Every decision matters as the NFL and fantasy regular seasons head down the home stretch, especially at the tight end position. It seems like the witching hour is upon many fantasy owners as the fantasy postseason is right around the corner. Week 12 was a perfect mixed bag of superstar tight ends returning to form and complete unknowns leaving their marks.
That has been the story of the entire season thus far which makes things even trickier for fantasy owners. It can be a stressful and exciting challenge as it could make or break your season. Keeping a pulse in the waiver wire can give an all-important advantage.
Top 3 Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 13
Bears TE Cole Kmet
After a really slow start to the season, it seems the Bears are trying to go out of their way to get their veteran tight end back in the offense in an impactful way. In the loss last week to the Vikings, Kmet had 13 fantasy points with 7 catches for 64 yards on 10 targets. This is a very bright spot as it seems since the Bears have found their offensive consistency since the firing of their offensive coordinator. With Chicago seemingly trailing in all games, that means they will turn to pass a lot, which would benefit Kmet.
Packers TE Tucker Kraft
The Packer’s tight end might have had 2 targets in their week 12 win over the 49ers. However, both were caught and his first catch was for a touchdown. The Packers were dominating the game, so most Packers pass catchers didn’t have strong games. It’s a good sign for Kraft to find the end zone with not a lot of passing volume.
Kraft hasn’t been a major factor through the air, so this is a pickup looking at the bigger picture. Green Bay needs a big body to be a factor in the red zone and Kraft could be that guy for the rising Packers. It’s a young team that needs some veteran piece and Kraft can be that for them.
Chiefs TE Noah Gray
The Chiefs might have a starting tight end who is one of the most famous people in the world, but their backup tight end is going very under the radar with how productive he has been of late. With a thin receiver group, Gray has played a lot more than many backup tight ends and he has taken advantage of that.
Gray had 18 fantasy points in week 11 and 22 this past week. He might not be getting tons of targets but when he does, it seems to be in the end zone. With teams double-teaming Kelce, the other big body Gray gets one-on-one coverage, which has unlocked a new reliable target for Patrick Mahomes. Until the Chiefs are closer to full strength, Gray might be the best fantasy pickup for any position in fantasy. Don’t wait too long as Gray could help you get into the fantasy postseason.
Conclusion
With the fantasy playoffs in the near future, it’s go time to make some splashes at the waiver wire. Trustworthy running backs and wide receivers can be hard to find on the waiver wire. You either have those players this late in the season or you don’t. However, the position that you can find great value in the final weeks of the season is a tight end. With that being said, no matter where you think you stand, adding a tight end or even just adding depth to your team could help you in the long run. So make sure you are also looking at the big picture every decision you make.
