Week 3 Fantasy Football Starts And Sits | The Phinest Insights

Congratulations to the fantasy managers that came out of Week 2 with a win. Week 1 kicked off the new fantasy season. Fantasy managers were flabbergasted. Top players fell flat right out of the gate. Week 2 showed a resurgence as to why players were drafted high. While there were plenty of highlights of players having great games like Malik Nabers 37.7 fantasy point game against the Dallas Cowboys or Kenneth Walker’s 18.8 fantasy point game against the Pittsburgh, there were also lowlights.

Both Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts finished Week 2 with under 12 fantasy points in their respective games. Top rookie running backs Omarion Hampton and Ashton Jeanty also finished under 10 fantasy points. These performance makes fantasy managers question if they were worth their draft price. These are in the rearview mirror. Now as it is time to get ready for another week of setting fantasy football lineups.

Week 3 Starts And Sits

Starts

Quarterbacks

Baker Mayfield vs. NYJ

Baker Mayfield has started the season on a good foot for fantasy managers. With two good weeks above 15 fantasy points, Mayfield looks to keep it going in Week 3. The New York Jets’ defense has let up four passing touchdowns over the first two weeks. The Jets did slow down Josh Allen in Week 2 with 148 passing yards but got cooked by Aaron Rodgers in Week 1. Mayfield is currently averaging 35 pass attempts per game heading into Week 3. Expect Mayfield to test that Jets secondary.

Aaron Rodgers vs. NE

Aaron Rodgers is another quarterback in a position to bounce back in Week 3. The New England Patriots are giving up 315 yards per game over the first two weeks. The Patriots are also giving up the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks at 22 per. Rodgers finished with just 203 yards, a passing touchdown, and two interceptions. The Patriots are also missing Chris Gonzalez again this week because of injury, putting another big hole in their secondary.

Honorable Mention: Dak Prescott vs. CHI

Sits

Spencer Rattler vs. SEA

You can deny that Spencer Rattler has been getting it done so far this season. Rattler finished as the QB9 for Week 2, posting 21.7 fantasy points in the game against the San Francisco 49ers. However, Rattler may face a tougher challenge against a stingy Seahawks defense. The Seahawks picked off Aaron Rodgers for two grabs. The Seahawks are also allowing the 11th-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks at 15.8 fantasy points per game. Playing at the 12th man is already tough too. Rattler may have to take a seat this week.

Wide Receivers

Starts

George Pickens vs. CHI

George Pickens came to life in Week 2 against the New York Giants last week. Pickens showed up in the shootout, catching six passes on nine targets for 68 yards and a touchdown. Pickens finished with 17.8 fantasy points. But the Chicago Bears’ defense has seen better days. The Bears got picked apart by Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions in Week 2. The Bears gave up five passing touchdowns in the game and 334 yards. Pickens is in a good spot to help fantasy lineups against a Bears’ defense allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers.

Jameson Williams vs. BAL

Fantasy managers may want to ride the wave with Jameson Williams against the Baltimore Ravens this week. Williams got busy later in the game against the Chicago Bears last week but it was still wanted. Williams caught two of four passes for 108 yards and a touchdown. Fantasy managers want to see Williams see more targets but his big play ability is on the money. The Ravens are allowing 38.5 fantasy points per game heading into Week 3.

Honorable Mention: Rome Odunze vs. DAL

Sits

Courtland Sutton vs. LAC

Courtland Sutton had a down week in Week 2 when facing the Indianapolis Colts. Sutton had just 1.6 fantasy points in the game on four targets (one catch). It doesn’t get any easier in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers shut down the Raiders’ passing attack last week and held Jakobi Meyers to 68 yards on 12 targets. The Chargers are giving up the ninth-fewest fantasy points per game at 28.6.

Running Backs

Starts

Jordan Mason vs. CIN

With Aaron Jones landing on injured reserve, Jordan Mason will likely have the backfield to himself for the most part. The Vikings did add Cam Akers for depth reasons this week. Mason does have some versatility to him so he’ll see a few targets out of the backfield. The Bengals defense has been vulnerable to the running back position so far this season. The Bengals are allowing 29.4 fantasy points per game to the running back position.

Travis Etienne vs. HOU

Remember when Travis Etienne was expected to be traded this offseason? Or that he was supposed to lose his starting job? Pepperidge Farm remembers. And apparently so does Etienne. He’s currently averaging 7.1 yards per attempt and ranks as a top 10 RB heading into Week 3. Now he gets a Houston Texans defense that’s giving up 4.4 y/a and 120 yards per game on the ground. Etienne is set up to have a solid game for fantasy managers this week.

Honorable Mention: Kenneth Walker vs. NO

Sits

Cam Skattebo vs. KC

Giants running back Cam Skattebo looks to be taking over the backfield. He saw more carries while Tyrone Tracy saw more passing work. The deciding factor: it was Skattebo who saw action at the goal line as he punched in a rushing touchdown against the Cowboys. The Chiefs have been tougher against fantasy running backs, allowing the eighth-fewest fantasy points to the position. The Chiefs are allowing just 3.6 y/a and 106 yards per game.

Honorable Mention: Chubba Hubbard vs. ATL

Tight Ends

Starts

Travis Kelce vs. NYG

The Kansas City Chiefs are without WR Xavier Worthy who’s still dealing with his shoulder injury from Week 1. With Worthy out another week, Travis Kelce should be in for more work as the more consistent pass catcher the Chiefs have. The Giants are giving up 12.5 fantasy points to opposing tight ends and got put in a blender against Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson. Ferguson went nine of 12 for 78 yards and a touchdown for 16.8 fantasy points.

Honorable Mention: Kyle Pitts vs. CAR

Sits

Ja’Tavion Sanders vs. ATL

Ja’Tavion Sanders has been a hot name off the waiver wire this week that has been catching notice. Sanders popped up on the scene with 12 targets for 81 yards after two games. While he may be a solid waiver option, his matchup isn’t the greatest. The Atlanta Falcons are the best at defending fantasy tight ends, allowing the fewest fantasy points to the position at just 1.1 FPPG.