The tight end position is always a tough one to fill for fantasy football managers. It doesn’t get any easier during bye weeks. The 2024 NFL season has reached Week 5 and the Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, and Tennessee Titans are all sitting out the first bye week of the year.
The byes mean fantasy managers will be without Dallas Goedert, Sam LaPorta, Hayden Hurst, and Will Dissly. If you’re shorthanded this weekend, here are a few tight ends worth considering. They’re touchdown-or-bust lottery tickets, but they’re likely available in most of your leagues.
Cade Otton, Buccaneers (15% rostered)
Otton has put together consecutive strong games, hauling in a combined 13 receptions on 17 targets against the Eagles and Broncos the past two weeks. He didn’t find the end zone, but the uptick in work raises his floor as long as he is held out of the end zone.
Tyler Kraft, Packers (4% rostered)
Kraft broke out in Jordan Love’s Week 4 return to the lineup. He caught six of nine targets for 53 yards and a touchdown. He surpassed his season total for targets and equaled his season total for receptions. He remains a bit of a lottery ticket, but if you’re missing a tight end due to a bye, he’s got a great matchup in Week 5 against a Rams squad that has given up the fourth most fantasy points to tight ends.
Blake Whiteheart (0% rostered)
David Njoku was a scratch for the game and Whiteheart finally cashed in. He caught three passes for 13 yards and a touchdown. He’s a TD-or-bust option while Njoku is sidelined. If you have a spare roster spot, you can make a claim, but if you’re unsure, hold off. He’ll likely remain available and you can decide more once Njoku’s status is finalized for Week 5 against the Commanders.
