Fantasy Football Week 3 Start 'Em & Sit 'Em: Ty'Son Williams set up to deliver in Detroit
Here's who you want in your lineup in Week 3, and who to avoid.
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4 min read
Week 3 feels like a redemption week for many of our struggling Fantasy stars. After a disappointing start, several players should bounce back in this scoring period.
For example, get ready to see the old Saquon Barkley against the Falcons, and I like him as a starting Fantasy option again. I'm also expecting the best game of the season from Myles Gaskin against the Raiders, and I hope Clyde Edwards-Helaire can take advantage of a great matchup against the Chargers.
Josh Allen should have a big game against Washington, and Justin Herbert's luck should turn around against the Chiefs in a potential shootout. I'm also not ready to give up on Ryan Tannehill, who should have a quality outing against the Colts.
A.J. Brown should benefit from Tannehill's big game, and look for Robert Woods to have a breakout performance against the Buccaneers in a potential shootout. I'm also hopeful that Justin Fields starting for the Bears means great things for Allen Robinson against the Browns.
It hasn't been ideal for several Fantasy stars this season, but don't give up on them yet. Their time is now, and plenty of points are coming to your Fantasy scoreboard.
Editor's Note: Projections are provided by CBS Sports and not Jamey Eisenberg. Projected points are for PPR leagues.
More Week 3: Sleepers |Trade Values | Towers' Top 150 | RB Preview | WR Preview | QB Preview | TE preview | Starts, sits, sleepers & busts | DFS Guide | PPR Cheat Sheet | Non-PPR Cheat Sheet
Start 'Em & Sit 'Em
Start of the Week
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There's a line from the movie Batman starring Michael Keaton where Bruce Wayne is standing in a room with the Joker, and he says, "You wanna get nuts? Let's get nuts!" That's kind of how I feel right now with the Start of the Week.
It's been a rough two weeks for the Start of the Week. In Week 1, Raheem Mostert had a season-ending knee injury and was limited to just two carries. His backup, Elijah Mitchell, took over against the Lions and played great with 19 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown -- which is what I expected from Mostert.
In Week 2, I went with a risky option in Ben Roethlisberger against the Raiders, and he was terrible, scoring just 15 Fantasy points. Needless to say, it hasn't been the ideal start to the 2021 season for the player we like to spotlight.
But that changes now. In Week 3, we're going to get nuts and trust the volatile backfield in Baltimore. Ty'Son Williams is the best running back for the Ravens, and he's headed for a big outing at Detroit.
The matchup is perfect for Williams, which is really what this is all about. After Mitchell beat up the Lions in Week 1, Aaron Jones demolished them in Week 2 with 115 total yards and four total touchdowns. For the season, Detroit has allowed six total touchdowns to running backs, and I'm hopeful Williams finds the end zone this week.
He's going to share touches with Latavius Murray and Devonta Freeman, so he's risky in that regard, as well as what Lamar Jackson does on the ground. But Williams has been Baltimore's best running back with J.K. Dobbins (knee) and Gus Edwards (knee) out for the season.
Williams made some mistakes in Week 1 at the Raiders, but he scored 17 PPR points. He followed that up with 13 carries for 77 yards and two catches for 16 yards on two targets against the Chiefs, but he also lost a touchdown when he fumbled at the goal line, which thankfully fell into teammate Devin Duvernay's hands.
He's raw, but he has much more upside than Murray and Freeman, which should hopefully lead to more work. Williams played as many snaps as Murray and Freeman combined (37) in Week 2, and he should be the lead back again in Week 3.
I don't mind Murray as a flex option, and he has a rushing touchdown in each game this year. But Williams has star potential in this offense, especially this week against the Lions.
I'm confident that Williams will be the first successful Start of the Week this year, and I like him as a top 15 Fantasy running back in all leagues. It's time to get nuts.
- The FFT crew breaks down Christian McCaffrey and developments from TNF plus key Week 3 lineup decisions on the Fantasy Football Today podcast. Listen below and follow at Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts:
START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Quarterbacks
Start 'Em
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Hurts had a rough game in Week 2 against San Francisco throwing the ball since he was 12-of-23 passing for 190 yards and no touchdowns. But he more than made up for it by running the ball with 10 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown, and he now has at least 62 rushing yards in each game this year. He had 19 Fantasy points in one start at Dallas last season with 69 rushing yards, but I expect him to be better this time around. He's a top-10 quarterback in all leagues.
