For a player to be listed, he must be owned in 50 percent (or less) of Yahoo! leagues. The goal is to provide recommendations of players that have a greater chance of being available on your league's waiver wire. Of course, your league's size and settings could significantly impact whether these players (or better options) are available in your particular league(s).
With that said, here are some tight end waiver-wire options that I like heading into Week 5 (Yahoo! ownership in parenthesis):
[Note: Players listed below are sorted by my preference to add.]
1. Vance McDonald, Pittsburgh Steelers (44 percent)
With exactly five targets in each of his three games played this season, McDonald had five catches for 62 yards on Sunday after finishing with 4/112/1 in Week 3. Despite missing a game, McDonald has scored the 12th-most fantasy points among tight ends. There could be plenty of fantasy production to go around in Sunday's game against the Falcons as the game currently has the highest over-under (57.5) of the week.
2. Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons (38 percent)
Through four games, Hooper has less than 25 yards in three games. On a positive note, the Falcons offense brings a three-game 30-point scoring streak into their Week 5 matchup against the Steelers, who have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. The Bucs, who have allowed the most, face Hooper and the Falcons in Week 6. In other words, there is plenty of TD upside for the TD-dependent tight end over the next couple of weeks.
3. Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (24 percent)
Scoring a touchdown in back-to-back games heading into the bye, Brate will look to build upon his recent success with the return of Jameis Winston under center. In addition, he won't have to compete with O.J. Howard for targets for a few weeks as the second-year tight end recovers from an MCL sprain. Brate will be a top-15 option in Week 6.
4. Antonio Gates, Los Angeles Chargers (5 percent)
With five targets in back-to-back games, Gates had just two catches for 27 yards last week, but he scored his first touchdown of the season in Week 4. With a couple of favorable matchups against the Raiders and Browns in Weeks 5 and 6, respectively, Gates could perform as a high-end TE2.
5. Geoff Swaim, Dallas Cowboys (0 percent)
The Dallas passing offense leaves a lot to be desired, but somebody has to catch some passes. With five-plus targets and 39-plus yards in back-to-back games, Swaim now has at least three receptions in three of the team's four games. At this point, however, Swaim remains little more than a deep-league streamer.
- More Fantasy Football Waiver-Wire Advice Heading Into Week 5
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