Sit/Start Week 3: Reviewing All Fantasy Relevant Players In Every Single Game

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, September 24th, 1:00 PM ET

Location: Ford Field, Detroit, MI

Betting Odds: Det -3, 46 O/U total via OddsShark

Network: FOX

Writer: Nick Beaudoin

Atlanta Falcons

Quarterback

Desmond Ridder (Sit, QB2)

Desmond Ridder and the 2-0 Atlanta Falcons enter Week 3 leading the NFC South. What a weird sentence.

After spending the majority of last year behind Marcus Mariota, the 2022 third-round pick has served as a capable game manager, yet inconsistent fantasy asset, finishing as QB26 and QB10 through the first two weeks. Ridder’s fantasy potential lies on the ground, as he put on display against Green Bay with 39 yards and a touchdown last week. On paper, this is a good matchup for Ridder – Detroit just allowed Geno Smith to pick them apart for 328 yards and two touchdowns, and lost their top CB C.J. Gardner-Johnson for the season. However, with the league’s most run-heavy offense and a team implied point total of just 21, Ridder’s floor and ceiling are both too low for me. Ridder can only be trusted as a mid-QB2 until proven otherwise.

Running Backs

Bijan Robinson (Start, RB1), Tyler Allgier (Start, Flex)

Bijan Robinson is arguably the most talented RB prospect of all-time, in the likes of Saquon Barkley and Ezekiel Elliott. In a world where RBs are extremely undervalued, Bijan was the 8th overall pick of this year’s NFL Draft, and the #1 overall RB in Dynasty before playing a single snap. Just two games into his NFL career, he already looks the part, and is slowly working his way into a feature role. He has had 15+ touches in both games, including 10 total receptions, and is guaranteed to receive the same volume against Detroit in Week 3. Although the Detroit defensive line has held their own against the Chiefs and Seahawks thus far (holding Kenneth Walker to just 43 yards on 17 carries), Robinson has a three-down skill set and is a must-start RB1 on a weekly basis.

Tyler Allgier has become an extremely polarizing option in the Falcons backfield so far this season. Just like Bijan, he has also received 15+ touches in each of the first two games, including a 75-yard, two touchdown performance in Week 1. With potentially the most run-heavy offense in the league, I don’t expect Allgier’s volume to ever disappear entirely, however with a talent like Bijan in the backfield, he will always play second-fiddle. Allgier will be a solid volume-based FLEX with RB2 upside, if the touchdowns fall his way.

*Side Note: If Tyler Allgier has discouraged the Bijan owner in y0ur league, go buy him now before it is too late.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Drake London (Start, Low-WR2), Mack Hollins (Sit), Kyle Pitts (Start, Low-TE1)

The Falcons’ offense is loaded with top-10 picks, including WR Drake London. London is highly regarded in the Dynasty community after posting elite metrics as a rookie, however his upside in ’23 seems to be capped by the Falcons’ offense. After posting a 0 (on one target) in Week 1, London came back to life against the Packers with six receptions for 67 yards and one touchdown. The Lions will be without #1 CB C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who has been ruled out for the season with a torn pectoral muscle, leaving an enormous hole and mismatch for London in the middle of the field. London is a solid buy-low and WR2 option in Week 3. Now let’s just pray the Falcons decide to throw the ball.

Before we begin, I want to declare my love for Mack Hollins. I’m maybe the only person in the world to say that. He has never been great, or arguably even good [for fantasy]. He has played on four teams in just six years in the league. None of these are the sign of a strong player, however, every year I turn on the games and watch Mack make a big play for his team. With that being said, the #2 WR in the Falcons offense is essentially useless. He has no business being in your lineup this week or probably any week after that. He will be a boom-bust FLEX option, with far more busts than booms, until he joins a new team.. probably next year.

Oh, Kyle Pitts. What do we do with you? Yet another top-10 pick from the Falcons going unused in this offense. The “Unicorn” is widely regarded as one of the most talented TE’s to ever enter the NFL, however on a team that focuses strictly on the run, he somehow finished last season as an offensive TE33. The predicament with Pitts is that if you drafted him in the fifth round [like me], you were investing in his talent, and have to start him. I will continue gambling on Pitts’ and have him ranked as a low-TE1 this week – however if you choose to go elsewhere, I completely understand.

