Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em — Week 3 (2023)

Welcome back to another edition of Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em. In this series, we’re here to help you set your lineups and put yourself in a position to win your fantasy football matchups each week. After an extremely unpredictable Week 1, we had a more “normal” Week 2 of the 2023 NFL season. Now, we look ahead to Week 3 of the season.

Ben Ditlevson and Brendan O’Bryan return to help guide you through your toughest start or sit decisions for the whole 2023 fantasy football season. Continue reading for our best players to start and sit for Week 3 of the upcoming fantasy football season.

These players will be those “less-obvious” players that you’re on the fence about starting as your WR3 or Flex type of options. Nobody needs to tell you to start Justin Jefferson or Christian McCaffrey.

Start ‘Em

Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams (@ Cincinnati Bengals)

Not all results can be purely put on one reason. The Cincinnati Bengals are 0-2 and a lot of the focus is on Joe Burrow and the offense, but the defense has been struggling as well. The Bengals defense is giving up nearly 22 points per game to opposing quarterbacks and a league-high D-Pac Score against quarterbacks of 11.06 (which isn’t good). They play the Rams and Matthew Stafford this week on Monday Night Football, who have been playing some solid offensive football. Stafford has thrown for over 300 yards passing in both games this season, he’s just lacking in the touchdown department. He puts it all together this week against a struggling Bengals squad.

Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota Vikings (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)

Coming into 2023, I had a strong feeling that the Vikings offense would become a lot more pass-heavy. Through two games, that seems to very much be the case. Kirk Cousins is on pace for over 6000 passing yards and 51 touchdown passes and, though the yardage number seems unrealistic, the touchdowns are attainable. The pass catchers from Minnesota have been feasting because of all the opportunities and the lack of any efficient rushing.
This week’s matchup with the Chargers makes things even better. Los Angeles is allowing the most yards per passing attempt (10.4) and the highest percentage of 1st downs via the pass (51.1) in 2023. We’re in the early stages of Cousins’ best fantasy season ever.

Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots (@ New York Jets)

Despite the loss, Rhamondre Stevenson had a strong showing last week against the Dolphins amassing 15 touches for 50 yards, three receptions for 10 yards, and also one touchdown. In a crowded backfield, this is a solid start that desires another look. Stevenson has also been the eighth most consistent running back in the league with a consistency score of 3.83. Ezekiel Elliott is a bit of a goal-line vulture, but Stevenson is seeing the volume to compensate. The once-vaunted New York Jets defense was put on their heels by Tony Pollard and the Dallas Cowboys last week. I expect the Patriots to run all over the Jets as well.

Brian Robinson, RB, Washington Commanders (vs. Buffalo Bills)

My admiration for the Commanders’ offensive representatives knows no bounds and I’ll be riding them again in Week 3. Brian Robinson rocked the Broncos last week, averaging 4.8 YPC and notching two touchdowns on 18 carries. It’s amazing how much better someone can do their job when they’re not nursing a gunshot wound. The rest of the runners on the roster have only toted the ball eight times compared to Robinson’s 37 attempts.
If all of that wasn’t enough to convince you, the matchup with Buffalo will.

In Week 1, the Jets running backs totaled 166 yards on 24 carries. Even after restraining Josh Jacobs last week, they’re still allowing 5.8 yards per attempt to running backs on the young season. Robinson looks loads better than last year and I’m ready to hand him the rock again this week.

Amari Cooper, WR, Cleveland Browns (vs. Tennessee Titans)

I thought for sure that this Cleveland offense would be good this season, but they have come out sputtering. The horrible injury to Nick Chubb on Monday night does not help their picture much at all. However, I do believe this is the perfect opportunity for Deshaun Watson and Amari Cooper to take over a game.

Cooper is getting targetted about 8.5 times per game and has been semi-productive averaging around 60 yards per game, but lacking a touchdown. Additionally, the Browns are playing the Buccanneers this week and I think this will change a bit. Tampa Bay is giving up more than 50 points per game to opposing wide receivers, and Cleveland really needs someone to step up.

Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans (@ Jacksonville Jaguars)

Nico Collins is running away with the title of “most important fantasy option in Houston.” He leads the team in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and total yards. Additionally, he set career highs this past week with seven catches and 146 yards which was 38% of the total receiving yards from rookie C.J. Stroud in Week 2. Not to mention, the Texans are going to be passing a lot this season.

Jacksonville is a team that Collins and the Texans are obviously familiar with, being division rivals. Last year, Collins averaged 16.8 yards per catch in the sole game he played against them. The Jaguars also allowed five different players to achieve a catch of at least 15 yards last week, two of them even averaged over 20 yards per reception. All things considered, now is the time to get Collins into your starting lineup. If you didn’t already last week.

Adam Trautman, TE, Denver Broncos (@ Miami Dolphins)

Now this is my hot take of the week. I believe Adam Trautman should have a solid tight end stat line this week. Trautman has not had a good game really yet this season, but with Jerry Jeudy back in the lineup, and facing a strong Dolphins secondary, he won’t receive as much attention on the underneath routes. The Dolphins are giving up over 20 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends, and Trautman should capitalize.

Cade Otton, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

I’m going a little deeper with this pick. After all, there are a lot of fantasy managers who are relying on streaming the tight end position. The Buccaneers have surprised many with a 2-0 start to 2023. Baker Mayfield lit up the Bears in Week 2 with 26 completions for 317 yards. Second-year tight end Cade Otton caught all six of his targets in that game for 41 yards. For tight end streamers, that’s a solid line for fantasy purposes. Without veteran Cameron Brate hanging around anymore, Otton has been taking the TE1 role on this offense.

