Another week, another round of bye weeks, and that means fantasy managers are once again searching for options to fill holes in their lineups.
Four more teams are on bye this week, so if you’re looking for help at tight end, I’ve got a few names worth considering. Let’s get into the top tight end streamers and sleepers for Week 7.
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Week 7 Tight End Streamers
T.J. Hockenson
Hockenson is coming off a bye week and should be ready to return after suffering a concussion early in Week 5. While his production hasn’t been consistent this season, we know the upside is there when he’s involved in the passing game.
In Week 4 against Miami, Hockenson hauled in 13 receptions for 119 yards. Yes, Justin Jefferson was not in, but it’s a strong indicator that Murray will look for him. In Week 7, Hockenson gets a favorable matchup against Indianapolis. The Colts rank 28th in the league against the pass and have struggled against tight ends all season.
Los Angeles Rams Tight Ends
The Rams have taken another injury hit. Davante Adams is expected to miss 6–10 weeks after re-injuring his hamstring. It’s a significant loss for the offense that will create additional opportunities for the tight ends.
Sean McVay has shown a willingness to use 13 personnel, which features three tight ends on the field. That could mean more opportunities for Tyler Higbee, especially with Adams sidelined and the Rams looking for other ways to move the ball through the air.
Higbee has been productive recently, recording 22 receptions for 234 yards and a touchdown over his last four games.
The concern is that the Rams have multiple tight ends competing for opportunities. Colby Parkinson also found the end zone against Arizona, while rookie Terrance Ferguson remains on injured reserve and could return in the coming weeks. That makes it difficult to trust any one player in this group with confidence.
Still, Higbee is the veteran option who has earned opportunities in this offense. With Adams out, there’s a path to increased involvement. He’s a touchdown-dependent streamer, but he’s worth considering if you’re desperate for help at tight end.
Michael Mayer
Mayer is an interesting option for fantasy managers. I just truly don’t know where to slot him currently. Â The Raiders’ passing game has been difficult to predict, but Mayer has shown that he can produce when the opportunities come his way.
After seeing just one target in Week 5, Mayer bounced back in Week 6 with nine targets, seven receptions, and 95 receiving yards. He led the Raiders in catches and delivered a strong performance for fantasy managers who took a chance on him.
The biggest issue is figuring out how the targets will be distributed from week to week. Bowers can dominate the passing game one week, Tre Tucker can get more involved the next, and then Mayer suddenly becomes a major part of the offense. The inconsistency makes it tough to trust any of them outside of Bowers on a weekly basis.
Mayer gets the Los Angeles Rams in Week 7, and while it’s difficult to predict his exact workload, I like his chances of seeing a reasonable number of targets again. He’s coming off a nine-target performance, and another six to eight opportunities would give him a chance to deliver solid value.
He’s not a guaranteed starter in fantasy lineups, but Mayer is worth a look for managers who need a streaming option with some upside.
Week 7 Tight End Sleepers
Darnell Washington
Washington is starting to make his presence felt in the Steelers’ passing game, and fantasy managers should be paying attention.
Washington turned six targets against Tampa Bay into four receptions for 25 yards and a touchdown. It was his second touchdown in three weeks, and he’s beginning to emerge as a potential streaming option in deeper leagues.
The Steelers have dealt with injuries to their receiving corps, leaving fewer reliable options for the passing game. With Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson sidelined, there could be additional opportunities for the tight ends to get involved.
Washington and Pat Freiermuth have been trading off productive weeks, making it difficult to determine which player will provide the most fantasy value, but I believe both are serviceable.
The matchup against New Orleans gives Washington a chance to keep things going. The Saints have been a defense worth targeting with tight ends, and Washington has already shown that he can find the end zone.
I’m not expecting a massive receiving performance, but a few catches and another touchdown would make him a useful streaming option.
Tommy Tremble
Tremble might be working his way into the fantasy conversation after a surprising performance in Week 6.
Tremble caught four passes for 46 yards and two touchdowns; his production raises an important question: Is Darren Waller still the clear-cut TE1 in Carolina?
Waller had been the team’s primary tight end throughout the season, but Tremble’s increased involvement suggests the situation could be changing. Tremble led Carolina’s tight ends in snaps and routes last week, marking the first time this season that he ran more routes than Waller.
The two players were even in routes during Week 1, but Waller had outpaced Tremble by 10 routes in each of the two games leading into Week 6. That makes Tremble’s latest workload particularly noteworthy.
Waller also saw his route participation drop to 45.2% against Philadelphia, below his season rate of 53.2%. Tremble, meanwhile, ran a route on 50% of Bryce Young’s dropbacks, up from his season rate of 39.9%.
One game doesn’t automatically mean Tremble has taken over the starting job, but it’s enough to make this situation worth monitoring.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 7 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!
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