Fantasy Football: Week 3 Starts And Sits
By Pat Pitts
To play, or to not play that is the question fantasy owners struggle with every week. It’s time to take a look at my starts/sits of the week.
Starts
Quarterbacks
Gardner Minshew vs MIA
Gardner Minshew was my QB30 in August. It is Week 3 and he is my QB1 this week. I am starting him this week and you should too.
The Jaguars are the hottest team in the NFL. The Dolphins have the second worst passing defense in the NFL, according to ESPN and Minshew is coming off a game against the Titans where he threw for 339 yards and three touchdowns. I fully expect another magnificent showing from Minshew in Prime Time.
Ryan Tannehill @ MIN
Tannehill ranks as a Top-10 QB to start the season. He has thrown six touchdowns along with 488 passing yards and 26 yards on the ground to start the season. The Titans have run the ball less and are utilizing Play-action a lot.
Tennessee takes on a brutal Vikings pass defense that has allowed 567 passing yards so far this season, which ranks in the Bottom-5 in the league. Tannehill is a top play for me this week and quite frankly my must-start QB in Week 3.
Dak Prescott @ SEA
Dak tossed the rock for 450 yards in Week 2 in a comeback effort against a bad Atlanta Falcons defense and Dak will be going back and forth with Mr. Unlimited all afternoon in Seattle, who allowed Cam Newton to throw for nearly 400 yards against them on Sunday Night Football. This game is going to be LOADED with points, so you’re starting Dak.
Running Backs
Kenyan Drake vs DET
It has been a slow start for Drake this season. He has yet to rush for 100 yards in a game, but Drake plays an awful Lions defense that allowed 168 yards to Aaron Jones last week.
The Cardinals will be leading most of this game, which could give Drake more carries than the previous two weeks. This game can be the Kenyan Drake break out game of 2020 that Fantasy owners have been hoping for.
Jonathan Taylor vs NYJ
Jonathan Taylor showed in Week 2 that he can be “the guy” as he rushed all over the Vikings for 101 yards on 20 attempts. He plays the Jets in Week 3 and after last week’s showing from Gang Green, do I really need to explain anything else? Start him.
Jerick McKinnon @ NYG
Hey Siri, play “Mr. Lonely” by Akon. McKinnon is the only 49ers RB to survive the horrendous playing surface at MetLife Stadium. The 49ers matchup against a bad New York Giants defense in Week 3 (sadly at the same field). Fire McKinnon up as a FLEX with RB2 upside this week.
Wide Receivers
Julian Edelman vs LVR
On Sunday night, Edelman showed what he’s able to do when he gets to run down field. He became Cam Newton’s number one target, catching eight passes for a whopping 179 yards.
The new look Raiders come to Foxboro this week off their hot Monday Night win. Vegas have allowed the 4th most passing yards in the NFL so far this season. Edelman has a chance to have another dominant game and should be trusted with a floor of a WR3 with major upside this week.
Robert Woods vs BUF
Woods only caught two balls for 16 yards last week against the Eagles, but also found the end zone running the ball. The Bills may be a good overall defense, but Cooper Kupp should be the WR to draw the Tre White matchup. This will be a bounce back week for Woods in a game against his former team.
Keenan Allen vs CAR
Keenan Allen saw a big boost in production with Justin Herbert at QB for the Chargers. It’s incredibly absurd and ridiculous what happened to Tyrod Taylor, but it seems like Herbert is going to be the QB for the foreseeable future. This bodes well for Allen’s skillset and his fantasy production.
Tight Ends
Jonnu Smith @ MIN
If you are starting Tannehill, why not grab some double points and start the second ranked TE in fantasy football.
Smith had a monster week last Sunday catching four passes for 84 yards and a couple of touchdowns. The Vikings let Mo Alie-Cox go for 111 yards last week on just five receptions. Smith is the number one target for Tannehill and should see a crazy day of production on Sunday, making him my overall Start of the Week.
