The waiver wire in fantasy football can make or break your season, especially when key injuries create unexpected opportunities. Week 5 presents some intriguing tight end options that could provide immediate value for managers considering upgrading their roster.
Several rookies and veterans are emerging as viable streaming candidates or potential long-term assets due to increased target shares and favorable matchups. Competent fantasy football managers should monitor these developments closely, as the tight end position often offers the best waiver wire gems throughout the season.
Mason Taylor, New York Jets
Mason Taylor was getting plenty of buzz ahead of the season, with many expecting the rookie tight end to establish himself as a key target for Justin Fields quickly. An ankle injury prevented Taylor from hitting the ground running for the New York Jets, but the rookie has taken a step forward in two straight weeks.
Having been targeted six times against the Buccaneers in Week 3, Taylor added production to his volume in the team’s Week 4 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Taylor caught five of his seven targets for 65 yards and was the TE11 overall on the week.
Thirteen targets in two games is very encouraging, and the rookie looks set to make good on his preseason promise. The Jets face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5; the Cowboys have allowed over 30 points in three straight games, including 40 to the Green Bay Packers in their last outing.
Tommy Tremble, Carolina Panthers
The 2025 season has been relatively disappointing for the Carolina Panthers so far, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t value to be found in the team’s floundering offense. Panthers quarterback Bryce Young continues to pepper the tight end position with targets, even with first choice Ja’Tavion Sanders sidelined.
Before being injured in Week 3, Sanders was targeted nine times in Week 2, catching seven for 54 yards and ranking sixth among all tight ends in fantasy that week. In Week 4, Tommy Tremble inherited Sanders’s workload, catching five of eight targets for 42 yards and a touchdown, and was also the TE6 on the week.
Young should continue to target his tight end against Miami in Week 5, and with Sanders expected to miss more time, Tremble should be busy again.
Theo Johnson, New York Giants
Theo Johnson caught his first touchdown of the season in the Giants’ surprise win over the Chargers, and could be in for significantly more work moving forward. The Giants will be without star receiver Malik Nabers for the rest of the season, after the electric playmaker tore his ACL in the win.
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Darius Slayton will be the priority waiver add in the aftermath of Nabers’s injury, but Johnson had already established his relevance in the Giants’ offense. The second-year tight end was targeted five times against Los Angeles, and that number could quickly rise to six or seven targets a week with Nabers sidelined.
While there may still be more intriguing long-term targets at tight end, Johnson faces the Saints in Week 5, a massive opportunity for huge fantasy production.
Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins
Fantasy managers can be forgiven for not rushing to the waiver wire to add Darren Waller ahead of his two-touchdown game against the Jets on Monday night. However, given his remarkable impact and the devastating knee injury suffered by star receiver Tyreek Hill, there is significant reason to take notice of him now.
Jaylen Waddle and Malik Washington will be the favorites to step up in Hill’s absence. However, we are less than a year removed from watching Jonnu Smith take off in this offense at the expense of the team’s speedier playmakers.
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Waller won’t score two touchdowns every week, but he offers the team something different in the red zone and could realistically have an important role moving forward. Those who are covered at tight end should still consider stashing Waller for a rainy day, or for future trade capital, but those in need can take a shot on him this weekend.