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The Rams aren't going to run on the Buccaneers, especially with Darrell Henderson (ribs) banged up. This game will be all about Stafford and the passing game, and Tampa Bay has allowed 703 passing yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions against Dak Prescott and Matt Ryan in two games. In Stafford's lone home game this year against Chicago in Week 1, he had 321 passing yards and three touchdowns, and a repeat performance is possible. He might even be better than that since Prescott and Ryan each attempted at least 46 passes.
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Cousins has scored at least 26 Fantasy points in each of his first two games, and he even ran for 35 yards in Week 2 at Arizona. This matchup should be a shootout between Cousins and Russell Wilson, and I expect Cousins to keep pace in his first home game this year. In his past five home games last year, Cousins passed for 1,417 yards, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions, and he averaged 26.8 Fantasy points over that span. Cousins has top-10 upside this week.
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Jones has more Fantasy points through two games than Josh Allen, Aaron Rodgers, Prescott and Stafford and the same amount as Lamar Jackson. That's obviously not going to last long, but Jones has done a nice job through two games against Denver and Washington with 516 passing yards and two touchdowns, along with 122 rushing yards and two scores. He's scored at least eight Fantasy points with his legs in each game, and we hope he continues to run. It would also be nice if he started to connect with prize free agent acquisition Kenny Golladay, and that could happen this week against the Falcons, who have allowed the most Fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this year. Jones is a great streaming quarterback in all leagues.
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I'm sticking with Tannehill for one more week, and hopefully this is his best Fantasy outing to date. It won't take much since he's combined for just 28 Fantasy points in two games against Arizona and Seattle, but he just had bad touchdown luck against the Seahawks since he passed for 347 yards. He also ran for 27 yards and looked much better, and I expect that to continue in Week 3 against the Colts. Indianapolis also has allowed six passing touchdowns through two games against Russell Wilson and Stafford, with both scoring at least 21 Fantasy points.
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Sleepers
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Bridgewater has been awesome through two games with an average of 24.0 Fantasy points against the Giants and Jaguars on the road, and this will be his first home start with the Broncos. My only concern could be a lack of attempts against the Jets, but I still like Bridgewater as a low-end starter this week.
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Fields will start for the injured Andy Dalton (knee), and we'll see how he does with a full week to prepare for the job. The nice thing is you can expect Fields to run, and he had 31 rushing yards in relief of Dalton last week against Cincinnati. Hopefully, he looks great against the Browns and can keep the job all season, even when Dalton is healthy. For now, consider him a low-end starter in all one-quarterback leagues and a must-start option in two-quarterback and Superflex formats.
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Carr has scored at least 24 Fantasy points in the past six games he's been able to finish dating back to last season, including 27 Fantasy points in each outing this year against the Ravens and Steelers. He's dealing with an injured ankle, so keep that in mind, and this won't be an easy matchup against the Dolphins. But he's playing at a high level right now and carrying the Raiders offense, especially with Josh Jacobs (toe/ankle) hurt. Consider Carr a quality low-end starter in all leagues.
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Sit 'Em
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Lawrence has looked like a rookie quarterback through two games against Houston and Denver with five interceptions and countless mistakes, and he should struggle again this week. The last time the Cardinals traveled east was Week 1 at Tennessee, and Tannehill was sacked six times and had two turnovers. Lawrence should be considered a questionable starter even in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues.
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After an impressive Week 1 against Green Bay when Winston passed for five touchdowns and scored 38 Fantasy points, things went downhill fast in Week 2 at Carolina. Winston had no passing touchdowns, two interceptions and scored just seven Fantasy points. It's doubtful he'll be that bad against the Patriots, but he should struggle again in New England. Like Lawrence, Winston could be tough to trust in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues.
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I thought Roethlisberger would play well in Week 2 against Las Vegas when I made him the Start of the Week, but he struggled with just 15 Fantasy points. We'll see how he does in Week 3 against the Bengals, but now he's dealing with a pectoral injury. He also could be without No. 1 receiver Diontae Johnson (knee) to make matters worse. He's a questionable starter in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues if Johnson is out.
