Tight end is always a dicey proposition for fantasy football managers, and 2024 is no exception. Week 10 could be an especially treacherous week with Brock Bowers, Tucker Kraft, and David Njoku all on bye.
With that in mind, we take a look at some potential tight end streamers for needy fantasy managers this week.
Jonnu Smith
Miami Dolphins (at LAR)
Jonnu Smith’s 2024 stat line doesn’t look like much. The eight-year TE has put up 30 catches for 302 yards and one receiving touchdown while playing in a Miami Dolphins offense that has been non-functional for much of the season.
However, the underlying numbers are a little more promising. Smith has a 23% target rate for the season, the eighth-highest of any tight end this year.
Since being shut out in Week 4 vs. the Tennessee Titans, Smith actually leads the Dolphins in both receptions (21) and is second in receiving yards (224). Now he gets a favorable matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, who have allowed the third-most PPR points per game to tight ends this season.
Smith is still available in over 80% of ESPN leagues and 90% on Yahoo, making him one of the best widely available tight ends for Week 10.
Zach Ertz
Washington Commanders (vs. PIT)
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a neutral matchup for tight ends, ranking 16th in PPR points per game allowed. However, the real discussion here is whether Zach Ertz is becoming a must-start at a razor-thin position.
The 12th-year veteran did not seem like a particularly inspiring add this offseason. And to be fair, Ertz has only one touchdown on the season. However, the Washington Commanders TE has seen at least five targets in four of his past five games prior to a quiet game Sunday vs. the New York Giants.
Jayden Daniels dropping over the LBs to Ertz pic.twitter.com/vxIoeqRgF9
— JetPack Galileo (@JetPackGalileo) November 1, 2024
Virtually any tight end seeing five or more targets every week is a must-start, and Ertz has regularly cleared that mark. In a game that might require Jayden Daniels to drop back more than 25 times, Ertz will have a better opportunity for meaningful volume.
Isaiah Likely
Baltimore Ravens (vs. CIN)
Isaiah Likely was one of the most popular waiver wire pickups after his monstrous nine-catch, 111-yard game in Week 1 vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. Since then, Likely has only 15 catches for 160 yards, with a two-touchdown game in Week 5 vs. the Cincinnati Bengals being the only time he’s cracked double-digit fantasy points.
Isaiah Likely snags the TD! @Ravens back within 3.
📺: #BALvsCIN on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/fu1SnViyyX— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024
Fortunately for Likely, he gets Cincinnati again this week on Thursday night. The Bengals have been atrocious against tight ends, ranking 27th in PPR points per game allowed to the position.
In that first matchup, the Baltimore Ravens used multiple tight ends on 55.8% of their plays, their third-highest in a game this season. That should give Likely a stable floor of playing time with a similar game plan. Coupled with the favorable matchup, Likely is a decent boom-or-bust streaming option if you’re desperate in deeper formats.