Fantasy football continues to grow in popularity, becoming a multi-billion-dollar industry with hundreds of thousands of leagues nationwide. It’s a game of skill, precision, and yes, a bit of luck. Sometimes you draft an elite player only to have them sidelined by injury—just ask the owners of Joe Burrow or Malik Nabers how their seasons are going.
When it comes to fantasy football, running back and wide receiver are typically the most critical positions. The tight end position, however, often resembles a barren wasteland outside of a select few stars. This year may be even tougher. Many fantasy managers who used early-to-middle round picks on tight ends are likely regretting that decision. George Kittle missed five weeks of action, Brock Bowers has been out recently and is on a bye this week, and even Trey McBride has failed to meet expectations.
With NFL Week 8 upon us, many fantasy managers will be streaming the tight end position. But don’t fret—there are still some usable options available on your waiver wire.
### Cade Otton Can Be Started
First up is Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton. He remains one of the few reliable pass-catching options for quarterback Baker Mayfield. With Mike Evans sidelined by a broken collarbone, Chris Godwin out with a lower leg injury, and rookie Emeka Egbuka still not fully healthy, Otton and Tez Johnson (also a streaming option at wide receiver) are poised to receive a solid share of targets.
The Buccaneers face the New Orleans Saints, who have been competitive all season. Running back Bucky Irving is still out, which means Mayfield will likely throw at least 30 times. Given this, Otton presents a strong streaming option. He has proven to be a valuable part of the offense before—there’s no reason he can’t be again.
### Stream Juwan Johnson
Another streaming opportunity comes from the same game with New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson. Johnson burst out of the gates early in the 2025 season, turning 28 targets in the first three weeks into 19 catches for 176 yards and a touchdown. This production firmly placed him in the TE1 discussion.
Interestingly, the Saints then seemed to reduce their reliance on Johnson, who saw only seven targets over subsequent weeks. However, in Week 7, Johnson was active again as the Saints tried to come back against the Chicago Bears, hauling in five of seven targets for 79 yards.
This week, Johnson faces the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay is favored and expected to score points, while Saints running back Alvin Kamara is struggling on the ground and backup Kendre Miller is out for the season. Expect quarterback Spencer Rattler to throw frequently, and Johnson should see seven to nine targets—many likely on seam routes against a vulnerable Bucs secondary.
### Dalton Schultz Can Be Streamed
The Houston Texans offense has been a mess lately. Wide receivers Nico Collins and Christian Kirk are both expected to miss Week 8 against the San Francisco 49ers. While Houston has rookie receivers on the roster, quarterback CJ Stroud clearly trusts one target above all: tight end Dalton Schultz.
On Monday night, Schultz caught nine of 10 targets for 98 yards, serving as Stroud’s primary option despite the team’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. There’s every reason to believe Schultz will receive similar volume in Week 8, yet he’s owned in just 32 percent of Yahoo leagues.
If you need a tight end who can reliably provide production, Schultz is one of the safest bets on the waiver wire.
### Jonnu Smith Is Risky but Could Pay Off
Finally, there’s Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith. Admittedly, this pick carries some risk, but Smith may offer streaming appeal this week.
Last week, Smith caught three of six targets for 28 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers will host the Green Bay Packers in what’s being billed as Aaron Rodgers’ “revenge game,” though Rodgers has downplayed that narrative. From a matchup perspective, Smith’s role makes sense.
The Packers are among the best defenses at limiting fantasy production from wide receivers. Additionally, over the past two weeks, Smith—not Pat Freiermuth—has seen a 74 percent route share, establishing himself as the tight end who is actively running routes.
Green Bay has allowed the second-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game to tight ends, according to FantasyPros. If you find yourself in a bind, Smith is a worthwhile dart throw, though he ranks fourth among the players listed here.
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As fantasy managers prepare for Week 8, tight end streaming options like Cade Otton, Juwan Johnson, Dalton Schultz, and even Jonnu Smith can provide valuable production. Keep an eye on matchups, usage trends, and injury reports to maximize your chances at success this week.
https://clutchpoints.com/fantasy-sports/fantasy-football-streaming-nfl-week-8-tight-end-2025
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