Week 3 has already started. We need to begin game-planning for our lineups. I will be here weekly with my starts/sits of the week at tight end. Tight ends are tricky since you’ll likely want to start the best six to eight tight ends no matter what. I will give some players right after that elite tier that you can play and a few sleepers lower in the rankings. Tight end sits will be strictly based on matchups and may impact some of the elites.
Be sure to follow our other start/sit articles and authors; they contain great advice to help you each week.
Changing the Call (QB): Mike Hicks
The Cutback (RB): Jake Oliver
Slant Pattern (WR): Tristan Cook
12 Formation (TE): Steven Pintado
Flex on ‘Em (FLEX): Evan Brown
IDP Start/Sit (IDP): Jon Glosser
Recapping Last Week
Last week, we went four for six among my Starts and Sits at tight end. Cole Kmet and Luke Musgrave did not give us the production we wanted in week two. Jake Ferguson would finish as a TE10 and caught a touchdown. All three of my sits would be outside the top 20 finishes in week two.
Start Em’
Cole Kmet, Bears – TE17
Cole Kmet is my first start em for week three. Kmet didn’t have a great week two but is still TE11. I understand that the Bears offense has disappointed over the first two weeks, but Kmet is doing fine. He has 13 targets in these two weeks and will have the opportunity to improve as the offense does. The Chiefs have allowed decent production to opposing tight ends on the season. The Chiefs are tough with outside receivers. Kmet should continue to be a target in the middle of the field. Fantasy Pros has him as TE17 but should finish closer to a borderline TE1 in week three.
Taysom Hill, Saints- TE19
The fantasy world is unbelievable when Taysom Hill becomes a thing during the season. Taysom Hill has excellent potential in week three. It’s mainly because his role in the offense isn’t just about playing the tight end position. Due to injuries at the running back position, Hill saw nine carries for 76 yards in week two. The Saints plan to have Kendre Miller and Tony Jones Jr. out there in week three. Miller is coming into his first NFL game, so his role could be eased in, and Jones Jr. always seems to disappoint when given an opportunity. Hill may not be a great tight end, but his multi-use role makes him a decent start in week three. I’m on par with Fantasy Pros, but his upside would be worth taking a shot on.
Cade Otton, Bucs- TE25
Cade Otton hasn’t been a name on fantasy radars this year so far. He did have a solid week in that game, where he had six receptions for 41 yards. Otton is entering week three in a terrific matchup as they play the Eagles. The Eagles have allowed the most fantasy points to tight ends this season. They have allowed the third most yards and most touchdowns to the position. I expect the Bucs to be in a come-from-behind situation, so expect Otton to see a healthy share of targets in week three. Fantasy Pros has Otton outside the top 24, but he should be inside the top 24 for this matchup.
Sit Em’/Proceed with Caution
Tyler Higbee, Rams – TE13
This one may be hard to sit in week three because Higbee, on paper, has a favorable matchup because the Bengals have given up a touchdown in both weeks. Higbee isn’t the primary pass catcher as we thought he would be with Cooper Kupp out. He is currently the third or fourth target on the team. He had seven targets in week two but produced fewer than three fantasy points. Higbee could be a mediocre play in week three.
David Njoku, Browns – TE11
David Njoku has been another tight end that has been disappointing for fantasy. He is another tight end who hasn’t been able to escape less than five fantasy points yet this season. While his metric on the season is good, the opportunity he is getting hasn’t been. DeShaun Watson has focused on this receiving core with Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore, combining for more than 50% of the target share. The Titans are a decent team against fantasy tight ends this year. They haven’t allowed a touchdown to the position yet. If Njoku isn’t going to see the targets, he is hard to play in week three.
Kyle Pitts, Falcons – TE9
Kyle Pitts has another tough start in week three. It’s not the matchup, as it is a favorable matchup against the Lions. It would be a week to start him but proceed with caution. Kyle Pitts is not seeing the opportunity we want for him. Desmond Ridder threw 32 pass attempts in week three, but Kyle Pitts only finished that game with two receptions for 15 yards. Even in a matchup that should expect more passing, the Falcons will continue to run the ball. The rest of the Falcons tight ends are seeing an opportunity as well. Jonnu Smith had one more target than Pitts in week three. Sitting with him is tough, but I do not see more opportunities for him to succeed.