With Philadelphia coming to town, some may be nervous for the Buccaneers offense this week, but they shouldn’t be. While the Eagles have been brutal against the run, their pass defense has been as effective as a calculator at a spelling bee. The Eagles have surrendered the most receptions (66) in the league. Specifically, opposing tight ends have hauled in 17 receptions for 171 yards and three scores this season. I don’t know about you, but that’s the kind of upside I’m looking for at tight end. If you’re hurting at the position or streaming, start Otton this week!

Sit ‘Em

Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears (@ Kansas City Chiefs)

It’s honestly already time to consider benching Justin Fields. Fields continues to look like the same very limited quarterback we saw last season. He’s only averaging about 212 yards per game, one touchdown, 1.5 interceptions and 1.5 fumbles. So far his rushing stats have not really compensated for the lack of passing, only gaining 3 yards last week. He’s also getting sacked at a really high rate. The Kansas City has also been very strong against quarterbacks, only allowing 11.63 fantasy points per week to opposing quarterbacks. Fields is not playing well right now and the Chiefs are strong. Not a good start for Fields.

Derek Carr, QB, New Orleans Saints (@ Green Bay Packers)

Derek Carr hasn’t had a great start to his tenure in New Orleans. He’s thrown for just 533 yards and one score while completing 63.8% of his attempts in two contests. With some great pass catchers on the offense, all of those numbers should be higher. Maybe Carr is still acclimating to the Saints scheme or the coaching staff isn’t using his talents correctly. Either way, I’m out on Carr until we see him really perform to what we’ve seen in the past.

The next battle in Green Bay doesn’t imbue any additional confidence for me. They’re allowing the seventh-lowest completion percentage (62.3%) in the league and they’ve allowed just one passing touchdown in each game of 2023. There are plenty of better options this week at quarterback.

Miles Sanders, RB, Carolina Panthers (@ Seattle Seahawks)

Miles Sanders has had decent production in his first year in Carolina, but not the most consistent running back so far this season. He’s currently ranked as the 29th most consistent running back in the league with a Consistency Score of 1.94 averaging around 50 yards per game rushing and 15 yards through the air. He’s also facing the Seahawk’s defense which is doing a decent job of stopping running backs this season.

Tyler Allgeier, RB, Atlanta Falcons (@ Detroit Lions)

Normally, I’d be on board with just about any healthy option in the Falcons backfield. Their offense is all about running the ball. Tyler Allgeier has already taken 15 and 16 carries in the first two games, scoring twice in Week 1. Eventually, the carries may become more one-sided in favor of Bijan Robinson and Cordarrelle Patterson could take a chunk once he returns.

The biggest knock, in this week’s matchup, is the Lions’ stalwart run-stuffing defense. They are currently giving up just 3.6 YPC with just two rushing scores, which were from the one and three-yard lines. Even Robinson could struggle to get things going in this one. Even with all of the carries they’re getting, I won’t be risking Allgeier in my Week 3 fantasy lineup.

Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons (@ Detroit Lions)

Drake London had a standout performance last week against the Packers, hauling in 6 catches for 67 yards and a touchdown. Showing all the signs that he could start to make a decent run as a set-it-and-forget-it starter in your lineup. This week the Falcons play the Lions who are holding opposing wide receivers to only 39 points per game. I expect London to have a hard time this week.

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Tennessee Titans (@ Cleveland Browns)

Usually, you always want to start your studs. DeAndre Hopkins has been a studly wide receiver for many years, but things are different this year. The Titans’ offense is featured by the running game led by Derrick Henry and rookie Tyjae Spears. Simply put, there aren’t going to be as many opportunities for Hopkins to do his thing as he has in seasons past. Through two games, Hopkins is averaging just 9.5 yards across his 11 receptions.

The Week 3 face-off with Cleveland makes things less appealing for fantasy. If you subtract the 71-yard touchdown catch by George Pickens, the Browns have surrendered 15 catches for just 11.7 yards per reception this season to wide receivers. Obviously, you can’t take that away, but it’s worth at least noting. Overall, the combination of low-yield catches and fewer targets coming will put Hopkins on my bench in Week 3 unless you have no other options.

Chigoziem Okonkwo, TE, Tennessee Titans (@ Cleveland Browns)

Facing the Chargers last week, Chigoziem Okonkwo had his first receptions of the season, leading to many thinking he is due for a full-on breakout. I would pump the breaks on this as he only had four catches for 35 yards and this week faces a formidable tight end-focused defense in the Cleveland Browns. The Browns are giving up under 5 fantasy points per game to tight ends and I do not expect that to change this week. Keep Okonkwo on your bench.

Gerald Everett, TE, Los Angeles Chargers (@ Minnesota Vikings)

Similar to Okonkwo, it has been a slow start to the season for Gerald Everett, receiving only six targets and catching five of them. With the other offensive weapons on the roster, it may not be surprising that those are half of the total tight end targets thus far. Donald Parham has seen nearly as many chances as Everett, which could continue to be a problem.

Minnesota will be the next defense to tango with the Chargers. They’ve been tough on tight ends, allowing 5.1 yards per reception and a less-than-acceptable 61.5 catch rate to the position this year. With so many options in the passing game and facing a team that doesn’t give up much to tight ends, Everett is not the option you want in Week 3.

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