StevenIHaglund) November 18, 2024
Dissly’s snap rate crept up to over 57% in Week 11, and he was third on the team in targets (six) behind only Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey. Quietly, Dissly has had at least five receptions or 80 yards in four of his last five games and his touchdown luck finally regressed as he got his first score of the year on Sunday night. One of the great things about the Chargers is that their usage tree has significantly narrowed in recent weeks. The ball is going to Johnston, McConkey, Dissly, or running back J.K. Dobbins. That kind of expected usage is exactly what fantasy managers need if they are trying to cover for a George Kittle injury or a bye week for Kyle Pitts or Taysom Hill in Week 12.
Noah Gray (TE – KC) @ Carolina Panthers | 1% Rostered
One of Week 12’s most lopsided games (at least by the point spread) will be the Kansas City Chiefs (-11) visiting the Carolina Panthers. However, while the outcome of the game might be in question, there are two very interesting tight end options in this one that are widely available in most fantasy football leagues. Noah Gray, off of a game where he just caught two touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills, could be heavily involved again, especially if the Chiefs start building a big lead.
As the Kansas City Chiefs look ahead to the #1 seed in the AFC and home field advantage in the playoffs, they will surely be looking to give Travis Kelce rest along the way. This is a perfect game to do that after he played 80% of his team’s snaps in Week 11. Gray also played 76% in that game, so he is certainly a part of the offensive plan, but he could subsume Kelce’s targets as well if this becomes a de facto rest game and Kelce plays fewer snaps than normal. Kelce has played at least 79% in four straight games, so giving him a lighter load in Week 12 makes sense. Noah Gray would be the big beneficiary.
Ja’Tavion Sanders (TE – CAR) vs. Kansas City Chiefs | 2% Rostered
On the other side of the Kansas City-Carolina game will be up-and-coming tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders. The Panthers did not play in Week 11, but in the two games before their bye week, when Bryce Young was reinstalled as the quarterback, Sanders saw a massive jump in his opportunities and playing time. In Week 8, with Andy Dalton, Sanders played on 36% of Carolina’s snaps. In Weeks 9 and 10, he was over 85% in both games. In those two games, Sanders combined for six catches 93 yards and a touchdown.
Ja’Tavion Sanders is going to be something special. Here’s a breakdown of his route running and % of catches based on the route.
Out Breaking Routes remain the most effective with 15 targets, 13 receptions, and 115 yards, maintaining a high catch rate of 86.7%.
Vertical Routes… pic.twitter.com/oKpj2YDtiZ
– Two Growls One Roar (@2growls1roar) November 16, 2024
The Kansas City Chiefs have been allowing big games to tight ends all season. Currently, they allow the second-most fantasy points to the position, including a league-leading 743 receiving yards. For the opposite reason of Noah Gray, Sanders could be heavily involved here. The Panthers figure to be down big in this game, which will mean plenty of pass attempts and garbage time to pile up stats. The Panthers are supposed to get reinforcements this week with Jonathan Brooks and Adam Thielen playing, but they will likely be eased in and Sanders and Bryce Young have developed something special over the last two weeks.
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