2025 Fantasy Football: Week 5 Tight End Sleepers and Streamers

NFL Week 5 is here, and so is the start of bye-week Armageddon.

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Notable Tight Ends that are on bye: Tucker Kraft, Kyle Pitts, Cole Kmet, Jonnu Smith

Before we dive in, double-check your waiver wire for the following players in case they are available:

Dallas Goedert, Hunter Henry, Zach Ertz, Harold Fannin Jr.,

Week 5 Tight End Sleepers and Streamers

Streamers

Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins

Darren Waller suited up for his first game since 2023 after a one-year retirement and wasted no time making an impact. He caught three passes for 27 yards and found the end zone twice, all while playing just 25% of the snaps. Miami used him as a big-bodied red-zone weapon, and the role could grow quickly.

The bad news for the Dolphins is that Tyreek Hill suffered a dislocated knee and will miss the rest of the season. Jaylen Waddle and Devon Achane should see bumps in target share, but Waller is also a candidate for expanded usage with Hill sidelined.

Waller should still be available on most waiver wires, and given both his performance and the opportunity created by Hill’s injury, he’s a priority add this week. Miami gets the Panthers in Week 5 — the same defense that just gave up 42 points to the Patriots.

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars

Brenton Strange put up another solid line in Week 4. He saw a healthy 22.5% target share and finished with six grabs for 45 yards in Jacksonville’s upset of San Francisco. That makes three out of four games where he’s cleared four receptions and 45 yards, but he still hasn’t found the end zone. Strange hasn’t even been targeted in the red zone yet, which caps his ceiling. For now, he’s steady enough for these upcoming byes, but not someone you want to rely on weekly unless touchdowns start showing up.

Jake Tonges, San Francisco 49ers

With George Kittle sidelined, Jake Tonges has stepped into a steady role for San Francisco. He turned three catches into 58 yards and a score in Week 4, giving him two touchdowns through four games. Tonges is running routes on about two-thirds of drop-backs and carrying an 11% target share. Nothing flashy, but he’s making good on his limited looks. As long as Kittle remains on IR, Tonges holds value with touchdown-or-bust appeal.

Theo Johnson, New York Giants

Theo Johnson’s role is set to grow with Malik Nabers done for the year. Coming into Week 4, Johnson had a modest 9.1% target share and 0.58 YPRR, but against the Chargers, he saw a season-high 25% target share and scored his first touchdown. He’s still just a fringe streaming option, but with more volume opening up in the Giants’ passing game, Johnson has room to level up. A Week 5 matchup against New Orleans (middle of the pack versus tight ends) keeps him in play as a desperation streamer.

Tight End Sleepers

Mason Taylor, New York Jets

Mason Taylor started the year quietly, but his role is starting to take off. In the Jets’ 27-21 loss to Miami, Taylor hauled in five catches for 65 yards on seven targets, showing real signs of progress. On a roster desperate for a third option behind Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson, Taylor may be carving out a steady role in the offense.

He’s been a full-time player all season, logging at least a 72% snap share in every game. That usage, paired with his recent production, makes Taylor a worthy stash — and even a potential spot start in Week 5 against Dallas.

Elijah Arroyo / AJ Barner, Seattle Seahawks

Elijah Arroyo flashed in Week 4, hitting season-high marks in route share (53.3%), target share (15.3%), air-yard share (23.1%), and first-read share (16.7%). The rookie continues to impress on a per-route basis (1.86 YPRR per Fantasy Points Data) and looks like the long-term upside swing at tight end. The roadblock remains AJ Barner, who’s still operating as Seattle’s TE1. Barner was productive in Week 4, producing 3 catches for 32 receiving yards and a TD. If Arroyo’s snaps keep climbing, he could work his way into fringe TE1 territory, especially if the Seahawks slightly increase their passing volume as the season moves along. Until then, watch the situation.

Make sure to check out all of our Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!