Streaming Tight Ends: Week 11 Targets

For those new to tight end streaming, the idea is to identify a waiver wire tight end with a favorable matchup who is likely to post TE1-caliber fantasy points. The foundation for the matchup research is 4for4’s Schedule-Adjusted Fantasy Points Allowed (aFPA) metric. As the season progresses and more data is available, aFPA gets more and more reliable. Volume and efficiency metrics are also considered when searching the waivers for tight end streamers.

In Week 10, Richard Rodgers finished as a TE1 after a late touchdown. The Vikings threw a touchdown to the wrong tight end and Kyle Rudolph dropped a wide open score, while Eric Ebron had a mediocre day against Green Bay.

Through 10 weeks, tight end streamers are averaging 9.3 PPR fantasy points per game, while optimal streaming choices have posted 14.8 PPR points per game (which equates to the TE7 on the season).

Streaming candidates must be available in at least 40 percent of Yahoo leagues, in order to ensure the picks are readily available in most leagues. As always, be sure to consider 4for4’s weekly rankings in case a highly-ranked player is still available in your league.

Here are the top streaming options for Week 11:

Eric Ebron vs. Oakland

Oakland has been one of the clear defenses to target for tight end streamers, but the Raiders have been bad against the pass in general. Oakland ranks last in schedule adjusted fantasy points allowed to tight ends and 27th against quarterbacks. For the season, Oakland has allowed 18.7 PPR fantasy points per game to tight ends, when adjusted for strength of schedule, and they are the only team to allow double digit touchdowns to the position this year.

With an over/under at 47.5 and a spread of just two, conditions should favor scoring on both sides of the ball. Once in the red zone, no team has thrown more that the Lions, who have passed on 70 percent of their plays inside their opponent's 20 yard line. Eric Ebron’s eight targets against the Packers were the most that he has seen in a game since Week 2, and Detroit should rely heavily on the pass against Oakland. Ebron is available in 69 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Jacob Tamme vs. Indianapolis

Despite putting up fringe TE1 numbers on the season, Jacob Tamme is owned in just 19 percent of Yahoo leagues. Tamme has double digit targets in consecutive weeks, and now faces a Colts defense that struggles against tight ends. Indianapolis ranks 25th in aFPA to tight ends, surrendering 15.2 schedule adjusted PPR fantasy points per game to the position.

With a projected point total just under 27, the Falcons are expected to be one of the higher scoring teams of the week. Atlanta already frequents the red zone as much as almost any team in the league, as only five teams have run more plays inside the 20 than the Falcons, and Vegas suggests they will have even more scoring opportunities than usual, which bodes well for Tamme’s scoring chances.

Charles Clay at New England

The Bills tight end checks all the boxes this week: he has relatively high usage in a likely high scoring game against a team that is middling against tight ends (and may again, be without Jamie Collins). Clay ranks in the top-10 at his position in targets and is in the TE1 ranks in PPR leagues, but he is is still available in 59 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Buffalo will likely have to throw more than usual if they want to keep up with the Patriots high-powered offense, and with an over/under at 48 (the highest of the week), there is potential for the second shootout of the season between these two teams. When the Bills do take to the air, Clay should see a boost, as New England has allowed 12.8 schedule adjusted PPR fantasy points to tight ends this year.