Start or Sit Week 3

Welcome back to the road to Titletown! This week, Leo Grandio (@smooth1074) and Matt Miles (@DirtyAirFC) look at who are some options to start or sit for Week 3 as we continue our weekly journey to raising a Fantasy Football Championship in 2023/2024.

Remember that you are starting your studs no matter what. We will focus on some of the tougher decisions that fantasy managers have to make and give you an edge to getting the win for the week. Without further ado here are some options to Start and Sit for Week 3.

 

Starters at Quarterback

Baker Mayfield, QB Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss the Baker Mayfield Progressive Insurance commercials.  Perhaps in focusing on the playbook and less on distractions, Mayfield has been able to create his own career renaissance in Tampa Bay. As of the end of Week 2, Mayfield is leading the NFL in completion rate under pressure, with a 69% pass completion rate overall, and currently is the third-best quarterback in the NFL through two weeks.  He is facing a Philadelphia Eagles defense that has allowed 315 yards and two touchdowns to Mac Jones and 364 yards and four touchdowns to Kirk Cousins. Look for Mayfield to shine this week. - Matt Miles 

 

Matthews Stafford, QB Los Angeles Rams

Coming into the season most fantasy managers thought of Matthew Stafford as more of an afterthought since he was returning from multiple concussion issues last season and Cooper Kupp landed on IR. Who would have thought that Puka Nacua would be the second coming of Kupp? With the help of the rookie wideout, Stafford has been able to throw for over 300 yards in both games this season. The Bengals are allowing the tenth most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season and Week 3 should be no different. Stafford should post at the very least low-end QB1 numbers this week and be north of another 20 fantasy point game for the week. - Leo Grandio

 

 

Sitters at Quarterback

Brock Purdy, QB San Francisco 49ers

This one goes against everything I wrote about last week, however, there is a long history of total scores hitting the under for Thursday night.  San Francisco at home versus the potentially Saquon Barkley-less Giants could be a plod-fest with San Francisco looking to run clock control with Christian McCaffrey, especially with Brandon Aiyuk injured.  I could be wrong, but this has all of the makings of a 16-10 final score that looks closer than what it really was. -Matt Miles 

 

Daniel Jones, QB New York Giants

After Daniel Jones ghosted his fantasy managers in Week 1 with his under-six fantasy points performance, Jones brought the Giants back from almost an embarrassing loss to the Cardinals last week. Jones showed why he was a top-10 quarterback last year by throwing for 321 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 59 yards and another touchdown. The unfortunate news about Jones is that he plays the 49ers’ defense on Thursday night and there is no Saquon Barkley to alleviate the pressure he is going to receive from the pass rush this week. If you have a better option you may want to explore it because it may not be a pretty outcome for Jones and the Giants in San Francisco. - Leo Grandio

 

Starters at Running Back

Raheem Mostert, RB Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins love a multi-headed monster committee with their running back room.  Raheem Mostert seems to be the guy right now who is getting the largest share of a good offensive backfield.  His 18/121/2 line against the New England Patriots last week is the high side of what we can expect from a similarly ranked Denver Broncos defense.  As long as this dolphin keeps swimming, we're rolling with Raheem Mostert. - Matt Miles 

 

Kenneth Walker, RB Seattle Seahawks

When the Seahawks drafted Zach Charbonnet, plenty in the fantasy community predicted that Kenneth Walker III would lose plenty of touches to the rookie prospect. Well, all Walker has done so far is out-touched Charbonnet by 21 total touches including receptions. Now in Week 3, he gets the opportunity to face a Panthers defense that is allowing the third most fantasy points to running backs this season. Walker should have the opportunity to reach the end zone at least once and be a nice RB1 for fantasy managers this week. - Leo Grandio

 

 

Sitters at Running Back

Jerome Ford, RB Cleveland Browns

We're all bummed about losing Nick Chubb.  First waiver picks, trades, and mountains of FAAB were burned in the race to acquire Jerome Ford in the past 48 hours.  The dust is starting to settle, and now the short-term outlook for Ford is... not great. First up is the Tennessee Titans, who just held backup running back Joshua Kelley to 39 yards on 13 rushing attempts in Week 2 in the absence of Austin Ekeler. I just don't see Ford as anything better than Kelley, add the return of Kareem Hunt and it's just not a good situation. - Matt Miles 

 

Zack Moss, RB Indianapolis Colts

If you just added Zack Moss off waivers or picked him up last week you are feeling that you must start him in Week 2. The veteran running back was the Colts' bell-cow with 18 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown, to go along with four receptions for 19 yards. But you may want to refrain from putting Moss in your lineups this week. The Colts travel to Baltimore this week and face a Ravens defense that is allowing only 69 rushing yards per game this season. So it may be some tough sledding for Moss in Week 3, therefore look for another option if you can.  - Leo Grandio

 

 

Starters at Wide Receivers

Jakobi Meyers, WR Las Vegas Raiders

Jimmy Garrapolo's favorite target looks like he could be back after clearing the 5-step concussion protocol. Jakobi Meyers had a huge game against the Denver Broncos in Week 1 and might be one of the few near-matchup-proof wide receivers in the NFL when it comes to PPR and half-PPR scoring. Pittsburgh Steelers have allowed three passing touchdowns so far this season and 413 passing yards, making them a middle-ranked defense.   - Matt Miles 

 

