Tight end is typically frustrating for fantasy football managers. However, this season, it’s even worse than usual. The position is a dumpster fire this year.
There are just three tight ends averaging double-digit fantasy points per game in half-PPR leagues (George Kittle, Brock Bowers, and Cole Kmet), and there’s a long list of TEs who have disappointed (Sam LaPorta, Mark Andrews, Travis Kelce, Dalton Kincaid, etc.).
Even though there are zero teams on bye in Week 8, there’s a good chance that you don’t feel good about your tight end based on how this season has gone. Let’s examine several streaming options that you should target in Week 8.
All TE streamers are rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues.
Week 8 Fantasy TE Streamers
Before we get into this week’s targets, it’s worth noting that Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson is only rostered in 71% of Yahoo leagues. While that’s too high for him to qualify as a streamer, be sure to check if he’s available in your league. Remember, Hockenson was the TE4 last season and the TE2 in 2022, and he should be back in Week 8 or Week 9. There’s no reason why he should be on your league’s waiver wire.
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. ATL) | 38% Owned
After totaling one reception for five yards in the first two weeks of the season, Cade Otton has been much more involved over the last five weeks. Over that span, he’s averaging 7.4 targets targets and 5.2 receptions per game.
Otton has 41 targets this season, which is fourth among tight ends behind only Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, and George Kittle.
Otton was already included on this list before his eight-catch, 100-yard performance against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football. But not only was that showing impressive, Otton should be very involved in the offense going forward now that Chris Godwin (ankle) is out for the season and Mike Evans (hamstring) is potentially missing time as well.
Otton has scored at least 7.4 fantasy points in his last five games, and he’s reached at least 9.5 points in four of his last five, including Monday’s 18-point performance.
The Buccaneers are currently the fourth-highest-scoring offense in the NFL and they throw the ball quite a bit, so there are plenty of opportunities for Otton to put up points.
6️⃣ 👉 8️⃣8️⃣
📺: #TBvsNO on FOX pic.twitter.com/oUIlIzBQvP
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 13, 2024
The Bucs face the Atlanta Falcons this week, and the last time these two teams faced off in Week 5, they combined for 66 points with Baker Mayfield throwing three touchdown passes. Otton had a relatively quiet game (three catches for 44 yards), but Otton should be much more involved this time around given the Bucs’ injuries.
It’s also worth noting that the Bucs don’t have another reliable tight end behind Otton, so he is playing an average of 93% snaps per game this season.
Another reason Otton is an appealing streamer is that after this week’s matchup against the Falcons, the Bucs face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 9. The Chiefs are allowing the most fantasy points to tight ends of any team in the NFL this season, so you can leave Otton in your starting lineup rather than needing to pivot to another streamer.
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (vs. NYJ) | 31% Owned
This season, Hunter Henry has been targeted 39 times, which is the fifth-most among tight ends.
That’s the kind of usage you want to see from a tight end, and it’s rare to see that kind of involvement from a streamer who is only owned in 31% of leagues.
Henry had a 12-target game earlier in the season, and he’s coming off a nine-target game where he caught eight passes for 92 yards.
Henry has benefitted from Drake Maye replacing Jacoby Brissett as the Patriots’ starting quarterback, as he now has 11 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown across Maye’s two starts. Henry is averaging seven targets per game with Maye under center.
Hunter Henry yesterday had an 83% route participation and 25% target share.
The Drake Maye era has been a friendly one for the tight end.
pic.twitter.com/pubLgqIZsB— Andrew Cooper (@CoopAFiasco) October 21, 2024
In the three games before Maye started, Henry had just six catches for 53 yards and zero touchdowns while averaging 3.3 targets per game.
New England’s wide receivers have left a lot to be desired through the seven weeks of the season, so it’s no surprise that Henry is currently leading the Patriots in targets (39), receptions (27), receiving yards (313), yards per reception (11.6), and touchdowns (one, tied with six others). In fact, given their struggles at wide receiver, Henry has a 40.7% slot rate this season, which bodes well for his fantasy production.
It’s clear that Henry and DeMario Douglas (36 targets) are the top two options in this passing attack, which has gotten a boost since Maye took over. Henry has some tough matchups over the next three weeks (vs. New York Jets, at Tennessee Titans, at Chicago Bears), but his involvement in the offense makes up for that.
Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders (vs. CHI) | 30% Owned
Through seven weeks, Zach Ertz has been targeted 34 times, which is ninth-most among tight ends this season. In Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers, Ertz finally scored his first touchdown of the season as well.
Ertz has now cleared fantasy expectations in five of six games this season, and the veteran tight end saw at least five targets in consecutive games for the first time this season.
The Commanders don’t have a reliable WR2, so Ertz has emerged as the second option in this passing attack. This season, he has the second-most targets on the team behind only Terry McLaurin (49). Considering Washington is leading the NFL in points per game (31.1), that role has value.
Do not adjust your screen. It is 2024 and Marcus Mariota just threw a TD to Zach Ertz. pic.twitter.com/MfvVypWX5U
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 20, 2024
Ertz will be a more attractive streamer if Jayden Daniels plays in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears, as the two have developed a solid connection. Ertz has emerged as the rookie QB’s security blanket, and Daniels gives him a higher ceiling than Marcus Mariota.
However, it’s worth noting that Ertz’s first touchdown of the season came from Mariota in Week 7, and the 33-year-old still had a solid game with Daniels sidelined due to his rib injury, as he finished with four receptions on five targets for 40 yards and a score. While Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said he’s hopeful that Daniels will play against in Week 8, it’s good to know that Ertz’s value won’t completely plummet if Mariota is under center.
It has to be mentioned that the Bears are the most difficult team to complete red-zone passes against (30%), which limits Ertz’s appeal a bit. However, the receptions and yards should still be there, and it’s always possible he’ll still be able to sneak into the end zone.