Evan Engram vs SF
Due to the injuries of Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas, the 49ers’ defense will not be the same. Engram has seen 15 targets this season and should expect to see more this week with Sterling Shepard being placed on IR. If you need a boom guy, Engram is your man for the job.
Mike Gesicki @ JAX
Gesicki had a coming out party against the Bills in Week 2, tallying eight receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown. Playing against a less than stellar Jaguars defense, Gesicki could continue to build momentum as a Top-12 TE this season in this game. Start him with confidence.
Sits
Quarterbacks
Drew Brees vs GB
Drew Brees has been disappointing to start the 2020 season. Brees ranks as QB20 and has averaged only 14 fantasy points the past two weeks. This week, he faces a talented Packer secondary on Sunday night.
Brees is also missing his sidekick, Michael Thomas, and struggled to develop any connection with Emmanuel Sanders against the Raiders. There are better QBs with better matchups that are still available for you to stream. Watch Brees vs. Rodgers without stressing about your matchup.
Deshaun Watson @ PIT
Deshaun Watson and the Texans have arguably the WORST three game stretch to open the season. Drawing the Chiefs, Ravens, and now the Steelers all in a row is just brutal and not great for Watson’s fantasy production. Watson sits as the QB15, according to ESPN, which drops him just out of QB1 territory. Last week, I said I would start Mitchell Trubisky over Watson, and Watson proved me wrong by just two points. I am doubling down this week.
Jared Goff @ BUF
Jared Goff had everything go perfectly for him in Week 2 against the Eagles. He won’t be as lucky or as productive this week against Buffalo. Don’t trust Goff at all in this matchup.
Running Backs
Ronald Jones @ DEN
Jones took a back seat last week to the new man on the ship, Leonard Fournette, who finished with 103 yards and two end zone trips. Jones finished with 23 yards and salvaged his day with a touchdown. This Bucs backfield is a fantasy headache. Stay away and utilize the waiver wire or your bench.
Detroit Lions Backfield @ ARI
Speaking of backfields to steer clear of, the Lions backfield is a nightmare. They have three running backs that have had spurts of production, but they end up getting replaced during the game before they can make a significant impact. Detroit face a red hot Arizona Cardinals team in Week 3 and will be in a negative game script all afternoon. Isaiah Simmons and Chandler Jones are scary. If you have to play any of them, it’s D’Andre Swift. But you’re better off benching them.
Devin Singletary vs LAR
It’s fantasy football malpractice to start a bottom-tier RB against Aaron Donald. Be smart, not stupid.
Wide Receivers
Preston Williams @ JAX
The Preston Williams hype train is running out of steam. He has severely underperformed so far this season. Devante Parker seems to still be the clear WR1 and Gesicki has evolved into a reliable target. Resident statistician Will Ellis informed me that he Williams has only caught 25% of his targets this season. For that reason, I am out.
Las Vegas Raiders @ NE
The Raiders had an incredible win on Monday night, but this week, they head to Gillette Stadium to face a pissed off New England Patriots team that are in search of a bounce back game defensively. New England’s defense is severely underrated and Stephon Gilmore and the McCourty twins are going to cause problems for Las Vegas’ pass catchers all day long.
Tight Ends
Austin Hooper vs WAS
Hooper has not had the season he would have hoped for. He has only caught four passes for 37 yards this season.
He faces a Washington Football Team defense that has been surprisingly solid this season. Find a TE with a better matchup because Hooper will once again be invisible this week.
Chris Herndon @ IND
I am establishing this now; Chris Herndon should not be started in a fantasy football league for the rest of the season. The Jets are an absolute dumpster fire this season and Adam Gase is holding onto his job by the skin of his teeth. Sam Darnold has been forced to scramble for his life after every snap, which has prevented any chance to even establish a lick of chemistry with Herndon. Don’t start Herndon. Ever.
Rob Gronkowski @ DEN
Gronk has been a massive disappointment this season and I don’t see that trend coming to a close anytime soon. Gronk is droppable at this point.
Hard to believe we're heading into Week 3 of the NFL season already. Adjust your rosters and go out there and bring home a win for your team.