Due to a hamstring injury, George Kittle will be sidelined at least four games and was placed on injured reserve. That is brutal for fantasy football redraft, as the veteran San Francisco 49er was often a top-three tight end taken in the top five rounds in most leagues. With him out for the foreseeable future, here are some options on waivers (less than 50% rostered on ESPN) that you can snag heading into Week 2.
George Kittle Injury: Tight End Waiver Wire Replacements
The former UDFA tight end Jake Tonges replaces Kittle as the starting tight end, as he caught the game-winning touchdown while having three catches for 15 yards. If you are down bad for tight end, at least Tonges is set to start for an offense that is running out of bodies. For at least four weeks, the 26-year-old could be a fantasy streamer. But I would rank him last in this list, as Brock Purdy is questionable with his own injuries (shoulder and toe).
- Harold Fannin Jr.- Cleveland Browns
The rookie tight end for Cleveland did a bit of everything and had schemed up looks, even next to David Njoku. He is barely rostered in most leagues and should be a priority. Even among all the Browns pass-catchers, he was one away from double-digit targets.
- Jonnu Smith- Pittsburgh Steelers
Arthur Smith’s favorite player, Jonnu, won’t score every week, but, like Fannin, will get schemed up looks even with Pat Freiermuth next to him in Pittsburgh. He is under 30% rostered and has taken over as the main starter for the Steelers. We all saw the run he had with the Miami Dolphins last year, and that could continue even on a new team.
- Juwan Johnson- New Orleans Saints
The top fantasy tight end for Week 1, Juwan Johnson, should be on everyone’s radar as a 1% rostered player. However, expectations should be tempered, as this is a bottom Saints offense that won’t be consistent week to week. Still, Spencer Rattler targeted him over 10 times against the Arizona Cardinals, so he could be a potential starter who has a good enough ceiling/ floor to play weekly if this sticks.
