The seventh 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 wires 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 9
Eric Ebron, Detroit Lions (37 percent owned)
The Lions tight end is back on the field following an ankle injury that cost him three games. He had seven receptions for 79 yards against the Houston Texans. He has a tough Week 9 matchup at the Minnesota Vikings, but he is a valuable option in this offense.
Dennis Pitta, Baltimore Ravens (43 percent owned)
Pitta remains a stronger PPR tight end than standard tight end. He has not scored a touchdown since 2013. The Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 9, so maybe he can get on the board in the rivalry matchup.
Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (41 percent owned)
Brate is one of many boring tight ends that we all end up having to play at some point or another. If you don’t get one of the top three or four names, you often end up streaming guys, and Brate is one of those guys you will stream. The Bucs are in Atlanta in Week 9, which is a plus matchup.
Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills (20 percent owned)
Speaking of boring tight ends, Clay might be their patron saint. He has a bad matchup in Week 9 against the Seattle Seahawks, but if you are desperate, you could do worse.
Vance McDonald, San Francisco 49ers (Eight percent owned)
Speaking of, “you could do worse,” I present Vance McDonald. I am a 49ers fan, so feel free to ignore this, but the 49ers host the New Orleans Saints in Week 9. The Saints defense is bad, and one would think somebody has to catch the ball. This is the big desperation play of the week.