Tight End Streaming: Thanksgiving Edition

Thanksgiving can be traced back to a 1621 shindig thrown by the settlers of the Plymouth Plantation. Pilgrims and Indians ate corn and feathered bird while wearing funny hats as they gave thanks for a successful harvest. Many Thanksgiving traditions were born that day, including the ceremonial unbuckling of the pants after dinner, the customary passing out of a drunken uncle, and the traditional viewing of over 10 amazing hours of NFL football.

I hope everyone takes this special day to celebrate and appreciate all that is good, and this, of course, applies to the world of tight end streaming. So wait until next week to curse the heavens over tight end injuries and ineffectiveness. Find another time to rue the day you drafted Brandon Myers as a number one tight end. Forget that you ever bragged about snagging Zach Sudfeld as a late-round sleeper.

Thanksgiving is a day to be thankful, so with a fantasy playoff bid or seed possibly in the balance, let's look to the tight end stream for players we can be thankful for.

Week 12 Recap

Seven of the top-12 and 18 of the top-24 tight ends in Week 12 were tight end streamers. In fact, three of this year’s top-12 tight ends in overall scoring - Charles Clay, Delanie Walker, and Coby Fleener - can be found on many waiver wires today. With every team in the NFL active in Week 13, it's time for you to dig into the tight end stream like it's Thanksgiving dinner.

The Main Course (Week 13 Streamers)

Charles Clay, Miami Incognitos (owned in 54.4% of ESPN Leagues)

Like the Pilgrims before him, Charles Clay finds success by putting substance over style. Clay is the 10th-best fantasy scoring tight end in football this season, with 501 yards and five total touchdowns.

Clay's Dolphins match up with the Jets on Sunday, and Clay has to be chopping at the bit. The Jets defense is eighth-worst in the league against tight ends, surrendering 677 yards and 6 touchdowns to opposing tight ends on the season. With the Dolphins' running "attack" on life support, Clay should see his share of opportunities, and he's our ninth-ranked one for Week 13.

Consider him the juiciest piece of Thanksgiving turkey on the tray, and put him on your plate before someone else gobbles him up.

Coby Fleener, Indianapolis Luck (owned in 59.8% of ESPN Leagues)

I'm still waiting for "Fleening" to become an official sport. I'm not sure what it would entail, but I'm sure I'm down with it. Look for Fleening in TE 2016 Olympic Games.

Fleener enters this Thanksgiving bearing corn, cranberries, and mucho potential fantasy points. Over the last four weeks, Fleener has averaged almost 65 yards per game, and he hauled in his fourth touchdown of the season last Sunday. Fleener's Reception NEP Per Target of .61 matches that of Charles Clay, and he's been an important part of the Colts offense with the losses of Dwayne Allen and Reggie Wayne this year.

This week, Fleener faces the Titans, the team he lit up for 107 yards on eight catches just two weeks ago. We give Fleener just about the same chance to score a touchdown this week as Antonio Gates. Consider Fleener fantasy football's version of tryptophan - he's got a chance to put up numbers that will put your opponent's team to sleep.

Delanie Walker, Tennessee Fitzpatricks (owned in 29.6% of ESPN Leagues)

Delaine "Sky" Walker reeled in five catches for 46 yards last Sunday against Oakland, which can be considered an "off day" for this talented young tight end. Walker has the most receptions of any tight end in the last three weeks, and he's number 11 in tight end receptions on the season. In addition, with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center for Tennessee, Walker has been seeing about three more targets per game than he was getting with Jake Locker under center.

Walker has been a top-12 tight end in three of his last five games. His .71 Receiving NEP Per Target, which dropped slightly after Sunday's performance, lets us know that he has had a very positive impact on on the Titans' offensive output this year. We at numberFire give Walker the same chance of scoring a touchdown this week as top tight end Jimmy Graham. Run, don't walk, to get Walker in your lineup for Week 13. You can thank me later.

The Fixins (Deeper Streamers)

Rob Housler, Arizona Arians
Ladarius Green, San Diego Ron Burgandies
Brandon Myers, New York Elinterceptions