We saw two tight ends score two touchdowns apiece in Week 3, and more and more tight ends are becoming prominent members of their team's offensive schemes. Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph, picked by many to be a favorite of quarterback Christian Ponder in preseason, has not disappointed, as he has scored three touchdowns in the last two weeks.
Fantasy Football PPR Target Report, Week 3: Tight Ends
The PPR Target Report highlights several tight ends who are becoming must starts in fantasy leagues, including Vernon Davis, Heath Miller, Martellus Bennett and a few others.
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Steelers tight end Heath Miller has become the favorite target for quarterback Ben Rothlisberger around the goal line, as he has scored in each game thus far, four touchdowns in total. It appears the Steelers have replaced the short yardage running game with tosses to Miller, as he was targeted 10 times this week, good for eight receptions, 60 yards and two scores.
Let’s take a look at the top 20 targeted tight ends for Week 3:
Player | Targets | Rec. | Yd | Avg | TD |
Olsen, Greg TE CAR | 14 | 7 | 98 | 14 | 0 |
Gonzalez, Tony TE ATL | 12 | 9 | 91 | 10.1 | 1 |
Pettigrew, Brandon TE DET | 12 | 8 | 61 | 7.6 | 0 |
Fasano, Anthony TE MIA | 10 | 5 | 47 | 9.4 | 0 |
Miller, Heath TE PIT | 10 | 8 | 60 | 7.5 | 2 |
Tamme, Jacob TE DEN | 10 | 3 | 31 | 10.3 | 0 |
Watson, Benjamin TE CLE | 8 | 4 | 15 | 3.8 | 0 |
Graham, Jimmy TE NO | 8 | 4 | 16 | 4 | 1 |
Davis, Vernon TE SF | 8 | 5 | 53 | 10.6 | 1 |
Gates, Antonio TE SD | 7 | 3 | 22 | 7.3 | 0 |
Pitta, Dennis TE BAL | 7 | 5 | 50 | 10 | 1 |
Kendricks, Lance TE STL | 7 | 3 | 18 | 6 | 0 |
Cameron, Jordan TE CLE | 7 | 5 | 45 | 9 | 0 |
Davis, Fred TE WAS | 7 | 7 | 90 | 12.9 | 0 |
Gresham, Jermaine TE CIN | 7 | 5 | 64 | 12.8 | 1 |
Bennett, Martellus TE NYG | 7 | 6 | 73 | 12.2 | 1 |
Stevens, Craig TE TEN | 7 | 5 | 63 | 12.6 | 0 |
Cumberland, Jeff TE NYJ | 6 | 2 | 25 | 12.5 | 0 |
Witten, Jason TE DAL | 6 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 0 |
Rudolph, Kyle TE MIN | 6 | 5 | 36 | 7.2 | 2 |
Hit the Bullseye
Tony Gonzalez, ATL
It appears Tony G. never gets old, as the former Chief and future Hall of Famer, was targeted 12 times by quarterback Matt Ryan in San Diego, catching nine balls for 91 yards and a touchdown. Through the first three weeks of the season, Gonzalez is the third most targeted tight end in the league with 28 targets, good for 21 receptions, 210 yards and three scores.
Martellus Bennett, NYG
Bennett has been one of the pleasant surprises in the first three weeks of the season, as he has quickly become one of Eli Manning's favorite targets in the Giants passing game. Bennett was targeted 7 times last Thursday night vs Carolina, catching six balls for 73 yards and a score. Through three games, Bennett now has 15 catches on 23 targets, good for 185 yards and three touchdowns.
Vernon Davis, SF
Davis, along with Bennett, Gonzalez, Rudolph and Miller, are must starts in leagues that require a tight end, and maybe even in some deeper 3 receiver leagues as well. Davis was targeted eight times in Week 3, catching 5 passes for 53 yards and a score. Through three games, he has been targeted 20 times, catching 13 passes for 169 and four touchdowns.
Missing the Mark
Rob Gronkowski, NE
Gronk has been a bit of a disappointment thus far in 2012, as he has been targeted just 18 times by quarterback Tom Brady. He has caught 14 of the balls for 156 yards and two scores, but was targeted just three times on Sunday night vs the same Ravens defense that allowed Eagles tight end Brent Celek to shred them for 157 yards on eight receptions in Week 2.
Jason Witten, DAL
Witten was targeted just six times by quarterback Tony Romo on Sunday, catching just two passes for 8 yards. Through three games, he has just 8 receptions for 66 yards on 21 targets. Once a big part of the Dallas offense, he is quickly becoming a third or fourth option. He is droppable in most leagues.
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