Fantasy Football Start or Sit: Week 3 Lineup Advice & Picks

The starts were less successful than the sits in Week 2, but that has become a common trend early in this fantasy football season.

The recommended sits have had the greatest success in both weeks, and one of the sits (Evan Engram) didn’t even survive warmup.

Week 3 Fantasy Football Starts:

Week 3 Fantasy Football Sits:

Quarterback Lineup Advice, Fantasy Football

Start Deshaun Watson in Week 3

A matchup against the Giants provides an opportunity to start Deshaun Watson in Week 3.

The Giants have a mismatch against the interior of the Browns' offensive line, but the Commanders did not punt against this Giants defense with just as problematic of an offensive line.

Watson has used his legs in his opening two games. He is averaging 6 rushing points per game, which can elevate his fantasy floor.

The Browns should be able to exploit the Giants' secondary with a trio of solid wide receivers: Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, and Elijah Moore.

Sit Justin Herbert in Week 3

As sad as it is to say, Justin Herbert can be dropped in single quarterback leagues.

Herbert has not eclipsed 150 yards passing in either game and continues to deal with a leg/foot issue that limits his ability to add rushing yardage.

Herbert is efficient and underrated but not ideal for fantasy football.

Sit Jared Goff in Week 3

The Detroit Lions have a favorable matchup against an Arizona Cardinals secondary that has allowed a league-high 57.8% success rate on dropbacks, but Jared Goff be a sit candidate in Week 3 due to the offensive game plan.

Goff has struggled out of the gates with a -5.2 completion percentage over expectation despite facing a talent-depleted Rams secondary and a cluster injured Buccaneers secondary.

The Lions have a significant advantage in the trenches this week, and the Lions may lean on the run.

Ben Johnson loves to involve the running backs in the red zone as the Lions have scored 75% of their touchdowns on the ground to start the year, and I envision that trend continuing this week.

Running back Lineup Advice, Fantasy Football

Start Carson Steele in Week 3

This week’s waiver poster boy Carson Steele is worth a start in Week 3 if he was added to the roster.

Much has been made about Steele’s 4.9 40-yard time and that he’s listed as a fullback, but he’s the only Chief on the active roster with a carry this season.

Steele becomes arbitrage on Gus Edwards, a touchdown-dependent running back, but Steele has the benefit of being on the Chiefs.

Steele has averaged 5.20 yards after contact in his twenty carries in the preseason and regular season, which provides an opportunity to become an early-down and goal-line grinder attached to a Patrick Mahomes-led offense.

Start D'Andre Swift in Week 3

It’s now or never (which is in the range of outcomes) for D'Andre Swift as a Week 3 start against a Colts defense that has surrendered a league-high 350 rushing yards to running backs through two weeks.

The Colts will also be without their best defender with DeForest Buckner on injured reserve.

The Bears offense has struggled passing and rushing, but this matchup provides a get-right opportunity for Swift, who is averaging 2.0 yards per carry this season.

The good news for Swift is the fact that he’s retained the bulk of the carries, but the bad news is that hyper-efficient Khalil Herbert has been brought in for high-leverage, short-yardage situations.

Week 3 will provide a good indication of the team’s confidence level in the newly acquired running back.

Sit J.K. Dobbins in Week 3

J.K. Dobbins’ resurgence is a great story this season, but regression could hit against a difficult Steelers defense, making him a controversial sit candidate in Week 3.

Dobbins leads the league in rushing yards while averaging an incredible 9.9 yards per carry but has lived off explosive rushes.

Gus Edwards has led the Chargers in carries in both weeks, and Dobbins has not been overly involved in the passing game.

Both are red flags that suggest Dobbins is due for regression.

That could hit this week against a Steelers defense allowing 3.7 yards per carry to opposing running backs.

Sit Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle in Week 3

The answer to the offseason question of Ezekiel Elliott vs. Rico Dowdle was neither, and both a confident sits in Week 3 against an elite run stopping defense of the Ravens.

Dalvin Cook may be the Cowboys' best option at running back, which is a serious indictment on the current tandem.

Both running backs are in the bottom five of rushing yards over expected per rush through two weeks and face a Ravens defense that leads the league allowing a 19.3% rush success rate.

Neither running back has handled more than 10 carries in a single game, and Deuce Vaughn was wrinkled into the offense last week, making both running backs dart-throw plays who are better off on the bench.

Wide Receiver Lineup Advice, Fantasy Football

I am not listing Brandon Aiyuk on the list since he is the most obvious start of the week as the 49ers pass catchers continue to deal with cluster injuries.

Start Courtland Sutton in Week 3

Week 3 provides a bounce back opportunity for Courtland Sutton against the Buccaneers' depleted secondary.

Sutton has yet to light up the box score, but better fantasy scoring days are ahead for the Broncos' top pass catching option.

Sutton lived off efficiency last season but hasn’t had the same success with rookie quarterback Bo Nix.

If the Broncos can find a way to keep Nix upright, Sutton is in a positive matchup against an injury-depleted secondary.

The Broncos are touchdown underdogs and will likely be playing from behind, which should provide an opportunity similar to the opening week in which Sutton reached double digit targets.

Sit Quentin Johnston in Week 3

A run-friendly game state and a shutdown corner on the other side make Quentin Johnston a sit in Week 3 despite his strong start to the season.

Johnston has exceeded expectations throughout two weeks and may have been a waiver wire pickup, but he should be held as bench depth for a better opportunity.

The Steelers and Chargers are traveling back in time, at least on offense.

With a game total of 35, it’s difficult to see either team leaning on the pass.

Johnston should see a lot of Joey Porter Jr, who has shut down Courtland Sutton and Drake London in the opening two weeks.

Sit Jameson Williams in Week 3

My galaxy-brained “Sit of the Week” candidate for Week 3 is Jameson Williams.

Williams is off to an incredible start that has cut into both Amon-Ra St. Brown‘s and Sam LaPorta’s targets.

It is asking a lot for Jared Goff to support three pass catchers weekly, especially with the rushing success the Lions have.

This could be the week where Williams becomes the fourth or fifth option in the offense and volume is limited.

Tight End Lineup Advice, Fantasy Football

Start Brenton Strange in Week 3

A starting opportunity and key injuries to opposition linebackers give me conviction in starting Brenton Strange in Week 3.

A second-round pick a year ago, the 23-year-old sophomore was thrust into the starting role due to an Evan Engram injury in warmups.

Strange picked up 6 targets and was targeted on 23% of his routes in his starting debut.

Now with a full week of practice with the starters, Strange faces a depleted Bills defense that could become one of our favorite defenses to target for tight ends with the loss of Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard.

Strange is still available in most leagues.

He’s worth a pickup and a start this week.

Sit Jake Ferguson in Week 3

Jake Ferguson is expected to return to the lineup this week but will likely be at less than 100%, making him a sit candidate for Week 3.

As a result of the injury, Ferguson could struggle with efficiency or could be a part-time player. Both lead to an increased chance of struggling to score fantasy points.

Ferguson will have weeks when he is the second option in the passing attack, but this may not be the week.

Hold Ferguson as a bench stash until he is completely healthy.