Tight end is typically frustrating for fantasy football managers. However, this season, the position has been a dumpster fire.
There are just three tight ends averaging double-digit fantasy points per game in half-PPR leagues (George Kittle, Brock Bowers, and Trey McBride), and there’s a long list of TEs who have disappointed. Many teams are looking for a reliable tight end. And the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers are on bye this week, so Kittle and Pat Freiermuth managers will need to pivot as well.
Hopefully, you were able to add Cade Otton based on last week’s recommendation since he finished as the TE1 last week and will now face the Kansas City Chiefs, who are allowing the most fantasy points per game to tight ends (9.7) this season. If you couldn’t add Otton, let’s examine several streaming options that you should target in Week 9.
All TE streamers are rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues.
Week 9 Fantasy Tight End Streamers
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (at TEN) | 39% Rostered
We included Hunter Henry as a TE streamer last week, and we’re going to do it again since he is still rostered in under 50% of Yahoo leagues.
Among all tight ends this season, Henry has the fifth-most yards (358), and he’s tied for the sixth-most targets (45). He’s consistently targeted, and it’s rare to see that kind of involvement from a streamer who is only rostered in 39% of leagues.
Henry is the TE14 on the season, and the only reason he isn’t ranked higher is because he has just one touchdown this year. However, with how much he’s been targeted since Drake Maye took over as the Patriots’ starting quarterback, he should start scoring more.
In three games with Maye, Henry has produced 29.9% over fantasy expectations while averaging 2.1 yards per route run, a drastic improvement from his marks under Brissett (18.2% below expectation and 1.5 yards per route).
And if we isolate the two games that Maye has started and finished (since he suffered a concussion and exited Week 8), Hunter was the TE6 (12.4 FPPG). Henry totaled 11 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown across those games, averaging seven targets per contest.
The Drake Maye to Hunter Henry connection is a very real thing. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/P1ShOKCIiE
— Pats Buzz (@PatsBuzz) October 27, 2024
You’ll need to monitor the Patriots’ practice reports and Friday injury report to make sure Maye is good to go in Week 9 when New England faces the Tennessee Titans. If Maye is out, Hunter is significantly less appealing as a streaming option.
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 receiving yards (358), targets (45), receptions (32), and touchdowns (1, tied with seven others). Given their struggles at wide receiver, Henry is being used in the slot 36.7% of the time, which bodes well for his fantasy production.
While the Titans have been a tough matchup for tight ends this season, allowing the third-fewest yards to the position, it’s worth noting that they are allowing the 12th-most touchdowns to TEs and the fifth-highest short-touchdown pass rate, so perhaps Henry could score his second TD of the season in Week 9. And since Henry is the No. 1 option in this passing attack and gets so many targets, it makes up for the difficult matchup.
Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders (at NYG) | 29% Rostered
Zach Ertz is in a similar situation to Henry. He’s an older tight end who is being written off, and he has been targeted 45 times this season, which is tied for sixth-most among all tight ends (with Henry).
This season, Ertz has 345 receiving yards (sixth-most among tight ends), and he’s currently the TE13. He would be ranked higher, but — you guessed it — he has only scored one touchdown thus far.
Also, since the Commanders don’t have a reliable WR2, he is the No. 2 option in the Washington Commanders’ passing attack. Terry McLaurin is clearly the alpha, but Ertz has the second-most receiving yards (345), targets (45), receptions (32), and receiving touchdowns (one, tied with five others) of any receiver on the Commanders.
Jayden Daniels' first throw of the game is a completion to Zach Ertz.
Looks okay throwing – no obvious discomfort. #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/UG2FXVwcbf
— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) October 27, 2024
Ertz has now cleared fantasy expectations in seven of eight games this season, and the veteran tight end has earned at least five targets in four straight contests. In Week 8, Ertz was targeted a season-high 11 times, catching seven passes for 77 yards.
Ertz is getting better as the season goes on. He has now reached double-digit PPR points in three straight weeks, and his on-field target share over the past four weeks is 24.4% (well ahead of his 13.7% rate through the first four weeks).
Jayden Daniels looks fantastic and is the Offensive Rookie of the Year front-runner, so it’s not a bad idea to pick up his No. 2 option who’s consistently getting targets.
The New York Giants are a tough matchup for tight ends, but as is the case with Henry, Ertz’s target share makes him safer than most streamers who could post a dud.
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints (at CAR) | 30% Rostered
If you are worried about Henry and Ertz’s matchups and want to go with a tight end who’s facing a weak opponent, Taysom Hill is your man.
The main argument for starting Hill this week is that he could get a number of carries against the worst rushing defense in the NFL. The Carolina Panthers are allowing 154.6 rushing yards per game (most in the NFL), 1.8 rushing touchdowns per game (most in the NFL), and 4.4 red-zone trips per game (most in the NFL), so Hill is more attractive as a streaming option than most weeks.
It sounds like Derek Carr will be back in the Saints’ lineup, which would be great for Hill because the offense should look better with the veteran QB under center, meaning there could be more red-zone opportunities and goal-line attempts.
Last week, Hill had nine opportunities (four targets, four carries, and one pass), and it’s possible he’ll see even more in Week 9 since that was his first game back after missing nearly a month due to a rib injury. Last time Hill and Carr were both healthy, Hill had his best game of the season, scoring two rushing touchdowns against the Atlanta Falcons.
Taysom runs for his 2nd TD of the DAY! #Saints | 📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/MIktjW06al
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 29, 2024
Also, the Saints are missing receiving options, as Rashid Shaheed (knee) is out for the year, and Cedrick Wilson Jr. (hip) was sidelined in Week 8. Tight end Juwan Johnson has also been banged up with a shoulder injury, although he was able to play last week.
There’s not only an opportunity for Hill on the ground, but it’s possible we could see him get several receptions, too (and maybe even take a few snaps under center since this will be Carr’s first game back from his oblique injury).
Hill is always a frustrating streamer because it can be difficult to predict his boom weeks, but given the Panthers’ awful run defense and the state of the Saints’ receiving weapons, it feels like this could be a perfect week for Hill to shine.
Honorable Mention: Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins (at BUF) | 6% Rostered
For deeper leagues, Jonnu Smith is worth consideration.
Smith has 16 receptions and 21 targets over his last three games, meaning he’s averaging 5.3 catches and seven targets as of late.
Over that span, he is the TE10, averaging 13.2 fantasy points per game. With Tua Tagovailoa back, every Dolphins pass catcher gets a boost, and Smith is no different.
