Hello and welcome to the Week 13 waiver wire watch for tight ends!
Thanksgiving week is finally here and we’re entering the home stretch of the 2025 NFL season. That means we’re also just a few weeks away from the playoffs starting in most fantasy football leagues and it’s crunch time for managers everywhere. So you better start getting your roster in order before it’s too late.
We’ll go over some TE performers that you should consider scooping off the waiver wire ahead of Week 13 and as always, we’ll classify a waiver add as someone who is rostered in 60% of leagues at the max. Every team is in action this week, so there are no byes for you to worry about. You should also keep in mind that there are three games to be played this Thursday for Thanksgiving and one game scheduled for Black Friday, so be extra mindful when setting your lineups this week. You don’t want to get to Sunday and realize that one of your guys has already played.
Week 13 byes: None
Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears (44.6%)
The Bears’ mid-late season surge has coincided with Loveland emerging as a reliable option for offense and that was the case in their 31-28 victory over the Steelers on Sunday. The first-round rookie caught four of five targets for 49 yards and a second-quarter touchdown that tied the game at the end of the first half. That’s now six straight games with at least four receptions for the Michigan product and he has easily supplanted Cole Kmet as the top pass-catching tight end in Chicago.
Loveland is also top-five among tight ends in ADOT, so Caleb Williams is regularly hunting for him downfield for big gains. He’s another rookie playmaker that could make a huge difference towards your push to the fantasy playoffs.
Week 13 matchup: @ Philadelphia Eagles, 3 p.m. ET (Friday afternoon)
Colby Parkinson, TE, Los Angeles Rams (0.6%)
Parkinson had a helping hand in the Rams’ 34-7 demolition of the Buccaneers on Sunday, hauling in four targets for 41 yards and a touchdown that put them up by three scores in the second quarter. This marked the third straight week where he’s recorded a score and he has become a key weapon for a Rams squad that currently looks like the best team in the NFL heading into the home stretch of the season..
And yet, fantasy managers are still sleeping on him as he continues to be rostered in less than 1% of leagues across all scoring formats. Like we said last week, if you need a trustworthy red-zone option at tight end, he’s sitting right there on the wire waiting to be picked up.
Week 13 matchup: @ Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. ET
Brenton Strange, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars (18.7%)
Strange was activated off IR last week and picked up where he left off on Sunday, catching all five of his targets for a career-high 93 yards in the Jags’ 27-24 overtime victory over the Cardinals. The third-year tight end had a productive start to the season before suffering a hip injury in their Week 5 victory over the Chiefs, taking him out of action for well over a month.
The Jaguars are rolling and are suddenly just a game behind the Colts for first place in the AFC South. Strange figures to play a big role in the team’s late-season playoff push and he has a shot at putting up big numbers against the lowly Titans this Sunday.
Week 13 matchup: @ Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m. ET
Theo Johnson, TE, New York Giants (52.5%)
Johnson has been one of the few bright spots for a Giants team that has been eliminated from playoff contention and he stepped up with three receptions for 77 yards in their 34-27 overtime loss to the Lions on Sunday. Whether it’s been Russell Wilson, Jaxson Dart, or Jameis Winston operating the controls, the second-year Penn State product has been a reliable weapon and this was the fourth time this year where he finished the week as a top-10 fantasy tight end.
With a rostership of just over 50%, time is running out on him as a waiver wire option. Grab him if you can.
Week 13 matchup: @ New England Patriots, 8:15 p.m. ET (Monday night)
