Week 3 of the NFL season began with a dud of a Thursday Night Football game, unless you started any San Francisco 49ers players on your fantasy football team. The 49ers cruised to a 30-12 victory over the New York Giants, improving to 3-0 on the year. Even in the lopsided win, players like Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey and Brock Purdy scored enough fantasy points for managers to be satisfied.
The same can’t be said for Darren Waller owners.
Sunday’s slate of NFL games could feature some more blowouts if the betting lines are any indication. That makes it even more important for fantasy managers to navigate these potential pitfalls when making their start/sit decisions.
To help with that, we have put together our favorite start and sit options for Week 3 of the NFL season:
Quarterback
Start: Kirk Cousins, Vikings
The Vikings vs. Chargers matchup has the highest total on the slate at 54, so both offenses should feast. The lone offensive player flying a bit under the radar is Cousins, who has thrown for 708 yards and six touchdowns through two weeks. Not only can you confidently start him this week, but we’d project a top-half QB1 finish from Cousins in what might be the best NFL game of the day.
Sit: Joe Burrow, Bengals
After reinjuring his calf in a Week 2 loss to the Ravens, Burrow’s status remains in doubt ahead of a Monday Night Football matchup. Given the depth of the QB position, it’s not worth waiting to see if Burrow will be able to go this week. He has also only thrown two touchdowns and one interception so far this season.
Running back
Start: Gus Edwards, Ravens
The undefeated Ravens are more than touchdown favorites over the Colts this week, and backup running back Justice Hill might miss this matchup. That could mean a big day for Edwards, who ran for 62 yards and one touchdown on 10 attempts last week. He helped ice the win for Baltimore in Cincinnati, earning a game ball in the locker room.
Sit: Khalil Herbert, Bears
It has not been a good week for the Bears, who have started the season 0-2 and are huge underdogs against the Kansas City Chiefs. Backup running back Roschon Johnson also appears to be earning more trust from the coaching staff early in his rookie season. The negative game script and reduced workload don’t have us eager to start Herbert this week.
Wide receiver
Start: Zay Flowers, Ravens
Even with tight end Mark Andrews returning to the lineup in Week 2, Flowers remained a focal point of Baltimore’s passing game. He caught four balls for 62 yards, which included the highlight of the game with a 52-yard strike from Lamar Jackson. Flowers has established himself as a viable flex option, so keep him in your lineup against the Colts.
Sit: Garrett Wilson, Jets
It’s tough to bench a high pick like Wilson, but things are looking bleak for the New York Jets. Zach Wilson threw for 170 yards and three interceptions in a loss to the Dallas Cowboys last week, and he doesn’t have a favorable history against the New England Patriots. Consider other options in place of Garrett Wilson, who had just two catches in Week 2.
