Fantasy Football Tight End Waiver Wire Adds for Week 12: AJ Barner, Dalton Schultz, Chig Okonkwo and More

After going over some fantasy football waiver wire options/streamers at quarterback, let's do the same for the tight end position.

Keep checking back to FantasySP for more fantasy football waiver wire content going into week 12!

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

Should You Add AJ Barner?

Barner is a top-five fantasy tight end heading into the Monday night game. 

He went for 70 receiving yards on 10 catches and 11 targets on Sunday in a loss to the Rams. Barner also had two rushing attempts, gaining one yard.

Barner has been in double figures six times this season, but has been up and down as a fantasy asset of late. Over his past five games, he has alternated good and bad performances, and his down performances are him barely scoring any points.

Barner is a fine option in a good offense, but until he's more consistent, he's going to be hard to trust as a fantasy asset. A tougher matchup against the Titans in week 12 is another reason why fantasy owners will skip over Barner as well.

He's a fine deep-league fantasy asset, but I'd be wary of starting him in standard leagues in week 12, even with four teams on their bye weeks.

Should You Add Dalton Schultz?

Schultz finished with 51 receiving yards on six receptions and nine targets in week 11.

It marked his third straight double-digit PPR performance, and fifth in the past six weeks. He's really been a pretty steady fantasy asset all season, but has definitely picked things up over the past few weeks.

Houston has used two different quarterbacks over that stretch, but it hasn't slowed Schultz, who is probably who I'd take after Nico Collins as the best fantasy pass catchers in Houston.

Unfortunately, Schultz has the toughest fantasy matchup for a tight end in week 12 - he will face the Bills on Thursday night.

I still like the idea of starting Schultz in deeper leagues, but Tampa Bay's Cade Otton was just held to 28 yards on two catches and five targets, and he and Schultz are close as fantasy assets, and their offensive roles. I'd maybe ever so slightly give Schultz the edge between the two.

Anyways, I only would want to start Schultz in deeper leagues for week 12. I'd try to stay away from him in standard leagues, either playing a better matchup or taking a gamble on a TE with touchdown upside, because this matchup is not great for Schultz. 

Should You Add Darnell Washington?

Washington went for 67 yards on four catches and five targets in week 11. 

It was really a surprise performance, because he's only topped 25 yards on two occasions coming into the contest. The matchup against the Bengals was right for Washington to deliver, and he posted his best showing of the season.

Pittsburgh might have Mason Rudolph start in week 12, but I don't think Washington's outlook changes much if Aaron Rodgers plays through an injury.

What is going to hold Washington back is having Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith on the same roster. That's contributed to him not doing a ton offensively this season.

Chicago is a pretty average fantasy test for a tight end, so Washington could be used in some deeper leagues in week 12, but I'd advise against adding him in all those leagues, and would try to avoid him in standard leagues - he just hasn't done enough to trust fully, especially in a so-so matchup.

Should You Add Chig Okonkwo?

Okonkwo finished with 56 yards on three receptions and targets in week 11.

He's been all over the place as a fantasy asset this season, but he has just two double-digit outings. Okonkwo still hasn't scored a touchdown, and he's just too inconsistent to trust most weeks.

With four teams on bye and coming off a decent showing, Okonkwo is certainly an option for week 12. Throw in that he has a great matchup coming against the Seahawks and I'm more in favor of utilizing him for next week.

Calvin Ridley is also done for the season, and Chimere Dike might miss the game too, so Okonkwo could honestly be the focal point of the offense for that contest.

At the very least, he's a good deep-league option, even if you are treating him as a streamer. I don't think it'd be crazy to start him in standard leagues too, depending on your TE situation and what other options you have available to you.

Okonkwo could be a sneaky good fantasy asset down the stretch given the team's pass-catcher situation now, but at least consider him in a favorable test in week 12.

Should You Add Zach Ertz?

Ertz finished with 42 yards on four grabs and eight targets this week.

He's taken on a bit more with the Washington offense down a few pass catchers, and Jaylin Lane was another injury at wide receiver this week, so Ertz's stock got another little boost from that.

Washington is off in week 12, so if you need a tight end for the coming week, Ertz isn't your guy. I like his long-term outlook though, even if the team gets a bit healthier over the bye week.

Ertz should be in that average-or-better fantasy TE tier for the rest of the season, and with the right matchups, he'd make for a good starting option (for all league types).

Don't forget about him after the team has its bye.

Should You Add Brock Wright?

Sam LaPorta's back injury sent him to the injured reserve list, so he's going to miss at least four games. That leaves Wright as the team's top tight end for the time being.

In his first game as TE1 for Detroit this season, Wright was targeted seven times, which is great. What is not great was him making just two catches for eight yards.

I like how much he was targeted, but he'll need to deliver more to be a trustworthy fantasy asset in LaPorta's absence. He will have a below-average matchup in week 12 against the Giants, so that's another reason to not start him next week.

He is worth adding in some deeper leagues still, just in case he starts producing more one of these weeks. I don't see him as a standard league option, but he's worth tracking in case he surprises.

Should You Add Hunter Henry?

Henry finished with 45 yards on four catches and six targets back on Thursday night.

He's been a consistent, but unspectacular, fantasy option over the past several weeks, sitting between 5-9 PPR points in six of the past seven contests.

That makes him a decent deep-league option, and gives him standard league upside in the right matchups. With touchdowns (like he was getting earlier this year), Henry can be a pretty good fantasy asset.

His week 12 matchup against the Bengals is the best fantasy matchup a tight end can have, so Henry will be a big-time waiver add for that reason alone. 

He does enough most weeks to trust in these stellar matchups. Henry is definitely worth an add and stream in standard leagues, especially if you are scrambling at tight end.

Should You Add Colston Loveland?

The rookie finished with 40 yards on three grabs and four targets in week 11.

He's been more involved over the past five weeks, but has just one double-digit outing in that stretch. I like how he's trending, but he's another average fantasy TE who needs a great matchup to have a good fantasy outlook any given week.

Loveland gets a favorable test in week 12 against the Steelers, so it will be a chance for fantasy owners to add and utilize the Bears' rookie in all league types.

He's a more confident deep-league starting option, but he'll make plenty of standard league starts for week 12.

Should You Add Noah Fant?

Fant finished with 36 yards on five catches and six targets this week, but fumbled to turn an OK fantasy showing into an ehh one.

He's been at 6.5 or more PPR points in five straight games, and has two double-digit outings in that span, although he scored a touchdown in both of those contests.

Fant will have a pretty favorable matchup coming against the Patriots in week 12. He might be the third-best fantasy pass catcher in Cincinnati most weeks, but this matchup puts him on the streaming radar.

There's also a chance Ja'Marr Chase is disciplined for his week 11 altercation with Jalen Ramsey, so Fant could be an even bigger part of the offense.

Fant is worth adding in some deeper leagues, and maybe streaming in standard leagues if Chase is suspended a game.