The 2024-25 NFL season has begun which means fantasy football is back! The fantasy landscape has already changed since the preseason due to breakout players and major injuries across the league. This makes it the appropriate time of year to begin deferring from some of the players originally drafted to be starters and play some of the players that have overperformed this season as opposed to performing at their preseason expectation. Since every week is important it would be irresponsible to start a player with a rough matchup over a player with a more favorable one that is ranked or projected to perform similarly. Here are fantasy football Week 3 tight end rankings.
[Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to Injured Reserve List]
[Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week]
Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They Will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.
Starting TE1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a solid floor.
TD Dependent Starter- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not because of depth at the position. Their production is based on whether they can get in the end zone or not. It can be the difference between a top 10 performance or a top 25 performance
Deep League Starter- a player whose ceiling isn’t high but should put up enough production to be started in deep leagues. When a player like this is started it is because their production though it will likely be low, will be better than a few options.
Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.
| Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
| Must Start | Travis Kelce | vs Atlanta Falcons | TE1 |
| Must Start | Mark Andrews | vs Dallas Cowboys | TE2 |
| Starting TE1 | George Kittle | vs Los Angeles Rams | TE3 |
| Starting TE1 | Trey McBride | vs Detroit Lions | TE4 |
| Starting TE1 | Sam Laporta | vs Arizona Cardinals | TE5 |
| Starting TE1 | Evan Engram* | vs Buffalo Bills | TE6 |
| Starting TE1 | Brock Bowers | vs Carolina Panthers | TE7 |
| Starting TE1 | Jake Ferguson* | vs Baltimore Ravens | TE8 |
| Starting TE1 | Dallas Goedert | vs New Orleans Saints | TE9 |
| Starting TE1 | David Njoku* | vs New York Giants | TE10 |
| Starting TE1 | Dalton Kincaid | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | TE11 |
| TD Dependent Starter | Kyle Pitts | vs Kansas City Chiefs | TE12 |
| TD Dependent Starter | Colby Parkinson | vs San Francisco 49ers | TE13 |
| TD Dependent Starter | Zach Ertz | vs Cincinnati Bengals | TE14 |
| TD Dependent Starter | Pat Freiermuth | vs Los Angeles Chargers | TE15 |
| TD Dependent Starter | Mike Gesicki | vs Washington Commanders | TE16 |
| TD Dependent Starter | Hunter Henry | vs New York Jets | TE17 |
| Deep League Starter | Dalton Schultz* | vs Minnesota Vikings | TE18 |
| Deep League Starter | Isaiah Likely | vs Dallas Cowboys | TE19 |
| Deep League Starter | Taysom Hill* | vs Philadelphia Eagles | TE20 |
| Deep League Starter | Tyler Conklin | vs New England Patriots | TE21 |
| Deep League Starter | Chigoziem Okonkwo | vs Green Bay Packers | TE22 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jonnu Smith | vs Seattle Seahawks | TE23 |
| Leave on the Bench | Greg Dulcich* | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | TE24 |
| Leave on the Bench | Cole Kmet | vs Indianapolis Colts | TE25 |
| Leave on the Bench | Juwan Johnson | vs Philadelphia Eagles | TE26 |
| Leave on the Bench | Noah Fant* | vs Miami Dolphins | TE27 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tucker Kraft* | vs Tennessee Titans | TE28 |
| Leave on the Bench | Johnny Mundt | vs Houston Texans | TE29 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tommy Tremble* | vs Las Vegas Raiders | TE30 |
| Leave on the Bench | Cade Otton | vs Denver Broncos | TE31 |
| Leave on the Bench | Hayden Hurst* | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | TE32 |
| Leave on the Bench | Theo Johnson | vs Cleveland Browns | TE33 |
| Leave on the Bench | Gerald Everett | vs Indianapolis Colts | TE34 |
| Leave on the Bench | Luke Musgrave | vs Tennessee Titans | TE35 |
| Leave on the Bench | Erick All Jr. | vs Washington Commanders | TE36 |
| Leave on the Bench | Michael Mayer | vs Carolina Panthers | TE37 |
TE6 Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars
During pregame warmups, Evan Engram was ruled out for last week’s game against the Cleveland Browns with a hamstring injury. He is considered week-to-week with the injury. If Engram misses Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills Brenton Strange becomes the TE22 between Chigoziem Okonkwo and Jonnu Smith.
TE8 Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
Jake Ferguson missed last week’s game against the New Orleans Saints with an MCL sprain. He was limited in practice on Wednesday because of the injury. There is a chance he could return this week. If Ferguson misses Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens Luke Schoonmaker becomes the TE18 between Dalton Schultz and Isaiah Likely.
TE10 David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
David Njoku missed last week’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with an ankle injury. Njoku missed practice on Wednesday because of the injury. If Njoku misses Week 3 against the New York Giants Jordan Akins becomes TE29 between Johnny Mundt and Tommy Tremble.
TE18 Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans
Dalton Schultz was limited in practice on Wednesday with an ankle injury. Last week he missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday because of the injury. If Schultz misses Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings Cade Stover becomes the TE26 between Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant.
TE20 Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
Taysom Hill missed practice on Wednesday with a chest injury. If Hill misses Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau should have expanded roles in New Orleans’ offense.
TE24 Greg Dulcich, Denver Broncos
Greg Dulcich was limited in practice on Wednesday with both an ankle and a knee injury. It is unclear if these injuries will hold Dulcich out of this week’s game. If Dulcich misses Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Adam Trautman will be Denver’s starting tight end.
TE27 Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks
Noah Fant was limited in practice on Wednesday with a toe injury. If Fant misses Week 3 against the Miami Dolphins Pharaoh Brown will be the starting tight end for the Seahawks.
TE28 Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
Tucker Kraft was limited in practice on Wednesday with a shoulder injury. If Kraft misses Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans Luke Musgrave will move up to TE28 between Noah Fant and Johnny Mundt.
TE30 Tommy Tremble, Carolina Panthers
Tommy Tremble was limited in practice on Wednesday with both hamstring and back injuries. If Tremble misses Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders Ja’Tavion Sanders will be the starting tight end for the Carolina Panthers.
TE32 Hayden Hurst, Los Angeles Chargers
Hayden Hurst was limited in practice on Wednesday with an ankle injury. If Hurst misses Week 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers WIll Dissly becomes the number one tight end for the Los Angeles Chargers.
You can “Like” The Game Haus on Facebook and “Follow” us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers like Chris Thomas
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
