With two weeks worth of stats and trends, fantasy owners can feel like they have it all figured out, but have you factored in matchups? Injuries? Snap counts? Game plans? Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer, aka The Decider, looks at all as he breaks down Week 3 fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em decisions and NFL DFS picks.
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WEEK 3 NON-PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
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Fantasy Football Week 3 Start ‘Em: Quarterbacks
Regular starts
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs (vs. BAL), Deshaun Watson, Texans (at LAC), Aaron Rodgers, Packers (vs. DEN), Carson Wentz, Eagles (vs. DET), Russell Wilson, Seahawks (vs. NO), Tom Brady, Patriots (vs. NYJ), Lamar Jackson, Ravens (at KC)
Stronger starts
Dak Prescott, Cowboys (vs. MIA). He could be grouped with Jackson and the rest of the guys above but, you know you’re still rolling with him in another smash spot.
Baker Mayfield, Browns (vs. LAR). He hasn’t been terrible, as he’s still throwing a ton and getting TDs, but this week he goes for multiple scores while mitigating turnovers to keep up with the Rams on the scoreboard.
Kyler Murray, Cardinals (vs. CAR). He’s passing at an extremely high rate, and even without any running, his diverse receivers can allow him to have his best game as a rookie to date against an overmatched defense.
Jameis Winston, Buccaneers (vs. NYG). The “mini-bye” following a turnover-free game from Winston will help Bruce Arians further adjust things to help his QB produce, and there’s nothing daunting about the Giants.
Josh Allen Bills (vs. CIN). Allen may be the new Cam Newton, folks, with his ability to rush for TDs almost every week. He now has some real weapons in the passing game behind an improved line to exploit the bad Bengals.
Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers (vs. PIT). The Steelers got Minkah Fitzpatrick, but that suddenly doesn’t make their issues with giving up big plays go away. Their defense has plenty of holes all over the field.
DFS bargains
Matthew Stafford, Lions (at PHI, $5,500 on DraftKIngs, $6,900 on FanDuel). Stafford will need to chuck often on the other side of Wentz, and that will produce pleasing results against former coach Jim Schwartz’s secondary.
Jacoby Brissett, Colts (vs. ATL, $5,200 on DraftKings, $6,800 on FanDuel). He’s getting the job done passing and running with high-TD potential, and the Colts’ traditional rushing success against the Falcons will set him up nicely in their home opener.
Deep streamers
Kirk Cousins, Vikings (vs. OAK), Mitchell Trubisky, Bears (at WAS)
Fantasy Football Week 3 Sit ‘Em: Quarterbacks
Weaker starts
Cam Newton, Panthers (at ARI). There’s a good chance he misses the game with his foot injury, and you’re not suddenly trusting Kyle Allen, either.
Jared Goff, Rams (at CLE). He’s shaky on the road, and the Rams will do more of their damage on the ground again with some tough matchups for his wide receivers.
Matt Ryan, Falcons (at IND). He’s gotten by with volume and has been saved by his supreme wideouts, but the Colts are a better home defense by far, even if they might be dealing with some injuries. They can also curb his chances by dominating time of possession with their running game.
Philip Rivers, Chargers (vs. HOU). The Melvin Gordon-less running game can have another big week here, so consider Rivers’ floor at little lower than usual following a bad game in Detroit.
Andy Dalton, Bengals (at BUF). He’s being saved by high volume and garbage, but that may not be the case against a tricky Bills pass defense pumped for its home opener.
Deep traps
Mason Rudolph, Steelers (at SF), Teddy Bridgewater, Saints (at SEA)
WEEK 3 PPR RANKINGS: Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end
Fantasy Football Week 3 Start ‘Em: Running backs
Regular starts
Saquon Barkley, Giants (at TB), Alvin Kamara, Saints (at SEA), Christian McCaffrey, Panthers (at ARI), Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys (vs. MIA), David Johnson, Cardinals (vs. CAR), Le’Veon Bell, Jets (at NE), Dalvin Cook, Vikings (vs. OAK), Todd Gurley, Rams (at CLE), Nick Chubb, Browns (vs. LAR), Joe Mixon, Bengals (at BUF), Kerryon Johnson, Lions (at PHI), Leonard Fournette, Jaguars (vs. TEN), Derrick Henry, Titans (at JAX) , Marlon Mack, Colts (vs. ATL), Mark Ingram, Ravens (at KC), Chris Carson, Seahawks (vs. NO)
Stronger starts
Austin Ekeler, Chargers (vs. HOU). He’s on the verge of being what Gordon would have been: A no-brainer, every-week play. One more big game against the leaky Texans will confirm that.
Devonta Freeman, Falcons (at IND). He’s battled through two tough early matchups but expect Atlanta to invest more in the running game this week to exploit a potential Darius Leonard-less front seven.
Aaron Jones, Packers (vs. DEN). The Broncos’ run defense isn’t anything scary — just ask the rookies to which they just yielded big rushing games.
Sony Michel, Patriots (vs. NYJ). He’s the only New England back to trust, and he’ll put up big numbers in closer mode.
David Montgomery, Bears (at WAS). He’s now being featured and looked solid enough in Denver that he can make Week 1’s disappointment a distant memory.
Miles Sanders, Eagles (vs. DET). This needs to be the week. The Lions’ inside run defense can be challenging, but he can spring free to the outside for a long scoring run, which would be his first NFL TD.
Phillip Lindsay, Broncos (at GB). The Packers struggle straight up against the power run and can give up plenty in the passing game to backs, setting up Lindsay for his best fantasy day of 2019.
Matt Breida and Raheem Mostert, 49ers (vs. PIT). This duo was dominant against the Bengals and will keep up the mojo in the home opener — this time maybe without Jeff Wilson Jr. vulturing their scores.
DFS bargains
Carlos Hyde, Texans (at LAC, $4,500 on DraftKings, $6,000 on FanDuel). He’s looked healthy and strong in his first two games for Houston, and the Chargers are set up to be gashed by the power run.
Frank Gore, Bills (vs. CIN, $4,400 on DraftKings, $5,700 on FanDuel). Devin Singletary, if he plays, is similarly priced and would be preferred. But if he’s too hamstrung to go, just flip to Gore against an atrocious run defense. (Update: Singletary has been ruled out for Week 3.)
Fantasy Football Week 3 Sit ‘Em: Running backs
Weaker starts
James Conner, Steelers (at SF). Conner will try to play through a knee issue, but he’s the one most likely to be adversely affected by Big Ben going down.
Josh Jacobs, Raiders (at MIN). Jones did work for the Packers last week, but the Vikings are nastier defensively at home.
James White and Rex Burkhead, Patriots (vs. NYJ). They are getting some key touches, but the problem is predicting when they will get them and the production that might come with them in blowouts.
Damien Williams and LeSean McCoy, Chiefs (vs. BAL). Avoid this situation, as both players are injured. You shouldn’t reach for rookie Darwin Thompson, either.
Peyton Barber, Buccaneers (vs. NYG). In theory this is a good play, but Tampa could easily turn to Ronald Jones or Dare Ogunbowale more to confuse us further with the running back usage.
Royce Freeman, Broncos (at GB). It’s a Lindsay type of game.
Duke Johnson Jr., Texans (at LAC). It’s a Hyde type of game.
Adrian Peterson and Chris Thompson, Redskins (vs. CHI). It’s a brutal type of game.
Week 3 DFS Lineups:
FD cash | FD GPP | DK cash | DK GPP | Y! cash | Y! GPP
Fantasy Football Week 3 Start ‘Em: Wide receivers
Regular starts
DeAndre Hopkins, Texans (at LAC), Davante Adams, Packers (vs. DEN), Julio Jone and Calvin Ridley, Falcons (at IND), Michael Thomas, Saints (at SEA), Odell Beckham Jr., Browns (vsl LAR), Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Buccaneers (vs. NYG), JuJu Smith-Schuster, Steelers (at SF), Amari Cooper, Cowboys (vs MIA), Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, Vikings (vs. OAK), Julian Edelman, Patriots (at MIA), Keenan Allen, Chargers (vs. HOU), Tyler Lockett, Seahawks (vs. NO), Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, Rams (at CLE), Tyler Boyd, Bengals (at BUF), T.Y. Hilton, Colts (vs ATL)., Kenny Golladay, Lions (at PHI), Allen Robinson, Bears (at WAS), Sammy Watkins, Chiefs (vs. BAL)
Stronger starts
Mike Williams, Chargers (vs. HOU). He looked good playing through his knee injury last week, and he’ll be the most productive Bolt in Week 3.
Marvin Jones, Lions (at PHI). He will make a big play with a good shot of a TD playing off Golladay against a bad secondary.
D.K. Metcalf, Seahawks (vs. NO). The Saints’ secondary is excellent fun for all No. 2 and No. 3 receivers.
Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk, Cardinals (vs. CAR). The Panthers can’t cover these guys inside and out as Murray’s co go-to guys.
D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel, Panthers (at ARI). Kyle Allen might be QBing, but we saw last week they could producing decent WR3 numbers without a TD and with a shaky Newton.
John Brown, Bills (vs CIN). He’s Josh Allen’s main man, and the Bengals will give up a long score to him.
Marquise Brown, Ravens (at KC). Get him in there again with Jackson in a high-scoring game against that secondary.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Geronimo Allison, Packers (vs. DEN). Davante Adams will occupy Chris Harris Jr. and help these guys do their thing against favorable coverage matchups for Rodgers.
