NFL

3 Fantasy Football Tight End Streaming Options for Week 15

Cole Kmet is coming off a quiet performance, but he's still worth a look this week. Which other viable tight ends are available on the waiver wire?

The story of the tight end position is a tale similar to every sports offseason. There's annual optimism in advance of the season. Yet, optimism turns into reality without fail, and every team isn't playing for a championship. Or, in the case of tight ends, the many mid- and late-round breakout candidates fail to materialize into weekly contributors.

Some gamers understand this reality and pounce on an early-round stud. Others recognize it and intend on streaming out of the chute. Still, others arrive in the streaming group unwittingly after their middle-tier or late-round dart throw flops.

Regardless of how you got here, this is your weekly home for streaming options. Below you'll find three widely available options for Week 15.

Austin Hooper, Cleveland Browns

Yahoo! Roster Percentage: 41%

Austin Hooper benefited from being the last-man-standing among the Cleveland Browns in Week 14. He was third on Cleveland in receiving yards (30), tied for second in targets (7), and tied for first in receptions (30), snaring a touchdown reception, as well. In addition, according to Pro Football Focus, he was third in routes (26).

The Browns have a shorter than normal turnaround this week, playing on Saturday against the Las Vegas Raiders.

It's unclear which of Cleveland's tight ends will play this week. David Njoku is on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. However, he tweeted about not feeling a thing.

If he remains asymptomatic, a couple of negative tests separated by 24 hours are all he needs to return this week. However, Kevin Stefanski hasn't provided any updates.

Meanwhile, Harrison Bryant was out last week with an ankle injury. Further, his lack of practice participation last week leads me to believe he has a ways to go to return this week. If at least Bryant is out, I like Hooper as a streamer for a Browns offense that often uses two and even three tight end formations.

Hooper has been rolling to a minor degree. Yes, he was held without a catch in Week 12. However, he has four or more receptions and at least 50 receiving yards or a touchdown in three of his last four games.

Finally, he has an excellent matchup this week. According to Pro Football Reference, the Raiders allow the second-most FanDuel points per game to tight ends. Therefore, Hooper is a fringe starter in leagues as shallow as 12-team formats.

Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears

Yahoo! Roster Percentage: 27%

Gamers weren't rejoicing Cole Kmet's Week 14 effort in which he caught only 3 passes for 17 scoreless yards. Still, there were some positives. First, his five targets tied for the third-most on the Chicago Bears. Second, he was tied for second for routes (32).

Additionally, Justin Fields did enough to suggest he can keep a few fantasy options afloat in Chicago's offense. For the year, Fields has attempted 231 passes. On the rookie's passes, Kmet has been third in targets (43), receiving yards (259), and air yards (406), and tied for second in receptions (26). So, he has a prominent role in the passing attack.

Moreover, Kmet's best effort this year was with Fields starting in Week 9. In that game, he set a season-high for receiving yards (87), hauling in six receptions on eight targets. Thus, Fields and Kmet showed rapport before the former suffered a ribs injury.

Unfortunately, Kmet's not a safe option. However, his underlying numbers are promising, and there isn't anything resembling a safe option for streaming at tight end anyway.

Josiah Deguara, Green Bay Packers

Yahoo! Roster Percentage: 0%

At first blush, it might seem weird I'm suggesting Josiah Deguara instead of Marcedes Lewis. The latter led the Green Bay Packers' tight ends in targets, receptions, and receiving yards with 4, 4, and 51. However, according to Pro Football Focus, he ran only 13 routes.

Meanwhile, Deguara was fourth on the Packers in routes (25), reeling in all 3 of his targets for 44 yards. Further, in Green Bay's previous two games, the second-year tight end has been fourth in routes (53).

Additionally, Deguara has quietly strung together six straight games with multiple catches -- albeit five with only two catches. He has also produced his two highest yardage outputs in the last three games, with 37 in Week 11 and 44 in Week 14, scoring his only touchdown this year in Week 11 to boot. As a result, I think it's reasonable to speculate he has been gaining Aaron Rodgers' trust lately.

But, of course, it is also beneficial to play in a high-octane offense. Green Bay has been firing on all cylinders lately, scoring more than 30 points in three straight games.

The matchup is mouthwatering for Deguara this week, as well. The Baltimore Ravens allow the third-most FanDuel points per game to tight ends.

Couple Deguara's seemingly growing role in the offense with his juicy matchup, and he's an acceptable streamer.