Week 3 Fantasy Football AFC WR/TE Snap & Target Report: Are Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle still Good Fantasy Starting Options?

Morgan takes a look at important usage numbers for AFC fantasy football pass catchers coming out of Week 3.

After every week of NFL play, FantasySP takes a look at the most important usage numbers for fantasy football players. 

After looking at backfields in another story, let’s look at each team’s best pass catchers next. We’ll talk about the AFC teams in this story and cover the NFC options in another, so check back soon for that.

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Patriots

Demario Douglas led the team with nine targets and seven catches across 43 snaps. He had just three targets coming into week 3, so we’ll see if he can keep things going. He’s a deep league starting option.

Tight end Hunter Henry had just three targets after breaking out in week 3. He's a standard league option at a weak fantasy position, but can really only confidently be started in deeper leagues.

No other Patriot pass catcher had over four targets or two catches, meaning they can all be left out of fantasy starting lineups for now.

Jets

Garrett Wilson led the Jets with nine targets, but he and Tyler Conklin each had five receptions. Mike Williams and Allen Lazard had three catches each.

Wilson remains the best starting option, but he’s not as great a starter as most fantasy owners hoped. Conklin should get some standard league consideration at a weak TE spot and should be starting in deeper leagues. Williams and Lazard are better deep league starting options.

Bills

Khalil Shakir is the best Buffalo pass catcher after leading the team with six grabs and targets in week 3. He’s a borderline starter in standard leagues, but better starter in deeper leagues.

Dalton Kincaid got going a bit in week 3 and remains a starter in all formats. All the team’s other pass catchers are deep league starting options only right now, but I wouldn’t have confidence to play any of them.

Dolphins

Without Tua Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill tied for the team lead with five targets in week 3. They are still startable in all formats, but not nearly as good of options without Tagovailoa.

Jonnu Smith had three targets, making him a deep league starting option at TE.

Ravens

Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers each had four targets in week 3. Flowers is the only somewhat solid standard league starting option right now, while Bateman is just a deep league possibility.

Nelson Agholor is another deep league option, but has two games with one target this season. Isaiah Likely is a better starting TE option than Mark Andrews after outsnapping him 39-21 last week, but both guys should only be trusted in deeper setups.

Steelers

George Pickens had five catches on seven targets in week 3 and remains the team’s best starting option. He is a borderline starter in standard leagues.

Pat Freiermuth and Calvin Austin each had five targets. Austin had a good fantasy showing, but until we see it again, he and Freiermuth are just deep league starting options.

Bengals

Ja'Marr Chase erupted in week 3, catching six of seven targets for 118 yards and two scores. He needs to be starting every week.

Andrei Iosivas caught a touchdown across seven targets and is a deep league starting possibility, but I expect his usage to fall as Tee Higgins gets ramped up. Higgins had six targets, but just three catches in his season debut. Higgins is a borderline starter in standard leagues, but the upside probably will lead to more starts than sits.

Mike Gesicki and Erick All had five and four targets respectively. With 14 targets in the past two weeks, Gesicki is a good standard league starting option this week. All is a riskier deep league option.

Browns

Amari Cooper had seven catches on 12 targets, showing he’s still a good standard league option when he’s healthy.

Jerry Jeudy had four catches on seven targets, which makes him a good deep league possibility. Jordan Akins had seven targets with David Njoku out, making Akins a deep league option if Njoku misses another game.

Texans

Stefon Diggs had 12 targets, while Nico Collins had 10 in week 3. Both are good standard league starting options for the upcoming week, with Collins still being the preferred option.

Tank Dell had six targets, but he’s a better deep league option. Dalton Schultz had five targets, but just 11 yards on two catches, so he’s only a deep league starting option.

Titans

DeAndre Hopkins had six grabs on seven targets across just 25 snaps. He’s a borderline standard league starter, but a good deep league starter. 

Calvin Ridley caught one pass on three targets. He’s a better deep league starting option.

Colts

Michael Pittman had five targets, but only 36 yards in week 3. He’s not a great standard league starter right now, but still needs to be started in deeper leagues.

Josh Downs got five targets in his first game, and is another deep league option. Alec Pierce and Adonai Mitchell should be avoided in all formats probably. 

Jaguars

Christian Kirk finally got going with eight catches on 10 targets in week 3. He’s back on the start/sit line for week 4 in standard leagues and is a good deep league option.

Brian Thomas Jr. had five receptions on nine targets and is another possibility in standard leagues, but a better deep league option. 

Gabe Davis had just two catches on six targets, making him a deep league option only - and not one who you can be really confident in. Brenton Strange could be another deep league starting option if Evan Engram misses another game.

Broncos

Courtland Sutton had seven grabs on 11 targets and is a solid standard league option because of that. 

Lil'Jordan Humphrey got eight targets, but went for just 37 yards, so he’s not a great starting option even in deeper leagues. Troy Franklin is a name to watch after getting five targets, but he’s not start worthy yet.

Chiefs

Rashee Rice is a must start in all leagues after 12 more catches on 14 targets. 

Travis Kelce struggled again, and although I’d keep starting him in all formats, I wouldn’t feel great about it. Xavier Worthy had four targets and just 17 receiving yards - he’s down to being just a good starting option in deeper leagues. Avoid every other KC pass catcher outside the deepest of leagues.

Raiders

Tre Tucker and Jakobi Meyers had nine targets each in week 3. Each pass catcher had seven grabs. Meyers is a starting option in standard leagues, but a better deep league guy. Tucker could be a deep league option too this week.

Davante Adams had four grabs on nine targets, but went for only 40 yards. He’s going to start in almost every fantasy league, but I’m not nearly as confident as I was with him as I was at the beginning of the season.

Brock Bowers had three grabs on four targets. At a weak TE position, I’d keep starting Bowers in all formats, although he’s a better deep league option.

Chargers

Ladd McConkey led the team with six targets, while tying Will Dissly with three receptions. McConkey is a standard league starting option, but a much safer start in deeper leagues. Dissly shouldn’t be started outside really deep leagues.

Quentin Johnston scored a touchdown for a second straight week, but only had two catches and targets. He’s another standard  league option, but better deep league guy.

Joshua Palmer also missed week 3, so take that into account as you set your week 4 lineups. Also keep an eye on the health of Justin Herbert - if he’s out, all the LA pass catchers take a big fantasy hit.

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