Week 2 is in the books! Hopefully, our rankings helped you decide who to start and sit, and you survived the week with a win. Now, it’s on to Week 3! We’re slowly starting to see the stats and trends develop for these players and teams, which will only help us better analyze who to start and sit each week.
The Jets tossed some work to Braelon Allen in Week 2, and he found the end zone. We see it in every backfield, but we are not flinching. This week, an overperforming Jets offense gets to play an underperforming Lions defense, and Breece Hall has a great opportunity to be a top finisher in fantasy this week.
Kenneth Walker is going to have the easiest day of his season this week. The Dolphins have been an abysmal team thus far, as the roster pointed to preseason. Andy Reid has spoken about Walker’s workload and said they want to keep using rookie Emmett Johnson. This game raises no workload concerns, given the level of efficiency the two backs should be at.
Bhyshul Tuten found the end zone in Week 2, and we’ve seen him cover 28 carries over those two games. This matchup with the Patriots will be a true test for the second-year back who gives strong RB2 appeal but has shown true RB1 upside yet.
Derrick Henry landed in the end zone again in Week 2 and eyes a mouthwatering matchup with the Cowboys in Rio. The Cowboys have proven to be about as good as they were last year on defense, and on a field that has been called questionable, Henry has chances for many big runs in this international bout.
All eyes are on Saquon Barkley as we await the results of his MRI. He missed a good chunk of Sunday’s showdown with the Titans with a stinger that usually doesn’t knock out players for extended time. If he does miss Week 3, it would be a split with Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley. We saw Shipley in the pass-catching role, which may not be needed as much in the game with the Bears. The Bears should be without Caleb Williams, and the backup, Tyson Bagent, is in concussion protocol, leaving Case Keenum to start. Keep an eye on reports, but Bigsby or Saquon would be in for a great game script this Monday night. –Brian Hartman
I’d briefly mention Drake London as someone who should be back in your lineups for Week 3. The return of Michael Penix Jr. should help this passing game compared to what the Falcons have had at quarterback. London’s numbers with Penix have been elite, as he has averaged 6.5 receptions, 91 yards, and close to a touchdown per game across 14 games. He should be back in lineups against an average Packers defense.
Two sleeper options in Week 3 have to be Adonai Mitchell and Denzel Boston. Mitchell faces the Lions, who have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. He has gone over 60 yards in back-to-back games, as Geno Smith has looked like a decent quarterback when given time to get the ball to his receivers. Mitchell has top-40 upside this week in a potential shootout with the Lions.
Rookie receiver Denzel Boston has scored in back-to-back games and led the team in targets during a rainy game in Tampa Bay. Now, Boston faces the Panthers, who were a shaky secondary in Week 1. Don’t let Week 2 fool you—they played the Falcons. Boston is becoming the big-play receiver in this offense, and it seems like the rookies have taken over the receiver room. As long as Deshaun Watson is starting, Boston has enough upside to be worth a FLEX play in Week 3.
On the flip side, I’m going back to sitting Terry McLaurin in Week 3. He faces a Seattle defense that has locked down outside receivers through two games. Despite seeing 9 targets in Week 2, McLaurin caught only 2 passes. The offense continues to run through the slot with Stefon Diggs and through the backfield. McLaurin could easily finish outside the top 30 receivers in Week 3.
I’d also fade Rome Odunze in Week 3. I’m fully expecting Tyson Bagent to start, so Odunze is someone I don’t want to trust on Monday Night Football against the Eagles. Philadelphia’s secondary has also done a great job against outside receivers, including Terry McLaurin and Carnell Tate in consecutive weeks. Odunze has seen only 7 targets through two games, which is concerning. I don’t see enough upside to start him unless you’re forced to. He’s a sit for me this week. –Steve Pintado
Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice? No, sir! We’re not sitting future the red-hot Hall of Famer Travis Kelce against the Miami Dolphins this week after what a one-and-a-half-legged George Kittle did to them last week. Start Kelce.
Let’s stick with the “geriatric tight end” theme (sorry, that sounds gross) and give the aging Mark Andrews a thumbs-up against a questionable Dallas Cowboys defense. Expect Andrews to be a primary target for Lamar Jackson in Week 3, regardless of whether or not Zay Flowers can make it back onto the field.
It would be rude to dunk on Kyle Pitts for two weeks in a row, and there’s a nonzero chance that the return of Michael Penix will be a boon for the uber-talented tight end. So, we’ll pick on Colston Loveland instead. The Philadelphia Eagles have allowed the second-fewest total fantasy points to tight ends through the first two weeks of the season. Pair the matchup with a third-string quarterback, and this isn’t the best get-right opportunity for the struggling second-year standout. Fade him for now and expect a resurgence once Caleb Williams returns.
We’ll do the TE Streamers out there a solid and offer two Week 3 deep dives. First, Oronde Gadsden II is the last man standing in the Chargers tight end room after David Njoku and Charlie Kolar both landed on Injured Reserve this week. Gadsden’s talent has never been in question, but opportunity held him back in Weeks 1-2. The runway is now clear for takeoff. Wheels up on Gadsden.
Finally, T.J. Hockenson is a solid bet to smash his FantasyPros ECR (Expert Consensus Ranking) of TE24. The veteran was terrific in Week 1, but was hindered by poor weather conditions in Week 2. He now faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have allowed the third-highest fantasy point total to opposing tight ends so far in 2026. With Aaron Jones “sore” after a rough game in Chicago, Hockenson could very well see more targets than we think, especially of the short and intermediate variety inside the red zone. –Drew DeLuca