The tight end position is difficult enough to piece together when every team is in action, so when six teams are on a bye, the fantasy football teams relying on TE streamers are trying to thread a very thin needle. But that’s why I’m here! Here is your early look at the options to consider for Week 7.
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Top TE Streamers for Week 7
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)
Hill offered up the best performance of his career against the Texans on Sunday (seven catches on eight targets for 49 yards), a level of usage for the offensive weapon that makes him of interest as we approach the bulk bye weeks.
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Juwan Johnson being banged up opens up playing time for Hill, and that’s all he needs to be fantasy-viable. For the season, he is averaging four carries per game, giving him something of a floor that many tight ends on your waiver wire simply don’t have.
I’m still not 100 percent sure that Derek Carr is fully healthy, and that means Hill is a threat to see a handful of snaps under center as well. He’s risky, but at the tight end position, you can take on more risk than you can at other positions.
Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders (at Chicago Bears)
The Golden Domer was selected in the second round by the Raiders in April, and they fully unleashed him in the first quarter against the Patriots. In those first 15 minutes, he was targeted on four of 11 throws and turned that usage into 67 yards — 26 more than he had entering the game.
I worry long-term about his ability to carve out a consistent role in an offense with a good running back and two volume magnet receivers. Still, we are in the business of winning Week 7, and a rookie with confidence facing the Bears is a reasonable path to doing just that. You could do much worse than betting on pedigree in a strong matchup.
Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers (at Denver Broncos)
Musgrave benefited from a mini-bye in Week 5 and was able to pass through concussion protocol without having to miss a game. The rookie didn’t make any big plays against the Raiders, but he did catch six of seven targets while the rest of his teammates managed to pull down just 10 of 22.
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He has had his chances to produce this season, but Jordan Love has just missed him on a few big opportunities. He’s not a must-start, but his efficient role in an offense that is going to threaten defenses downfield — thus opening up the middle of the field — is certainly worthy of consideration at a brutal position.
Don’t overlook the fact that the Packers had a week to adjust to the altitude of Denver. This could be a nice get-right spot for a Packers team that has dropped two games in a row, and if that’s the case, Musgrave should be a viable option.
TE Rankings for Week 7
1. Travis Kelce | KC (vs. LAC)
2. Mark Andrews | BAL (vs. DET)
3. Evan Engram | JAX (at NO)
4. T.J. Hockenson | MIN (vs. SF)
5. Sam LaPorta | DET (at BAL)
6. George Kittle | SF (at MIN)
7. Dallas Goedert | PHI (vs. MIA)
8. Darren Waller | NYG (vs. WAS)
9. Luke Musgrave | GB (at DEN)
10. Kyle Pitts | ATL (at TB)
11. Gerald Everett | LAC (at KC)
12. Cole Kmet | CHI (vs. LV)
13. Logan Thomas | WAS (at NYG)
14. Zach Ertz | ARI (at SEA)
15. Taysom Hill | NO (vs. JAX)