Before we get into my favorite tight ends for fantasy football Week 3, here are a few notes.

Injuries: I'm writing this piece on Monday and Tuesday, which means I won't have complete information regarding several players injured this past weekend. For the most part, I'll try to avoid highlighting players who might miss time to injury or who might see extra playing time if someone else ahead of them on the depth chart is out.

2023 Defensive Data: This is the final week in which I'll rely more on last year's data than this year's. It's not as if what defenses did in Weeks 1-2 doesn't matter, but for the purposes of evaluating skill-position matchups it still matters a little less than the 2023 numbers.

Pearl Jam: That's right, baby. They're playing at Fenway Park on Tuesday night, and I've decided to rediscover my youth and go to the concert. As a result, this edition of the article might (or might not) be shorter than it usually is. Rest assured, I'm putting the same research time into the piece. I just might (or might not) put a little less writing time into it. And that might (or might not) be a win for everybody, if we're being honest (your editor thanks you, Freedman).

Let's get to Week 3.

If you want to find the rest of my favorite positional fantasy football plays for Week 3, see below:

Best TEs for Fantasy Football Week 3

Here are my preliminary Week 3 favorites. These are the guys who (in some combination) …

  • Might be high in my fantasy rankings relative to the industry consensus.
  • Need to be started in most season-long leagues.
  • Must be added if they are on waivers.
  • Possess underappreciated upside.
  • Have advantageous matchups.
  • Should be considered in DFS.
  • Make for desirable dynasty acquisition targets.
  • Are on teams with player-friendly betting odds.
  • Catch my eye with their player projections.
  • Stand out in our player prop tool.

Some notes.

  • Updates: After I submit this piece (on Tuesday afternoon), any changing opinions I have will be reflected in my weekly fantasy football rankings and my NFL player projections (accessible with a FantasyLife+ subscription), which I will update throughout the week.
     
  • Rankings Accuracy: Last year I was No. 18 in the FantasyPros Accuracy Contest. That was my sixth season with a top-20 finish.
     
  • Scoring & Ordering: All fantasy points are half-PPR scoring unless otherwise stated. Players are ordered within position roughly (but maybe not precisely) according to my rankings.
     
  • Abbreviations: Check out the end of the piece for abbreviations I might use.
     
  • Sports Betting Data: Odds are as of 12:45 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Sep. 17, and based on the consensus lines in our Fantasy Life NFL Betting Odds Page.

Brock Bowers (Raiders) vs. Panthers

  • Raiders: -5.5
  • O/U: 40.5
  • TT: 23

Alright, it's time for me to give Brock Bowers some flowers.

Entering the season, I was skeptical about what we'd see out of him as a rookie, especially since he needs to compete for playing time and targets with second-year TE Michael Mayer.

Although Bowers doesn't have an elite route rate (71%), his overall usage has bestowed upon him a position-best 8.9 Utilization Score, which he has leveraged into an impressive 15-156-0 receiving on 17 targets.

The Panthers last year were No. 29 in defensive pass DVOA against TEs (19.7%). Whichever defender they put on Bowers on any given play, he will likely have an edge.

The Hot Route

Hunter Henry (Patriots +6.5, TT: 15.5) at Jets: Somehow, Henry is No. 1 among all TEs with a 30% target share and 31% air yard share. The Jets last year were No. 5 in largest fantasy boost allowed to TEs (+1.2).

Mike Gesicki (Bengals -7.5, TT: 27.25) vs. Commanders: Although he has a route rate of just 49%, Gesicki has an elite target rate of 35%, which he has turned into 10-109-0 receiving. Without WR Tee Higgins (hamstring), Gesicki might continue to serve as the team's No. 2 pass-catching option. 

Colby Parkinson (Rams +7, TT: 18.5) vs. 49ers: If you liked Parkinson last week without WR Puka Nacua (knee, IR), you'll probably love him this week without Nacua and now also WR Cooper Kupp (ankle). I expect SS Talanoa Hufanga (knee) to miss at least one more game given that he was doubtful last week and has yet to play this year.

More Fantasy Football Plays for Week 3

Abbreviations

  • Fantasy Points per Game (FPPG)
  • Against the Spread (ATS)
  • Over/Under (O/U)
  • Team Total (TT)
  • Moneyline (ML)
  • Return on Investment (ROI)
  • Adjusted Yards per Attempt (AY/A)
  • Expected Points Added (EPA)
  • Success Rate (SR)
  • Completion Percentage Over Expected (CPOE)
  • Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA)
  • AirYAC (Air Yards + Yards After Catch)
  • Weighted Opportunity Rating (WOPR)
  • Average Depth of Target (aDOT)
  • Short Down and Distance (SDD)
  • Long Down and Distance (LDD)