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Goff has been a solid Fantasy quarterback to start the season with at least 21 points in each outing against San Francisco and Green Bay. He's averaging 46.5 pass attempts a game, and that volume has been his best asset with the Lions chasing points each week. It will likely be the same thing against the Ravens, but I expect him to fall below 20 Fantasy points for the first time this year. He's only worth using as a low-end starter in two-quarterback and Superflex leagues.
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Mayfield will be without Jarvis Landry (knee), and we don't know if Odell Beckham (knee) will play or be at 100 percent if he's out there. We also know the Browns want to run the ball with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, and Mayfield has combined for just 30 Fantasy points on the season. He's only worth using as a low-end starter in two-quarterback and Superflex leagues.
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Bust Alert
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Burrow struggled in Week 2 against the Bears with just 207 passing yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions, and he should have another rough outing against the Steelers on the road. Now, he could benefit if T.J. Watt (groin), Devin Bush (groin) and Joe Haden (groin) are out or limited again for Pittsburgh, and Carr just scored 27 Fantasy points against this defense with all the injuries. But if any of those guys play, especially Watt, it could be a tough day for Burrow. He's only a starting option in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Running Backs
Start 'Em
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It's strange having to tell people to start Barkley because that should be an automatic thing, but clearly that hasn't been the case through the first two weeks of the season. We expected a slow start coming back from last year's knee injury based on preseason reports, and it's been a struggle for Barkley, who has combined for just 23 carries for 83 yards and three catches for 13 yards. But it feels like a big game is coming since he's had extra rest after last playing on Thursday night in Week 2 against Washington. In that game, Barkley flashed his big-play ability with a 41-yard run, and the Giants also kept him on the field for 84 percent of the snaps after he played just 48 percent in Week 1 against Denver. He's not quite all the way back, but hopefully we can say that after this week against the Falcons.
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It's been fun to watch Harris dominate carries for the Patriots through the first two weeks of the season, and he should be considered a No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues this week against the Saints, with his value higher in non-PPR. He has at least 16 carries in each game, and he scored at the Jets in Week 2 after rushing for 100 yards against Miami in Week 1. I like James White as a sleeper this week in PPR, and he's also playing well with six catches in each game this season. But the Patriots are leaning on Harris right now on the ground, and he's a quality Fantasy option this week against New Orleans at home.
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Edmonds has yet to find the end zone this season, but he does have at least 75 total yards in each game. He also has nine receptions on the season, and he's a quality starter in PPR in Week 3 against Jacksonville. While he's sharing touches with James Conner, Edmonds has still played at least 58 percent of the snaps in each of the first two games. The Jaguars have yet to face a pass-catching running back like Edmonds, and it will be hard for Jacksonville to slow down this Arizona attack behind Kyler Murray. Edmonds is a flex option in non-PPR leagues, but he has top-15 upside in PPR this week.
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We'll see what happens with Tua Tagovailoa (ribs) and if he's able to play this week, but the Dolphins might have bigger concerns with their offensive line after struggling against Buffalo in Week 2. That said, I'll still use Gaskin as a No. 2 running back this week against the Raiders given his role in the passing game. He has nine catches on 10 targets in two games against the Patriots and Bills, and he played 61 percent of the snaps in Week 2 against Buffalo. Last year at Las Vegas, Gaskin had the best game of his career with 14 carries for 87 yards, along with five catches for 82 yards and two touchdowns. The Raiders also have allowed three touchdowns to running backs on the season.
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In his last two games against the Cowboys, Sanders has rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries, along with nine catches for 104 yards. He's averaging 21.0 PPR points over that span, and hopefully he keeps that up this week. Sanders was great in Week 1 at Atlanta with 16 PPR points, but he regressed in Week 2 with just six PPR points. The nice thing is he's played at least 66 percent of the snaps in each game, and he's averaging 16.5 touches per game on the year. Dallas has yet to allow a running back to score, but Leonard Fournette and Austin Ekeler each had at least five catches against the Cowboys so far. We could see Sanders and Kenneth Gainwell make plays against this defense in the passing game, and Sanders should be considered a No. 2 running back in all leagues, with Gainwell a sleeper as a flex play in deeper formats.
