Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em
This Week 3 Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em article is here to show you how to keep the momentum going after two exciting weeks have passed you by. Christian McCaffrey is out for at least a month. So, if you picked him first, you are probably crying right now. You would probably be crying if you had him and Puca Nicua. Isiah Pacheco also went down, so you probably would be really sad if you had all three.
I had some correct picks and some incorrect choices last week. Let’s start with the positives. JK Dobbins destroyed Carolina and finished with 21.1 fantasy points. That’s remarkable, considering many people drafted him in the 12th or 13th rounds. Brian Robinson Jr. finished with 15.6 fantasy points without even scoring a touchdown.
Chris Godwin continued his great start to the season by scoring 25.7 fantasy points, and Brock Bowers finished with 18.8. Even Baker Mayfield was solid (I am still not sold), with 18.8 fantasy points. My one bad pick on the start advice was Amari Cooper, who struggled again (The Cleveland offense seems anemic right now).
Joe Burrow put in a modest 17.42 points after I recommended sitting him, showing signs of the quarterback we all know and love. Likewise, Deshaun Watson at least beat his projection by over a point. But I nailed the Javonte Williams sit pick, as he only did modestly well in PPR leagues, and Zamir White struggled, as I said he would. Diontae Johnson and Courtland Sutton struggled again. Lastly, Dallas Goedert only had 6.8 fantasy points, even with AJ Brown not playing. That is madness.
But that’s over now. Our Week 3 Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em article will combine what we have seen in both weeks and try to make sense of everything. Our Fantasy Football recap can show you everything you missed. As I always say, remember to optimize your lineups to help determine the best possible starting lineup.
Week 3 Starts
*Start Stat Percentage, Via Yahoo
Derek Carr
New Orleans Saints vs. PHI (19% starting)
Derek Carr has been outstanding since the season started. He is thriving under the new offensive coordinator, Klint Kubiak. Carr had 21.3 fantasy points in Week 1 and 21.8 in Week 2. He shredded the Dallas Cowboys this past weekend, proving to everyone that the Carolina Panthers were not the only reason for his opening weekend success. His connection with Alvin Kamara is remarkable, and his chemistry with Rashid Shaheed is undeniable. Throwing deep passes suits Carr. He should try it more often. The Philadelphia Eagles will be slightly tougher, but they are exploitable. They just allowed Kirk Cousins, notorious for having the worst games ever on Primetime, to find a way to march down the field for a game-winning touchdown. If Cousins can do that, then imagine what Carr will be able to do. Start Carr until the gas runs out.
D’Andre Swift
Chicago vs. IND (86% starting)
D’Andre Swift did not do much against the Houston Texans. But his luck is about to change. This week, he faces the Indianapolis Colts, who have let everyone run against them. First, it was Joe Mixon, who rumbled all over them for 159 yards and a touchdown. Then, Josh Jacobs had 151 yards on the ground. The Colts allowed a ridiculous 29.7 points in Week 1 and then let Jacobs sting them for 13.1 points (it was only that low because of a lost fumble). Swift may not be the most reliable running back in the world. Yet, he will get a golden opportunity this week.
Jordan Mason
San Francisco vs. LAR (86% starting)
You would be a happy camper if you had picked up Jordan Mason before Christian McCaffrey went down. No, the 49ers did not win, but Mason did his job, getting another 100 yards. If you played him, he also rewarded you with a touchdown. Mason scored 17.4 fantasy points in Week 2 after notching 22.2 in the opening week. Now, he faces a Los Angeles Rams defense that has already allowed three touchdowns to running backs through two weeks. Mason runs similarly to James Conner, who had 19.4 fantasy points last weekend. With CMC still out, you must start Mason, especially against a hurting defense.
Jameson Williams
Detroit vs. ARZ (83% starting)
This is more about the targets and how he could potentially burn this secondary this week. Williams finished with only 15.4 fantasy points and was Jared Goff’s favorite guy with 11 targets. With Amon-Ra St. Brown suffering from a contusion and Sam LaPorta going missing, Williams has emerged as Goff’s new favorite target. Will it continue? Maybe. But for now, he is a good option, even in an outdoor environment (if you know about Goff and outdoor games, you know he is allergic to natural grass). Williams has another good chance to thrive against a defense that has allowed an average of 19.46 fantasy points against wide receivers.
Brock Bowers
Las Vegas vs. CAR (91% starting)
Brock Bowers has had a great start to his career. After getting 11.8 fantasy points in his first game, he garnered 18.8 fantasy points against the Baltimore Ravens after catching his first career touchdown. Bowers is a beast! We all knew this when the Raiders drafted him, even though we also questioned why they drafted a tight end two seasons in a row. Bowers will face the Carolina Panthers, who hand out fantasy points to players like it’s Christmas (unless you’re Gus Edwards and don’t want to succeed). I would fire Bowers up this weekend as the Raiders look to him again to carry them to the promised land.
Week 3 Sits
Anthony Richardson
Indianapolis vs. CHI (99% starting)
I cannot recommend starting Anthony Richardson weekly until he starts putting it together and learning how to pass. Yes, I said it. Passing has been his weakness since he entered the league. You know you are struggling when you cannot even hit your top target, who is a great receiver. Do I believe it will happen, and he will finally get out of this rut? Yes, eventually. There will be many matches where he lights up the scoreboard. But good defenses can stop him, and it won’t change against the Chicago Bears. They mauled CJ Stroud and held him to 14.30 fantasy points while making life challenging for him.
Rachaad White
Tampa Bay vs. DEN (98% starting)
Rachaad White struggled against the Detroit Lions, garnering a pathetic 3.3 fantasy points. Of course, much of that had to do with the groin injury. But he still ran 10 times for only 18 yards. That is not going to get the job done on most weeks. White will face the Denver Broncos next, and they are not the easiest defense to solve. Najee Harris got 69 yards on 17 attempts while finishing with 7.9 fantasy points. Additionally, White has to fend off a hungry Bucky Irving, and you have all the makings of a potentially bad fantasy game.
Javonte Williams
Denver vs. TB (84% starting)
Javonte Williams was in my sit section last weekend, and he will be in my sit section this weekend. After getting stuck in the Steel Curtain last week, Williams now has to face the Buc Brick Wall (I just made that up, but it basically is). The Bucs don’t let anyone run the ball. Yes, I know; David Montgomery scored a touchdown against them last weekend. But even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then. Williams would have finished with 3.5 fantasy points had the Broncos not started passing to him, and he did not get into the endzone. Also, the Broncos don’t have nearly the amazing offensive line the Lions do. Trust me, it would not be a good play.
Michael Pittman Jr.
Indianapolis vs. CHI (96% starting)
Like his quarterback, Michael Pittman Jr. has struggled. Part of that has to do with his quarterback (seven catches on 15 targets for a sad 52 yards). You probably drafted Pittman in the fifth round with high hopes. I do think he will eventually get there. But let’s be real. It won’t happen against the Chicago Bears. They just held Stefon Diggs to four catches on 37 yards on six targets. Unless you actually like your receivers scoring only 7.7 fantasy points, I would not trust Pittman against a secondary led by Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon.
Mike Gesicki
Cincinnati vs. WAS (5% starting)
Mike Gesicki had a lot of targets in Week 2, hauling in seven of nine passes for 91 yards and 16.1 fantasy points. However, this week, he will face the Washington Commanders. They have allowed just 1.5 fantasy points in two games to tight ends. Also, there is a good chance that Tee Higgins may return this week. That will take targets away from Gesicki, who was not a great tight end.
