Tight End Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks for Fantasy Football Week 3

Michael Fabiano | Sep 20, 2024

Start Em, Sit Em Tight Ends: Week 3 /

It’s Week 3, folks! Time to set those fantasy lineups! Start ‘Em, Sit 'Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups in a given week for fantasy football leagues. I won’t cover elite players like Sam LaPorta or Travis Kelce, because you already know to start them! Instead, I'll examine other tight ends who could exceed or fail to meet expectations based on their weekly opponent … like Trey McBride in Week 2!

For your final lineup decisions, check out my fantasy player rankings. I update them daily! Also, make sure you subscribe to Fantasy Dirt with Lindsay Rhodes and I, as we break down all things fantasy football five days a week!

Don't forget to also check out my start 'em, sit 'em picks at every other position before you set your lineup too: QB | RB | WR | K & D/ST

Fabs’ Top 10 Tight Ends for Week 3

1. Trey McBride vs. Lions
2. Sam LaPorta at Cardinals
3. Travis Kelce vs. Falcons
4. Brock Bowers vs. Panthers
5. Mark Andrews at Cowboys
6. Dalton Kincaid vs. Jaguars (Mon.)
7. Kyle Pitts vs. Chiefs
8. Jake Ferguson vs. Ravens
9. Dallas Goedert at Saints
10. Hunter Henry at Jets (Thurs.)

Complete Week 3 tight end rankings!

Week 3 Start ‘Em: Tight Ends

Start of the Week

Brock Bowers vs. Panthers (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): Believe it or not, Bowers is the only tight end to score double digit fantasy points in each of the first two weeks of the season. He’s played 40-plus snaps a game, and Gardner Minshew has peppered him with a total of 17 targets. With tight end being as thin a position as it is right now, that’s more than enough reason to start Bowers against the hapless Panthers defense in Sin City.

Start ‘Em

Jake Ferguson vs. Ravens (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Ferguson missed last week's blowout loss against the Saints with an injured knee, but he's been removed from this week's injury report and will be good to face the Ravens. At what is a thin position across the league, Ferguson instantly goes back into most starting fantasy lineups against a Baltimore defense that just gave up a nice stat line to rooie Brock Bowers. He'll be a top-10 option.

Kyle Pitts vs. Chiefs (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Pitts had a stinker last week, scoring just five points in a win over the Eagles. The good news is that he played 44 snaps, but he blocked more often because the Falcons found success on the ground. I’m going to keep Pitts in starting lineups, as he faces a Chiefs defense that’s given up impressive stat lines to both Isaiah Likely and Mike Gesicki over the first two weeks of the regular season.

Dallas Goedert at Saints (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Goedert, like Pitts, didn’t put up a huge stat line last week. But also, like Pitts, he played a ton of snaps. With A.J. Brown out of action and a potential shootout against the Saints next on the schedule, Goedert should remain in starting fantasy lineups.  New Orleans did give up six catches to Cowboys backup tight end Luke Schoonmaker last week, so Goedert should find at least some success.

TEs With Good Matchups

• Dalton Kincaid vs. Jaguars (Mon. 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• Pat Freiermuth vs. Chargers (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
• Colby Parkinson vs. 49ers (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox)

Week 3 Sit ‘Em: Tight Ends

Sep 5, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely (80) runs the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images / Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Sit of the Week

Isaiah Likely at Cowboys (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Likely came crashing back to earth last week, scoring just 4.6 fantasy points after his 26.1-point explosion in the opener. The rotation was much more in favor of Mark Andrews, as Likely saw just 32 snaps and was on the field for 19 passing snaps. The Cowboys defense has allowed the fifth-fewest points to tight ends since the start of last season, so I’d keep Likely on the sidelines.

Sit ‘Em

Zach Ertz at Bengals (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+): Ertz finished eighth in points among tight ends last week, scoring 10.2 fantasy points. He’s only seen four targets in each of his first two games with the Commanders, however, and an upcoming matchup in Cincinnati makes him tough to start. Their defense held Travis Kelce to just one catch a week ago, and it kept Hunter Henry to a mere 3.8 points in the season opener.

Cole Kmet at Colts (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Kmet saw his snap share increase significantly last week, as he played 54 snaps compared to just 26 in the opener. Still, the veteran was held to four catches for 27 yards and 6.7 fantasy points in a loss to the Texans. Next up is a date with the Colts, who have allowed no touchdowns and the seventh-fewest fantasy points to visiting tight ends since last season. As a result, Kmet remains a sit ‘em.

Mike Gesicki vs. Commanders (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+): Gesicki went off last week, catching seven of nine targets for 91 yards to finish with 16.1 fantasy points. I’m not sure I’d chase those points, however, as Gesicki could see fewer targets if the Bengals get Tee Higgins back. Also, the Commanders defense has allowed the fourth-fewest points to opposing tight ends since the start of last season. I’d keep Gesicki on the waiver wire.

TEs With Bad Matchups

• Tucker Kraft at Titans (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
• Chigoziem Okonkwo vs. Packers (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
• Jonnu Smith at Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS)

And remember, I have you covered with start 'em, sit 'em picks for Week 3 at every other position too:

• Quarterback
• Running back
• Wide receiver
• Kicker and defense