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Week 3 Tight End Preview: Will Juwan Johnson Keep Rolling?

Top Fantasy TEs for Week 3

Let's break down the key usage notes and matchups that are driving our Week 3 TE Rankings.

Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers

Kyle Pitts, Falcons

The volume Pitts is commanding (4th with an 87% route rate, 6th with 11 catches) keeps him in lineups. But this week's matchup, versus a Carolina defense that has surrendered the third-most PPR points to opposing TEs, makes Pitts a top-10 option.

Ja’Tavion Sanders, Panthers

Sanders comes off a career-best 9 targets and 7 receptions against the Cardinals. This week, things won't be as easy. The Panthers play an underrated Falcons defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points to TEs so far in 2025. Sanders is merely a TE2 with low ceiling.

Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns

Tucker Kraft, Packers

We’ll need to keep an eye on Kraft’s knee, as he suffered a minor injury in Thursday’s practice. If active, Kraft will remain a clear TE1 against the Browns. He entered Week 3 as the top-scoring fantasy TE.

David Njoku, Browns

It's a small sample, but it's still surprising to see rookie Harold Fannin topping Njoku in target share (17% to 12%). This, despite Njoku still holding down a strong 81% route rate. The Browns hit the weekend as big home underdogs, so expect boosted pass volume vs. Green Bay. Sunday simply turns up a brutal scoring matchup against the hottest defense in football.

Harold Fannin Jr., Browns

Fannin enters Week 3 with nearly 10 more PPR points than David Njoku. Fannin's 65% route rate isn't great, but he's been propped up by a solid 15% target per route run figure. And 100% of his targets have been charted as catchable, per PFF. The rookie’s current role suggests he’ll remain a streaming option against Green Bay.

Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars

Dalton Schultz, Texans

Schultz has probably benefited from Houston’s offensive struggles and limited WR play so far, ranking second on the team in targets. That has meant just a pair of 3-catch games, through, with less than 30 yards each time. The ceiling remains low, and Houston might get WR Christian Kirk for the first time this week. That could cut particularly into Schultz’s opportunities over the middle.

Brenton Strange, Jaguars

Strange comes off an unhelpful 3-17 receiving line in Week 2. But he sits tied for second on the team in receiving yards (with Parker Washington) and a close third in receptions (ahead of Brian Thomas Jr.). There’s slight upside to the TE in Travis Hunter’s role uncertainty and Thomas’ lagging performance (perhaps inhibited by a wrist injury). But there’s nothing exciting about the Jacksonville pass offense right now.

Cincinnati Bengals at Minnesota Vikings

T.J. Hockenson, Vikings

Hockenson has totaled four catches for 27 scoreless yards through two games. He's drawn a decent 17.1% target share, but the Vikings rank dead last with just 41 total pass attempts. Expect this to remain a run-leaning offense with QB Carson Wentz under center. That leaves Hockenson as a shaky TE1, although he gets a plus matchup against the Bengals in Week 3.

Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots

Hunter Henry, Patriots

Henry only caught one pass for 9 yards last week. He was only on the field on 66.7% of dropbacks with Austin Hooper outperforming him with three catches for 38 yards. Henry needs to find the end zone to be worthwhile, leaving him as a TE2.

Jonnu Smith, Steelers

Smith caught all four targets for 27 yards last week. He and Pat Freiermuth are splitting time, making neither great fantasy plays. Smith is a TD-dependent TE2 this week. 

New York Jets at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Cade Otton, Buccaneers

Otton has run a route on 89% of Tampa's plays, which ranks third-highest in the league for a TE. In Week 3, Otton gets a solid matchup against a Jets defense that has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing TEs.

Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans

Tyler Warren, Colts

Warren's off to a strong startl. Through two weeks, he’s racked up 155 yards on 11 catches. And his 16 targets lead the Colts. He's certainly benefiting from the strong play of Daniel Jones, who's up to 588 yards at a 71.4% completion rate. Continue riding Warren as a clear TE1 against Tennessee. 

