Fantasy Football managers around the world had a rough week 2 with many star players going down with injuries. Depending on how aggressive you have been through trades and waivers throughout the week the injuries will not tank your season. As you prepare for another week of fantasy football, I have provided you with my favorites starts and sits ahead of the action in week 3.
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Quarterbacks to Start
Joe Burrow CIN
Burrow and the Bengals offense draw a favorable matchup in week 3 against the Commanders. The Commanders rank 22nd in passing yards allowed per game and the Bengals get WR Tee Higgins back this week as well. Burrow should be started in a majority of leagues
Baker Mayfield TB
Mayfield has been off to a great start to his 2024 campaign and draws a favorable matchup in week 3. The Bucs go up against the Broncos who have struggled to stop Geno Smith and Justin Fields so far this year. Start Baker with confidence this week.
Jared Goff DET
Goff had a rough game in week 2, having the most turnover-worthy throws according to PFF. This week the Lions play the Cardinals who just beat up the Rams. The Cards defense isn’t strong, and we should get a shootout between these two teams.
Quarterbacks to Sit
Matthew Stafford LAR
The Rams have had it worse than any other team to start 2024 with the number of injuries they have. Without stars Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua this week there’s no reason to start Stafford this week against the 49ers
Justin Herbert LAC
Herbert suffered a high ankle sprain in week 2 and has a matchup against the Steelers in week 3. Herbert hasn’t been great in terms of fantasy the last two weeks so starting him against a tougher matchup makes no sense this week.
Sam Darnold MIN
Darnold and the Vikings offense have been a pleasant surprise to start 2024. The Texans have been tough for opposing quarterbacks to start 2024. They are 3rd in yards allowed 3rd in sacks, and 13th in points allowed. Play Darnold at your own risk in week 3.
Running backs to Start
Brian Robinson Jr. WAS
The Bengals are depleted up front, and their strength is in their secondary right now. The Commanders are 5th in team rushing and the Bengals are 30th in rushing yards allowed. Brian Robinson should be in for a big week
D’Andre Swift CHI
Swift and the Bears offense have been off to a slow start in 2024. On the season Swift is averaging 2 yards per carry and Caleb Williams is the team’s leading rusher. The Colts last week allowed 250+ rushing yards to the Packers. Swift is in a prove it week but should be started in FF.
Zamir White LV
Like Swift, White has struggled so far to start 2024. Despite averaging 3.09 yards per carry, he draws a favorable matchup. The Panthers rank 31st in rushing yards allowed this season and if White can’t produce this week, we shouldn’t start him the rest of the season
Running backs to Sit
Devin Singletary NYG
Singletary had a great week against the Commanders rushing for 95 yards and a touchdown. In week 3 Singletary is facing the Browns who have one of the best run defenses in the NFL. Avoid starting Singletary unless you are desperate in week 3.
Aaron Jones MIN
The Vikings hot start to the season on offense can be attributed to Jones and Ty Chandler both averaging over 5 yards per carry. With a true committee forming in Minnesota and a tough matchup against the Texans, Jones is in for a dud this week.
Javonte Williams DEN
The Broncos rushing attack has struggled as a whole in 2024. Williams on the season has 19 carries for 40 yards not showing any improvement yet this season. I am not trusting Williams against a weak Bucs defense this week.
Wide Receivers to Start
Zay Flowers BAL
Flowers is quickly establishing himself as a consistent WR2 in fantasy football with WR1 upside. Through two games Flowers leads the team in targets and catches. The Cowboys secondary got cooked last week and Flowers is a WR1 play this week
D.J. Moore CHI
Caleb Williams and D.J. Moore’s lack of chemistry has been on full display through 2 weeks of the regular season. The volume is there for Moore despite two poor fantasy outputs. In a good matchup against the Colts expect some of those targets to turn into catches this week
Khalil Shakir BUF
Shakir’s numbers might not show it, but he is the clear-cut top target in Buffalo. Everyone besides Shakir as a pass catcher is hit or miss week to week. Against the Jaguars Shakir draws a favorable matchup in what should be a breakout week.
Wide Receivers to Sit
Michael Pittman Jr. IND
Pittman Jr. was one of the players I highlighted on the panic meter this week. It’s not completely on Pittman, QB Anthony Richardson ranks 30th in the NFL in intermediate throws completion percentage. With a tough matchup against the Bears sit Pittman
Christian Kirk JAX
Kirk another player that made the panic meter, has 2 catches on the season. The Jaguars offense has been a mess and Kirk is 103 out of 104 qualified receivers in yards per route run. The concerns are real with Kirk, and we should bench him until we see improvements.
