Looking for an edge at tight end in Week 3? With injuries and disappointing early performances thinning out the position, hungry fantasy football managers need to hit the waiver wire for upside and volume. This week features three streamers with breakout potential and strong matchups: Juwan Johnson, a target magnet emerging in New Orleans, Jonnu Smith enjoying a growing role in Pittsburgh, and Ja’Tavion Sanders flashing red-zone upside for Carolina. If stability and upside are what’s needed, these are the tight ends who could tip the scales in Week 3 fantasy matchups.
Juwan Johnson, TE, New Orleans Saints (at SEA)
Juwan Johnson might be the Daniel Jones of tight ends this season. Despite catching eight of 11 targets for 76 yards in Week 1, the New Orleans Saints star is still available in most leagues.
His 49 receiving yards and a touchdown in Week 2 should end that, though, and you likely won’t be the only one bidding for his services in your league. Johnson has 20 targets through two weeks, 13 catches, 125 receiving yards, and a touchdown.
Spencer Rattler finds Juwan Johnson for the TD 🔥
pic.twitter.com/8M1T930NfJ
— Saints Nation (@SaintsNationCP) September 14, 2025
Those 20 targets lead all tight ends, and tie Puka Nacua and others for the ninth-most among all players in the NFL. The Saints may not be a team you’re desperate to invest in, but that target volume is fantasy gold.
Johnson has long been a peripheral figure in fantasy, but he has always had the potential to break out; 2025 might be the year he finally does.
Jonnu Smith, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers (at NWE)
If Rodgers is to have a good day against New England, it’s natural to expect Jonnu Smith to benefit. Smith’s move to Pittsburgh has heavily impacted his fantasy value, but he is still getting work and is still an athletic playmaker who can put up big numbers.
Smith’s longest reception of the year so far is just 10 yards, but he has caught nine of his 10 targets and should continue to grow in importance for the Steelers. He currently sits 13th among all tight ends in fantasy this season and should dominate what has proven to be a weak Patriots pass defense.
Week 3 should be Smith’s best week so far, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him continue to improve throughout the year.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Carolina Panthers (vs. ATL)
Ja’Tavion Sanders might be the second pass catcher on a high-volume offense, and he is available for free on waivers. Sanders always had the potential to break out in year two, having flashed his receiving ability as a rookie before suffering a scary-looking neck injury.
The former Texas standout was targeted nine times in Week 2, catching seven for 54 yards. Hunter Renfrow also stepped up at the weekend, and looks set to take on the veteran slot receiver role vacated by Adam Thielen.
Sanders has the trust of his quarterback and is an end zone threat whenever Carolina gets into scoring range. Much like Young, Sanders could easily become a weekly starter in fantasy, but is a sensible streamer for Week 3 at the very least.
Jake Ferguson, TE, Dallas Cowboys (at CHI)
I can’t prove this, but I’m going to call Jake Ferguson’s 9-78-0 showing on Sunday against the Giants the quietest 12-target game in recent memory.
The stat line is great, but I watched the majority of that game and never once thought he was having an elite afternoon.
The chaotic nature of that game, not to mention overtime, indeed resulted in the ballooning of some stat lines, and Ferguson is no exception. That said, he was Dallas’ top target man and has out-earned George Pickens in both games to open this season.
The upside isn’t there (13 of his 18 targets this season have come on his own half of the field), but this is an offense that is a good bet to rank among the PPOE leaders, thus keeping his volume-based game stable.
I’ve got him as my TE10 for Week 3, and I’ll have him within a few spots of that mark every week regardless of his matchup.
Week 3 Fantasy Tight End Rankings
1) Brock Bowers | Las Vegas Raiders (at WAS)
2) Trey McBride | Arizona Cardinals (at SF)
3) Tucker Kraft | Green Bay Packers (at CLE)
4) Tyler Warren | Indianapolis Colts (at TEN)
5) Sam LaPorta | Detroit Lions (at BAL)
6) T.J. Hockenson | Minnesota Vikings (vs. CIN)
7) Travis Kelce | Kansas City Chiefs (at NYG)
8) Jake Ferguson | Dallas Cowboys (at CHI)
9) Juwan Johnson | New Orleans Saints (at SEA)
10) David Njoku | Cleveland Browns (vs. GB)
11) Kyle Pitts | Atlanta Falcons (at CAR)
12) Zach Ertz | Washington Commanders (vs. LV)
13) Dalton Kincaid | Buffalo Bills (vs. MIA)
14) Hunter Henry | New England Patriots (vs. PIT)
15) Harold Fannin Jr. | Cleveland Browns (vs. GB)
16) Evan Engram | Denver Broncos (at LAC)
17) Brenton Strange | Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. HOU)
18) Mark Andrews | Baltimore Ravens (vs. DET)
19) Chig Okonkwo | Tennessee Titans (vs. IND)
20) Ja’Tavion Sanders | Carolina Panthers (vs. ATL)