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Sleepers
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Davis falls into the sleeper category because it seems like Fantasy managers are getting too excited about Cordarrelle Patterson. While Patterson had a great game against Tampa Bay in Week 2 (23 PPR points), Davis is still playing almost double the snaps. And Davis also had 16 total touches in Week 2, including seven catches, and should still be the primary running back this week against the Giants. It's not an easy matchup, but I still like Davis as at least a flex option in all leagues. Patterson remains a low-end flex this week.
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Pollard should be considered a flex option in PPR this week, and he has seven catches for 60 yards on seven targets in two games while playing in tandem with Ezekiel Elliott. He had a huge outing in Week 2 at the Chargers with 13 carries for 109 yards and a touchdown, along with three catches for 31 yards, and he looks more explosive than Elliott right now. We'll see if that continues against the Eagles, who are among the league leaders in receptions allowed to running backs with 14 and just lost standout defensive lineman Brandon Graham (Achilles).
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We'll see if Josh Jacobs (toe/ankle) is able to play this week, but if he's out, Drake should be considered a flex option in PPR against one of his former teams. He played 71 percent of the snaps in Week 2 at Pittsburgh with Jacobs out, and he had seven carries for 9 yards, along with five catches for 46 yards on six targets. He clearly needs to run the ball better -- and the Raiders should keep Peyton Barber off the field -- but Drake has 10 catches for 115 yards on 11 targets on the season. The Dolphins also have allowed four running backs to score at least 11 PPR points in two games this season. Opponent Team : Miami Dolphins (MIA)
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Williams ran well against the Jaguars in Week 2 with 13 carries for 64 yards, and he also added one catch for 10 yards. He continues to work in tandem with Melvin Gordon, and both Broncos running backs should be considered sleepers this week as flex options. This will be Williams' first game in Denver, and hopefully he shows the home crowd his upside with his first NFL touchdown. It helps that the Jets just allowed two rushing touchdowns in Week 2 against New England.
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Sit 'Em
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Robinson made strides from Week 1 to Week 2, and hopefully he's heading in the right direction. But I still don't want to start him in Week 3 against the Cardinals. Robinson went from eight total touches and 51 total yards in Week 1 at Houston to 14 total touches and 64 total yards in Week 2 against Denver. He should be considered a flex option against Arizona, but the Cardinals haven't allowed a rushing touchdown yet in matchups with Derrick Henry and Dalvin Cook.
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Williams was great in Week 1 against San Francisco with nine carries for 54 yards and a touchdown, along with eight catches for 56 yards on nine targets. He significantly regressed in Week 2 at Green Bay with seven carries for 25 yards, along with three catches for 12 yards on three targets. His production will probably end up somewhere in between those two outings this week against Baltimore, but he should only be considered a low-end flex option. D'Andre Swift is a No. 2 running back this week, but I'm concerned about both running backs against the Ravens. They need volume in the passing game, and hopefully Jared Goff goes back to throwing them the ball like he did in Week 1.
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Singletary is still worth using as a flex option this week against Washington, and he's played well to start the season with 24 carries for 154 yards and a touchdown, along with five catches for 17 yards on eight targets in two games against Pittsburgh and Miami. But he could continue to lose touches to Zack Moss, who returned to action in Week 2 after being inactive in Week 1. And Washington has done a solid job in limiting Austin Ekeler and Barkley in two games, holding both to a combined 19 PPR points. Singletary's Fantasy production could be minimal this week if he doesn't find the end zone.
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Ingram, as we said last week, probably had his best game of the season in Week 1 against Jacksonville when he scored 14 PPR points. He went down to five PPR points in Week 2 at Cleveland, and he should be in that range again this week against the Panthers. Carolina just held Alvin Kamara to 30 total yards in Week 2, and the Panthers have allowed just 110 total yards to running backs on the season against the Jets and Saints. Ingram also should suffer with Tyrod Taylor (hamstring) being out and Davis Mills under center. Ingram is barely a flex play in non-PPR leagues this week.
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Michel could start with Darrell Henderson (ribs) banged up, and Michel is worth picking up in all leagues where available. Just don't expect Michel to do much in that role against the Buccaneers this week. We'll see what his involvement will be in the passing game, but it's doubtful he'll have much success running against Tampa Bay. In two games against Dallas and Atlanta, the Buccaneers have given up 99 rushing yards and one touchdown on 32 carries. Michel had 10 carries for 46 yards in relief of Henderson last week at the Colts, but I'm not excited to use him in this matchup. I also would consider Henderson a bust alert if he's able to play this week at less than 100 percent.
