Week 3 Start ‘Em & Sit ‘Em is here to highlight a few players at each position that we would like to sit or start (where possible).
This series will avoid the “obvious” answers. So, just because I don’t tell you to start the RB1 in the week doesn’t mean you should sit him. It means I just felt it was a no-brainer and didn’t need to be discussed. Also, take these suggestions in context with your lineup. When I say to sit a player, there are obviously going to be situations where you have no choice but to play them. Bye weeks and injuries can cause us to start players we are uncomfortable with. Examine your squad’s situation before blindly following this column.
Week 3 Quarterback Starts Of The Week:
Daniel Jones, Colts @ TEN
Daniel Jones is HIM! Jones is off to a surprising 2-0 start, including beating the Denver Broncos, a top-5 pass defense in the NFL. Jones is currently QB2, with only Lamar Jackson ahead of him. He should remain in the top 5 after the Colts thrash a horrid Titans defense.
Dak Prescott, Cowboys @ CHI
The Chicago Bears were torn apart by the Detroit Lions, allowing 52 points. Now the Dallas Cowboys aren’t as good as Detroit, but they did put up 40 points of their own last week. I’m expecting another high-scoring affair from the Cowboys offense. I love Dak Prescott this week to have another 300+ yard day and multiple touchdowns.
Week 3 Quarterback Sits Of The Week:
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars vs. HOU
The Texans’ defense has not been easy for opposing quarterbacks as they’ve allowed less than 17 fantasy points per game on average. They’ve also allowed only 17 actual points per game, which is the 7th lowest in the league. The two teams that the Texans played thus far are also both better than the Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence. It’s going to be a long day for the Jaguars’ offense, and I’m staying away from Trevor Lawrence specifically.
Jalen Hurts, Eagles vs. LAR
Sitting Jalen Hurts, are you crazy? The answer is probably so, but I’m fading Hurts this week, depending on who’s available on waivers. Hurts only has 253 yards through the air, which is 31st in the league. He also has zero passing touchdowns and zero interceptions. The Eagles have been a run-first team for the last couple of years, but this year they are taking it to a new level. The Eagles are averaging more running yards per game than passing yards, 140 vs. 119, respectively. Of the 280 rushing yards, Hurts has 77 of them. The offense is heavily reliant on Saquon Barkley, and this won’t fly when they face tougher teams. They face the toughest defense from a points per game perspective this week in the Rams, who are only giving up 14 per game. For Hurts to be fantasy relevant, he needs to get lots of rushes and score on the ground. I’m not relying on him to do either of those against the Rams this weekend. I’d rather take someone like Daniel Jones or Dak Prescott, who will be in high-scoring matchups instead.
Week 3 Running Backs Start Of The Week
Jordan Mason, Vikings vs. CIN
Minnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy is set to be sidelined for the next two to four weeks with a high ankle sprain, meaning he’s INJURED and OUT. In light of the news, I’m expecting the Vikings to turn more to the run game. However, with Aaron Jones landing on the IR (Injured Reserve), meaning he is also OUT, Jordan Mason catapults to a workhorse role, starting this weekend against Cincinnati. The Bengals already have a weaker defense, which sets Mason up for a high amount of touches. I like Mason to finish in the RB1 category.
Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks vs. NO
After a disappointing week 1, where he only put up 5.4 fantasy points in PPR leagues, Kenneth Walker III was someone I was avoiding in week 2. Walker III was a pleasant surprise against a normally tough Steelers defense, putting up 18.8 points. The biggest change was KW3’s efficiency; he went from averaging 2 yards per carry to 8.1 yards per carry. He should keep that production up, especially against a bottom-5 team in the league in New Orleans.
Week 3 Running Back Sits Of The Week
Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs @ NYG
On paper, this game should be a home run for the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs should win, but it will be closer than they want to be. So far, Patrick Mahomes has had to do almost everything himself. He’s currently leading the team in rushing yards, and this should not be the case. Especially when Mahomes has fewer carries than starting running back Isiah Pacheco. Pacheco still looks banged up and is only averaging 3.1 yards per carry. He’s only had 13 carries for a reason, and the Chiefs are trying to avoid giving him the workload he’s had in the past. He should be fine long-term, but until then, the Chiefs’ running back room should be avoided, even against what appear to be easy matchups like this one.
TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots vs. PIT
The New England Patriots just put on their best showing with 33 points against the Miami Dolphins. The pass game and run game looked very solid. What we didn’t see in that matchup was them utilizing rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson. Henderson only had 5 total touches in the game. In what he has gotten thus far, he’s looked very impressive. Those 5 touches totaled 40 yards. Fellow backs Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson are getting the action. Henderson is someone I was very high on entering the season and still am for long-term value. Once Stevenson and Gibson start having their fumble issues again, the Patriots will begin ramping up Henderson’s workload. For now, Henderson needs to be sat in all formats.
