12 Formation: Tight End Start/Sits Week 3

Entering week three, some trends have started to form. In this week’s tight end start/sit column, @ethanAwyatt features some young tight ends with question marks.

I had a good showing in week two, even though most tight ends underwhelmed. Of my four calls, only one would’ve backfired for your teams.

My two start calls, TEs Pat Freiermuth and Zach Ertz had good fantasy weeks in PPR leagues. Each of them netted over ten fantasy points. Although, Freiermuth got saved by a touchdown.

On the other hand, my sit calls returned with mixed results. TE Cole Kmet posted a giant goose egg for the second straight week. Meanwhile, TE Tyler Higbee spurned me as he finished with over ten fantasy points.

Let’s continue to build on the momentum here in week three.

Be sure to follow our other start/sit articles and authors; they contain great advice to help you each week.

Changing the Call (QB): Jayson Snyder
The Cutback (RB): Jake Oliver
Slant Pattern (WR): Tristan Cook
12 Formation (TE): Ethan Wyatt
Flex on ‘Em (FLEX): Evan Brown
IDP Start/Sit (IDP): Jon Glosser

Starts

Kyle Pitts, ATL (TE4)

If you have Pitts, you’re obviously starting him. You do so with bated breath, but you’re still putting him in your lineups.

Pitts’s sophomore season has started on the rocks, leaving many of his fantasy managers dazed and confused. Falcons fans feel slighted as the former number four overall pick was set to be a featured part of the offense in 2022.

Blame has been tossed in the directions of head coach Arthur Smith and quarterback Marcus Mariota. I expect things to take a drastic turn for Pitts this week. Smith and company are likely sick of hearing about Pitts’s lack of involvement in the first two weeks (only four receptions on ten targets). Because of that, I expect Pitts to be fed the ball.

Not to mention, the Seattle Seahawks are a middling defense when it comes to defending the tight end position. Despite the disappointment, play Pitts again this week. You can’t give up on him yet.

Gerald Everett, LAC (TE9)

Everett has been a nice surprise for fantasy managers and the Chargers this year. Everett has collected nine receptions on 14 targets in two weeks. Granted, that’s come with WR Keenan Allen sidelined for most of those two games. Allen’s likely to play in week three, limiting the upside Everett provides.

However, with a quarterback (Justin Herbert) laboring fractured rib cartilage, Everett should receive plenty of targets close to the line of scrimmage. He’ll get the ball in his hands and be asked to do something with it.

That’s appealing for fantasy managers without an elite tight end. Everett will provide a nice floor for those that play him.

Sits

T.J. Hockenson, DET (TE9)

The Hockenson experiment is a failure; it should be chalked up to a failure for fantasy purposes. He has had the opportunity time after time over the past few years. Yet, he remains unable to capitalize.

In two game scripts that featured a lot of passing for the Detroit Lions, Hockenson has failed to haul in more than four receptions or 40 receiving yards. He’s providing almost nothing to fantasy managers’ lineups. There are a few tight ends I wouldn’t take over him at this point. It’s disappointing, but time to write off Hockenson.

Don’t start him until he strings some good games together. Either way, I’m looking to unload him anywhere I own him.

Dawson Knox, BUF (TE14)

Knox hasn’t lived up to the hype following his stellar fantasy season in 2021. In two games, Knox only has five receptions and 46 receiving yards. In his defense, the Bills have thrashed their first two opponents. However, that hasn’t stopped WRs Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis from performing (when healthy).

Davis is nursing an injury and is a 50-50 shot to play on Sunday. Although, he’s said he believes he’ll suit up. If Davis suits up, I don’t know how you can trot out Knox with confidence. He hasn’t shown anything this year. Until he does, he should be riding the pine.

Other options will give you similar point totals without the possibility of incredibly limited involvement. I expect Knox to return to the player we saw last season, but that won’t come in week three against the Miami Dolphins.

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