Tight Ends Start 'Em, Sit 'Em and Fantasy Football Trends for Week 3 (2025)

September 18, 2025

Rob's tight end fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks for Week 3 of the 2025 season. Who should I start at tight end for fantasy football in Week 3 lineups?

The tight end position can be one of the most challenging and frustrating for fantasy managers to figure out. There are often not many good options, and the differences between players can be incredibly small. And they don't often show up where we'd like to think they would. When it comes to other positions, more often than not, it'll show up in the box score or the final fantasy football point tally.

That isn't always the case for tight ends. This article will focus on important trends at the tight end position. While we're only two weeks into the season, some trends are starting to emerge that we want to take note of. As the season progresses, we'll identify and break down these trends into actionable analysis for your fantasy football team.

This article will also be posted to Reddit, so if you have a question about a particular tight end or if there's one you want me to look at, be sure to stop in and let me know there. Please be sure to use the promo code "BOOM" to receive a 10% discount on any of our premium subscriptions.

Resurgent Season for Kyle Pitts Sr.

We've been waiting for a Pitts to find his rookie form. This desire isn't just driven by efficiency, but also by utilization. Well, through two weeks, we're getting exactly what we've always wanted. It feels like we've waited for this forever, but it's here, and we should take notice.

Through two weeks, only Trey McBride has a higher route share than Pitts's 85.9% rate. Through two weeks, Pitts has 13 targets (seventh-most), 11 receptions (fifth-most), and 96 yards (10th-most). His 20.6% ranks sixth. He hasn't been as efficient as we've seen him in the past, posting just a 1.57 yards per route run average, but through just two weeks, we should be more worried about the utilization trends right now.

Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson on tight end Kyle Pitts Sr.: "Kyle is playing great. He's playing really good football. … Really pleased with where Kyle is at. He's playing fast. He's getting extra work in with (tight ends coach Kevin) Koger."

— Terrin Waack (@TerrinWaack) September 17, 2025

The efficiency can come, and Michael Penix Jr. had a rough Week 2. Right now, fantasy managers should be ecstatic with how Pitts is being utilized. Pitts is averaging just 7.6 half-PPR PPG, which isn't bad, but it's solidly beneath his 10.5 expected half-PPR PPG.

Juwan Johnson is No Fluke

Johnson is 29 years old. He's been in the league for six years. He's only ever been over 500 yards twice. He's never cracked 550. After Week 1, when he had 11 targets, eight catches, and 76 yards, it was more than fair for fantasy managers to be hesitant. However, his underlying metrics were positive and not anything we've seen from him before. Then, Week 2 happened, and now we have to fully accept that this is happening.

Through two weeks, Johnson has the fourth-highest route share among tight ends at 82.0% and he's making it count. His air yard share is 25.8% and his target share is 25.0%, both ranking fourth among tight ends. With the Saints ranking fourth in total pass attempts at 80, that volume and Johnson's role have resulted in him racking up 20 targets, first among tight ends. He has caught 13 of his 20 targets for 125 yards. His reception and yardage totals rank second and fifth, respectively.

Juwan Johnson Off to Hot Start, Set for Consistent Target Share in New Orleans? https://t.co/Yvd8yUF9Cj

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) September 16, 2025

Johnson's role has been elite, and it has not shown any signs of slowing down. His expected half-PPR PPG is 17.6, which is the highest among tight ends. His 12.5 actual half-PPR PPG is the third-best. The Saints have the fourth-most pass attempts and the seventh-most plays. This isn't a fluke. Johnson should be valued as a top-10 tight end lock moving forward. He's a set-it-and-forget-it tight end.

The Demise of David Njoku was Exaggerated

The hype around teammate and rookie Harold Fannin Jr. has caused fantasy managers all over the globe to freak out about Njoku. That shouldn't be the case. Njoku's time is coming, and fantasy managers shouldn't have any qualms about continuing to fire up Njoku. His route share is still at 75.8%. That ranks 12th among tight ends. Fannin is all the way down at 25th with a 58.6% route share.

Despite Fannin having four more targets than Njoku, it's Njoku who has the higher air yard share (18.5% vs 18.3%). Fannin has just a 5.9 average depth of target, while Njoku's is at a much healthier 8.4. Njoku hasn't commanded the same target share we're accustomed to seeing from him, but based on his route share, fantasy managers should expect that to turn around soon.

