It’s Week 3, folks! Time to set the fantasy lineups! Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups of any given week for fantasy football leagues. I’m not going to go into elite players like Sam LaPorta or Travis Kelce because you already know you have to start them! Instead, I’m going to examine other tight ends that could exceed or fail to meet expectations based on their weekly opponent… like Trey McBride in Week 2!
To make your final lineup decision, check out my fantasy player rankings. I update them daily! Also, don’t forget to subscribe to Fantasy Dirt with Lindsay Rhodes and I as we analyze all things fantasy football five days a week!
Don’t forget to check out my start and sit recommendations for all other positions before you set your lineup: QB | RB | WR | K & D/ST
1. Trey McBride vs Lions
2. Sam LaPorta at the Cardinals
3. Travis Kelce vs Falcons
4. George Kittle at the Rams
5. Brock Bowers vs Panthers
6. Mark Andrews at the Cowboys
7. Dalton Kincaid vs. Jaguars (Monday)
8. Kyle Pitts vs Chiefs
9. Dallas Goedert at the Saints
10. Hunter Henry at Jets (Thursday)
Complete the Week 3 Tight End Rankings!
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 over 40 snaps per game and Gardner Minshew has bombarded him with a total of 17 targets. With the tight end position currently so thinly stacked, that’s more than enough reason to use Bowers against the Panthers’ helpless defense in Sin City.
Start it
George Kittle at Rams (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Kittle may be an easy target, but the tight end position is thin on the ground right now, so I think Kittle could once again be a top-five player at the position. He’ll be going up against the Rams, who have allowed nine touchdowns and the second-most fantasy points to tight ends since last season. Kittle has also averaged 14.4 fantasy points in his 12 career games against this NFC West opponent.
Kyle Pitts vs. Chiefs (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Pitts had a miserable performance last week, scoring just five points in a win over the Eagles. The good news is he played 44 snaps, but he blocked more often because the Falcons were successful on the ground. I’ll keep Pitts in the starting lineup as he faces a Chiefs defense that allowed both Isaiah Likely and Mike Gesicki to impressive stats in the first two weeks of the regular season.
Dallas Goedert at Saints (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Goedert, like Pitts, didn’t put up great stats last week. But like Pitts, he played a lot of snaps. With AJ Brown out and a possible shootout against the Saints next on the schedule, Goedert should stay in the starting lineup. New Orleans gave up six catches to Cowboys backup tight end Luke Schoonmaker last week, so Goedert should have at least some success.
TEs with good matchups
Sit of the week
Isaiah likely with the Cowboys (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Likely came back down to earth last week, scoring just 4.6 fantasy points after his 26.1-point opener. The rotation was much more in favor of Mark Andrews, as Likely only played 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 bench.
sit down
Zach Ertz at the Bengals (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+): Ertz finished eighth among tight ends in scoring last week, scoring 10.2 fantasy points. However, he had just four targets in his first two games with the Commanders, and an upcoming matchup at Cincinnati makes it difficult to use him as a starter. Their defense held Travis Kelce to just one catch last week and Hunter Henry to just 3.8 points in the season opener.
Cole Kmet at Colts (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Kmet’s snap percentage increased significantly last week, as he played 54 snaps compared to just 26 in the opener. Still, the veteran held on to four catches for 27 yards and 6.7 fantasy points in a loss to the Texans. Next up is a game against the Colts, who have not allowed a touchdown since last season and have the seventh-fewest fantasy points allowed to tight ends, so Kmet remains on the bench.
Mike Gesicki vs. Commanders (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+): Gesicki was a hit last week, catching seven of nine passes for 91 yards and scoring 16.1 fantasy points. I’m not sure I’d chase those points, though, as Gesicki could face fewer passes if the Bengals get Tee Higgins back. Additionally, 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 waivers list.
TEs with bad matchups
And remember, I have Week 3 starting and sit-em picks for all other positions as well:
