Fantasy Football Start Em Sit Em: NFL Week 3 Lineup Advice

Welcome to Week 3 of our weekly fantasy football “start em sit em” lineup article to help you with critical decisions on a week-to-week basis in the world of fantasy football. The first two weeks have come and gone, and no matter how your team is doing there is still time to turn things around. All it takes are a few smart decisions in order to get your team back on top!

Each week, we will bring you a list of must starts, other starting plays and players we’re fading by each position. In addition, each week we will look back on the previous week to determine pick accuracy. The cutoff for hits/misses are as follows:

QB: 14 ½ points 

RB & WR: 10 ½ points

TE: 8 ½ points

D/ST: 7 ½ points

All rankings are assuming ½ points per receptions and 4-point passing touchdowns. Good luck this year and make sure to follow us on Twitter in order to stay up-to-date through the season!

Fantasy Analytics Hit Rates

	Week 2	Season-to-Date
Quarterbacks	13/15 (87%)	23/30 (77%)
Running Backs	14/23 (61%)	31/47 (66%)
Wide Receivers	19/28 (68%)	41/60 (68%)
Tight Ends	9/15 (60%)	21/30 (70%)
D/ST	10/16 (63%)	18/32 (56%)

Fantasy Football Week 3 Start Em Sits Em: Quarterbacks

Must starts

1. Josh Allen, Bills (at MIA)
2. Jalen Hurts, Eagles (at WAS)
3. Kyler Murray, Cardinals (vs. LAR)
4. Justin Herbert, Chargers (vs. JAC)*
5. Lamar Jackson, Ravens (at NE)
6. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs (at IND)

Strong Starts

Joe Burrow, Bengals (at NYJ) – Even during back-to-back performances that weren’t amazing in real life, Burrow still managed to average just under 18 fantasy points per game. Expect a bounce back game for Burrow and the Bengals offense as a whole against a weaker Jets D.

Matthew Stafford, Rams (at ARI) – 5 picks through 2 games isn’t exactly what you want to see out of your starting QB, but I expect Stafford to produce similar numbers to last week (if not better) in what should be a high-scoring affair against a weaker Cardinals D.

Kirk Cousins, Vikings (vs. DET) – Primetime Kirk came through on Monday and produced a dud week for fantasy football managers. Against a Detroit team with a strong offense but weak defense, expect a high scoring affair and better overall game from Cousins.

Marcus Mariota, Falcons (at SEA) – Having rushing ability is always a plus, and playing against a weaker Seattle D always helps as well. Expect Drake London to continue to produce, and hopefully Kyle Pitts gets involved sooner rather than later.

Sit ‘Em’s

Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers (at DEN) 

Ryan Tannehill, Titans (at LV)

Daniel Jones, Giants (at DAL)

Davis Mills, Texans (at CHI)

Baker Mayfield, Panthers (vs. NO)

Fantasy Football Week 3 Start Em Sits Em: Running Backs

Must starts

1. Jonathan Taylor, Colts (vs. KC)
2. Christian McCaffrey, Panthers (vs. NO)
3. Austin Ekeler, Chargers (vs. JAC)
4. Dalvin Cook, Vikings (vs. DET)
5. Saquon Barkley, Giants (vs. DAL)
6. Derrick Henry, Titans (vs. LV)
7. Joe Mixon, Bengals (at NYJ)
8. Aaron Jones, Packers (at TB)
9. Nick Chubb, Browns (vs. PIT)
10. Javonte Willilams, Broncos (vs. SF)
11. D’Andre Swift, Lions (at MIN)
12. Najee Harris, Steelers (at CLE)

Strong Starts

Dameon Pierce, Texans (at CHI) – The preseason hype darling has looked efficient through the first few weeks, and the Texans coaching staff has expressed interest in getting him more involved. Expect around a healthy 15 – 20 touches against a weaker Bears team.

Antonio Gibson, Commanders (vs. PHI) – As long as Gibson continues to average 20 touches per week, I will continue starting him as the talent will usually produce results if given the chance. Until Brian Robinson returns and begins to eat away at his production I will be starting Gibson nearly every week.

David Montgomery, Bears (vs. HOU) – The Bears offense can’t get anything going through the air, so they seem to be leaning on Montgomery & Herbert as the key cogs of their offense. Even within a time share, he’s still averaging nearly 20 touches per game. 

Miles Sanders, Eagles (at WAS) – The Eagles have looked like an early season dark horse through two weeks, and much of that is due to their high-flying offense. Much like Gibson, as long as he’s averaging 17 touches I believe in the talent and will start Sanders most weeks.

Michael Carter, Jets (vs. CIN) – Carter has been receiving a majority of passing-down works and splitting carries with Breece Hall, and has been the slightly more productive fantasy asset of the two. Until we see Breece take over the backfield, Carter remains a solid flex play in PPR leagues.

Sit ‘Ems

Jeff Wilson Jr, 49ers (at DEN)

James Robinson, Jags (at LAC)

Darrell Henderson Jr, Rams (at ARI)

Rashaad Penny, Seahawks (vs. ATL)

Damien Harris, NE (vs BAL)

Chase Edmonds, Dolphins (vs. BUF)

Fantasy Football Week 3 Start Em Sit Em: Wide Receivers

Must Starts

1. Cooper Kupp, Rams (at ARI)
2. Justin Jefferson, Vikings (vs. DET)
3. Stefon Diggs, Bills (at MIA)
4. Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals (at NYJ)
5. A.J. Brown, Eagles (at WAS)
6. Davante Adams, Raiders (at TEN)
7. Deebo Samuel, 49ers (at DEN)
8. Mike Williams, Chargers (vs. JAC)
9. Courtland Sutton, Broncos (vs SF)
10. Christian Kirk, Jags (at LAC)
11. Tee Higgins, Bengals (at NYJ)
12. Tyreek Hill, Dolphins (vs. BUF)
13. Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins (vs. BUF)
14. Michael Thomas, NO (at CAR)
15. Marquise Brown, Cardinals (vs. LAR)
16. Michael Pittman Jr., Colts (vs KC)*
17. Keenan Allen, Chargers (vs. JAC)*

Strong Starts

Gabriel Davis, Bills (at MIA) – As we saw last week, with Davis out Diggs is only pass-catcher that gets a lot of attention. Assuming he plays, start Davis comfortably as he’s going to be a key cog in the Bills offense.  

Amari Cooper, Browns (vs. PIT) – We were able to see vintage Cooper last week, as he exploded for 100+ yards and a touchdown last week. As long as his QB can get the ball to him, he’s going to continue to see a majority of targets not going to RBs.

Rashod Bateman, Ravens (at NE) – Bateman has put together back-to-back strong weeks as the Raven’s WR1, and the team will look to rebound after that blown loss to the Dolphins. I will continue to believe in the talent and start Bateman wherever needed.

Drake London, Falcons (at SEA) – London has been the focal point of this offense, getting 21 targets through the first 2 weeks. With Kyle Pitts not being as involved as most though, London has had a nice breakout campaign through the first two weeks. Don’t have any hesitation about starting London when needed.

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions (at MIN) – I only didn’t include Amon-Ra in my list of must starts this week because I wanted to highlight just how impressive this player has been. If you picked him to be your WR3/Flex this year, you’re currently sitting pretty.

Garrett Wilson, Jets (vs. CIN) – Wilson had a huge breakout in Week 2, breaking 100 yards and scoring two touchdowns, including the game winner. As he’s averaged 11 targets from Joe Flacco the first 2 weeks, I will start Wilson in flex positions expecting similar volume.

Sit ‘ems:

Kadarius Toney, Giants (vs. DAL)

Chase Claypool, Steelers (at CLE)

Darnell Mooney, Bears (vs. HOU)

Allen Lazard, Packers (vs. TB)

Robert Woods, Titans (vs. LV)

Russel Gage, TB (at GB)

Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers (at DEN)

Fantasy Football Week 3 Start Em Sit Em: Tight Ends

Must Starts

1. Travis Kelce, Chiefs (at IND)
2. Mark Andrews, Ravens (at NE)
3. Darren Waller, Raiders (at TEN)
4. George Kittle, 49ers (at DEN)*
5. T.J. Hockenson, Lions (vs. PHI).
6. Dallas Goedert, Eagles (at. DET)
7. Pat Freiermuth, Steelers (at CLE)

Strong Starts:

Kyle Pitts, Falcons (at SEA) – Pitts has had a slow start to the season, and the Atlanta coaching staff knows they have to get one of their best weapons involved. Expect a bounce-back game against a weaker Seattle D. Unless you have a backup like Freiermuth, start Pitts.

Gerald Everett, Chargers (vs. JAC) – Through the first two weeks, Everett has looked like a TE1 while attached to Herbert, especially with Keenan Allen missing time. Start Everett regardless of matchup for now.

Tyler Higbee, Rams (at ARI) – As long as Higbee is averaging nearly 10 targets per game on one of the best offenses in the league, he will continue to be a weekly starter for me. If he’s still on your waiver wire grab him to be a backup TE / bye week flex fill-in.

Sit ‘Ems:

Mike Gesicki, Dolphics (vs. BUF)

Dawson Knox, BUF (at MIA)

Austin Hooper, Titas (vs. LV)

Cole Kmet, Bears (vs. HOU)

David Njoku, Browns (vs. PIT)

Fantasy Football Week 3 Start Em Sit Em: D/ST

Start ‘Em:

1. Ravens (at NE)
2. Saints (at CAR)
3. Chargers (vs. JAC)
4. Browns (vs. PIT)
5. Eagles (at WAS)
6. Cowboys (at NYG)
7. Rams (at ARI)
8. Bears (vs. HOU)

Sit ‘Em:

1. Colts (vs. KC)
2. Dolphins (vs. BUF)
3. Commanders (vs. PHI)
4. Packers (vs. TB)
5. Broncos (vs. SF)
6. Patriots (vs. BAL)
7. Panthers (vs. NO)
8. Cardinals (vs. LAR)