The Phinest Start’ EM Sit’ EM Week 3

Week 3 Start’ EM Sit’ EM

I hope your Week 2 was better than mine. Information is always key when it comes to fantasy football and most times the injury reports are spot on. Other times, they can mess you up. That’s what happened for some of my leagues when the news came out via Adam Schefter that Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper would be “unlikely to play” against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football. Hearing that news, I benched Cooper in every league that I had him just for news to come out that Cooper would be active for the game. Most of my leagues had alternates that played so there weren’t any spots open to get Cooper back into my lineups. To put it plainly, it sucked.

Fantasy performances were on 10 over the Week 2 weekend with big performances from players like D’Andre Swift, Kirk Cousins, and more so if you had some of these guys in your lineups, you had a better chance to get that win. But now it’s time to get ready for another week of fantasy football so we have to get you guys ready with another wave of options for your fantasy lineups.

Week 3 Start’ EM

*Start percentage via NFL Fantasy

Deshaun Watson vs. TEN (94.3% Start)

This is going against the grain a bit because Watson’s start percentage is still pretty high. But after the first two weeks of the season, Watson hasn’t been performing well and the confidence in him seems to be wavering right now. But don’t fret too much. Despite averaging just 194 yards per game passing and averaging 16.1 fantasy points per game over the first two weeks, Watson gets a vulnerable Tennessee Titans team that nearly 282 passing yards per game over the first two weeks of the season. This could be just the matchup Watson needs to get back on the right path.

Russell Wilson vs. MIA (52% Start)

The Broncos game against the Washington Commanders in Week 2 was a bit weird when I watched it. While Wilson was spreading the ball around to his receivers (a good thing, mind you), his top wide receivers in Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy only accounted for 12 targets combined. With the Miami Dolphins as the opponents for Week 3, Russell Wilson will need to get going through the air if the game turns into a shootout. The Dolphins tightened up against the pass in Week 2 against the Mac Jones and the New England Patriots, limiting him to just 232 passing yards. The Dolphins are allowing 17 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks.

Jordan Addison vs. LAC (97.9% Start)

The Vikings rookie wide receiver has been fun to watch so far this season. Addison has been able to score two touchdowns in his first two games of the season and will look to keep that streak going heading into Week 3 against the Los Angeles Chargers. In what looks to be a bona-fide shoot out between Justin Herbert and Kirk Cousins, this could be just what the fantasy doctor ordered for lineups this week. The Chargers defense is allowing the most fantasy points to the wide receiver position heading into Week 3.

Tutu Atwell vs. CIN (55.5% Start)

Tutu Atwell has been a great surprise gem for fantasy managers (at the expense of Cooper Kupp) so far this season. After two weeks, Atwell is second on the team in targets (17) and has been heavily involved in the offense behind rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua. Atwell should continue to be a heavily targeted option in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals are a little bit tougher against the pass this season but if Joe Burrow can’t go, it could mean even more opportunities for the Rams offense to put up points.

Alexander Mattison vs. LAC (95.9% Start)

This selection might be with my heart but I don’t think Alexander Mattison is done this early into the season. Yes, the Vikings did trade for Rams running back Cam Akers and Mattison has struggled over the first two weeks for the season, granted against some tough run defenses and without adequate volume to help him out (Mattison only has 19 carries over the first two games). The Chargers are allowing 105 yards per game on the ground but hare allowing just over 22 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. Cam Akers is also going to be inactive for Week 3. Mattison can lock in and cement him self in the Vikings backfield as the main man.

Gus Edwards vs. IND (37.4% Start)

Gus Edwards is now the top running back option for the Baltimore Ravens with J.K. Dobbins out for the rest of the season. Not only that but fellow Ravens running back Justice Hill has also been ruled OUT for Week 3, forcing the Ravens to elevate recently signed running back Melvin Gordon to the active roster. Edwards should get a larger workload this week and gets a tough Colts defense allowing 17.9 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. The volume and potential goal line work should help Edwards fantasy production this week.

Cade Otton vs. PHI (0.9% Start)

The Philadelphia Eagles defense has been tough so far this season but if they have one weakness, it’s the middle of the defense. Over the first two games of the season, the tight end position has been able to produce against the vaunted Eagles defense. Both Hunter Henry and TJ Hockenson have had solid games against the Eagles and Bucs Cade Otton could be in line for a good game. The Eagles are allowing the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends at 26 FPPG.

Week 3 Sit’ EM

Jordan Love vs. NO (61% Start)

Jordan Love has had a great start to the season. Love is tied for first with Kirk Cousins in passing touchdowns (6) and is and has a 66.7% completion rate in the red zone. Love will get his toughest test this season against the New Orleans Saints defense that is allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season.

Jerome Ford vs. TEN (73.6% Start)

The hottest waiver wire target for Week 3 , on the sit list? Unfortunately, I have to put him up there for this week. With the signing of Kareem Hunt and not knowing how much involvement he’ll have this week is one thing. The matchup is another wrinkle that’s added to the mix that can cause issues too. The Titans run defense ranks fifth in the league and has given up just 65 yards per game after two weeks. It might be safer to sit Ford this week.

Terry McLaurin vs. BUF (96.9% Start)

Terry McLaurin has just 85 yards receiving over the first two games of the season and the Buffalo Bills are coming to town in Week 3. The Bills are allowing just 151 passing yards per game so it could be a long day for quarterback Sam Howell. If that happens, McLaurin’s day could be effected as well. The Bills are giving up the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers.

Juwan Johnson vs. GB (42% Start)

Juwan Johnson was supposed to be an offseason sleeper at the tight end position but so far his fantasy production after two games he’s putting fantasy managers to sleep. Johnson has eight targets and 49 yards over five catches for the start of the season but it’s not enough to place him in your fantasy lineups. The Packers are allowing 10.8 fantasy points per game but Johnson is only averaging five fantasy points per game.