Fantasy Football Start ‘Em and Sit ‘Em: Week 3
Football is back in full swing. We’ve seen some crazy matchups and surprising team performances through three weeks. Fantasy football has also been crazy. Who had James Robinson outsourcing Jonathan Taylor through three weeks or Curtis Samuel outscoring Justin Jefferson?
These performances have left fantasy managers stunned and looking for answers regarding who to play. So for Week 4, consider starting or sitting these players:
Start ‘Em
Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
After leading the league in passing last season, most expected Brady to be a reliable fantasy quarterback in 2022. Through three weeks, however, Brady ranks as QB27 behind players like Geno Smith, Mitch Trubisky and Joe Flacco.
This poor performance could be due to a lack of his top two wide receivers. Chris Godwin has yet to play a snap this season after tearing his ACL last December and Mike Evans was ejected from the Week 2 match-up against the Saints and suspended for the Week 3 matchup against the Packers.
With Evans back, this week and Brady playing in a marquee matchup against Patrick Mahomes, have Brady in your fantasy lineups this week.
Khalil Herbert, RB, Chicago Bears vs. New York Giants.
This week, Herbert was a top waiver wire pickup after he exploded for 169 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns for 30.9 fantasy points following David Montgomery's early exit with a knee/ankle injury.
Montgomery will likely miss this week's matchup against the Giants, allowing Herbert to torch a defense that allowed Ezekiel Elliot and Tony Pollard to combine for 178 rushing yards on 28 carries.
Expect plenty of opportunities and fantasy points for Herbert in the run-heavy Bears offense. Start him this week.
Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos vs. Las Vegas Raiders.
Russell Wilson and the Bronco's offense have not been cooking so far through three weeks as the team is just averaging 14.3 points per game. However, Sutton has not let this affect his fantasy production as he has caught 19 of 28 targets for 291 yards, good enough to make him the WR17.
Sutton has a great matchup this week. The Raiders' defense has allowed the eighth most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. While giving up an average of 273.3 passing yards per game.
I would expect this to be the week Russell Wilson finally starts cooking and Sutton will be the primary beneficiary of it. Start him this week.
Sit ‘Em
Carson Wentz, QB, Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys
The former second overall pick started hot through the season's first three weeks. Wentz, who is on his third team in three years, looks as if he may have returned to his superstar form from 2017.
Through three weeks, Wentz has ranked as the QB6 ahead of names like Kyler Murray, Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow.
This week against the Cowboys, Wentz will come back down to Earth. The Commanders allowed Wentz to get sacked nine times last week. This week the Commander's offensive line will have to deal with stars Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.
The pass rush will get to Wentz quickly, leading to little offensive production and a poor fantasy day. Sit him this week.
Allen Lazard, WR, Green Bay Packers vs. New England Patriots
After the departure of Davante Adams in the offseason, many expected Lazard to leapfrog into that WR1 role on an offense led by two-time reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers. Unfortunately, that so far has not happened.
After missing Week 1 with injury, Lazard has put up a measly stat line of 6-of-9 targets for 58 yards and two touchdowns for a total of 23.8 fantasy points, which is almost entirely from the two touchdown catches.
The volume for Lazard is not quite there and with a difficult matchup against a stingy Patriots defense, keep Lazard on your bench this week.
Ben Palillo is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email bgp5079@psu.edu.