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Bust Alert
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In his past 10 games with Nick Chubb on the field, Hunt has as many games with at least 14 PPR points (four) as he does with six PPR points or less. That's already happened in two games this season, and Hunt is a risky Fantasy option whenever he's in the No. 2 role. He got 13 carries in Week 2 against Houston but managed just 51 rushing yards to go with one catch for 2 yards. Maybe he gets more work in the passing game with Jarvis Landry (knee) out, but Hunt will likely have minimal Fantasy production if he fails to score. I would still use him as a flex option in most leagues, and Henderson scored against Chicago in Week 1. But the Bears also just held Joe Mixon to just 71 total yards and no touchdowns on 21 total touches last week, so this isn't an easy matchup. I'm not worried about Chubb, but Hunt will likely need a touchdown to have a productive day.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Wide Receiver
Start 'Em
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I like Shepard and Kenny Golladay this week with their matchup against the Falcons. For Shepard, it's easy to see why he should be started in all Fantasy leagues based on his production to start the season with 16 catches for 207 yards and a touchdown on 19 targets in two games. But if you go back to last season, this is now four games in a row with at least 18 PPR points, and hopefully he keeps rolling with Daniel Jones. Golladay is tougher to trust since he's combined for just 16 PPR points in two outings, but this should be a squeaky wheel game for him after he was yelling on the sidelines in Week 2 at Washington. Atlanta has allowed five touchdowns to receivers in two games.
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Brown has scored at least 12 PPR points in eight games in a row dating back to last season, with 15-plus PPR points in five of those contests, including two this year. It's great to see him averaging eight targets per game, and he has six catches in each outing this season. He should have another opportunity for a big game this week against the Lions, who have struggled with Deebo Samuel (33 PPR points) and Davante Adams (20 PPR points) in each of the past two weeks.
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Sutton took advantage of Jerry Jeudy (ankle) being out in Week 2 with a monster performance against the Jaguars with nine catches for 159 yards on 12 targets. He had a whopping 309 air yards in that game, and Teddy Bridgewater should continue to lean on Sutton again this week against the Jets at home. Tim Patrick is worth using as a sleeper this week, but Sutton has top-15 upside in his first home game since Week 17 in 2019.
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Williams appears to be the real deal this season and should be started in all leagues in Week 3 at the Chiefs. Through two games, Williams has 15 catches for 173 yards and two touchdowns on 22 targets against Washington and Dallas. This game figures to be high scoring, and Williams went for six catches, 108 yards and a touchdown on seven targets in his last game at Kansas City in Week 17 last year. A repeat performance is definitely possible this week.
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Sometimes you have to remind Fantasy managers that great players are capable of great things when they are struggling. And some of you are concerned about Woods heading into Week 3 since he has just eight catches for 91 yards and one touchdown on 13 targets in two games. He hasn't been awful with 11 PPR points in each outing, but when compared to Cooper Kupp, who is the No. 1 Fantasy receiver with 60 PPR points, it's a little frustrating. Both receivers should do well this week against the Buccaneers, who are No. 1 in Fantasy points allowed to receivers. This game should be an aerial attack in Los Angeles this week.
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Sleepers
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Jones has easily been the best receiver in Jacksonville this season and should be a solid No. 3 Fantasy option this week against Arizona. Jones has at least 17 PPR points in each game against the Texans and Broncos and should get garbage-time stats in Week 3 against the Cardinals, who have allowed four touchdowns to receivers in the first two games.
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Mooney had a quality game in Week 2 against Cincinnati with six catches for 66 yards on eight targets. He now has 15 targets in two games, and I'm hopeful Justin Fields will lean on him again in Week 3 against the Browns. Allen Robinson is a must-start Fantasy receiver this week with Fields under center, but I like Mooney as a No. 3 Fantasy option in all leagues as well.
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Osborn has looked great in two games as the third receiving option for the Vikings behind Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. He has 15 targets in two games and has finished with 12 catches, 167 yards and one touchdown. It's hard to expect consistent production with Jefferson and Thielen healthy, but he's worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in deeper leagues in Week 3 against Seattle. This game should be high-scoring, and Kirk Cousins should continue to lean on Osborn in this matchup.