Week 3 Wide Receiver Starts Of The Week
Keon Coleman, Bills vs. MIA
After finishing as WR2 in week 1, Keon Coleman had a game to forget in week 2. That was not Coleman’s fault, but due to a game script where the Bills just needed to run all over the Jets. The Bills are also going to beat the Dolphins, but expect more passing involvement. A part of the reason for running last week was that the Jets have Sauce Gardner, which makes passing to Keon Coleman difficult. The Dolphins have no secondary, and Coleman will be lining up against Rasul Douglas, someone who has been on the team for less than a month. Coleman is elevated to a solid WR2 status this week.
Rome Odunze, Bears vs. DAL
The WR2 in week 2 was Malik Nabers of the New York Giants, facing the Dallas Cowboys defense. The Chicago Bears now face the Dallas Cowboys, and I’m expecting a Chicago wide receiver to finish as a top-10 wide receiver against their secondary. That wide receiver is Rome Odunze, who finished as WR4 in his own right last week against the Lions. Part of that big game was due to playing from behind for the entirety of the game. But another big part of that is Odunze becoming the lead pass catcher in the Chicago Bears’ offense. Odunze has 20 targets, 8 more than the next closest wide receiver in Olamide Zacchaeus. Odunze is off to a strong sophomore campaign and should only get better as the year goes on. He’s a must-start until we see otherwise.
Week 3 Wide Receiver Sit Of The Week
A.J. Brown, Eagles vs. LAR
Jalen Hurts & A.J. Brown as players to sit! Yes, you read that right. Now, if you are weaker at flex, Brown is someone I would play. I have Brown pegged as a mid-flex option for this week. Brown has been the biggest fantasy disappointment at WR, coming in as WR84 in PPR format through the first two weeks with a dismal 9.5 points. As someone drafted as a top-20 overall player, this has been a major bust. Those first two matchups were against pass-friendlier defenses. The passing game is not something the Eagles are prioritizing and something they might tap into later in the year, but with a tough Rams defense on the horizon, I’m fading Hurts & A.J. Brown together.
Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins @ BUF
After the entire Dolphins offense went dormant in week 1, the pass game came alive in week 2. Tyreek & Waddle both finished as top-20 receivers on the week. Waddle had 5 catches for 68 yards and a touchdown, making him finish as WR14 on the week. Going into week 3, Waddle is ranked around WR30-40, and I still don’t know if he’ll accomplish that. Buffalo has won 13 of the last 14 games against Miami, most of them in commanding fashion. The Bills own the Dolphins and typically shut down the Dolphins’ offense. This is not going to be a pretty game, especially for a Miami team that is already 0-2 on the year and looks horrendous.
Week 3 Tight End Starts Of The Week:
Juwan Johnson, Saints @ SEA
A nice surprise near the top of the tight end standings is Juwan Johnson, who is currently sitting at TE2 on the year. With the lack of weapons in the Saints’ receiving room besides Chris Olave, they are turning to veteran tight end Juwan Johnson. Despite the quarterback play of Spencer Rattler, Juwan Johnson leads all tight ends in targets with 20. With how thin the tight end position is in fantasy football, Juwan Johnson is a must-start as long as his volume continues.
Jake Ferguson, Cowboys @ CHI
With a Chicago Bears defense that just gave up 50+ points, the entire Cowboys offense is elevated, but alongside Dak Prescott, the other guy that needs some love this week is Jake Ferguson. He has yet to find the end zone, but despite that, he is TE6 on the year in PPR formats, with his 14 receptions for 101 yards. He doesn’t put up a lot of yards, but Dak Prescott likes Ferguson’s simple slant routes, when he is not slinging deep balls to CeeDee Lamb or George Pickens.
Week 3 Tight End Sits Of The Week
Harold Fannin Jr & David Njoku, Browns vs. GB
Quietly, Harold Fannin Jr has been overtaking David Njoku as the leading tight end in the Cleveland Browns offense. Fannin Jr has 12 receptions on 14 targets compared to Njoku having 7 receptions on 11 targets. It’s becoming apparent that Njoku needs to be faded in fantasy. For Fannin Jr, I am only fading him in this week’s matchup and like him to be a starter after that. The Green Bay Packers have shut down two elite opponents in the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders. I am not trusting anyone in Cleveland, despite the increased usage from Fannin Jr.
For your final lineup decisions, check out the FSAN Rankings Page or check out our Sit & Start video.