Chig Okonkwo, Titans

Cam Ward has only 287 yards and 1 TD through two games. Consequently, Chig hasn’t approached TE1-level production. The contract-year TE is best left as a deep-league flier until Ward shows more growth. 

Las Vegas Raiders at Washington Commanders

Brock Bowers, Raiders

Bowers was hindered by a knee injury last week, only catching 5 of 8 targets for 38 yards. The Commanders got sliced up by Tucker Kraft last week for 124 yards and a TD. If Bowers is fully healthy, this should be an absolute smash spot, especially if he continues earning a target on 20% of his routes. 

Zach Ertz, Commanders

Ertz had a solid Week 2, catching 6 of 8 targets for 64 yards. He also has 9 TDs in his last 12 games. The Raiders have allowed 8.3 yards per target to TEs through the first two weeks, so Ertz could be in line for a few big plays. He is locked in as a TE1 this week.  

Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers

Evan Engram, Broncos

Engram has missed practice with a back injury this week after seeing only limited playing time and usage through two games. He’ll need to prove he belongs in your lineup before you should seriously look at including him.

New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks

Juwan Johnson, Saints

Johnson kept rolling in Week 2 and ranks second among TEs in PPR points so far. He leads the position in both targets and expected PPR points per game. Johnson is a locked-in TE1 at this point. He draws a Seattle defense in Week 3 that's allowed an 89% catch rate and two TDs to TEs through two weeks.

Dallas Cowboys at Chicago Bears

Jake Ferguson, Cowboys

Ferguson is off to a strong start, ranking top seven among TEs in targets, catches, expected PPR points, and actual PPR points. He's in a nice spot this week against a Bears defense that hasn't stopped much of anything yet this season. Dallas' 26-point implied total is third-highest on the week.

Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers

Trey McBride, Cardinals

McBride continues getting targets without seeing the end zone. He caught six of seven for 78 yards last week, which was good considering the Cardinals were always in control of the game. If they get behind, McBride should have even more targets and catches this week. He could be TE1 overall this week.

Kansas City Chiefs at New York Giants

Travis Kelce, Chiefs

Kelce’s current 79% route rate is down a bit from his 2024 usage (87%). That’s not great, especially as the Chiefs have looked to overcome the losses of Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. The good news? Kelce remains a red zone factor, already drawing two targets inside the 10-yard line. He’s a decent TD bet against the Giants.

Theo Johnson, Giants

Russell Wilson went off for 450 yards in last Sunday's loss to the Cowboys. Yet Johnson -- who posted a solid 78% route rate -- managed 34 scoreless yards. The young TE remains just a deep-league stash.

Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens

Sam LaPorta, Lions

LaPorta is one of the few Lions who didn't go off in Week 2, but Week 3 offers an excellent rebound spot. The Ravens have allowed the most fantasy points to TEs so far in 2025. In two games, opposing TEs have caught 16-of-17 targets for 185 yards and a TD versus Baltimore. LaPorta should see a lot of volume, giving him top-5 upside in a high-scoring contest.

Mark Andrews, Ravens

Andrews has been awful in the first two games, catching only 2 passes for 7 yards. Isaiah Likely could return this week, but the hope is that actually frees up coverage to allow Andrews to make an impact in the red zone. This week's tilt against the Lions has the highest total for the week, so Andrews still offers modest fantasy value as a TD-or-bust TE2.

Isaiah Likely, Ravens

After missing the first two games, Likely is expected to debut in Week 3. Baltimore's target pecking order has been erratic after Zay Flowers, so there's an opportunity for Likely to come in and have an instant impact. The question is, how many snaps will he play? View Likely has a solid No. 2 TE or flex play in a game that should produce plenty of points.

Next Up

Week 3 Running Back Preview: Bijan Robinson Set To Dominate

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Jared Smola, Lead Analyst

Jared has been with Draft Sharks since 2007. He’s now Lead Analyst, heading up the preseason and weekly projections that fuel your Draft War Room and in-season tools. He currently ranks ninth among 173 analysts in draft rankings accuracy.