His 10.8% target share is far too low for a player of his caliber and running as many routes as he does. Despite his slow start, Njoku is still 14th in yards with 77. Through two weeks last year, Pat Freiermuth was TE12 with a 5.3 half-PPR PPG average, so be patient. Njoku's role should be plentiful moving forward. That's especially true considering his team's offense, which ranks first in pass attempts with 93.

Chig Okonkwo is a Great Sleeper Pick

Right now, Okonkwo is one of my favorite streamers. His route share of 73.3% is the 15th highest among tight ends. His 16.4% target share is the 12th-highest. The problem for Okonkwo right now is that his average depth of target is just 3.6 yards. That makes him a better option in full-PPR leagues, but it's important to remember that rookie quarterback Cameron Ward is still getting his feet. That, and the matchups they've had the first two weeks, were incredibly difficult. Denver and the Los Angeles Rams are some of the best defenses in the NFL.

Look for better days ahead. Okonkwo's utilization and role are promising. His target share and route share depict a player whose value could rise significantly if the offense begins to play better. The general consensus is that Ward has played well through the first two games, even though it hasn't shown up in the box score. Okonkwo is someone to keep an eye on. If Ward picks up his play and elevates this offense, Okonkwo could flash yet.

Buy Jake Ferguson

Ferguson could very well be on his way to a top-five season in Dallas if what's transpired in the first two weeks continues throughout this season. While his route share is "only" 14th-highest at 75.0%, Ferguson's other metrics show a player that fantasy managers should be excited about. His air yard share ranks 12th (15.5%), and his target share ranks fifth (20.9%).

Through two weeks, Dallas has the third-most pass attempts. They also have the seventh-most passing yards. The Dallas defense has struggled mightily and doesn't show signs of improvement, so fantasy managers should expect the high passing volume to continue.

Ferguson has 18 targets, which is the second-highest among tight ends. His 14 receptions, however, are the most, and his 101 yards rank ninth. Ferguson is currently out-targeting newcomer George Pickens. Ferguson's 15.1 expected half-PPR PPG average is second only to Juwan Johnson. Ferguson is a player to buy low on if you can. He looks to be on the verge of a great season.

The Fall of Mark Andrews is Upon Us

Many thought that with Isaiah Likely out for the first 3-4 weeks of the season, Andrews would dominate. Especially with how well Andrews played down the stretch last year. However, a lot of that had to do with Andrews catching touchdowns at an incredibly outlandish rate. That number was always destined to regress.

Last year, his touchdown rate was 15.9%. From 2019-to-2023, his touchdown rate was 7.2%. We knew this number was going to come down. The problem is that, along with touchdowns, everything else has disappeared, as well.

His 70.9% route share, which ranks 16th, shows plenty of red flags. If Likely were active, we'd probably be fairly content or even excited with this number. However, with Likely still unavailable, this number is highly concerning. It's only going to drop when Likely is back, and then the question becomes, how much? Given Andrews's production, or rather lack thereof, it could be significant.

Andrews' 8.3% target share and 10.0% target rate. Despite his 16th-ranked route run, Andrews ranks 33rd in total targets with four. His 8.3% target share is ranked 32nd. Andrews has become a complete afterthought in this offensive attack. Given his age and that his younger, and potentially more talented teammate, Likely, has not even played yet, that's highly alarming. Andrews is someone fantasy managers can cut, and based on what we've seen through two weeks, it seems unlikely he's going to return to anything close to the form we've seen from him in the past.

Week 3 Tight End Rankings

1. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals at 49ers
2. Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts at Titans
3. Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers at Browns
4. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders at Commanders
5. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions at Ravens
6. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints at Seahawks
7. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs at Giants
8. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys at Bears
9. Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders vs Raiders
10. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
11. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots vs Steelers
12. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings vs Bengals
13. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns vs Packers
14. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills vs Dolphins
15. Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns vs Packers
16. Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans vs Colts
17. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles vs Rams
18. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens vs Lions
19. Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars vs Titans
20. Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers at Patriots
21. Ja'Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers vs Falcons

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