The fourth week of the 2016 regular season is just about coming to a close with only the Monday Night Football game remaining. Most fantasy football leagues will run their waiver wire late Tuesday or early Wednesday, but we are here to help you get a jump on the best options to consider.
We will be ranking the top five players likely to be available in your league at each of the four major positions. Some weeks there might not be five good options available, but we’ll scour for the best we can find. Additionally, throughout the week, we will update each of these articles as ownership percentages change (via Yahoo!) and news arrives.
Waiver wire tight end rankings, Week 5
1. Hunter Henry, San Diego Chargers (30 percent owned) - now 33 percent owned
Henry put his fumbling troubles behind him and posted an excellent Week 4 performance in San Diego’s shootout loss to the Saints. The San Diego tight end caught four passes for 61 yards and a touchdown, and looked to further develop his rapport with Philip Rivers. The Chargers face a very beatable Raiders secondary in Week 5, and if Antonio Gates sits again Henry will be a must start.
2. Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills (12 percent owned) - still 12 percent owned
Clay will benefit from the sidelining of Sammy Watkins as he will take on a more prominent receiving role with Watkins out. Clay caught five passes for 47 yards in Buffalo’s shutout win over the Patriots. The flow of the game did not favor Clay in Week 4 as the Bills were ahead for the entire game, but the Buffalo tight end should see an increase in targets and fantasy potential in the coming weeks.
3. Clive Walford, Oakland Raiders (15 percent owned) - still 15 percent owned
Walford benefits from being on one of the more pass-heavy offenses in the league, but he didn’t show that in Week 4. The Oakland tight end caught two passes for 24 yards in a difficult matchup against the Ravens. In Week 5, the Raiders face the Chargers, who have had a porous pass defense thus far. Walford should bounce back and be able to provide for fantasy owners next week.
4. Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10 percent owned) - now 21 percent owned
Brate is performing well as the primary tight end in Tampa Bay, catching five passes for 67 yards in the Buccaneers loss to Denver. Although he was unable to find the end zone in Week 4 he received eight targets and his floor looks to be fairly safe. Tampa Bay will have an easier time against the Panthers’ secondary in Week 5, where Brate will likely continue to receive a healthy amount of targets.
5. Lance Kendricks, Los Angeles Rams (zero percent owned) - still zero percent owned
Kendricks was a beneficiary of the increased competence exhibited by the Rams’ passing offense in Week 4. The Los Angeles tight end was able to catch five passes for 52 yards in the Rams’ win against Arizona. The biggest limiting factor for Kendricks is the quality of play from his quarterback, but if Case Keenum is able to generate offense, Kendrick’s value is sure to increase.