Each week there are some obvious starts and sits in fantasy football. Other decisions are not quite so simple. Here are some of my picks for Week 3 in the latest edition of Studs, Duds & Sleepers.
STUDS
QB: Joe Burrow (CIN vs. WAS): Burrow looked better last week, but Cincy still lost the game and fell to 0-2. The Bengals will be chomping at the bit to get into the win column as they host the Commanders on MNF. No team through two weeks has allowed more fantasy points to signal callers, including Daniel Jones throwing for two touchdowns a week ago.
RB: Alvin Kamara (NO vs. PHI): The Saints are rolling and Kamara is a big reason why. Last week marked the 15th time in his career he was fantasy’s top scoring running back in a week of action. No running back over the last two decades has accomplished that feat more times than Kamara. Philly’s defense isn’t going to have many answers.
WR: Malik Nabers (NYG at CLE): Through two weeks the rookie is averaging 20.2 fantasy points per contests with 90 percent route participation, 39 percent target share and is WR8 through two weeks. That volume alone makes him backend WR1 this week even with a more difficult matchup versus Cleveland.
TE: Kyle Pitts (ATL vs. KC): It hasn’t been great for fantasy managers that invested in Pitts so far this season, but a matchup vs. KC might be just what the doctor ordered. Game flow should favor Atlanta passing the ball at a decent rate. Add in the fact the Chiefs let Isaiah Likely (21.6 pts) and Mike Gesicki (12.6 pts) have solid outings in each of the first two weeks.
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Get ready for kickoff to Week 3’s action w/Dan Clasgens & James Adams on the Fantistics Insider Football Podcast…
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DUDS
QB: Brock Purdy (SF at LAR): With no Christian McCaffrey or Deebo Samuel, Purdy is losing much of his fantasy ceiling. He’s still a solid superflex option, but with the 49ers favored by 7-plus points I’m not expecting much volume and that has him outside my top 15 plays at the position for Week 3.
RB: Devin Singletary (NYG at CLE): Singletary is a solid RB3 and did look impressive on some runs last week, but the Browns will present more challenges up front than the Commanders did a week ago. No running back has reached 60 total yards in a game vs. Cleveland yet this year.
WR: George Pickens (PIT vs. LAC): Justin Fields is killing Pickens’ fantasy value and I am liking the under 36 in this contest. He won’t be facing Patrick Surtain like last week so it won’t be a complete blank. However, I do expect a performance that has him outside my top 35 wideouts for Week 3.
TE: Dalton Schultz (HOU at MIN): Six targets for five catches and 37 yards through two games is enough for me to get disinterested in Schultz, who I already was behind the industry on in my ranks vs. ADP during the summer. Too many mouths to feed in a passing attack that is still part of a balanced offense than to trust the veteran as anything more than a desperation start or bye week filler at some point.
SLEEPERS
QB: Geno Smith (SEA vs. MIA): It has been a short sample size, but Geno Smith is looking good in Ryan Grubb’s new offense. He has yet to break the 20 fantasy point mark, but positive touchdown regression is likely ahead. With Miami traveling to Seattle look for Smith to have his best day of the season. He’s QB13 on my board for Week 3.
RB: Tony Pollard (TEN vs. GB): Pollard is not my typical sleeper, but he projects as a top 10 play for me in Week 3. Tyjae Spears did get dinged up in Week 2, but through two weeks Pollard is clearly the lead dog. Through two weeks the Packers have allowed the seventh most fantasy points (0.5 PPR) to running backs
WR: Diontae Johnson (CAR at LV): Andy Dalton is starting for Carolina and nobody is happier to hear that than fantasy managers that have Johnson on their team. Dalton should immediately help the veteran regain his PPR floor that most expected when drafting him as a WR3. The matchup vs. Vegas isn’t great. Johnson is definitely in lineup consideration in most 12-team leagues this week and has more upside than he did a week ago.
TE: Brenton Strange (JAX vs. BUF): This is a very deep sleeper, but with Evan Engram likely out, expect Strange to be in line for an increased role. He is just on the cusp of the top 20 tight ends for me in Week 3 assuming Engram sits and is an option in some 2 TE setups.
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