NFL

3 Fantasy Football Tight End Streaming Options for Week 13

The tight end position in 2019 features distinct tiers. It's headlined by the elite trio of Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Zach Ertz. Behind them is a young trio of promising options who many gamers drafted expecting them to take a leap forward this year in the form of O.J. Howard. Evan Engram, and Hunter Henry.

Things haven't gone according to plan with some breakout candidates, but Darren Waller and Mark Andrews have helped add some talent to the position. Still, tight end continues to leave something to be desired. Whether you entered the year planning to stream or have been disappointed by the option you drafted, I've got you covered. Below, there are three widely available options for streamers for Week 13.

Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans

Yahoo Ownership: 24%

Delanie Walker was inactive for the Tennessee Titans last week, but he logged limited practices throughout the week and is seemingly headed in the right direction. He last played in Week 7, playing only five offensive snaps that game, so it's possible (if not probable) he'll have rust to shake off when he's able to return.

Having said that, the pickings are slim at tight end this week, and the matchup is solid for a tight end with the pass-catching prowess Walker possesses. The Indianapolis Colts have allowed the 10th-most receptions (57) to tight ends and are tied for the seventh-most touchdown receptions (5) yielded to the position, according to Pro-Football-Reference.

Walker and Ryan Tannehill haven't played many meaningful snaps together due to Walker hurting his ankle in Tannehill's first start with the Titans. In Tannehill's relief appearance in Week 6, though, he attempted 16 passes and completed 1 of 2 targets to Walker for an 18-yard reception.

The lack of chemistry isn't ideal, but the jolt of life Tannehill's provided the offense is a plus for all parties in the offense. The Titans have scored 20 or more points in all five of Tannehill's starts, and they've scored a whopping 77 points (with only one touchdown scored by the defense) in their last two games combined.

Gamers who are desperate for a steamer at tight end this week and have more than one roster spot to use on the position can double dip on Walker and teammate Jonnu Smith. Smith's rostered in only 12 percent of Yahoo! leagues, and he'd offer less exciting exposure to the Colts in the event Walker's unable to get over the hump and is inactive again.

Mike Gesicki, Miami Dolphins

Yahoo Ownership: 15%

Back in Week 9, Michael Gesicki had his best game of his career with 6 receptions for 95 receiving yards on 6 targets. The effort capped a nifty four-game stretch in which he caught 3 or more passes and bested 40 receiving yards in three of four games. It appeared to be a sign of the sophomore tight end possibly taking a step forward.

Since that game, he's failed to exceed 30 receiving yards in three straight contests. Last week, though, he salvaged his disappointing 3 receptions for 28 receiving yards with 1 touchdown grab. The touchdown was his first in 27 career games. His lack of yardage output in his last three games has hurt gamers who've turned to him, but there are a few promising nuggets in the data that suggest better days are ahead.

He's been targeted at least six times in four straight games, obviously including his disappointing last three games. Gesicki's 19 targets since Week 10 are the fifth-most targets for a tight end, per Pro-Football-Reference's play index tool. His air yards work is promising, too. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, he accounted for 20.29 percent of Miami's air yards in Week 10, 16.93 percent of the team's air yards in Week 11, and 25.68 percent of Miami's air yards in Week 12.

Despite the lackluster fantasy numbers of late, the targets and air yards support tight end-needy gamers taking the plunge and streaming Gesicki.

Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills

Yahoo Ownership: 5%

Dawson Knox is basically the anti-Gesicki. While the aforementioned tight end for the Dolphins gets a boost from his steady diet of targets, Knox is making the most of a low-volume role. He's been targeted five or more times in only 3 of 11 games. Looking at the last three weeks in which Gesicki ranked fifth in targets among tight ends, Knox has totaled only 11 targets, but his 98 receiving yards are the 11th-most receiving yards at the position.

Knox's 37 targets in 11 games this year is unexciting, yet it's the third-highest total on the Buffalo Bills behind their one-two punch of John Brown and Cole Beasley. Knox is jostling with rookie running back Devin Singletary for the third option in Buffalo's passing attack, and there could be more opportunities for the rookie tight end this week.

The Bills are 6.5-point underdogs in Dallas on Thanksgiving, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The matchup sets up favorably for Knox (and Singletary through the air). Against tight ends, the Cowboys have coughed up the 8th-most receptions (60), 14th-most receiving yards (582), and tied for the 7th-most touchdown receptions (5) allowed.

The floor's low, and the ceiling probably isn't too high, either, for a guy with single-game highs of 4 receptions (Week 10), 67 receiving yards (Week 3), and 1 touchdown reception (Week 3 and Week 11). But there's enough here to give him a look at a bleak position.