Fantasy Football Week 3: Start ‘em, Sit ‘em

Week 2 brought with it a thrillride of games, with all but four being decided by one score. Of course, along with it came a laundry list of injuries, most notably Nick Chubb going down for the rest of the season after a significant leg injury during Monday Night Football against the Steelers. If you haven’t seen it yet, don’t look it up. Serious prayers to him for a speedy recovery.

Other notable injuries include Anthony Richardson (concussion), Jaylen Waddle (concussion), Saquon Barkley (ankle), and Joe Burrow (calf), just to name a few.

If your team started off 0-2, fear not. There’s plenty of time to turn things around, plus a whole lot of positive game scripts in week 3.

Start ’em

Lamar Jackson (QB, Ravens) vs. Colts

After a discouraging performance against the Texans in week 1, Jackson woke up last week against the Bengals with 237 yards and two scores. Him and rookie WR Zay Flowers look to be building chemistry, and having Mark Andrews back helped a lot as well.

Through the first two weeks of the season, opposing QBs have had field days against the Colts defense. C.J. Stroud almost hit 400 yards in week 2, and Trevor Lawrence carved up their secondary with Calvin Ridley week 1. Starting Jackson this week is a no-brainer.

Kenneth Walker III (RB, Seahawks) vs. Panthers

Walker has had a pleasantly productive start to the Seahawks’ season, both rushing and catching passes. He caught the ball four times in week 1 and found the endzone twice last week on 17 attempts.

Hosting Carolina this week, Walker has plenty of upside against a defense that’s allowed the fifth most fantasy points to RBs in PPR leagues. He’ll find the endzone again, maybe even two more times.

Jordan Addison (WR, Vikings) vs. Chargers

What’d I say about Jordan Addison? Two weeks in and he is already a stud alongside Justin Jefferson.

This dude has seven catches for 133 yards (19 AVG) and two scores through the first two weeks, and his matchup this week is delicious.

The Chargers have given up the fourth most fantasy points to WRs in PPR leagues so far, and with all the attention they’ll be forced to give Jefferson, Addison should be open ALL afternoon. Cha-f’ing-ching. Start him.

Dallas Goedert (TE, Eagles) @ Buccaneers

Goedert’s season thus far follows a similar script to Lamar Jackson, a slow start followed by a significant uptick in productivity. After being targeted only once against the Patriots, it was blatantly obvious Nick Sirianni was trying to get Goedert the ball against the Vikings.

I’m expecting a big bounce-back game for Goedert in another high-upside opportunity. The Vikings and Bears targeted tight ends a combined 20 times against the Bucs in weeks 1 and 2, so if Goedert can get the targets he got last week I see him finding his first touchdown of the year.

Sit ’em

Ryan Tannehill (QB, Titans) @ Browns

Tannehill looked promising against the Chargers after throwing three picks in week 1, but I’m not chasing that as the Titans pack up shop and head to Cleveland for week 3.

The Browns thus far have surrendered the second fewest fantasy points to both QBs and WRs, and they shouldn’t have too much trouble locking up Tannehill’s options.

Look for Derrick Henry to carry most of the load on the ground for Tennessee, as the RB position is the only one Cleveland isn’t top 5 in in terms of allowing fantasy points (they’re eighth).

James Conner (RB, Cardinals) vs. Cowboys

Remember how I just said Cleveland is second in fantasy points allowed to QBs and WRs? Guess who’s first.

I know James Conner is a running back, so here’s this: Dallas is second in fantasy points allowed to RBs.

The hype surrounding the Cowboys has been repetitive for the past few years, there’s no denying that. But right now, that defense is unstoppable. Conner has had a solid start to the season, but hard pass this week.

Christian Watson (WR, Packers) vs. Saints

I’ve never been high on Jordan Love, but I give props where props are due. He’s had an amazing first couple weeks as the Packers’ QB1.

It was a little tough for me to list Watson as a sit this week, but his script had a couple too many negatives to overlook. I think it’ll be tough for him to immediately insert himself back into the offense now that Love has found strides with Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed, and New Orleans hasn’t been all that nice to WRs thus far.

Give him a couple weeks to reestablish himself, barring another injury.

Tyler Conklin (TE, Jets) vs. Patriots

Conklin put up respectable numbers against the Cowboys, but please don’t go chasing that as the Jets look at New England this week. He was targeted just once against the Bills in week 1, who rank fourth in fantasy points allowed to TEs.

The Pats will get to Zach Wilson a few times, plus they rank two spots higher than the Bills in fantasy points allowed to TEs. Pass.

BYES: NONE