Week 3 NFL Start Em Sit Em – Fantasy Football 2024
An injury-riddled Week 2 of the 2024 fantasy football season is officially in the books. Welcome to the Week 3 edition of our NFL Start Em Sit Em. In this article, we will be bringing you our favorite starts and sits of the week. Our writers and experts from The FF Faceoff Podcast will be working together to make this happen every week.
These players will not always be the most obvious start or sit candidates. No one needs to tell you to start Breece Hall every week. However, these players will likely be your Flex options or players you’re potentially on the fence about. Continue reading for our Week 3 Start Em Sit Em. As always, hit us up on all forms of social media with any lineup questions. Let’s get to it.
NFL Start Em Sit Em Week 3
Week 3 NFL start em sit em decisions are crucial for getting your fantasy football team on a path to the playoffs. As the season begins, it’s vital to analyze matchups. More importantly, to determine which players are poised for big performances and which ones might struggle.
Whether you’re considering a breakout candidate or grabbing a sleeper off the waiver wire, making smart choices in your Week 3 is vital to fantasy football success. Let’s get right into this week’s start em sit em column.
NFL Start Em Sit Em Week 3 Quarterbacks
START – Derek Carr QB New Orleans Saints vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Given his start, this might seem like an obvious take. Seeing as Carr is only rostered in 20% of leagues, I’m recommending you pick up and start the Saints signal caller.
With Klint Kubiak as the offensive coordinator, the New Orleans offense is rolling. They are averaging 46 offensive points per game, which is 17 more points than the next-best team.
Two weeks into the season, Carr is the only quarterback to score 20 or more points in each of his games. Along with that, the offense is second in the league with 15.3 yards per completion. That is all the more intriguing when seeing that the Eagles defense is first in the league in allowing 13.1 yards per completion.
As mentioned, the Saints are welcoming in an Eagles defense that suffered a heartbreaking loss and is playing on a short week.
Carr will eventually come down to earth but that won’t happen in Week 3 against the Eagles. – Michael Hauff @TheFFRealist
START – Brock Purdy QB San Francisco 49ers
Purdy hasn’t gotten off to a great start this season. He’s thrown just one touchdown through two games. However, I expect him to have a productive fantasy performance in this matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
Yes, Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey are going to be out. However, I expect Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, Jauan Jennings, and potentially Chris Conley or rookie Jacob Cowing to step up in their absence.
The Rams allowed 31 fantasy points to Kyler Murray last week. Despite their offense being in disarray with Puka Nuca, Cooper Kupp, and multiple offensive linemen out. The 49ers will have plenty of possessions to score and I think Purdy and the 49ers will get back on track this week after a tough loss to Minnesota. Look for Purdy to throw for two or three touchdowns in this game and drop 20+ fantasy points. Start em with confidence this week. – Steve DeAngelo @FantasySavvy
SIT – Caleb Williams QB Chicago Bears
Depending on the depth of your league, Caleb Williams might have been a drop candidate. If you find yourself in a 2 Quarterback or Superflex league though, I say that you need to find a better option than Williams.
The first overall pick has yet to score 10 or more fantasy points in a game. He is averaging 133.5 passing yards, has two interceptions, and has yet to score a touchdown.
Furthermore, what is also not helping the rookie is the Bears abysmal offensive line. This past Sunday night against the Texans, Williams was sacked seven times.
The Bears are getting set to take on the Colts. Their defense is currently in the middle of the league, allowing 15.85 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Within those points, the Colts are eighth lowest in allowing 163 passing yards on a per game. – Michael Hauff
NFL Start Em Sit Em Week 3 Running Backs
START – Tony Pollard RB Tennessee Titans
Tony Pollard is currently 12th in PPR scoring. However, he sits outside of FantasyPros top 20 currently in the Week 3 rankings. The veteran is top 10 in carries and top five in targets among the running back position after two weeks.
