It’s Week 3 and the fantasy tight end landscape has already been thrown into a state of flux. The reigning top three tight ends are nowhere near what the general consensus expected, which means you likely have tough lineup decisions at the position. Here are my TE start/sit Week 3 fantasy football picks!
Check out my full Week 3 start/sit article with picks at each position here!
Start ‘Em: Juwan Johnson (Saints) at Seahawks
A guy catching passes from Spencer Rattler is the current PPR TE2. Yes, you read that correctly.
For what it’s worth, Rattler has been better than expected to open the year, and put together a strong outing against the 49ers in Week 2. That said, this type of production has come out of nowhere for Johnson, who entered the 2025 campaign as arguably the fourth option in a Saints offense absolutely no one had high hopes for.
The veteran has racked up a whopping 20 targets across two contests, catching 13 balls for 125 yards and a touchdown. With Rattler finding a rhythm, Johnson is suddenly in must-start territory against Seattle. The Seahawks have allowed the most fantasy points to tight ends so far this year. If Johnson is somehow a free agent in your league, grab him. If you have him, start him.
Sit ‘Em: Evan Engram (Broncos) at Chargers
Evan Engram may not be the player we thought he was.
The veteran hasn’t been healthy to open the year, resulting in an incomplete outing in Week 1 and a reduced workload against the Colts in the following matchup. Engram only has four receptions for 33 yards on the year.
To make matters worse, the former PPR monster played behind Adam Trautman, who caught a touchdown, against Indy. Engram may just need a few games to get fully healthy and up to speed, but with Troy Franklin emerging as a surprise breakout candidate and Marvin Mims still around, targets aren’t as easy to come by as we expected. For now, it’s best to let the veteran prove his value before trusting him in your fantasy lineups.
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Start ‘Em: Jake Ferguson (Cowboys) at Bears
Malik Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson were the fantasy story of the epic Cowboys-Giants duel in Week 2, combining for north of 65 points. However, Ferguson quietly put together an effort that earned him the PPR TE3 finish on the week. The 26-year-old turned 12 targets into nine receptions for 78 yards. That 16.8-point outing comfortably put him among the best at his position on Sunday, but this isn’t likely a one-week boom.
Ferguson has long been one of Dak Prescott’s favorite targets when healthy. While the continued emergence of George Pickens will be a story, that will affect CeeDee Lamb, not the tight end. Ferguson operates as Prescott’s safety blanket for everything underneath and intermediate, a role that won’t be challenged by anyone on Dallas’ roster.
This week, the Cowboys draw the Bears, who have allowed a combined 79 points through two games. Ferguson should have no problem remaining in TE1 territory.
Looking for more TE start/sit Week 3 picks? Stay tuned for my MNF fantasy start/sit article! New tight end start/sit picks drop weekly!
Sit ‘Em: Harold Fannin Jr. (Browns) vs. Packers
Fannin will certainly be a popular waiver wire target after two productive weeks, but I’ll give you one reason why you should avoid the rookie:
The Packers defense.
Yes, Fannin has drawn 14 targets through two contests and turned them into 12 receptions for 111 yards. Yes, he may have surpassed David Njoku as the top tight end on the roster. Allow me to repeat myself: You do not mess around with the Packers defense. Micah Parsons and company have now terrorized two of the NFL’s best offenses in Detroit and Washington. With all due respect to Joe Flacco and the Browns, they are not even close to the Lions or Commanders in quality.
Barring a wild turn of events, the Browns will struggle mightily. Fannin will get other chances to produce at a high level, but this is not one of them.
Those are my TE Week 3 start/sit picks! Stay tuned for more fantasy advice throughout the week.
All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.