Detroit Lions

Quarterbacks

Jared Goff (Start, Low-QB1)

Jared Goff is a QB1. That is also weird to say.

For 20+ years, the Lions have been the laughing stock of the NFL and its fans, but for the first time in as long as I can remember, Head Coach Dan Campbell has turned this team around. Goff enters the week as QB11 on the season, and with an implied point total of 24, he should have no problem this week against PFF’s No. 23 secondary in the Falcons. The Lions may also be without RB David Montgomery, who is likely to miss “a few weeks” with a thigh bruise injury, which could lean the Lions into a pass-heavier game script. Goff is a low QB1 / High-QB2 play for Week 3.

Running Backs

Jahmyr Gibbs (Start, RB1), David Montgomery (Start, RB2), Craig Reynolds (Sit)

Jahmry Gibbs was the #12 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. In most years, this would be an extremely high honor [as long as you’re not the same age as Bijan Robinson]. People seem to be nervous about Gibbs’ usage with Montgomery handling a sizable workload in his first two weeks, but that may not be a concern this week. Assuming Montgomery cannot play, Gibbs should be locked in as an RB1. He will be guaranteed 15-20 touches, and will take over the goal line work behind PFF’s #5 ranked offensive line. We should all be very excited to see Gibbs unleashed this week.

David Montgomery was carted off the field in Week 2 after suffering a thigh bruise injury against the Seahawks. After the game, he told reporters he would need “a few weeks to heal,” however Coach Campbell has also referred to him as “day-to-day.” If Montgomery plays, he should be in your lineup as an RB2. Despite drafting Gibbs with their first pick in this year’s draft, Montgomery has averaged 18.5 touches/game and has also received the goal-line work, allowing the Lions to use Gibbs’ versatility mostly in the receiving game. Check his status closer to game-time and have an alternative ready if he can’t go.

Craig Reynolds has shown flashes in small sample sizes, however he is not the guy. If he was, the Lions wouldn’t have signed Montgomery to a three-year deal and spent first-round draft capital on Gibbs. If Montgomery doesn’t play, Reynolds would likely see 5-8 touches to give Gibbs a breather, but this cannot be counted on in fantasy formats.

Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends

Amon-Ra St. Brown (Start, WR1), Josh Reynolds (Start, High-WR3), Marvin Jones (Sit), Sam Laporta (Start, Low-TE1) 

Amon-Ra St. Brown on the other hand, is the guy. He came into the league firing, defying odds as a fourth-round draft pick and establishing himself as a bonafide WR1 in the NFL. St. Brown is currently not practicing and considered “day-to-day,” but this is likely maintenance-related as he was in-and-out of last week’s game. This is worth monitoring, but if he’s on the field, he remains Goff’s favorite target and is someone you should be starting every week, regardless of matchup.

Josh Reynolds has been a delightful surprise so far this season, entering the week as WR12 in the absence of Jameson Williams. Technically, he has outperformed St. Brown, and although we all agree that Reynolds is the poor man’s Mack Hollins (I kid), I cannot fully buy in quite yet. We have seen flashes and stretches from Reynolds over the years, and although he could certainly prove me wrong, I expect him to come back to earth after two touchdowns last week. With that being said, he is a solid option as your WR3 / FLEX in a good matchup, with WR2 upside if St. Brown is unavailable.

Marvin Jones’ best days are behind him. With two receptions for eight yards on the season, he cannot be trusted in your fantasy lineup.

Rookie Sam LaPorta has big shoes to fill following the late-season departure of TJ Hockensen, but he’s living up to the task, hauling in ten receptions for 102 yards in his first two NFL games. These numbers aren’t eye-popping, but TE is arguably the most difficult learning curve for any position in the league, and most (including Hockensen) don’t truly begin to separate themselves until year two or three. The Lions love play-action in the red zone, and without their heavy-hitter in Montgomery, I’m trusting OC Ben Johnson to draw something up for LaPorta’s first NFL score this week. Fire up LaPorta in Week 3 (even over Pitts).

– Nick Beaudoin