The 2025 fantasy football season is starting to turn into an episode of “Big Brother” — expect the unexpected.
Panthers running back Rico Dowdle rushed for more than 200 yards, Calvin Ridley remembered how to catch a football, and the Ravens defense is the cure for what ails any slumping player.
But if there is one constant to carry us through and help us feel normal about our fantasy struggles, it is the ability to find decent tight end help on the waiver wire.
The tight end position continues to be one where someone of value always is available. There will always be unattainable assets like Trey McBride and Brock Bowers, but the way things typically go, when a tight end does well, he is revered by the masses. When he struggles, he gets dropped like a hot rock.
Last week’s darling, Darren Waller, continued to shine, offering some potential stability. But if you don’t believe in the Miami offense, New York has a pair of tight ends you may want to add.
Giants tight end Theo Johnson, rostered in fewer than 6 percent of leagues on ESPN and Yahoo, has suddenly emerged as a favorite target for up-and-comer Jaxson Dart. Not only does Johnson play 80-85 percent of the snaps, he has now seen 12 targets over the past two games, providing fantasy managers with nine catches for 50 yards and three touchdowns. We will still see Daniel Bellinger at times, and though the wide receivers do all the work between the 20s, Johnson has all the attention inside the red zone.
The Giants’ upcoming schedule is a bit of a gauntlet with two games against the Eagles, a matchup with the Broncos in between, then a visit by the 49ers. That is four games against teams that do solid work against the tight end position, but we aren’t looking for or expecting heavy volume. What we want and what we get are end-zone targets. The Eagles are the biggest obstacle, but the Broncos and 49ers have allowed a combined five touchdowns to the tight end position this season.
If it is volume you seek, then Jets tight end Mason Taylor is where you should be looking. The second-round pick has now seen 25 targets over the past three games with 18 catches for 150 yards in that span. The key for Taylor is that the Jets literally have no one else to catch passes. There’s Garrett Wilson and then Taylor. No one is looking at Josh Reynolds or Arian Smith.
Granted, you have to wait until garbage time to get your production, but if you’ve watched the Jets play this season, you know that almost all the time is garbage time.
We are now five weeks into the season, and given the lack of consistency we’ve seen from a number of players, streaming a position like tight end looks to be the way to go. It would be nice to have one guy to rely on week in and week out, but even if you drafted McBride or Bowers, you are disappointed. This week, the New York teams are here to help. In two weeks’ time, there will surely be another.
Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy football news and advice.
