Fantasy Football Week 3 Rankings: Top 20 Tight Ends

While tight end may be an extremely unpredictable position, we need to remember to play the percentages.  Let’s take a look at who has things slated in their favor putting them in line for a potentially strong week:

1. Dallas Clark - Indianapolis Colts - at Denver
2. Antonio Gates - San Diego Chargers - at Seattle
3. Tony Gonzalez - Atlanta Falcons - at New Orleans
4. Visanthe Shiancoe - Minnesota Vikings - vs. Detroit
5. Jason Witten - Dallas Cowboys - at Houston
6. Vernon Davis - San Francisco 49ers - at Kansas City
7. Chris Cooley - Washington Redskins - at St. Louis
8. Jermichael Finley - Green Bay Packers - at Chicago
9. Brent Celek - Philadelphia Eagles - at Jacksonville
10. Greg Olsen - Chicago Bears - vs. Green Bay
11. Zach Miller - Oakland Raiders - at Arizona
12. Kellen Winslow - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - vs. Pittsburgh
13. Heath Miller - Pittsburgh Steelers - at Tampa Bay
14. Todd Heap - Baltimore Ravens - vs. Cleveland
15. Jermaine Gresham - Cincinnati Bengals - at Carolina
16. Tony Moeaki - Kansas City Chiefs - vs. San Francisco
17. Dustin Keller - New York Jets - at Miami
18. Brandon Pettigrew - Detroit Lions - at Minnesota
19. Jeremy Shockey - New Orleans Saints - vs. Atlanta
20. John Carlson - Seattle Seahawks - vs. San Diego

Thoughts:

• If Percy Harvin does miss this week’s game, Visanthe Shiancoe will be in line to be the top receiving option for the Vikings (sorry Bernard Berrian fans).  That certainly could mean a big performance, of course that’s dependent on Brett Favre finally showing up.
• The Saints have faced off with some of the best tight ends in the league over the first few weeks.  First, it was Shiancoe who went for four receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown. Then it was Vernon Davis, who had four receptions for 78 yards.  You have to like the chances of Tony Gonzalez posting a similar line or better this week.
• Jason Witten’s spot on these rankings is contingent on him being able to play after suffering a concussion in Week 2.  The early word is he’ll be out there, so have confidence unless something changes.
• While others in San Francisco have been under fire, it’s hard to complain about Vernon Davis’ 12 receptions for 151 yards.  He remains one of the better tight end options in the league.
• Brent Celek has been an extreme disappointment over the first two weeks, totaling just five catches for 59 yards.  He could be in store for a rebound performance against a Jacksonville defense subject to big plays in the passing game (already having allowed 11 plays of 20+ yards), so don’t give up hope yet.
• Until Owen Daniels proves he is healthy and can produce, I would continue to keep him stashed on your bench.
• Tony Moeaki is quickly emerging as one of the go-to receivers for the Chiefs.  That certainly puts him on the map and he has the potential to develop into a low-end TE1 before long.  Keep a close eye on him.

What are your thoughts on these rankings?  Who’s too high?  Who’s too low?

Make sure to check out the rest of our Week 3 rankings:

• Top 25 Quarterbacks
• Top 40 Running Backs
• Top 60 Wide Receivers
• Top 15 Kickers
• Top 15 Defenses
• Sunday Sleepers
• Waiver Worthy
• Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em

THIS ARTICLE IS ALSO FEATURED ON WWW.ROTOPROFESSOR.COM/FOOTBALL