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Fantasy Football Week 7 Sleepers: Emergency Tight Ends to Start

By Zachary Thompson

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Oct 13, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller (83) runs after a catch against the New York Jets during the second half at MetLife Stadium. The Steelers won the game 19-6. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 13, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller (83) runs after a catch against the New York Jets during the second half at MetLife Stadium. The Steelers won the game 19-6. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

Tight ends continue becoming more and more important in fantasy football. If you’re headed into this week without an elite-level option ready to roll, here are five that are off-the-radar options who don’t start every week, but can help you out this week if you need an upgrade.

Heath Miller-Pittsburgh Steelers

Miller has 12 catches for 154 yards in his last two games. He has a great connection with Big Ben and this week Pittsburgh faces the Ravens defense that has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season. Miller is a solid TE1 play even though he’s on the waiver wire in over 3/4 of ESPN leagues.

Jeff Cumberland-New York Jets

Cumberland has emerged as one of the Jets best receiving options since injuries have depleted their receiving corps. Last week he caught four of his five targets for 59 yards and broke a two game touchdowns streak. The Patriots defense has suffered injuries mostly up the middle which could leave room for Cumberland to work over the middle. He’s not quite a TE1, but a solid play if there’s no way to get your hands on a player in the top 10.

Charles Clay-Miami Dolphins

Sep 22, 2013; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins tight end Charles Clay (42) catches a pass against Atlanta Falcons linebacker Joplo Bartu (59) in the fourth quarter at Sun Life Stadium. Miami won 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2013; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins tight end Charles Clay (42) catches a pass against Atlanta Falcons linebacker Joplo Bartu (59) in the fourth quarter at Sun Life Stadium. Miami won 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports /

Clay had the week off last week, but he’s grown into a top target for Ryan Tannehill in the QB’s second year. Clay has found the end zone in three of the last four games and gets plenty of targets to give him potential each week. The Dolphins face the Bills Sunday which isn’t a great matchup for Clay since Buffalo has been able to limit opposing TE fairly effectively. He’s still a decent play although he’s not a top 12 option this week.

Jordan Reed-Washington Redskins

Reed was second on Washington in targets last week and has been thrown at least six passes in three of four games this season. Last week he caught four of those passes for 58 yards against Dallas. He hasn’t exploded yet, but is getting enough looks from RGIII that he has potential if you need a long shot.

Levine Toilolo-Atlanta Falcons

Toilolo is the ultimate gamble this week. He hasn’t been a huge part of the Falcons offense although he has picked up a couple scores. With the injuries to Roddy White and Julio Jones, Toilolo has supposedly been worked into more dual-TE sets and could be a big part of the Falcons attack. He’s high-risk, to be sure, but he could may off if your totally desperate or looking for a big-time sleeper.

If you have any questions about who I’d start/sit for week 7, you can find me on twitter @ZT_Sports or drop the question in the comments at the bottom of the page. For information on other positions, starter rankings, waiver wire pickups, and plenty of fantasy football goodness, check out our Fansided fantasy football page.

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