Week 3 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em, Play or Bench Advice on Top Fantasy Football NFL Stars

Week 3 will get underway on Thursday night with a battle between the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers. It's an intriguing matchup because it'll mark the return of Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr.. His return could have serious fantasy implications.

Poor quarterback play has hampered fantasy stars Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, and Drake London. Ideally, Penix will help return them to form, though Robinson remains the only true must-start of the bunch for now.

Who else can managers rely on in Week 3? Let's dive into the recent production and the matchups for some start/sit recommendations. All picks and analysis are based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.

Quarterback

AP Photo/Matt Patterson

Dak Prescott

Top 5 Plays

1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
2. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
3. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
4. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
5. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Start: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens will play in Brazil on Sunday afternoon, and the travel and change of venue could throw the two teams off. However, managers should still expect a strong outing from Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense. Otherwise, Dallas isn't going to stay in this game.

The Ravens have enough offensive firepower to make this a high-scoring game, and their defense has surrendered an average of 16.2 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.

Other QB starts for Week 3:

Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Drake Maye, New England Patriots

Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

Sit: Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Even with Puka Nacua out of the lineup, Matthew Stafford managed to have a bounce-back game against the New York Giants on Monday night. However, he'll face a much stiffer challenge in Denver against the Broncos.

Expect Denver to do a much better job of limiting Davante Adams, which could leave Stafford with rather pedestrian numbers. Other Week 3 QB sits:

Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders

Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

Running Back

AP Photo/Caroline Brehman

Cam Skattebo

Top 5 Plays

1. Kenneth Walker III, Kansas City Chiefs
2. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
3. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
4. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
5. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

Start: Cam Skattebo, New York Giants

The New York Giants will be without starting quarterback Jaxson Dart for the foreseeable future. This means that they'll need to lean heavily on the run to support backup Jameis Winston.

The Tennessee Titans have been fairly respectable against the run thus far, surrendering an average of 20 fantasy points to opposing backfields. However, a heavy workload will raise Skattebo's value significantly.

Other Week 3 RB starts:

Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers

Sit: MarShawn Lloyd, Green Bay Packers

MarShawn Lloyd has largely disappointed as the Packers' starting running back. He did find the end zone in Week 2, but he also fumbled while averaging just 3.3 yards per carry. Kaleb Johnson looked like the stronger runner, and he could eat into Lloyd's workload significantly this week.

The Falcons, meanwhile, have surrendered the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs. Other RBs to sit in Week 3:

Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans

Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers

Tyler Allgeier, Arizona Cardinals

Wide Receiver

AP Photo/Katie Chin

Davante Adams

Top 5 Plays

1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
2. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
3. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
4. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
5. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

Start: Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams

OK, so we said that the Broncos are likely to do a decent job of limiting Adams. That just means that he's probably not going to go off for eight catches, 195 yards, and two touchdowns this week.

Adams is still going to get peppered with targets, and he's going to remain a strong start for as long as Nacua is out. Other WR starts for Week 3:

Jaylen Waddle, Denver Broncos

Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers

Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

Sit: Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears wideout Rome Odunze has been a low-end flex option to this point, but his value took a massive hit when Caleb Williams suffered a hamstring injury on Sunday. Backup QB Tyson Bagent is in the concussion protocol, too, meaning Case Keenum could see his first game action since 2003.

Unless Williams makes an unexpected return to face the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night, Odunze will be unplayable.

Other WR sits for Week 3:

DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers

Jakobi Meyers, Jacksonville Jaguars

Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings

Tight End

AP Photo/Ashley Landis

Dalton Schultz

Top 5 Plays

1. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
2. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
3. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
4. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills
5. Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers

Start: Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans

Nico Collins is expected to miss the Houston Texans' Week 3 matchup with the rival Indianapolis Colts. That could mean another massive game for tight end Dalton Schultz.

Schultz served as C.J. Stroud's go-to target during last week's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He finished with 12 catches and 140 yards. The Colts, meanwhile, have surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.

Other strong TE starts for Week 3:

Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts

Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys

A.J. Barner, Seattle Seahawks

Sit: Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns have found some viable wide receivers in rookies Denzel Boston and K.C. Concepcion. However, that has hurt the value of Harold Fannin Jr., who has just seven catches and 75 yards through two weeks.

Fannin could still regain his 2025 form if Deshaun Watson can keep playing at an average level as he did in Week 2. This week, though, the Browns host the Carolina Panthers, who have surrendered the ninth-fewest fantasy points to opposing TEs.

Other TE sits for Week 3:

Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers

Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals

*Fantasy scoring information from FantasyPros