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Boyd got going last week at Chicago with seven catches for 73 yards on nine targets, and he's worth using again this week as a high-end No. 3 PPR receiver against the Steelers. Pittsburgh is banged up on defense with T.J. Watt, Joe Haden and Devin Bush all battling groin injuries, and that could allow for Boyd, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to make plays. The Steelers also struggled against slot receivers in each of their first two games, with Cole Beasley catching eight passes for 60 yards in Week 1 and Hunter Renfrow having five catches for 57 yards on seven targets in Week 2.
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Carson Wentz (ankle) might not play this week, which is a downgrade for Pittman if Jacob Eason is under center. The upgrade is the matchup against the Titans, who have allowed the most receiving yards (572) and receiving touchdowns (six) to opposing receivers this year. Pittman just had eight catches for 123 yards on 12 targets against the Rams in Week 2, and he also had seven catches for 101 yards at Tennessee in Week 10 last year. Eason should lean on Pittman this week if Wentz is out.
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Sit 'Em
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I expected Davis to struggle in Week 2 against New England, and he was limited to two catches for 8 yards on five targets. He'll be better than that this week, but I wouldn't start him at Denver. The Broncos have a fantastic secondary, and Zach Wilson won't have much time to connect with Davis down the field.
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Waddle has two potential negatives this week. The first is Jacoby Brissett starting for the injured Tua Tagovailoa (ribs), and that could be a problem for Waddle with the quarterback downgrade. The second issue is the expected return of Will Fuller. Now, Waddle is competing for targets, which is also a problem for DeVante Parker. I would sit all three Dolphins receivers this week if you can with Tagovailoa's absence, as well as trying to see how all three of them work together.
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Beckham is expected to make his 2021 debut in Week 3 against the Bears after being out for the first two weeks of the season in his comeback from last year's torn ACL. There could be some rust, and he could also have his playing time limited. The good thing is his target share should be decent with Jarvis Landry (knee) out, but the Bears know to key in on Beckham as well. I would only use him as a low-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver in most leagues this week.
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Ruggs was great in Week 2 at the Steelers with five catches for 113 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. He should be added in all leagues, and it was nice to see him finally get more than five targets in a game for the first time in his career. But this is not the defense to start Ruggs against in most Fantasy leagues. He might make a play or two down the field, but Xavien Howard and Miami's secondary should be able to keep Ruggs in check.
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Bust Alert
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I wouldn't be shocked if Cooks makes a big play or two Thursday night against the Panthers. He caught a touchdown from Davis Mills in Week 2 against the Browns after Mills took over for the injured Tyrod Taylor (hamstring), and Cooks should see plenty of targets, especially with Nico Collins (shoulder) and Danny Amendola (thigh) out. But the Panthers will likely focus on stopping Cooks, who has 14 catches for 210 yards and a touchdown on 21 targets in two games. Cooks is worth starting as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues, but I would lower expectations for him this week given the quarterback change, as well as facing a solid defense.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Tight End
Start 'Em
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Zach Ertz (reserve/COVID-19 list) could be out this week, which should mean more opportunities for Goedert. He did well in Week 1 at Atlanta with four catches for 42 yards and a touchdown on five targets, but he regressed in Week 2 with two catches for 24 yards on two targets against San Francisco. This week, he's facing a Dallas defense that allowed two touchdowns to Rob Gronkowski in Week 1 and should have given up touchdowns to Jared Cook and Donald Parham in Week 2, but both were taken back due to penalties.
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Fant is dealing with an ankle injury as of Wednesday, but he's expected to play against the Jets. In the first game without Jerry Jeudy (ankle) in Week 2 at Jacksonville, Fant had four catches for 33 yards and a touchdown on six targets. He now has 14 targets in two games with Teddy Bridgewater, and he's scored at least 12 PPR points in each outing.
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Higbee was a dud in Week 2 at the Colts with one catch for 8 yards on one target, but I expect him to rebound this week against the Buccaneers. In Week 1 against Chicago at home, Higbee had five catches for 68 yards on six targets, and he should post a similar stat line this week -- if not better. Tampa Bay hasn't allowed a tight end to score yet this season, but Dalton Schultz in Week 1 and Kyle Pitts in Week 2 both scored at least 10 PPR points, which is something Higbee should be able to achieve.
