Fantasy football: Otton, Hurst among 4 must-start tight ends for Week 3

MIAMI, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Cade Otton and Hayden Hurst are among my four must-start tight ends for Week 3 of the fantasy football season.

My Week 3 rankings for quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers remain available for your preparation. These rankings will be updated for developments, including injuries.

New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers tight ends, who played Thursday, were removed from my rankings.

T.J. Hockenson, Mark Andrews, Evan Engram and Travis Kelce lead my Top 20 rankings, which are listed below. Engram joins Otton, Hurst and Zach Ertz among my must-start picks for Week 3.

Logan Thomas, who was ruled out in Week 3, should be benched.

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (R) totaled 13 targets and 11 catches through two weeks this season. File Photo by Joe Marino/UPI.

Evan Engram

Engram is the No. 3 player in my Top 20 rankings. The veteran pass catcher totaled 106 yards on 11 catches through his first two games this season and continues to be a consistent part of the Jacksonville Jaguars offense. Engram logged five catches in Week 1 and another six grabs in Week 2.

This week, the Jaguars will face the Houston Texans. Engram, who is a Top 5 tight end in terms of fantasy points per game, should excel in this matchup against a defense that just allowed six catches for 80 yards and a score to Indianapolis Colts tight ends in Week 2.

He should remain in all lineups in leagues that require starting the position.

Tight end Zach Ertz and the Arizona Cardinals will battle the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in Glendale, Ariz. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI

Zach Ertz

Ertz leads all tight ends -- and all Arizona Cardinals players -- with 18 targets this season. The veteran pass catcher ranks inside the Top 12 among tight ends for fantasy points per game. Ertz made six catches in each of his first two games this season. He totaled 56 yards in a Week 2 matchup against the New York Giants.

This week, the Cardinals will meet the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys are decent at defending tight ends, but I expect Ertz to draw at least eight targets in this game. He sits at No. 6 in my rankings, but could jump inside the Top 5 if he scores.

Hayden Hurst

Hurst sits at No. 8 in my Week 3 rankings. The Carolina Panthers veteran will battle the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in Seattle.

The Seahawks allowed the fourth-most receiving yards to tight ends through two weeks. They surrendered five catches for 53 yards to Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta in Week 2. They allowed four catches and 70 yards to Los Angeles Rams tight ends in Week 1.

Hurst is a Top 5 performer at the position so far this season, among tight ends that played two games. He is likely a touchdown-or-bust play, but I like his chances to find the end zone against the Seahawks.

Tight end Cade Otton (88) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday in Tampa, Fla. File Photo by Steve Nesius/UPI

Cade Otton

Otton is my No. 10 play for Week 3. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers pass catcher secured just two of three targets in Week 1, but caught all six of his looks for 41 yards in Week 2.

Look for the second-year player to gain at least 50 yards in Week 3, when the Buccaneers face the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles own a strong run defense, but allowed the second-most passing yards and the most passing scores in the NFL entering Week 3. The Eagles also surrendered a league-high 17 catches, the most touchdowns (3), second-most yards (171) and the most fantasy points to tight ends.

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson totaled 66 yards and two scores on seven catches against this defense in Week 2. The Eagles allowed eight catches for 92 yards and a score in Week 1 to New England Patriots tight ends.

Otton is a fringe TE1 in leagues include at least 12 teams and require starting the position.

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (L) leads my Week 3 rankings. File Photo by Mark Black/UPI

Week 3 fantasy football tight end rankings

1. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings vs. LAC

2. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens vs. IND

3. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. HOU

4. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs vs. CHI

5. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles at TB

6. Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals vs. DAL

7. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns vs. TEN

8. Hayden Hurst, Carolina Panthers at SEA

9. Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers at LV

10. Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. PHI

11. Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears at KC

12. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons at DET

13. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots at NYJ

14. Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams at CIN

15. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions vs. ATL

16. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys at ARI

17. Durham Smythe, Miami Dolphins vs. DEN

18. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints at GB

19. Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints at GB

20. Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans at JAX