Week 2 wasn’t my best showing. I made the wrong calls to sit Baker Mayfield and Kenneth Walker III, as well as to start Brenton Strange and TreVeyon Henderson, but that’s showbiz. With some fresh Week 2 data to reflect on, let’s jump into who I foresee being in your lineup and who can be left on the bench.
A reminder that I judge my ‘start or sit’ against a full-PPR format.
Start ‘Em
Rome Odunze, WR – Chicago Bears
Week 3 Matchup: vs Dallas Cowboys
Week 2 was not kind to the Chicago Bears. Ben Johnson, in his first time back in Detroit since leaving his OC post to become Chicago’s new head coach, left with a sour taste after a 52-21 loss. That aside, Rome Odunze was a fantasy beneficiary, turning 11 targets into seven receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns. It was a team-high on the day, and an encouraging sign that Odunze is pacing to take over as the Bears’ WR1 ahead of DJ Moore, as Rome also saw nine targets in Week 1.
This week’s matchup against the Cowboys should bode well for another strong Odunze day. Through two weeks, Dallas is allowing a staggering 47.6 fantasy points per game to opposing WRs, per FantasyData.
Michael Pittman Jr., WR – Indianapolis Colts
Week 3 Matchup: @ Tennessee Titans
Michael Pittman Jr. had a down Week 2, which should have been expected as he lined up against a strong Broncos secondary. He was held to just 40 scoreless yards, catching four of five targets. A bounce-back could be in the cards against a Titans defense that just allowed Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and Jordan Whittington to combine for 16 catches on 24 targets for 239 yards and a touchdown. Brace for Pittman to finish on the WR2 radar despite Josh Downs and rookie TE Tyler Warren also in the mix for Daniel Jones’ targets.
Breece Hall, RB – New York Jets
Week 3 Matchup: @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I know what you’re thinking – really, a New York Jet? Breece Hall looked the part in Week 1, and then Week 2 came and Hall stunk it up, as did the entire Jets offense. But hear me out. There are a few factors why I think Hall can get right and deliver against a Tampa defense that is a bit banged up on defense and coming off a short week:
- Tyrod Taylor will be under center, as Justin Fields has already been ruled out with a concussion suffered against the Bills. Bias aside as a Jets fan, I am expecting Taylor to be able to move the ball downfield, as well as make the intermediate throws to Hall out of the backfield that Fields was struggling with early and often against Buffalo.
- Stud DT Calijah Kancey tore his pec on Monday night, which is a hit to the Tampa defense that hopefully Hall and the Jets can exploit.
Sit ‘Em
Quentin Johnston, WR – Los Angeles Chargers
Week 3 Matchup: vs Denver Broncos
It’s hard to ignore Quentin Johnston’s start to the season. He’s got three touchdowns through the first two games, which leads the Chargers’ WR room, but his reception percentages continue to be a talking point. Per FantasyData, QJ has a (team) WR-low 57.1 catch percentage, hauling in eight of 14 targets. He’s going to have his boom weeks and then the frustrating ones. This week, against the Denver secondary, sways me to the latter.
While certainly worthy of a spot on your roster, Johnston should be benched if you can afford to do so. The Broncos are the fourth-best defense in terms of points allowed to opposing fantasy WRs, allowing just 23.3 points per game, per FantasyData.
Nick Chubb, RB – Houston Texans
Week 3 Matchup: @ Jacksonville Jaguars
He may have found the end zone for the first time this season on Monday night, but that alone saved Nick Chubb’s fantasy night. He had just 43 yards on 12 carries, catching both of his targets for 29 yards. Chubb will continue to operate as the lead back with Joe Mixon out indefinitely, but I’m not comfortable having him in my lineup on a weekly basis right now. He does get to face a Jaguars defense that can be exploited, as they are allowing a collective average of 15.2 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs through two games. Surely you have a better option entering Week 3 to deploy at RB.
Mark Andrews, TE – Baltimore Ravens
Week 3 Matchup: vs Detroit Lions (MNF)
Here’s a name you may not have been prepared to see on the Sit list. Mark Andrews has been a massive letdown in the first two weeks of the season. He owns a whopping 2.90 point total entering Week 3, as he’s only been targeted four times in that span. Simply put – until the targets see an uptick (and feel consistent), you should be looking elsewhere at tight end.
-Matthew Cava (@cavam_ Twitter & Reddit)
Photos courtesy of Icon Sportswire
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurt_player02 on IG & Threads, @kuwasemiller on Bluesky)