Harrison Bryant

Injuries and bye weeks can make setting your lineup a weekly hassle, especially at positions like tight end where value can be hard to come by. But with some clever work on the waiver wire, you can avoid laying a goose egg at a key position. 

Let's break down a few of the intriguing tight ends from Week 7 and beyond. 

Harrison Bryant

The Cleveland Browns tight end is going to be a popular choice on waivers after a two-touchdown performance this week. He shouldn't be your top priority, however. 

Consider a few things. First off, Austin Hooper didn't play Sunday. If he doesn't play again next weekend, then Bryant could make sense as a spot starter. If he does, however, then Bryant should remain on your bench, with Hooper the clear starter and David Njoku also available. 

Secondly, Bryant hasn't had much of a fantasy impact coming into Sunday, with just eight receptions for 70 yards and a score in the team's first six games. Add in a Week 9 bye, and Bryant isn't really anything more than a potential one-week spot starter if Hooper misses time. 

Odell Beckham Jr.'s injury status could factor somewhat into the equation. If both he and Hooper miss time next week, Bryant could slip into the low-end TE1 conversation. Those are the situations to monitor if you have Bryant on your radar. 

Logan Thomas

Thomas is another player who fantasy players will be excited about, only to be let down when they realize he's on a bye next week. 

Still, unlike Bryant, he has long-term upside as Washington's starting tight end. His fantasy relevance has largely comes from his two touchdowns the past two weeks, keeping him solidly in the TE2 conversation, but you could do worse than him as your backup tight end, especially if you find yourself needing cover in the weeks to come. 

Again, he's on a bye next week. If you only need coverage for Week 8, look elsewhere. But if you want a long-term option or are streaming tight ends, he's a player to monitor. 

Richard Rodgers

Here's a sneaky pickup for next week. With both Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert out injured, Rodgers will serve as the team's starting tight end. He's fresh off a six-catch, 85-yard performance, and the Eagles are lacking in offense playmakers in general, with DeSean Jackson and Jalen Reagor both injured as well. 

It's very possible the steady-if-unspectacular Rodgers will head into a Week 8 showdown with the Dallas Cowboys as one of Wentz's only reliable targets, alongside running back Miles Sanders (assuming he's able to play after missing Week 7) and fantasy shooting star Travis Fulgham. 

As one-week spot starters go, Rodgers is a great addition. He doesn't have Bryant's upside, but his floor is also higher given that Bryant might have minimal fantasy impact if Hooper returns next week. 

The Cleveland Browns will be without one of their offensive weapons for Sunday's AFC North clash against the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters tight end Austin Hooper will not suit up because he has appendicitis and is undergoing an appendectomy on Friday.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Hooper could miss next week's game against the Las Vegas Raiders as well.

Hooper, who the Browns signed this offseason after he spent the first four years of his career on the Atlanta Falcons, appeared in each of the team's first six games in 2020.

Hooper was a two-time Pro Bowler during his time in Atlanta and was expected to thrive in Cleveland's offense that is loaded with playmakers.

The thought was that opposing defenses would be so focused on stopping Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry on the outside, as well as the rushing attack featuring Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, that Hooper would have plenty of opportunities against single coverage and consistently exploit them.

That hasn't quite been the case yet, as he has 22 catches for 205 yards and one touchdown and is yet to reach even 60 yards in a single game. Hooper failed to tally even 30 yards in any of the last three contests.

Some of that can be attributed to the fact that Cleveland has enjoyed far more success on the ground this year than through the air with quarterback Baker Mayfield struggling with consistency despite an impressive 4-2 record.

Expect David Njoku and Harrison Bryant to see more playing time with Hooper sidelined.

The Browns already defeated the Bengals once this year, and the offense will look to replicate its success after scoring 35 points in the initial matchup.

TE Harrison Bryant, FAU

STRENGTHS

—Has good length and uses it in his play. 

—Classy, boujee and nasty. Can play in-line tight end, make you miss with agility or run you over. 

—Ran a lot of great routes, but FAU's offensive line did not allow the quarterback time to find him. 

—Uses acceleration off the line of scrimmage to open up the route tree and create space. 

—Played offensive line and won the Baldwin County (Georgia) Defensive Player of the Year award in high school; shows knowledge and foundational skills as a blocker. 

BR Video

WEAKNESSES

—Lets defenders jar the ball loose after he has made the catch.

—Too many focus drops; looks for what he can do after the catch or who is about to hit him before making the grab. 

—Needs to play with more leverage blocking; low man wins and he can get too high. 

—Limited catch radius with body control. 

OVERALL

Bryant perfectly fits the modern mold of what tight ends must be. The 2019 John Mackey Award winner is productive, athletic, tough and nasty. He's a do-it-all tight end who will only be limited by the imagination of his offensive coordinator.

GRADE: 77

PRO COMPARISON: Greg Olsen/Luke Willson