Fantasy football managers face a different tight end landscape in Week 8 with several top options on bye weeks, while emerging players like Colston Loveland and Kyle Pitts regain trust. George Kittle, Isaiah Likely, Juwan Johnson, and Dalton Schultz are all on bye, removing two of the position's best performers and two intermittent streamers from lineups.
Players Gaining Trust
Colston Loveland has seen 19 targets in his last two games, matching preseason expectations. Even in a difficult matchup, he is considered a viable starter. Kyle Pitts has scored four touchdowns in seven games, already approaching his career high of five from last season. Dalton Kincaid's 2.37 yards per route run ranks second only to Kittle, making him a borderline TE1 coming off his bye. Sam LaPorta's eight targets inside the 10-yard line rank second behind Trey McBride, suggesting his Week 7 disappointment should not discourage managers. Brenton Strange has commanded a 22.5% target share since Week 4, tied for the Jacksonville Jaguars' best mark, while Chigoziem Okonkwo posted an 88.9% route share in Week 6, a season high, and could be a strong streamer with Terry McLaurin out for the year.
Waiver Wire Targets
Brenton Strange (Jaguars) had at least seven targets in three straight games before the Week 7 bye, averaging 8.5 yards per target. If the role holds, he could become a season-long starter rather than just a streamer. Chigoziem Okonkwo (Commanders) ran nearly 90% of routes in Week 6 and tied Stefon Diggs with a team-best 20% target share. With no clear number two target in Washington, Okonkwo has scored double-digit fantasy points in both games where he played over 70% of offensive snaps.
DFS Plays
Kyle Pitts (Falcons) is the top DFS play at tight end. His price has not caught up to his recent production, and his track record against the Tampa Bay defense is exceptional: 11 catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns in his last meeting, with at least 12 fantasy points in each of his last five games versus Tampa Bay. A contrarian option is rookie Eli Raridon (Patriots), who has averaged 10.5 yards per target and seen 12 targets over his last three games. New England carries one of the highest implied totals on the slate, increasing Raridon's touchdown potential.
Projections
Full Week 8 fantasy football projections for every position are available and updated throughout the week. Managers should check back before setting lineups for the latest projected stats for all starting tight ends.