Terry McLaurin WAS
On the season McLaurin has 8 catches for 39 yards with 0 touchdowns. In week 3 his matchup does not get any easier against a Bengals secondary that has only allowed 180 yards to wide receivers on the season. This is a poor matchup for McLaurin, and you should bench him this week.
Tight Ends to Start
Kyle Pitts ATL
The Chiefs defense has struggled to guard tight ends as we saw Mike Gesicki and Isaiah Likely both go over 100 yards. Pitts start to the 2024 season has been uninspiring but as the season goes on this Falcons offense will only get better. This week could be Pitts coming out party against a good matchup
Pat Freiermuth PIT
Muth is the clear 2nd option in the passing game for the Steelers behind George Pickens. Pickens has a tough matchup against Asante Samuel this week and the Chargers haven’t been great against tight ends to start the season. Expect him to have 4-5 catches and potentially add in a touchdown
Jake Ferguson DAL
Ferguson missed last week with an injury and returns with a favorable matchup this week against the Ravens. Through 2 weeks the Ravens have given up 16 catches to the tight end position. The Cowboys are looking for someone to step up in the passing game outside of CeeDee Lamb, it could be Ferguson this week
Tight Ends to Sit
Dalton Schultz HOU
The Texans offense is loaded with talent this year. The two guys that have taken a step back this year with the additions to the offense have been Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz. The Vikings are allowing the 12th fewest points to tight-ends this season making Schultz a guy you should sit
Cole Kmet CHI
The Bears offensive struggles haven’t allowed Kmet to fully unlock his potential in this offense. Shane Waldron’s offenses in the past have resulted in lower tight end target rates. Until both of these factors change Kmet is droppable in most leagues
Dallas Goedert PHIM
Many believed Goedert would be the guy that stepped up with A.J. Brown being out last week. OC Kellen Moore has never fed the tight-end position consistent touches. With Goedert’s inconsistency and the Saints being a tough matchup it’s safe to bench him this week.
Kickers to Start
Evan McPherson CIN
Bengals should be moving the ball at will in this one and should result in a good fantasy day for McPherson. Last week he was 4-4 on field goals with his long being from 53 yards.
Jason Myers SEA
The Dolphins defense has struggled through 2 weeks. On the season they are allowing the 18th most points to opposing fantasy kickers and the Seahawks offense appears to have the upper hand in this one.
Dustin Hopkins CLE
The Browns offense has resulted in some scoring contests and their offense stalling out resulting in low scoring games. Against a bad Giants defense the Browns should move the ball well and if they stall out on the Giants side of the field at all, Hopkins will have a good day.
Kickers to Sit
Jason Sanders MIA
The injury to Tua sets this offense back greatly and will result in fewer chances in opponents’ territory for Sanders to convert on field goals. Sanders is droppable in fantasy leagues and should not be starting for your team this week.
Matt Gay IND
Gay is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Bears. Whoever starts for the Colts at Kicker should be benched in fantasy football due to the Bears defense providing a tough matchup for a struggling Colts offense.
DEF to Start
Tampa Bay Buccaneers DEF
The Bucs defense has struggled so far this year, but they draw a favorable matchup in week 3. In two starts, Bo Nix has 4 interceptions, and the Broncos offense has not shown many signs of life in 2024.
Chicago Bears DEF
The Bears defense is legit, they held a loaded Texans offense to just 19 points last week. Now they get the Colts on the road who scored 10 points against the Packers. The Bears might be in for a monster week if Anthony Richardson’s accuracy problems continue.
Las Vegas Raiders DEF
The switch from Bryce Young to Andy Dalton makes this matchup potentially less enticing but the Raiders defense is a MUST start in week 3. Maxx Crosby and company should be able to bully this week offensive line all day.
DEF to Sit
Philadelphia Eagles DEF
The Saints have scored 40+ points now in three straight games dating back to last season. The Eagles defense on the other hand has struggled so far to start 2024. Do not start the Eagles defense because they have been good in the past, they have a tough matchup again in week 3.
Baltimore Ravens DEF
The Ravens defense has not looked the same to start 2024. Against a tough matchup in the Dallas Cowboys, I would not risk finding out if this is the week they improve their play.