Fantasy Football Tight End Waiver Wire Adds for Week 9: Harold Fannin, Kyle Pitts, Mason Taylor and More

Week 8 of the NFL regular season wraps up tonight, but we'll take a peek ahead to week 9 fantasy football waiver wire options.

Here, we'll go over some options at tight end. Check back for more waiver stories leading into week 9.

Check out fantasy football waiver wire targets all season on FantasySP. 

Should You Add Oronde Gadsden?

Gadsden delivered again in week 8, and if he's still available in your league, he needs to be your top fantasy tight end pickup - maybe even your top overall pickup.

He totaled 77 yards and a score on five receptions and targets back on Thursday, which was his third straight productive fantasy day. Gadsden has emerged despite the Chargers also having Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen and Quentin Johnston at receiver.

I'm not sure if Gadsden can keep things up the rest of the season, but after three straight good or great fantasy showings, he needs to at least be added in all leagues. He'll rank pretty highly for at least the next couple weeks, and he could be a top-end option from here on out.

Even if you don't need a tight end, adding Gadsden just makes too much sense. Make him your top priority this week.

Should You Add Harold Fannin or David Njoku?

Fannin and Njoku were both on the field in week 8, and then both delivered for fantasy owners. Fannin had 62 yards and a score on six catches and eight targets, while Njoku had 37 yards and a score on four catches and five targets.

Fannin played 40 snaps to just 32 for Njoku, but that accounted for 74% and 59% of the team's total snaps, respectively. That makes both guys solid fantasy options moving forward.

Unfortunately, the Browns are on a bye in week 9, so there goes two possible starting options. Keep them in mind for week 10 and beyond. If you can afford to stash either guy, then it's not the worst idea to still add them this week.

Should You Add Kyle Pitts Sr.?

Pitts racked up 59 yards on nine receptions and targets in the team's lopsided loss to Miami. It was one of his better fantasy showings this season, but it also came with Kirk Cousins throwing to him, so his long-term outlook might not look as great as it possibly could if it was his regular QB throwing to him this past week.

Pitts had seven catches for 62 yards across 10 targets in week 7, so he's trending up again. Really, he's been a pretty solid fantasy asset most weeks this season. 

He has a matchup against the Patriots in week 9, and that's a favorable one on paper. New England has allowed the third-most fantasy points per game (tied) to tight ends so far this season.

On a week with four teams on byes, Pitts will be a pretty solid option in all leagues. Regardless of who is throwing the ball to him, I like Pitts' outlook for week 9, and think he could really surprise.

He needs to at least be starting in deeper leagues, and he'll be a decent standard league option too.

Should You Add Mason Taylor?

Taylor bounced back in week 8, catching five of his eight targets for 34 yards and a score. 

The Jets' offense showed some signs of life finally - all it took was a nice matchup against the Bengals. Unfortunately, they can't face Cincy every week, so I expect the Jets' offense to falter more often than not moving forward, and that hurts every fantasy player, including Mason.

He's had several solid fantasy showings this season, and his score this week was his first of the season. His progress will be stopped, as New York is one of the teams on a bye for week 9.

So again, Taylor is more of a stash option if you have a roster spot open, and that should really only be for deeper leagues. He'll be a standard league streaming option for week 10 and beyond, but I wouldn't add him in standard leagues since you won't be able to utilize him for a week.

He's worth tagging and adding later this week (if you have a roster spot open) or before week 10 if you have an opening at tight end then.

Should You Add Juwan Johnson?

I thought Johnson could be a decent fantasy asset in week 8, and he proved me right. He went for 53 yards on five catches and eight targets.

He's stacked two good fantasy showings in a row, and is starting to look like his early-season self again. Maybe he just hit a little lull for a couple weeks, and is going to be an average-or-better fantasy TE for the majority of the season.

Johnson will go up against the Rams in week 9. That will be a tougher test on paper for Johnson, but on an offense desperate for help wherever they can get it, I'm still likely to have Johnson as an average-or-better asset heading into the week.

Most won't be confident enough in him to start him in standard leagues, but he's worth some deep-league love at least.

Should You Add Colston Loveland?

Loveland has underwhelmed fantasy owners all season. He had his best showing of the year on Sunday, and he still only had 38 yards on three grabs and five targets.

So why am I mentioning the Bears' rookie TE? Well, he has the most favorable fantasy test a tight end could have, as he faces the Bengals in week 9.

Cincy has easily been the worst defense in slowing down fantasy tight ends. That means Loveland could be in for a season-best showing in week 9.

He's definitely a risk because he hasn't delivered much to this point, but in a pinch, I could see Loveland getting fantasy action in any league setup. I'd prefer to only start him in deeper leagues for week 9, but some desperate fantasy owners could try him in standard leagues.

Don't overlook Loveland just because he hasn't done much yet. Usually, the matchups dictate things, and this matchup says Loveland could star.

Should You Add Pat Freiermuth or Jonnu Smith?

Freiermuth and Smith were both underwhelming on Sunday night against the Packers, which was a stellar matchup for tight ends. 

Freiermuth had just 13 yards on three catches and four targets. Smith finished with 17 yards on two grabs and three targets. Smith played 38 snaps, which was 60% of the team's total - Freiermuth was at 27 snaps, which was only 43% of the team's total.

If you like playing matchups, these two have another great one coming in week 9. Indianapolis has allowed the third-most fantasy points per week (tied) so far this season. 

What it means is that Freiermuth and Smith are pretty solid deep-league options in this one, but after their performances in a similar matchup in week 8, I wouldn't expect either guy to get many standard league starts for week 9.

Should You Add Theo Johnson?

Johnson only went for 20 yards on three catches and four targets in week 8 against the Eagles. 

That was a tougher matchup on paper, but things lighten up for him in week 9. He still will have a tougher test against the 49ers, but at least there's a little brighter outlook for the Giants' tight end.

New York will be adapting to life without Cam Skattebo, and I'd guess several guys will help pick up the slack. Johnson could be one of those guys.

He's been more so-so, and up and down, than anything, but in deeper setups, or in pinches, Johnson could be a useful fantasy asset to some of you. I'd look long and hard before turning to Johnson for a week 9 start though.