This season hasn’t been a great one for the tight end position with some usual stalwarts struggling and inconsistent production from fringe players. While it looks like many of the big names are past their recent injuries, you still may be looking for late-week waiver wire help at the position or looking to go cheap in this spot for your DFS lineup. If you’re in the market for a fantasy football sleeper tight end, these are my five deep sleepers who are very affordable in DFS contests and also available on many leagues’ waiver wires.
These players all rank outside my top-10 plays at the position, but they still bring upside and can be low-cost options with upside if you need to call an audible for your squad this week.
Here are my top-five sleeper tight ends for Week 6:
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Otton is the lowest risk of the fantasy football sleepers on this list since he is so regularly involved in the Bucs’ passing game. He’s a great value at only $3,500 in DFS contests like the NFL $3M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st]. He’s only rostered in about one-third of season-long leagues, but if he’s too chalky or already owned in your league, don’t worry, deeper picks are coming up later in this post.
Otton posted a goose egg back in Week 2 in the Bucs’ big win over the Lions. He failed to catch either of his targets and lost four yards on a rushing attempt. Since then, though, he has been a consistent contributor. He had a season-high seven catches the following week against the Broncos and then posted his best yardage total of the season the next week against the Eagles. He has totaled 16 catches for 143 yards in his three games since the dud against the Lions, so he seems to have put that letdown squarely behind him.
The Bucs take on the Saints this week in another NFC South matchup after coming up short last week against the Falcons. With Rachaad White (foot) doubtful, the offense may need to rely more on short passes, which could lead to more work for Otton. The Saints gave up over 100 yards to the Chiefs’ tight ends last week and 170 yards to Dallas Goedert back in Week 3. They haven’t been the best matchup, but they have shown that they can be beaten for big games. Otton should be very involved this week and could find the end zone for the first time this year after getting a red-zone target in each of the last four weeks.
Theo Johnson, New York Giants
The Giants will be without Malik Nabers (concussion) for a second straight week, so targets will be available for Johnson, who is a decent flier in season-long leagues if you’re desperate for a fill-in.
I listed him as a speculative add last week in my fantasy football sleepers without Nabers, and the rookie came through with a career-high five catches for 48 yards and 9.8 fantasy points. Johnson had not had multiple catches in any game this year before last week, but the extra work paid off for him last week.
While he isn’t on the main slate, he is a good value option to consider in the Sunday Night DFS Showdown, including the NFL Showdown $1.2M Sunday Night Showdown [$300K to 1st] (CIN @ NYG). He’s only $2,800 in a flex spot and leaves lots of salary cap flexibility.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers
Another rookie worth a look as his role expands is Panthers’ fourth-round pick Ja’Tavion Sanders. Sanders could get squeezed by the possible return of Ian Thomas ($2,500; calf, questionable) from IR, but with Tommy Tremble (concussion) already ruled out, there should still be enough work to go around against the Falcons.
Sanders tied Jonathan Mingo ($3,700) for the second-most targets on the Panthers during Sunday’s loss to the Bears. He finished with a career-high three catches but only totaled 13 yards and 4.3 fantasy points.
The Falcons have given up multiple catches to tight ends in each of their five games this year, allowing an average of 4.2 catches for 39.6 yards to the position. If Thomas doesn’t play, Sanders should get all the work he can handle, and he’ll be a decent flier play even if Thomas is back, since he could be limited.
Hayden Hurst, Los Angeles Chargers
Hurst is only $2,600, barely more than the minimum salary on the main slate. If you need to go ultra-cheap at a flex spot to make the rest of your roster work, Hurst is a decent flier play.
The veteran has worked ahead of Will Dissly ($2,700) and played 60% of snaps in all but one of the Chargers’ games before the bye week. With Justin Herbert ($5,500) healthier after the bye, the Chargers may be more aggressive through the air, and Hurst has already been getting more targets than his final lines indicate.
He has multiple targets in each of his four games and has totaled six catches on 10 targets for 59 yards. He also has two red-zone targets this season, so he has a little touchdown potential as well.
Josh Whyle, Tennessee Titans
Before the Titans’ bye week, Whyle played a season-high 54% of the teams’ snaps in their win over the Dolphins. He played one more snap than Chig Okonkwo ($3,300) and seems to be at least in an even timeshare at the position coming into Week 6.
Even though he was on the field more, the Titans went run-heavy and he only snagged one catch for five yards. In Week 3, though, he caught 4-of-5 targets for 43 yards and 8.3 fantasy points.
Whyle is still available at the minimum salary at $2,500, but he has upside in a very favorable matchup against the Colts. Indy’s defense has allowed a tight end touchdown in each of the last three weeks while giving up 24 catches for 228 yards to the position. Whyle is a sneaky deep grab if you think the Titans’ offense will look better coming out of their bye week with Will Levis ($4,800) back in there after suffering a shoulder injury before the bye.
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is z.thompson) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
