Fantasy Football Tight End Streaming: Week 5 Edition

Travis Kelce has been compared to Rob Gronkowski but numerous writers, on numerous sites. And before the season started, our own Brandon Gdula touted him as the late-round tight end of choice for the 2014 season.

So it’s fitting that last night’s Chiefs-Patriots matchup pitted Kelce and Gronkowski, opposing number 87s, against one another on the biggest of stages, Monday Night Football.

And in an act that could only be orchestrated by the fantasy football gods themselves, Kelce finally had his breakthrough game, snagging 8 catches for 93 yards and a touchdown in Kansas City’s 41-14 rout of New England.

Although it brings me great joy to see a player I’ve been touting over the past few weeks finally burst onto the national scene, it also signifies the end of an era. With his ownership assured to go through the roof, Travis Kelce is no longer a streaming tight end option.

My other two recommendations, Niles Paul and Owen Daniels, finished as the 16th and 21st tight ends in standard scoring respectively.

With a few of our weekly go-to options not available, it’s time to dig a little deeper in the waiver wire for week 5.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Owned - ESPN: 0.5%, Yahoo: 1%
Week 5 numberFire Rank: 23rd

While recovering from an ankle injury, Austin Seferian-Jenkins has flown under the fantasy radar, as shown by his nearly non-existent ownership numbers.

But in week 4 against Pittsburgh, ASJ showed what he can do when healthy. While his stat line wasn’t overly impressive (3-44-0), what is noteworthy are the seven targets he received from new starter Mike Glennon. What is also worth mentioning is Mike Evans sustained a groin injury last week, meaning Seferian-Jenkins could see an even more increased target share moving forward.

ASJ ranks 15th in terms of Reception Net Expected Points (NEP) per target among 31 tight ends with between 5 and 15 targets this season.

Combine Austin Seferian-Jenkins’ impressive physical profile with his encouraging snap count data (was on the field for 98% of the teams’ 65 snaps) from Week 4, and you have a potential breakout candidate at a position that is shifting towards young upstarts.

The Bucs face the Saints in Week 5, which sets up as a plus matchup for Seferian-Jenkins – New Orleans ranks 31st against the pass this year according to our numbers. If you’re desperate at tight end, ASJ represents a combination of talent and opportunity.

Clay Harbor, Jacksonville Jaguars

Owned - ESPN: 0.0%, Yahoo: 0%
Week 5 numberFire Rank: 52nd

It may be a bit of a stretch to recommend a Jaguar tight end with 0% ownership. But what Clay Harbor did in Week 4 in the absence of injured starter Marcedes Lewis shouldn't be easily dismissed.

Harbor led the team in targets (8) last week, and converted all of them into a 8-69-0 stat line. Blake Bortles looks willing to chuck the rock, and also showed a fair amount of pocket awareness, both being positive signs for Harbor moving forward.

While Harbor’s Reception NEP per target metrics aren’t exactly promising (ranks 28th out of 31 tight ends with 5-15 targets), the target volume alone is enough to take a chance on the young tight end as long as Lewis continues to recover from injury.

In Week 5, Jacksonville welcomes a reeling Steelers’ defense that currently ranks 27th against tight ends in terms of fantasy points against, and 28th against the pass in general. If Harbor sees a similar amount of targets against Pittsburgh, there’s a decent chance he finds the end zone.

Jace Amaro, New York Jets

Owned - ESPN: 1.3%, Yahoo: 1%
Week 5 numberFire Rank: 22nd

Jace Amaro is another young, promising tight end that appears to be ascending.

Jim Sannes wrote about Amaro’s possible impact on the Jets’ offense back in May, and as you can see, there's a lot of upside.

It’s true that the Jets’ offense seems to be veering off the tracks with Geno Smith at the helm, but with Eric Decker’s near-term health status still in question, Amaro is the next best option for whoever is throwing the ball come this Sunday.

Amaro was third on the team in targets (5) on Sunday, and converted all of them into 5-58-0. He ranks third in Reception NEP among 31 tight ends with 5 to 15 targets this year, and 10th on a per-target basis among the same group.

The Jets travel to San Diego this Sunday, and while the quarterback situation is in flux, the matchup is exploitable – San Diego ranks 22nd against the pass this season. Amaro is almost certain to be available on your leagues’ waiver wire, and if you’re looking for a high-ceiling tight-end option, he could bring back positive results.

Deeper Streamers

Luke Willson (vs. Washington), Eric Ebron (vs. Buffalo)