Fantasy football managers who rely on TE streamers are walking a fine line, and with six teams on a bye next week, there will be more competition on the waiver wire than normal. Who are the top names you should be considering?
Top TE Streamers for Week 13
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Cardinals)
We weren’t sure what to expect in the first game post-Matt Canada, but Freiermuth seeing seven of Kenny Pickett’s 18 first-half targets was certainly noteworthy.
The third-year tight end seems to be past the hamstring that cost him five games, and we have proof that he can be a viable option (seven touchdowns as a rookie and at least 60 catches in each of his first two NFL seasons).
This offense is not one that inspires a ton of confidence, but a consistent role with scoring upside is really all it takes to flirt with TE1 status.
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Panthers)
There is no discussion (nor should there be) of Otton being a fantasy league-winner, but with at least 8.5 PPR points in five of his past six, you’re not losing ground in your matchup by playing him.
MORE: Fantasy News Tracker
He rarely comes off the field, and the Bucs are going to have a higher implied total this week than most — plug him in and let the rest of your lineup do the heavy lifting.
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints (vs. Lions)
The Lions defense has shown some serious cracks of late, and with Johnson coming off of seeing a season-high seven targets, he is plenty capable of getting you through this week.
And maybe more?
The schedule is awfully favorable (DET-CAR-NYG-LAR-TB) during the rest of the fantasy football season, and with all of the injuries at pass catcher, his role as a featured route runner is very much here to stay. I worry about the upside of this offense as a whole, and that’ll impact Johnson’s scoring equity, but with consistent volume, he should be just fine.
Week 13 TE Rankings
1. Travis Kelce | KC (at GB)
2. George Kittle | SF (at PHI)
3. Sam LaPorta | DET (at NO)
4. Trey McBride | ARI (at PIT)
5. Dalton Schultz | HOU (vs. DEN)
6. Evan Engram | JAX (vs. CIN)
7. Jake Ferguson | DAL (vs. SEA)
8. Taysom Hill | NO (vs. DET)
9. David Njoku | CLE (at LAR)
10. Pat Freiermuth | PIT (vs. ARI)
11. Logan Thomas | WAS (vs. MIA)
12. Kyle Pitts | ATL (at NYJ)
13. Cade Otton | TB (vs. CAR)
14. Juwan Johnson | NO (vs. DET)
15. Gerald Everett | LAC (at NE)
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!