As we head into Week 5 and beyond, one thing that looms is bye weeks. With so many bigger names underperforming, and now possibly missing the good one you did find for a bye week, value is even more paramount. Here are my favorite Week 5 tight end sleepers and streamers.
Tight End Streamers
Zach Ertz – Washington Commanders
If you bought into the Ben Sinnott hype this offseason, you did so because you thought Zach Ertz was washed. Instead, if you bought into Zach Ertz then you found someone who has been a solid weekly option in a world where tight ends have been such a sore point for fantasy football managers.
Ertz has consistently seen targets despite only playing between 60-75 percent of the team’s snaps. Ertz’s upside is capped by the lower passing volume as a whole. The Commanders haven’t thrown the ball over 30 times in a game yet this season. While you want a larger passing volume in general at this point as bye weeks start rolling in, consistency matters more.
The matchup for Ertz isn’t great in Week 5. They play the Cleveland Browns who are middle of the road in terms of fantasy points given to the tight end position. The Browns also haven’t scored over 20 points this season so the need for the Commanders to throw the ball will be low. There should be enough for Ertz to see similar opportunities and produce similar fantasy points that we have seen from him over the past four weeks.
Cole Kmet – Chicago Bears
After a massive game in Week 3, Cole Kmet came back to earth in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams. I still believe that Kmet is a viable tight end streamer for Week 5.
First, we have to look at the matchup. The Chicago Bears are playing the Carolina Panthers. A team that is giving up the fifth most fantasy points to tight ends. While the Panthers are a different team now that Andy Dalton is starting, their defense still has some work to do. I think Dalton under center for the Panthers actually helps Kmet.
With Dalton under center, the Panthers are more capable of scoring which means the Bears will have to continue to throw the ball, creating more opportunities for Kmet. I also like what I’ve seen from rookie Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. While he still has plenty of room to grow we have seen him make progress and now has two straight games with passing touchdowns. As Caleb continues to grow as an NFL quarterback, so do the opportunities and quality of opportunities for Cole Kmet.
Taysom Hill – New Orleans Saints
I know. It doesn’t feel great seeing Taysom Hill on here. First, there is the discussion of if Hill should be a tight end or a quarterback. Fantrax has him dual eligibility. Even though Hill doesn’t play the traditional tight end role, what he does on the field can’t be ignored. The Saints keep finding ways to get him the ball.
There is some concern with Hill since he seemed to get a rib injury in Sunday’s Week 4 game against the Atlanta Falcons. Reports are it’s a different injury than the one that forced him to miss Week 3. If Taysom plays he is borderline a must-start tight end let alone a tight end streamer.
If Hill were to miss the game Juwan Johnson would become an interesting play. The matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs is the best fantasy matchup for tight ends so far this season.
Week 5 Tight End Sleepers
Austin Hooper – New England Patriots
So you are looking for a tight end sleeper for Week 5. Can I interest you a guy who finished Week 4 in the top 12? Austin Hopper scored his first touchdown of the year which boosted his fantasy production. Looking ahead to Week 5 we see the New England Patriots going against their divisional foes the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins have been middle of the road in terms of giving up fantasy points to the tight end position.
Hooper has been consistent for fantasy football. He needs a touchdown to see his numbers reach a point where you are happy with him in your lineup. The Dolphins are coming off a short week so they have less time to prepare for the Patriots. The Patriots on the other hand are looking to turn things around as they continue to roll with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback. Hooper has splitting time with Hunter Henry but outside of Week 2, the target totals for both of them have been equal despite Hooper playing fewer snaps. Hooper needs to pile on more yards and catch more of his passes to be a secure fantasy asset but in a pinch, he is worth a flyer in deeper leagues or fantasy managers looking for a tight end sleeper.
Colby Parkinson – Los Angeles Rams
I wrestled with Colby Parkinson this week as to whether he is a tight end streamer or a sleeper. I put him on the sleeper list because he is only rostered in 54% of Fantrax leagues and started in Week 4 in only 30% of leagues. It’s up from 27% started in Week 3. This probably comes from the massive disappointment Parkinson gave fantasy managers in Week 2.
Looking ahead to Week 5 the Rams are facing the Green Bay Packers. A team that is top five in giving up fantasy points to the tight end position. A team that just Johnny Mundt and Josh Oliver go for a combined four receptions for 25 yards and a touchdown. While not amazing numbers, he’s also not the same level of talent as Parkinson
Parkinson is benefiting from Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua being out and the Rams spreading the ball around due to a lack of a top wide receiver. It opens up so many opportunities for Parkinson to be a solid fantasy football option. The game script should lead to a high-scoring game which just means even more opportunities for Parkinson.
Erick All – Cincinnati Bengals
We might just have a changing of the guard at tight end. Mike Gesicki was brought in by the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason to be the starter for them and a complimentary piece to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. What we saw in Week 4 was rookie Erick All take over in terms of snaps for Mike Gesicki. All went from playing 24%, 52%, and then 34% of the Bengals snaps in Weeks 1-3 to playing 60% in Week 4. It was his third week in a row with four targets. He has caught every target he has seen this year. Yes, you read that correctly. All caught them all.
Week 5 he goes against the Baltimore Ravens. A team that just let Dalton Kincaid catch five of his seven targets for 47 yards. It is another showcase matchup between two AFC teams who are contenders to dethrone the Kansas City Chiefs. For the Bengals to right the ship and get back into that conversation Erick All will have to continue to be a part of that offense.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!