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Sleepers
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Hooper will hopefully benefit with Jarvis Landry (knee) out, and he's coming off a strong game in Week 2 against Houston with five catches for 40 yards on five targets. David Njoku and Harrison Bryant will be involved also, but Hooper has the highest ceiling of the trio. Consider him a low-end starter this week in deeper leagues.
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Doyle was solid in Week 2 against the Rams with five catches for 64 yards on eight targets, and hopefully he continues to be this involved in the offense moving forward. We'll see what happens if Jacob Eason starts for the injured Carson Wentz (ankle), but this is a bad Titans secondary Doyle is facing in Week 3. He's a great streaming option in all leagues.
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Cook should have had a touchdown in Week 2 against Dallas, but it was called back due to an illegal shift penalty. He played well in Week 1 at Washington with five catches for 56 yards on eight targets, and I expect this game to be high-scoring, with Cook heavily involved as the fourth weapon for Justin Herbert behind Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler. Cook should be considered a low-end starter in all leagues.
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Sit 'Em
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The Dolphins need to worry about their offensive line in this game, so we could see more of Durham Smythe and less of Gesicki, which is what happened in Week 1 against New England when Gesicki was left with no catches on three targets. Gesicki was better in Week 2 against the Bills with three catches for 41 yards on six targets, but now Will Fuller is back to give Miami a crowded receiving corps. Along with that, Tua Tagovailoa (ribs) is out, and I don't want to trust Gesicki with Jacoby Brissett under center.
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Everett will have some big games this season, and he might do well this week against the Vikings. But Will Dissly will also be a factor in Seattle's passing attack, as well as Freddie Swain, and the majority of targets are still going to Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf. Everett scored in Week 1 at the Colts but had just two catches for 20 yards on two targets. He only had two targets again in Week 2 against Tennessee, and it's too risky to trust him in most leagues as of now.
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Smith is more of a bust alert than a must-sit option, but I'm afraid that his production in the first two weeks of the season is what we could be getting all year. He has five targets and four catches in each outing, but he's averaging just 7.5 PPR points per game. Now, if he scores, all will be fine, but the Patriots have just one passing touchdown in two games. I'd try to avoid Smith in most leagues if you can this week.
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Bust Alert
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Thomas is likely going to remain a starting Fantasy option in most leagues, but the Bills typically do a solid job against opposing tight ends, especially when linebacker Matt Milano is healthy. Thomas has 10 targets on the season with eight catches, 75 yards and a touchdown, and he's averaging 10.5 PPR points per game. I expect him to be below his average this week, making him just a low-end starter in most formats.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
DST
Start 'Em
Panthers (at HOU): The Panthers defense has been exceptional to start the season, and now Carolina gets to face a rookie quarterback making his first NFL start on a short week with the game on Thursday night. The Panthers should be able to harass Davis Mills, and Carolina has 10 sacks and three interceptions in two games so far. The Panthers have also allowed just 21 points to the Jets and Saints, so consider the Panthers DST is a top-five unit in Week 3.
Sleepers
- Raiders vs. MIA
Bears at CLE
Titans vs. IND
Sit 'Em
Football Team (at BUF): The Washington defense has been among my biggest disappointments so far this year. Through two games against the Chargers and Bills, the Washington defense has allowed 49 points with only six sacks and two turnovers. It will be hard to trust this defense against the Bills this week even though Josh Allen has struggled. I'm hopeful things will get better for the Washington defense, but I'm sitting the Football Team DST in Week 3.
START 'EM & SIT 'EM
KICKERS
Start 'Em
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Folk will be the Patriots kicker with Quinn Nordin (abdomen) on injured reserve, and Folk has been great so far this season. Through two games, he's made seven field goals and two PATs, and he's combined for 23 Fantasy points. This should be another game where Folk has multiple field goal chances, and he's a top-10 Fantasy kicker for Week 3.
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Sleepers
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Sit 'Em
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Crosby hasn't done much so far this season with one field goal and five PATs, and he could be held to minimal production again this week at San Francisco. He's played the 49ers three times in the regular season over the past three years and has combined for just seven Fantasy points. San Francisco also has allowed just two field goals and two PATs in two games this year.
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So who should you start and sit this week? And which surprising quarterback could lead you to victory? Visit SportsLine now to get Week 3 rankings for every position, plus see which QB is going to come out of nowhere to crack the top 10, all from the model that has out-performed experts big-time.
