Check out Marc Caviglia’s fantasy football rankings and hot takes on the Week 3 tight end matchups:
- Jonnu Smith has emerged as a top tier tight end for the Tennessee Titans and fantasy owners need to make the most of his emergence. Smith has 8 receptions for 120 yards and 3 touchdowns on the season and has developed into Ryan Tannehill’s main red zone target, especially with A. J. Brown being out with an injury. Factor in a matchup with a Vikings team allowing 20.5 yards per catch to the tight end position and Smith is scratching at the surface of being a top-5 tight end this week.
- New York Giants tight end Evan Engram hasn’t played to his potential yet in 2020. He has just 74 yards on 8 receptions so far and a lot of his struggles has had to do with the inaccuracy of quarterback Daniel Jones. Engram’s 15 targets rank 7th at the position but his catch percentage is just over 50-percent. Add to the Giants quarterback woes a matchup with the San Francisco 49ers and you have a tight end to avoid in Week 3. The Niners defense has given up just 3 receptions and 26 receiving yards total to opposing tight ends. Engram will need a touchdown to salvage what should be a pedestrian afternoon.
- If you are looking for a TE streamer this week take a look at Jordan Akins of the Houston Texans. He scored a Week 1 touchdown and hauled in a career high 7 receptions for 55 yards in a Week 2 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. His Week 3 opponent, the Steelers rank in the middle of the league against opposing tight ends, having given up 9 receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown to the position. It’s evident that Akins is becoming a reliable intermediate route runner for quarterback DeShaun Watson and until the Texans can find some playmakers down the field, look for Akins to see a healthy dosage of targets each week.
- It’s time for your weekly reminder to avoid Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski in Week 3. Gronk was held without a catch last week and saw just one Tom Brady target. There will be a time this season when he has fantasy value but Week 3 isn’t one of them.
Rankings are based on the following scoring:
6 points per touchdown
1 point per 10 rushing & receiving yards
-2 points per turnover
.5 point & 1 point per reception (toggle to find scoring format)
