Fantasy Football TE Rankings Week 3: Who to start, best sleepers, top busts

Fantasy Football TE Rankings Week 3: Who to start, best sleepers, top busts originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Tight end remains one of the trickiest positions to navigate in fantasy football, but two weeks into the 2026 season have provided plenty of clues about which players can be trusted. Injuries, target volume and early-season performances all play a major role as fantasy managers set their Week 3 lineups.

With matchups and usage shifting week to week, finding the right tight end can make a significant difference. Here are the top tight ends to start in Week 3, factoring in injuries, recent performances, expected workloads and matchups.

Read on for our breakdown of the tight end position for Week 3 of the 2026 fantasy season.

Fantasy TE Rankings Week 3: Who to start, sit at tight end

RKTETMOpp.1Trey McBrideARIat SF2Dalton KincaidBUFvs. LAC3Brock BowersLVat NO4Tyler WarrenINDvs. HOU5George KittleSFvs. ARI6Travis KelceKCat MIA7Sam LaPortaDETvs. NYJ8Isaiah LikelyNYGvs. TEN9Dalton SchultzHOUat IND10Tucker KraftGBvs. ATL11Colston LovelandCHIvs. PHI12Juwan JohnsonNOvs. LV13Kyle Pitts Sr.ATLat GB14Oronde Gadsden IILACat BUF15Harold Fannin Jr.CLEvs. CAR16Mark AndrewsBALat DAL17Jake FergusonDALvs. BAL18Hunter HenryNEat JAC19Pat FreiermuthPITvs. CIN20T.J. HockensonMINat TB21AJ BarnerSEAat WAS22Brenton StrangeJACvs. NE23Terrance FergusonLARat DEN24Darren WallerCARat CLE25Kenyon SadiqNYJat DET

Week 3 TE Sleepers

Kyle Pitts

Pitts is a sleeper because Atlanta is involving him more, and Michael Penix Jr. is returning as the Falcons’ QB in Week 3. He’s had a quiet start—one catch for 15 yards in two games—but the coaches want him more involved after missed early chances.

The Green Bay matchup offers upside. The QB change also gives him a reset after limited involvement with Cooper Rush. He’s a risky play, but talent, more targets, and Penix’s return make him a deeper-league sleeper.

Oronde Gadsden II

Gadsden is an interesting sleeper because his chance to rise could grow due to injuries to Njoku and Kolar. He caught both targets for 18 yards and a touchdown in Week 2, scoring in his second straight game. He now has four catches for 50 yards and a score.

His key appeal is potential for a bigger role. Last season, Gadsden caught 49 passes for 664 yards and three touchdowns. The Chargers might need him to take on more work if their tight ends stay out. Though still a low-volume option, the potential workload makes him a strong deep-league sleeper for Week 3.

Week 3 TE Busts

Hunter Henry

Henry is considered a bust candidate because, despite leading New England with targets in Week 2, his overall ceiling remains limited in an offense with multiple options. He caught three passes in the win over Pittsburgh, maintaining respectable volume, but his production still relies heavily on targets rather than big plays or touchdowns.

The matchup with Jacksonville doesn’t suggest a breakout opportunity. With the Patriots likely spreading the ball around, Henry might have another low-yardage game. He offers a decent floor, but his upside is limited enough that he could underperform relative to his Week 3 ranking.

Mark Andrews

Andrews is a more intriguing bust candidate because his target volume has been stable, yet it hasn’t resulted in much fantasy production. Over two games, he has 10 catches for 98 yards and no touchdowns. In Week 2 against New Orleans, he caught 6 of 7 targets for 49 yards.

The Cowboys matchup appears favorable on paper, but the possible return of Zay Flowers could impact Andrews’ target share. Flowers, who was the Ravens’ main pass catcher before his hamstring injury, would give Lamar Jackson another key receiving option, possibly reducing Andrews’ targets. 

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