Athletes don't grow up with visions of being the next great tight end dancing in their heads. They strive to be Joe Montana, Jerry Rice or Barry Sanders. Not Shannon Sharpe.

Still, for most teams, the tight end is one of the most important positions on the field. He's got to run block, pass protect and, occasionally -- and this is where Fantasy owners are concerned -- go out, run routes and haul in passes.

Jerry Angelo, GM of the Chicago Bears, once said: "It used to be you never took a tight end in the first round [of the NFL Draft]. But they're looked at as athletes now. They're looked at as a skill position."

Angelo credits Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez as starting a movement at the position where they are now looked at as skill players who can put up big offensive numbers, as opposed to just thinner blockers.

This movement has paved the way for the tight end to become one of the more important positions in College Fantasy Football.

If your Fantasy squad possesses one of the nation's better tight ends, chances are you are at or near the top of your league.

Owners who boast James Casey (21.7 Fantasy points per week thus far) of the Rice Owls, Houston's Mark Hafner (17.8) or BYU's Dennis Pitta (17.2) are all enjoying a major advantage over your opponents, because chances are, you didn't draft them any higher than your friends took their tight ends. You just made a better choice.

If you fall into the category of having a major disappointment at tight end or just didn't focus on drafting a good one, never fear. There are other options available as walk-ons.

The guy who had the second biggest Week 3 of any tight end in the country was only started in 21 percent of leagues last week and that is Idaho senior Eddie Williams. Williams leads the hapless Vandals in yards, catches and touchdowns with 14 grabs for 217 yards and two scores over three games -- two losses and one win.

Idaho doesn't figure to play well for most of this season, but the one guy they can count on will be Williams, who has had three different coaches in four years with the Vandals.

"You can't get any sort of flow when you have to learn a new offense every year, every new spring," Williams told the Kalamazoo Gazette before last Saturday's game against Western Michigan. "There is no way a team can mesh, especially when some guys come because of a coach and when that coach leaves, they leave and that creates depth issues."

Now, with coach Robb Akey firmly established in his second year with the Vandals, the rhythm could finally be coming for Williams.

There has even been talk that Williams could play goal-line running back at times and may get some rushing touchdowns to add to his Fantasy points as a receiver.

Conference action starts in Week 4 for the Vandals with Idaho travelling to Utah State on Saturday. The Aggies are 0-3 and have allowed an average of over 50 points per game.

What's more, Utah State has allowed the opponent's tight end to have a big game in each of the last two contests. Last week against Utah, the Aggies allowed Colt Sampson to score a touchdown and the previous week, against Oregon, Ed Dickson led the team with six catches for 70 yards.

Williams will continue to improve with the onset of Western Athletic Conference play and will be one of the nation's best tight ends by the end of the season. If you have a tight end you aren't happy with, don't hesitate to sign him off the walk-on list.

Other Tight Ends of note ...

Cameron Morrah, California: Two reasons make Morrah, available in 82 percent of leagues, an attractive option off the walk-on list. First, the Bears stink, and second, their running back is one of the best in the nation. This means that defenses will key on Jahvid Best, often leaving Morrah open underneath the defense. It also means that Cal will have to throw a lot playing from behind. That makes Morrah a much greater contributor in the offense and makes him a valuable Fantasy option.

Rob Housler, Florida Atlantic: Don't let the Owls 1-2 record or the fact that they've only averaged 20 points per game fool you. They've got a prolific offense. They had a highly regarded Fantasy tight end, Justin Harmon, get hurt before the year and he's now out for the season. Housler has six catches for 181 yards and a touchdown and has been the replacement. The Owls meet Minnesota in Week 4 and last year the Owls racked up 463 yards passing against them with Harmon, the tight end, leading the way with 104 yards. Expect big numbers again and substitute Housler for Harmon.

Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State: Pettigrew isn't available in most Fantasy leagues, because was considered a top 10 tight end option coming into the season. His owners, however, cannot be very happy with his production. In three games this season, Pettigrew has just 10 catches for 109 yards. He didn't register a single catch last week in a 57-13 win over Missouri State. And, to add insult to injury, the Cowboys are idle in Week 4 and don't play again until Sept. 27 against Troy.

Don't fret. Pettigrew will absolutely be the top Fantasy tight end you thought he'd be when you drafted him. He's projected to be among the top 15 players chosen in the NFL Draft next season and once conference play starts, him getting held without a catch will be a very rare happening. You'll obviously want to find someone else for Week 4 -- try any of the names above -- but don't give up on Pettigrew just yet.

Nothing slow and steady about him

Maryland has gone from awful ACC team to ACC contender in one week. That's what happens when you get trounced by Middle Tennessee State and follow that up by beating the hibernation out of a ranked Cal Bears team.

Behind the Terps turnaround is the running game led by sophomore Da'Rel Scott. Scott rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns against the Bears and has 407 yards and three touchdowns in three games for Maryland.

"I think that's who we are; we should be able to run the football," said coach Ralph Friedgen after the Cal game. "This was a defense that led in a lot of national statistics after their first two games. This was a good defense. I think we showed some people what we are capable of and we've got to do it more consistently."

But to Maryland's dismay, Scott injured himself against the Bears and is now listed as questionable for Week 4's game against Eastern Michigan. He's likely out with a shoulder sprain.

That could open the door for true freshman Davin Meggett to come out of his shell and make a major Fantasy impact.

If Meggett's last name sounds familiar, that's because he's the son of former New York Giants All-Pro Dave Meggett.

Meggett came on against the Bears to rush for 82 yards on 6.3 yards per carry with a score. Scott only mustered 4.6 per attempt. The youngster impressed coaches throughout the preseason with his ability to adapt to a new playbook and leapfrogged original backup Morgan Greene as the No. 2 back on the Terps.

Friedgen was so impressed with Meggett before the year that he even hinted Scott's job could be in jeopardy: "[Meggett is] solidly in second place, may be pushing for first," the coach told Maryland's student newspaper.

If Scott can't go Week 4, the job is Meggett's and the kid with NFL bloodlines might not want to relinquish the starting nod once he earns it. Look for him to have a monster week against the Eagles. He's owned in exactly one percent of Fantasy leagues, so make sure you pick him up faster than Maryland's mascot can run.