Tight End Streaming: Week 8 Edition

Change is upon us, my friends. Gronk is back. Jimmy Graham is banged up. Jordan Reed looks "jordanesque." Brandon Myers, Kyle Rudolph, and Jared Cook? Well, they've just been plain unownable.

But the more things change, the more they stay the same. Half of the top-12 tight ends in Week 7 were streamers, and Reed flat out dominated on Sunday, finishing with the best stat line at the position. With six teams off this week and several tight ends out or nicked up, it's time for you stop complaining and start streaming.

Week Eight Streamers

Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Primanti Brothers (owned in 21.7% of ESPN Leagues)

Health is getting heathy. In other words, Heath is getting healthy. In four games after returning from his torn ACL suffered in 2012, Miller has averaged over 50 yards a contest, and he hauled in his first touchdown grab of the season on Sunday. Miller's .46 receiving net expected points per target, which measures his contribution to Pittsburgh's offense in real points on a per target basis, is solid but not spectacular, which makes sense for a player coming back from a major injury. Miller's receiving NEP per target was a terrific .81 last season, better than that of Jimmy Graham, and I look for this metric to start trending upward in Oakland this Sunday. Don't expect Miller Lite; this guy's bringing the High Life.

Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati WKRPs (owned in 7.6% of ESPN Leagues)

The iFert 5S scored Cinci's first touchdown by a tight end this season on Sunday and went for 45 yards on 3 receptions. Eifert has a solid receiving NEP per target of .51 over the first seven games of his career, and he's been far more efficient than his tight end tandem partner Jermaine Gresham, whose receiving NEP per target stands at .39. Eifert also averages 2.5 more yards per reception than Gresham this year. Currently, Gresham has five more receptions than Eifert on the season, but this should change if their respective efficiencies continue to trend in the same manner. The Jets have been abused by tight ends since Week 3, so expect the Eifert Tower to stand tall on Sunday.

Zach Miller, Seattle Beast Modes (owned in 8.1% of ESPN Leagues)

The Zach Attack quietly has three touchdown grabs in his last three games. Back from missing two contests with a hamstring injury, Miller hamstrung the Cardinals with 40 yards and a touchdown on a season-high five receptions. With an outstanding receiving NEP per target of .79, we project Miller has a better chance to score a touchdown on Sunday than a pair of Jordans: Reed and Cameron. He was targeted a season-high seven times last week, so it'll be no surprise if Russell Wilson continues to feed him the rock against St. Louis in Week 8. This Zach's production will not "Screech" to a halt in Week 8.

Deeper Streamers (aka "The Replacements")