NFL

3 Fantasy Football Tight End Streamer Options for Week 16

Despite slow production thus far, Trey McBride has emerged as Arizona's lead tight end. Which other streamers can help in a pinch this weekend?

The tight end position isn't overflowing with depth. Instead, it's still top-heavy. So, those of you who kicked the can down the road at the position instead of investing in an elite tight end might dabble in the streamer waters. Some of you came out of drafts with the intention of streaming.

No matter the path to this point, those who need help identifying widely available tight ends to help their fantasy squad each week have found the correct spot. This is your weekly home for streaming options. Here are three choices for this week.

Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints

Yahoo! Roster Percentage: 47%

Taysom Hill wasn't targeted in Week 15. Yet, he got home for streamers by rushing for 30 yards on 7 attempts and completing 2 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. Hill has many paths to fantasy value.

Even though he wasn't targeted, he was used as a pass-catcher. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Hill ran nine routes in Week 15. Sady, nine routes was Hill's lowest total since Week 11. It probably wasn't a coincidence, either. Juwan Johnson was back from a one-game absence. Nevertheless, Hill is a multi-faceted offensive weapon.

I'm excited about his rushing outlook against the Cleveland Browns this week. According to Pro Football Reference, the Browns have allowed the ninth-most rushing yards per game (133.1) and the fourth-most yards per carry (5.0) this year. So, I suspect the New Orleans Saints will attempt to attack the Browns on the ground as long as the game is close, and Hill should have a hand in their ground-and-pound approach.

Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans

Yahoo! Roster Percentage: 29%

Unfortunately, Treylon Burks was out for the second week in a row to tend to his concussion. Hopefully, he'll be healthy this week. Chigoziem Okonkwo has stepped up in his absence and will have an elevated floor and ceiling if Burks is out again. The rookie tight end has shown enough to potentially retain a meaningful role in the offense when Burks returns.

The Tennessee Titans are desperate for juice in the passing attack, and Okonkwo has provided it. The rookie tight end ran one more route than Austin Hooper in Week 15, running 18 compared to 17 for his veteran teammate. Okonkwo earned five targets for his fourth straight game. Since Week 12, he's averaged 4.25 receptions and 50.5 receiving yards per game, scored one receiving touchdown, converted one two-point try, and rushed twice for six yards.

Moreover, he's been targeted on 28 percent of his routes and had 2.69 yards per route run and 6.2 yards after the catch per reception since Week 12. Whether he's demanding targets or having them schemed up for him, Okonkwo is getting the ball when he's on the field. So, I'm not especially concerned about him splitting time with Hooper.

Finally, the matchup is good. First, according to Football Outsiders, the Houston Texans have allowed the 13th-most receiving yards per game to tight ends (53.0). Second, per Pro Football Reference, they're tied for the 11th-most receptions allowed (69) to tight ends this season. Okonkwo doesn't have an exceptional ceiling in a rotation at tight end, but his underlying stats are strong enough to warrant streaming usage.

Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

Yahoo! Roster Percentage: 4%

Trey McBride has bested 30 receiving yards only once this year. So, he's hardly taken the NFL by storm in his rookie year. Fortunately, he's had his best two games in his first season as a pro in Week 14 and Week 15. McBride had a season-high six targets in Week 14 and set new highs for receptions (four) and receiving yards (55) last week.

According to PFF, McBride has run 62 routes compared to 9 for Maxx Williams and 9 for Stephen Anderson since Week 14. Therefore, McBride is the unquestioned starter at tight end for the Arizona Cardinals. That's the good news. However, the bad news is Arizona's quarterback situation is bleak. Kyler Murray suffered a season-ending injury in Week 14, and Colt McCoy was concussed in Week 15. McCoy is reportedly still in the concussion protocol, casting doubt on his availability this week.

Trace McSorley will start if McCoy can't get through the NFL's concussion protocol. Thankfully, it's not necessarily doom and gloom if McSorley is the starter. McSorley attempted 15 passes last week. He directed three to McBride for two receptions, 43 receiving yards, and 26 air yards. McBride's three targets were tied for the second-most on McSorley's pass attempts. Maybe, McSorley will pepper McBride with short targets.

The touchdown potential is low for Arizona's offense -- regardless of which quarterback starts. Yet, if you're desperate for help in a deeper point-per-reception (PPR) or a half-PPR format, McBride checks enough boxes to have merit as an emergency streamer.



Joshua Shepardson is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Joshua Shepardson also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username bchad50. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he/she may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his/her personal account. The views expressed in his/her articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.