Amari Cooper, WR Cleveland Browns

Amari Cooper has the pleasure of going up against the Tennessee Titans in Week 3. The Titans' secondary has allowed their first two opponents to throw for over 300 yards. The unfortunate loss of Nick Chubb for the season could make the Browns' offense pivot from being a rushing team to being more of a passing team in the right situations like it will be this week. Cooper has proved to be Deshaun Watson's goto receiver and he is averaging 8.5 targets per contest. Start Cooper with confidence since he illustrated that he is over the groin injury that made him questionable heading into last week’s game. - Leo Grandio

 

 

Sitters at Wide Receivers

Kendrick Bourne, WR New England Patriots

Kendrick Bourne despite getting 9 targets finished with 4 catches for 29 yards. I expect the New York Jets to have Sauce Gardner all over the top target of this Patriots offense. Better days are ahead, but a 4/29 is the floor for Bourne with a Mac Jones lead offense.   -Matt Miles 

 

Jerry Jeudy, WR Denver Broncos

After making an uneventful season debut with three receptions for 25 yards, fantasy managers may want to contemplate sitting Jerry Jeudy out for Week 3. The Broncos are visiting the Dolphins in the 305, who are ranked in the top 10 for passing defense. The Dolphins have not allowed a passing touchdown to a wide receiver so far this season. So it will be interesting to see if Jeudy can get on track this week, but I suggest if you must start him, Jeudy is nothing more than a Flex play this week. - Leo Grandio

 

Starters at Tight End

Sam LaPorta, TE Detroit Lions

Sam LaPorta for two weeks now has offered a solid weekly floor with his rapport with Jared Goff. I'm not sure there's much of a ceiling with Laporta in this offense, but entering Week 3, LaPorta is fourth in tight end receiving yards in the NFL. Look for some touchdowns to come, but a steady four catches and 50 yards is a nice line to see in a tough position every week. -Matt Miles

 

 

Pat Freiermuth, TE Pittsburg Steelers

Pat Freiermuth has not done much this season with only two receptions for five yards and a touchdown. So I understand wanting to sit him this week. If you take a moment to look at the Steelers' Week 3 opponent, the Raiders have already allowed tight ends to total 15 receptions, for 109 yards and a touchdown. This should be the game where Freiermuth will reward patient fantasy managers and give the TE1 numbers for the week. Get him in your starting lineups with confidence.

 

  

Sitters at Tight End

Taysom Hill, TE New Orleans Saints

There is no other player since Kordell Stewart is such a Swiss Army Knife player as Taysom Hill is. Jack of all trades, master of none Hill is listed as a tight end on most platforms, and sometimes a QB/TE on others. The problem is, what are you going to get?  Against better defenses, like the Packers this week, Hill tends to disappear. I get it, tight end stinks and you'll roll Hill out there but with the small sample size we have, teams are already seeing the plays he's schemed into, and what we saw Monday Night may prove to be an anomaly rather than a trend. - Matt Miles

 

 Chigoziem Okonkwo, TE Tennessee Titans

The fantasy community’s offense season darling Chigoziem Okonkwo has not lived up to the hype that some were predicting. With the arrival of DeAndre Hopkins, those dreams have been shattered for the foreseeable future. After providing fantasy managers with a wonderful goose egg in Week 1, Okonkwo followed that up with four receptions for 35 yards last week. In Week 3 he faces the stingy Browns defense that has allowed a league-low 19 receiving yards to tight ends this season. Okonkwo is also nursing a rib injury that he appears to going to play through. Monitor his status just in case. The tight end is a serious sitter for me in Week 3, so look for other options. - Leo Grandio

 

Starters at Defense

Seattle Seahawks D/ST

After rolling with the Washington Commanders for the past two weeks, it's time to navigate the stream. The Seattle Seahawks D/ST face the traveling Carolina Panthers, who may be missing rookie quarterback Bryce Young due to an ankle injury. Next week, the Seahawks come east to the New York Giants before their bye on week 5. Grab the 'Hawks on the cheap right now and ride them for the next 2 weeks. - Matt Miles

 

Kansas City Chiefs D/ST

The Chicago Bears offense has been very generous to opposing defenses. Through the first two games of the season, the Bears offense has allowed 10 sacks, turned the ball over four times, and given up two defensive touchdowns. This makes the Kansas City Chiefs D/ST a must-start for Week 3.

 

Sitters at Defense

Philadelphia Eagles D/ST

As a lifelong Philadelphia Eagles fan, it pains me to write this, but you might want to look at sitting this dichotomy of defense this week. Sure, the Birds are absolute stone-cold run killers.  Both touted running backs Rhamondre Stevenson and Alexander Mattison were held to 25 yards on 12 carries and 28 yards on 8 carries respectively. However, the secondary has given up a pair of 300-yard passers in Mac Jones and Kirk Cousins.  See my start recommendation for Baker Mayfield above and you'll see why it's wise to sit the Philadelphia Eagles this week. - Matt Miles

 

New Orleans Saints D/ST

The New Orleans Saints D/ST has averaged 8.5 fantasy points per game this season as they’ve faced average at-best offenses in the Titans and the Panthers. In Week 3 they will have a more formidable opponent when they visit the Packers in Green Bay. The Packers have been playing some quality football this year since they have not turned the ball over yet and they have only allowed one sack. Furthermore, they are averaging 28 points per contest. Look for another option at defense this week if you are rostering the Saints' Defense. - Leo Grandio

 

If you have any start or sit questions, feel free to reach out to us on X @FCFantasySports.

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