Should I drop T.J. Hockenson in Week 3? Fantasy projection for Vikings TE

Atlanta Falcons v Minnesota Vikings - Source: Getty
Should I drop T.J. Hockenson in Week 3? Fantasy projection for Vikings TE - Source: Getty

It wasn't that long ago that T.J. Hockenson was a quality fantasy football option on the Minnesota Vikings. However, that assessment has been dealt a gut-check moment as the tight end has had a relatively quiet start to the season.

Ad

In some cases, such a start from a player is worthy of panic. In other cases, it is a false alarm. Here's a look at whether you should consider moving off the Vikings tight end before it's too late.

Should I drop T.J. Hockenson for Week 3 Fantasy Football?

T.J. Hockenson at Preseason Texans at Vikings - Source: Getty
T.J. Hockenson at Preseason Texans at Vikings - Source: Getty

Looking to predict NFL playoff Scenarios? Try our NFL Playoff Predictor for real-time simulations and stay ahead of the game!

In some tight end cases this week, moving away is justified. However, there is one more tell-all matchup coming up that is worth seeing through. Hockenson's Vikings will face the Cincinnati Bengals, who have a reputation for letting teams pass early and often.

Ad

In Week 1, Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. managed to catch seven passes for 63 yards. In that same game, Fannin's teammate David Njoku earned three catches for 37 yards. Put simply, the Bengals have had trouble recently defending against tight ends.

Additionally, with running back Aaron Jones questionable, Jordan Addison still on suspension, and Rondale Moore still on IR, there won't be an overwhelming number of options to receive targets over Hockenson.

Ad

Tape from a recent outing making the rounds aside, if there's a game that lines up for a rebound, it's this one for Hockenson.

Ad

Nevertheless, if he fails to perform in the Week 3 contest, it will be time to consider exit strategies.

T.J. Hockenson fantasy outlook for rest of 2025 season

It's a bit early to write off the tight end entirely, but even if he performs well against the Cincinnati Bengals, T.J. Hockenson will face the historically stiff Steelers defense, the Cleveland Browns, and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Ad

Three of the next four matchups could force production like Hockenson has seen thus far, so it might be worth sending out some feeler messages after Week 3 to see if you can get an impressive value for the tight end.

Otherwise, you will likely need another tight end you feel comfortable juggling with Hockenson, depending on the matchup that week. The tight end saw his production cut in half between 2023 and 2024 and is off to a shaky start, so Week 3 could define his value this season.

One last reason for optimism is that T.J. Hockenson is only 28 years old, so age should not be a source of concern at this stage of his career.

Vikings Nation! Check out the latest Minnesota Vikings Schedule and dive into the Vikings Depth Chart for NFL Season 2024-25.

Quick Links

Edited by Ian Van Roy
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
down arrow icon
More
bell-icon Manage notifications