3 Fantasy Football Tight End Streaming Options for Week 5

The story of the tight end position is a tale similar to every sports offseason. There's annual optimism in advance of the season. Yet, optimism turns into reality without fail, and every team isn't playing for a championship. Or, in the case of tight ends, the many mid- and late-round breakout candidates fail to materialize into weekly contributors.

Some gamers understand this reality and pounce on an early-round stud. Others recognize it and intend on streaming out of the chute. Still, others arrive in the streaming group unwittingly after their middle-tier or late-round dart throw flops.

Regardless of how you got here, this is your weekly home for streaming options. Below you'll find three widely available options for Week 5.

Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills

Yahoo! Roster Percentage: 47%

The Buffalo Bills travel to Kansas City to face the Kansas City Chiefs in a 2020 AFC Championship Game rematch on Sunday Night Football this week, and the expectation is offensive fireworks will be on display.

According to NFL odds, the game's total is 56.5 points, and the Bills are 3.0-point underdogs. In short, this should be a fantasy-friendly contest in which you'll want pieces of the action.

Further, beyond the lofty expectations set by the betting info, the tempo should cause gamers rostering players in this game to be giddy. According to Football Outsiders, entering Week 4, the Chiefs played at the 10th-fastest situation neutral pace, and the Bills played at the 2nd-fastest pace. Thus, these players should have their track shoes on for a sprint.

Dawson Knox is a widely available option who's breaking out in his third season. Among tight ends, Knox ranks tied for 14th in targets (20), tied for 21th in receptions (15), tied for 16th in receiving yards (144), and tied for first in touchdowns (4).

In addition, Knox's underlying numbers are even more exciting. According to Pro Football Focus, Knox is tied for the eighth-most routes (115). Also, his hefty touchdown total is supported by Josh Allen peppering him in scoring territory. To that point, Allen's attempted 24 passes from 15 yards or closer to scoring, and he's directed a team-high 6 Knox's way.

As a result, he's a sweet streaming option in a game with a high projected scoring total. At this point, Knox has played his way into fringe weekly fantasy starter territory in 12-team leagues or larger, and this might be the last week he qualifies for inclusion in this space.

Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

Yahoo! Roster Percentage: 42%

The New England Patriots made massive splashes in the free-agency pool at tight end, scooping up both Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry. Through four games, we have a clearer picture of how they're using the duo. Yes, Smith's 21 targets are a few more than Henry's 18. However, essentially everything else leans in Henry's favor. Henry's 14 receptions and 141 receiving yards are more than Smith's 13 and 88, respectively.

Henry's also trouncing Smith in playing time and routes. According to Pro Football Reference, Smith's played fewer than 50 percent of New England's offensive snaps each of the last three weeks, and Henry's played 68 percent of the offensive snaps or more in all four games. Further, Smith's run only 65 routes, and Henry's run 115. Unfortunately, Henry hasn't parlayed his routes and playing time into spectacular production. Still, he's caught two or more passes and bested 30 receiving yards every game.

I don't think Henry has a huge ceiling tied to a ho-hum offense led by a rookie quarterback, Mac Jones, and sharing the field with another talented tight end.

Regardless, he's a rock-solid option in a plus matchup this week. The Houston Texans are horrendous, and the Patriots have an adequate implied total of 24.25 points as 9.0-point favorites.

Also, Houston's struggled mightily defending tight ends. According to Pro Football Reference, they're tied for the fourth-most receptions (26) allowed, have coughed up the fourth-most receiving yards (267), and are tied for the second-most touchdown receptions (third) ceded to tight ends.

Henry's my third-favorite streaming option touted in this piece.

Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys

Yahoo! Roster Percentage: 34%

The Dalton Schultz breakout hasn't hit a hiccup yet. On the contrary, it's gaining steam. Schultz has pulled clear from fellow tight end Blake Jarwin in the pecking order for the Dallas Cowboys. Schultz set new highs for the year last week in playing time (79 percent) and targets (8), tying his high for receptions (six), as well. Adding context to how impressive his 8 targets were, Dak Prescott attempted only 22 passes. Also, he made them count, picking up 58 yards and a score on his 6 receptions.

For the year, he checks some notable top-10 boxes at tight end. First, he's tied at ninth in targets (23). Second, he's fourth in receptions (20), and he also ranks sixth in receiving yards (201). Finally, he's tied for third with three touchdown receptions.

The biggest concern in his statistical profile is ranking only 19th among tight ends in routes (93) because Dallas has leaned heavily on the running game the last three weeks. Nevertheless, Schultz has carved out an integral role in the passing game, and he's attached to a high-scoring offense.

He's my second-favorite tight end streamer, narrowly edged out by Knox for top honors.

Joshua Shepardson is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Joshua Shepardson also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username bchad50. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he/she may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his/her personal account. The views expressed in his/her articles are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.