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Craig Rondinone's fantasy football tight end waiver wire pickups for Week 3 of the 2023 NFL season. His free agent TEs to add, stream, and stash off waivers.
This may be a week where millions of fantasy football managers try to upgrade the tight end position on their teams.
Week 2 did a job on many of fantasy football’s top tight ends. Washington’s Logan Thomas was concussed. San Francisco’s George Kittle was a non-factor again. Philadelphia’s Dallas Goedert averaged 3.7 yards per catch on his way to a 22-yard day. Yes, perennial No. 1 TE Travis Kelce returned from his knee injury and scored a touchdown, but for the most part it was not the best weekend for NFL tight ends.
So without further ado, here are the best tight end waiver wire pickups for Week 3, beginning with one of the few bright spots on the New England Patriots!
Editor's Note: Stay on top of your draft prep with RotoBaller’s fantasy football rankings, featuring expert analysis, ADPs, and draft insights for both PPR and non-PPR leagues.
Top Tight Ends to Pickup - Week 3 Waiver Wire
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Henry was able to fend off Jonnu Smith from ruining his fantasy value in 2021 and 2022 when both signed multimillion-dollar contracts with the Patriots and now he is doing the same with new tight end teammate Mike Gesicki. Henry has 11 receptions for 108 yards and has scored touchdowns in each of his opening two games of the 2023 campaign.
Henry has benefited from another mediocre New England receiving corps where he has emerged as the best red zone option for quarterback Mac Jones. The big-bodied tight end has always been able to box defenders out around the end zone (34 TD in 91 games), so it is no surprise he has been able to score early this season. You might need to sit Henry for the next couple of weeks, though, if you pick him up. His next two contests are against the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys.
Other Tight Ends to Consider Adding
Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
Detroit is a fun offense to watch thanks to their balance and their young, exciting playmakers. LaPorta has quietly become one of those playmakers as he is making Lions fans forget about T.J. Hockenson in record time. The rookie has converted 10 of his 11 targets into 102 yards while becoming a favorite of QB Jared Goff. He is a must-get in dynasty leagues and should do well in upcoming weeks with home games against Atlanta and Carolina on the horizon.
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
Johnson has proven that he can score touchdowns no matter who is throwing him the ball. Johnson found the end zone last year with Andy Dalton, Jameis Winston, and Taysom Hill taking turns tossing passes his way. I am sure he will score on a Derek Carr touchdown toss sooner rather than later. He is one of the hottest commodities at tight end on waiver wires even though he has not played in his Monday night game yet.
Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals
Ertz might be on the tail end of his storied career, but the longtime fantasy stalwart is still delivering numbers for his fantasy managers. He has been better than most fantasy pundits thought he would be this year, thanks in part to journeyman quarterback Joshua Dobbs playing better than most fantasy pundits thought he would. Ertz has posted back-to-back six-catch contests and has been targeted an ungodly 18 times through two weeks. He will continue to produce, especially in PPR leagues, if he is aimed at that much in the coming weeks.
Hayden Hurst, Carolina Panthers
Do not forget about picking up Hurst since his game is not until Monday night. He looked good in his first outing as a Panther when he posted a 5-41-1 line. If Hurst was not picked up by someone in your league after last week’s performance, he will not last another week if he has a decent Week 2 on top of it.
Do Not Forget About…
Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers
Looks like Green Bay might the right decision to move forward with Jordan Love as its franchise quarterback, and they also seemingly made the right decision in drafting Musgrave to be their tight end for the present and future. The talented rook has five catches for 75 yards in two weeks, but trust me when I say the best is yet to come from this youngster.
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay is probably the biggest surprise in the NFL after starting out 2-0. Otton caught all six passes thrown to him in Week 2 and turned them into 41 yards. He will never win the 100-yard dash at the Olympics or break 50-yard gainers on a weekly basis, but he can be a steady performer in PPR leagues as Baker Mayfield’s safety valve.
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans
Schutz was a fantasy zero in Week 1 with two catches for four yards. He was better this past week with four grabs for 34 yards, so the idea is to buy low on him now before his numbers start to improve. Schultz is behind wideouts Nico Collins and Robert Woods on the target depth chart, but they are both injury-prone and a tackle away from gifting Schultz more opportunities for C.J. Stroud spirals to come his direction.
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
Dalton who? Mr. Schultz had a good run as the top tight end in Dallas, but now Ferguson has taken over and scored a touchdown against the punchless New York Jets this past weekend. Five catches for 22 yards in two games will only excite fantasy managers in NFC East-only leagues, but we know how Dak Prescott eyes his tight ends inside the red zone. Ferguson may be the next one he starts leaning on down by the goal line.
Kylen Granson, Indianapolis Colts
Granson accounted for 39 yards in his first game and scored a TD in his second game. He also made plays with both of Indy’s signal-callers (Anthony Richardson and Gardner Minshew) throwing to him. Feel free to pick up Granson for the next couple of weeks, but just know his fantasy value might nosedive once Jelani Woods returns from his hamstring injury.
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