This week’s matchup is enticing with Green Bay ranking bottom 10 in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. With fellow RB Tyjae Spears questionable to play this week, fire up Pollard in all leagues in Week 3. – Daman Zimbelman @DamanZimbelman
START – Zack Moss RB Cincinnati Bengals
Moss hasn’t been spectacular through two games with just 78 yards rushing and one TD. However, he is dominating the snaps and carries over fellow running back Chase Brown. In fantasy football, we all know that it’s important to follow the volume.
For Week 3, this is a good spot and should result in a solid game script for Moss to have a nice fantasy day against the lowly Washington Commanders defense. Recently, they just allowed Devin Singletary to run for 5.94 YPC, allowing 15 fantasy points. The Bengals should be in the red zone plenty against this defense so look for Moss to finish off a couple of drives in the end zone. You can start Moss in Week 3 with confidence. – Steve DeAngelo
START – D’Andre Swift RB Chicago Bears
D’Andre Swift has struggled in his first two games with the Bears. In total, he has just 24 carries for 48 yards and added four receptions for 24 yards on six targets. For context, Swift saw five targets in Week 2, catching four for 24 yards. The Bears made a point to involve him more in the passing game last week, which plays to his strengths. While tough matchups against the Titans and Texans haven’t helped, Week 3 against the Colts presents a more favorable opportunity.
With elite defensive tackle DeForest Buckner on injured reserve due to an ankle injury, Indianapolis has been vulnerable against running backs, allowing over 151 rushing yards on 30+ carries to both Joe Mixon and Josh Jacobs in their first two games. Although Jacobs didn’t score, Mixon found the end zone. This matchup offers Swift, and the Bears offense overall, a chance to get back on track for the first time in 2024. – Michael Hauff
SIT – Aaron Jones RB Minnesota Vikings
After two weeks with the Vikings, Jones has put up one excellent fantasy performance and one dud. In Week 1, he was the RB8 in PPR with 109 total yards and a rushing touchdown. In Week 2, he finished as the RB32 and ran 9 times for a dismal 32 yards against the 49ers.
Looking ahead to Week 3, Jones gets a tough matchup with the Houston Texans. Jonathan Taylor struggled against the Texans in Week 1, with a late rushing touchdown saving his day. He ran for just 3 YPC on 16 attempts and didn’t see a single target out of the backfield. In Week 2, D’Andre Swift struggled even worse against Houston, running 14 times for a pathetic 18 yards. He also caught four of five targets for just 24 receiving yards.
You may not have a ton of better options with all of the injuries going around. However, if you can find a better option such as Zack Moss, I might consider sitting Jones in Week 3. – Aaron Schill @aaron_schill
NFL Start Em Sit Em Week 3 Wide Receivers
START – Rashid Shaheed WR New Orleans Saints
Entering Week 3, Shaheed is averaging 84.5 Yds/G – 4.5 Tgts/G – 3.5 Rec/G – 1 TD/G. This is an explosive player averaging 24.1 yards per reception. Surprisingly enough, this Saints offense is the hottest in the NFL and personally, I expect that to continue.
Shaheed faces the Eagles who have given up the second most fantasy points to WRs (41.8 PG). Notably, he ranks 1st in the NFL since 2023 with receptions that travel 50+ air yards. The Eagles have been susceptible to giving up the big play to opposing wide receivers as we saw with Jayden Reed in Week 1 and Darnell Mooney in Week 2. – Pete Nova @Superrnova38
START – Jameson Williams WR Detroit Lions
Jameson Williams has been a breakout star in 2024. Through two games, he’s posted at least 14.4 PPR points in each, including a massive 24.4-point performance in the season opener. What’s even more impressive is that he’s not thriving on a limited target share—unlike players like rookie Xavier Worthy. Williams has drawn 20 targets over two games, commanding 24.4% of his team’s targets and being targeted on 25.3% of his routes. This level of involvement shows that Williams’ early-season success is anything but a fluke.
Williams is set up to continue his strong start in Week 3 against a Cardinals defense that has struggled against perimeter receivers. Since the beginning of 2023, Arizona has surrendered 11 touchdowns and allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to outside wideouts. Although they contained the Rams offense last week, this same secondary gave up touchdowns to both Khalil Shakir and Mack Hollins in Week 1. Williams has an excellent opportunity to shine in this favorable matchup. – Michael Hauff
Entering Week 3, Drake London is seeing only an 18.2% target share which ties him with Darnell Mooney and Bijan Robinson for second on the team behind Ray-Ray McCloud. This group of pass catchers now faces off with the Kansas City Chiefs who rank top 10 in fewest points allowed to wide receivers in 2024 after being in the top 5 last season.
