Fantasy Football Week 3: Skill Position Players to Leave on Bench

We can’t all have Peyton Manning, Calvin Johnson and LeSean McCoy on our fantasy team, which means there are difficult lineup decisions to be made every week.

The same holds true for Week 3, as fantasy football players try to guess which reliable players bounce back from early struggles and which breakout stars are for real. While there will always be an element of luck involved in fantasy football (especially with the rash of injuries that spread around the league in Week 2), the best you can do is come to the table with some knowledge about given matchups. 

With that in mind, here is a look at three players in particular to avoid heading into Week 3.

QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Steelers played the first half of their opener against the Cleveland Browns like a playoff contender and have been promptly outscored 50-9 since.

The offense looked completely out of sync the entire game in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger didn’t help the cause with an interception and zero touchdown passes. Now he has to go up against one of the stingiest defenses in the league in the Carolina Panthers.

The Panthers have not allowed a quarterback to throw for multiple touchdown passes in a game since December of 2012. Chances are Roethlisberger, who, by his own admission on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh (via Scott Brown of ESPN.com), is hurting rather badly, won’t be the one to break that streak.

"I'm hurting today as much as I was at any point I can think of in the last year," Roethlisberger said after getting hit in the chest by the helmet of Ravens linebacker Courtney Upshaw. 

The Steelers may be staring at a 1-2 start if their quarterback struggles in Carolina.

WR Eric Decker, New York Jets

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Wide receiver Eric Decker aggravated a nagging hamstring injury in Week 2, which automatically makes him a risk heading into the next game. If he does play against the Chicago Bears, it could flare up at any time.

What’s more, his Week 3 game is on Monday night, so fantasy owners wouldn’t have a lot of replacement options if Decker cannot go. It would be a crippling blow to your chances if you started Decker over someone who racked up points Sunday just to see Decker’s name on the inactive list Monday.

You may even be forced to scramble to the waiver wire late Monday evening to pick up another Jets wide receiver or someone like Santonio Holmes on the Bears. 

Then there is opposing cornerback Kyle Fuller, who won the NFC Defensive Player of the Week after twice picking off Colin Kaepernick in the Bears' win over San Francisco. It came as no surprise to Louis Riddick of ESPN:

Decker is an injury risk on Monday night against a talented and up-and-coming cornerback. Benching him is an easy decision.

RB Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Michael Fabiano of NFL.com noted just why fantasy owners should avoid Frank Gore in Week 3:

"

This week's matchup against the Cardinals makes him a risk in fantasy land. After two weeks, a mere two defenses have surrendered fewer fantasy points to running backs than Arizona. Furthermore, Gore has rushed for fewer than 75 yards with just one rushing touchdown in each of his last five road games against this NFC West opponent.

"

Gore tallied 63 rushing yards in Week 2 against a Chicago Bears defense that finished last in the league against the run in 2013. He also ended up with 66 rushing yards in Week 1 against a Dallas Cowboys defense that has overachieved but is still not as talented as Arizona’s.

What’s more, Gore has only one touchdown, and rookie Carlos Hyde is a threat to steal some carries.

As for the opponent, Fabiano touched on why the Arizona Cardinals represent a challenge for Gore. San Diego averaged a measly two yards per carry in Week 1 against the Cardinals, and the New York Giants didn’t fare much better at three yards per carry in Week 2. 

The defense is a major reason why the Cardinals are the NFC West team trying to stretch their record to 3-0 in this matchup. Gore owners have been warned.

Follow me on Twitter:

Follow @ScottPolacek