James Washington, Steelers (at SF). Rudolph should reheat that Oklahoma State connection with him on Texas week.
DFS Bargains
Devin Smith, Cowboys (vs. MIA, $3,400 on DraftKings, $5,200 on FanDuel). You would have targeted Michael Gallup against a Fitzpatrick-less secondary for big plays, so consider Smith for your tournaments.
Nelson Agholor, Eagles (vs. DET, $3,600 on DraftKings, $4,800 on FanDuel). He can be solid in cash games because Darius Slay will be focused on more taking away the “big play”, and Agholor should get consistent volume with Alshon Jeffery on the shelf.
Bennie Fowler, Giants (at TB, $3,700 on DraftKings, $4,900 on FanDuel). Fowler needed to be their No. 1 receiver by default last week and now gets Daniel Jones, with whom he found a groove in the preseason.
Week 3 DFS Lineups:
FD cash | FD GPP | DK cash | DK GPP | Y! cash | Y! GPP
Fantasy Football Week 3 Sit ‘Em: Wide receivers
Weaker starts
Tyrell Williams, Raiders (at MIN). He’s getting Xavier Rhodes if he can play through his injury.
Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos (at GB). He’s getting most of Jaire Alexander
John Ross, Bengals (at BUF). He’s getting most of Tre’Davious White, as Boyd can avoid him in the slot.
(Update: With Antonio Brown out, Gordon is now a much stronger play.)
Jarvis Landry, Browns (vs. LAR). The Browns’ intermediate passing game to someone other than OBJ doesn’t exist.
Robby Anderson, Jets (at NE). He’s getting most of Stephon Gilmore.
Terry McLaurin, Redskins (vs. CHI). He won’t have much time to get open with Khalil Mack rushing Case Keenum.
MORE WEEK 3 DFS: Stacks | Top values | Lineup Builder
Fantasy Football Week 3 Start ‘Em: Tight ends
Regular starts
Travis Kelce, Chiefs (vs. BAL), George Kittle, 49ers (vs. PIT), Zach Ertz, Eagles (vs. DET), Evan Engram, Giants (at TB), Delanie Walker, Titans (at JAX)
Stronger starts
Mark Andrews, Ravens (at KC). He’s on the border of every-week status after smashing two easy matchups.
Greg Olsen, Panthers (at ARI). Start all your tight ends against the Cardinals for now.
O.J. Howard, Buccaneers (vs. NYG). There’s a big rebound in sight with a very favorable matchup, so stick with him one more week as a high draft pick.
Jared Cook, Saints (at SEA). Look for Cook to dent the end zone after the Seahawks gave up a pair to Vance McDonald last week.
T.J. Hockenson, Lions (at PHI). He also can get open for big plays downfield with the wideouts.
Vernon Davis, Redskins (vs. CHI). Either he or Jordan Reed will be Washington’s best source of moving the ball.
DFS Bargain
Jason Witten, Cowboys (vs. MIA, $3,700 on DraftKings, $5,000 on FanDuel)
Fantasy Football Week 3 Sit ‘Em: Tight ends
Weaker starts
Darren Waller, Raiders (at MIN). The Vikings can erase him with their linebackers and safeties.
Vance McDonald, Steelers (at SF). The former Niner will run into some tricky coveage, too.
Eric Ebron and Jack Doyle, Colts (vs. ATL). The Falcons are excelling against the position with Deion Jones, Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen back.
David Njoku, Browns (vs. LAR). He’s battling a head injury and he’s being ignored, much like Landry.
Austin Hooper, Falcons (at IND). The Colts are pretty good in coverage on the second level.
Trey Burton, Bears (at WAS). He’s not fully healthy and seeing his snaps go to other guys.
Will Dissly, Seahawks (vs. NO). He’s not duplicating his double against a stingy tight end D.
WEEK 3 NON-PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Fantasy Football Week 3 Start ‘Em: Defenses
Regular starts
Bears (at WAS), Patriots (vs. NYJ)
Stronger starts
Vikings (vs. OAK), Packers (vs. DEN), Cowboys (vs. MIA), Bills (vs. CIN), Titans (at JAX), Rams (at CLE), Texans (vs. LAC)
DFS Bargains
49ers (vs. PIT, $3,200 on DraftKings, $3,700 on FanDuel), Colts (vs. ATL, $2,800 on DraftKings, $3,600 on FanDuel)
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Fantasy Football Week 3 Sit ‘Em: Defenses
Weaker starts
Ravens (at KC), Jaguars (vs. TEN), Browns (vs. LAR), Chargers (vs. HOU), Seahawks (vs. NO), Buccaneers (vs. NYG), Eagles (vs. DET)