I’m looking for other options this week with Trent McDuffie keying in on London, the increased target competition, and the Falcons throwing the ball at a rate in the bottom half of the league (53.7%). I’d look elsewhere this week and potentially sit em. – Daman Zimbelman
NFL Start Em Sit Em Week 3 Tight Ends
START – Kyle Pitts TE Atlanta Falcons
Stop me if you have heard this before but I like Kyle Pitts this week. I get that last week was ugly as the Falcons tight end scored just five fantasy points. That said, Week 3 is all about the matchup.
The Falcons will play the Chiefs this week and the defending Super Bowl champions have been bad against tight ends so far.
Notably, the Chiefs are the only defense to have a game with 30+ points allowed to the tight end position, that came in their season opener against the Ravens. Then came last week where the Bengals tight ends put up 20+ points on Kansas City.
Furthermore, the main targeted tight end against the Chiefs has finished the week no worse than fifth in scoring at the position.
There is no doubt that rostering Pitts is like pulling teeth but he is still a talented tight going up against a defense that is allowing points in bunches. Sometimes, it is that easy. – Michael Hauff
SIT – Pat Freiermuth TE Pittsburgh Steelers
The tight end position has been atrocious this year. With studs like Travis Kelce and Sam LaPorta struggling mightily, it’s been rough. Notably, Kelce is the TE28 in PPR and LaPorta is the TE16. Yes, it’s just two weeks. However, this is concerning nonetheless and could be a testament to just how bad the TE landscape is right now.
For Week 3, Pat Freiermuth gets the Los Angeles Chargers. In Week 1, they gave up a solid performance to rookie Brock Bowers, although he only scored 8.8 PPR fantasy points. In Week 2 they played the Panthers and we all know how bad that offense has been. For Freiermuth, he’s caught 4/4 targets in both games so far, with 27 and 39 yards in total in those games.
Overall, this is just not a great performance out of someone that you likely drafted as your late-round tight end this year. All things considered, I’d check out the waiver wire for someone like Mike Gesicki at this point. – Aaron Schill
NFL Start Em Sit Em Week 3 – Streaming DSTs
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Denver Broncos
The Buccaneers defense has not scored a lot of fantasy points, just 8 so far on the year. However, this a matchup to use them against rookie quarterback Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos.
The Bucs played sound defense last week against the Detroit Lions, picking off Jared Goff twice. Now, they face the rookie Nix who according to NextGenStats is just 5 of 24 passing for 132 yards with 0 touchdowns and 4 interceptions on balls thrown 10 yards or more.
Sean Payton’s offense has looked anemic and ancient through two games, and the wide receivers are failing to separate. Additionally, the run game is at a standstill and Nix is struggling mightily. – Steve DeAngelo
NFL Start Em Sit Em Week 3 – Start with Caution
Anthony Richardson – Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears
After two weeks, Anthony Richardson has been as volatile as advertised. After finishing as the QB5 in the season opener, the Colts quarterback dropped all the way down to QB24 last week.
Against the Packers, Richardson threw three interceptions and had a completion percentage of only 50%. What is alarming is that is actually an improvement from his 47.4% in the season opener.
Those who roster Richardson could be in for another tough week as the Colts welcome in the Bears. Impressively, the Chicago defense is allowing the sixth-fewest points to quarterbacks, including allowing just 14.3 points to CJ Stroud last week.
Expect the completion percentage for Richardson to be low yet again as the Bears are tenth in the league with the lowest (61.76%). The defense is also one of eight units that have at least two takeaways per game.
The potential is always there for Richardson to do damage with his legs but his lack of consistency in the passing game and his propensity to turn the ball over has the Colts quarterback as a sit for me. If you want to start him due to your draft-day investment, proceed with caution. – Michael Hauff
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