Tim

Wright

An undrafted free agent out of Rutgers, Wright technically came off the bench behind Nate Byham, but Byham wasn’t targeted. Wright now has six catches over his past two games, but is miles from fantasy relevance in an offense starting a rookie quarterback.

Wright was targeted ten times on the day and secured a one-yard touchdown from Mike Glennon in the second quarter. Wright, an undrafted rookie out of Rutgers, was a nice surprise at the tight end position as an athletic catch-first player. Wright appeared in all 16 games, making eight starts, and caught 54 passes for 571 yards and five touchdowns. He’ll return as a TE2 with upside in 2014.

Wright has fallen off the map of late with a total of two catches for 32 yards on three targets over the last two weeks. But he’s remained the primary pass-catching tight end, playing on a healthy 53.0 percent of the snaps. The biggest reason for his disappointing numbers is the Bucs’ two-game winning streak. Wright does most of his damage in garbage time, something the TE2 could see plenty of in Week 12. The Lions have been installed as 9.5 point favorites over the Bucs.

Wright’s stats were buoyed by garbage time, as the 49ers jumped out to an early lead and Mike Glennon’s 34 attempts were his single-game high since October. Something of a boom-or-bust streaming tight end option, Wright will still be more of a TE2 when the Bucs take on the Rams in Week 16.

Converted wideout Tim Wright was a pleasant 2013 surprise, finishing with 54 catches for 571 yards and five touchdowns as an undrafted rookie. But he’s a major liability as a blocker and his college coach, Greg Schiano, is gone. New boss Lovie Smith will hunt for a more well-rounded tight end, allowing him to leave Wright in a strict passing-down role. He’s a sell-high candidate in Dynasty.

Wright drew only three targets just six days after coach Greg Schiano showered praise on his rookie tight end. Wright has some legit pass-catching chops, but is an inconsistent fantasy option in Tampa’s run-based offense. He’s been held to two or fewer catches in three of his past four games, making him hard to trust for the fantasy playoffs.

With the Lions shading heavy coverage in Vincent Jackson’s direction, Wright and Tiquan Underwood (3-108-2) delivered productive games in an efficient effort by rookie quarterback Mike Glennon. Shaping up as an inconsistent TE1 option, Wright will be best left on benches in Week 13 against Carolina.

Tom Crabtree, Luke Stocker and Nate Byham are all on the Bucs’ injured reserve. It leaves Wright as the only viable option at tight end. He’s a poor blocker, but the former college wideout is emerging as the No. 2 option in the passing game. “Timmy Wright is quickly becoming a really tough tight end to cover in this league,” coach Greg Schiano said. “He and Mike Glennon have a really good feel for each other.” The dynamic Wright will be on the field for every single passing situation going forward, giving him more upside than other borderline TE1s.

Wright saved fantasy streamers’ day with a five-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter, but otherwise the entire Tampa Bay passing attack was quiet aside from Vincent Jackson in the 27-6 romp. Wright will not be a recommended TE1 Hail Mary when the Buccaneers face the 49ers in Week 15.

Wright also got the wind knocked out of him on a massive hit, but missed only a few plays. An undrafted rookie surprise out of Rutgers, Wright enters Week 17 with 49 catches for 513 yards and four scores. Wright will be in the TE1 conversation in 2014.