2022 NFL Fantasy Football Start/Sit – Week 3

Kirk Cousins dottedHow are you feeling after Week 2?

It could be time to dump some of your preseason sleepers. You’ve had two games to assess them, and if they are getting many touches, they are dead weight. 

Sleepers aren’t the only roster spots you could cut, as quarterbacks like Denver’s Russell Wilson and Indy’s Matt Ryan aren’t scoring enough points for you to win games.

How will Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa fare against the Buffalo Bills?

Here is our Fantasy Football Sit/Start for Week 3 of the 2022 NFL season…and enjoy our awesome MS Paint masterpiece of QB Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings.

I want to explain what I mean by “sit” and “start.” Of course you are going to start some of the guys i say to bench this week, because you probably used high draft picks or a lot of money in an auction for them. My ‘sit’ players are guys I am just not completely sold that they will have good weeks. If you have a guy that you are on the fence about, maybe this will help you pick between the players.

START’EM

  • QB Kirk Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) – Cousins didn’t play great against the Eagles on Monday Night Football, but he’s facing the Lions this week. He has historically smoked the Lions and I don’t think the Lions can handle Minnesota’s wide receiver studs. Cousins should bounce-back this week.
  • WR Jahan Dotson (Washington Commanders) – Dotson will benefit being Washington’s third option. Teams are blanketing WR Terry McLaurin, and when WR Chris Samuel has a deep route, the safeties will bite. I expect Washington to attempt a lot of passes against the Eagles.
  • TE Evan Engram (Jacksonville Jaguars) – I’ve been high on Engram this season and this is his third appearance in this section. He played a high number of snaps and got eight targets last week against the Colts. I knew QB Trevor Lawrence would love him at some point. It looks like Lawrence is already looking for him.
  • RB J.D. McKissic (Washington Commanders) – McKissic would be a very good flex option in a PPR league. Washington QB Carson Wentz looks for him and has caught ever single target that has went his way. I could see him being more utilized in the red zone as well.
  • QB Davis Mills (Houston Texans) – Mills might be a rare ‘good fantasy quarterback on a bad real-life team.” He didn’t play great against the Broncos last week, but I like him this week against the Bears. Chicago pass defense struggled last week, which should be an on-going issue going forward.
  • Dallas Cowboys Defense & Special Teams – The Cowboys travel to New York on Monday night. The Giants had a solid Week 1, but they didn’t impress me much against the Panthers. If you can limit Giants RB Saquon Barkley, and force QB Daniel Jones to throw the ball, the Cowboys should get some turnovers.
  • RB Darrel Williams (Arizona Cardinals) – Cardinals RB James Conner has a bum ankle and it’s unknown if he’s suiting up this weekend against the Rams. It’s also possible that he will share carries with RB Eno Benjamin this week. Williams did more with his touches last week. Williams is worth a shot in deepish leagues.
  • WR Josh Palmer (Los Angeles Chargers) – Palmer benefited with WR Keenan Allen (hamstring) being out. It’s currently unknown is Allen will be healthy enough to play against the Jaguars. Palmer had eight targets last week and should get a lot of looks this week. If Allen does play, Palmer is still a WR3 in a solid passing offense.
  • RB Michael Carter (New York Jets) – I’m still on the Carter bandwagon. His production took a hit since the Jets passed for a ton of yards in their comeback win. I still see Carter as RB1 over rookie RB Breece Hall, who could be a sneaky flex option if you’re in a pinch. Hall could be a touchdown vulture.
  • TE Hayden Hurst (Cincinnati Bengals) – Hurst is a great option of the Jets gameplan to take out wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The Jets have some young guns in the secondary that ‘might’ be good enough to do their job. Hurst should get plenty of looks on Sunday.
  • WR Breshad Perriman (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – Perriman could be WR1 with the Bucs do to circumstances with wide receivers Chris Godwin, Julio Jones and Mike Evans. He caught three balls for 45 yards and a touchdown. Green Bay have a couple studs in their secondary, but I like Perriman this week.
  • RB Mark Ingram (New Orleans Saints) – Saints QB Alvin Kamara (rib cartilage) missed last week’s game and it’s possible he doesn’t suit up against the Panthers. Ingram isn’t going to wow anyone, but he is good in the red zone. The Saints could also look to run the ball more to limit the hits on QB Jameis Winston, who is dealing with fractures in his back. 
  • Kansas City Chiefs Defense & Special Teams – Kansas City faces an Indianapolis team that’s struggling on offense. If they can focus on stopping Colts RB Jonathan Taylor, Indy will be extremely limited. Also, Colts QB Matt Ryan is coming off a three interceptions game.
  • QB Marcus Mariota (Atlanta Falcons) – Mariota played okay in his first two games of the year. He is showing chemistry with rookie WR Drake London. If the pass isn’t there, Mariota isn’t afraid to run the ball a bit as well. He faces the Seahawks this week, which is a favorable match-up for him. I could see him finish as a top-ten quarterback this week.

SIT’EM

  • RB Cam Akers (Los Angeles Rams) – Akers did get a lot more touches last week than in Week 1, but he only averaged 2.9 yards per carry. I still think he’s in a timeshare with RB Darrell Henderson Jr., who has been much more impressive with his touches. I’d rather start Henderson or Cowboys’ Tony Pollard.
  • QB Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins)  – Tua had a monster game against the Ravens. He threw for 469 yard and six touchdowns in the comeback win. I know he is a hot waiver wire pickup this week, but unfortunately, he’s facing the Bills this week. Buffalo’s defense is elite and Tua will struggle. I like him going forward, but not this week. 
  • WR Chris Olave (New Orleans Saints) – Saints QB Jameis Winston is playing with fractures in his back. I expect them to be cautious with him and focus on short passes and the running game against the Panthers. Olave is a deep threat and will get less targets for a few games. I’d rather start Washington’s Jahan Dotson or Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins.
  • RB Raheem Mostert (Miami Dolphins) – Mostert was a trendy sleeper going into this season, but he’s just not getting enough touches to be roster worthy right now. He has a tough match-up this week as the Bills travel to Miami. I’d rather start New England’s Rhamondre Stevenson or Houston’s Dameon Pierce.
  • QB Matt Ryan (Indianapolis Colts) – Ryan isn’t off to a great start this year. He has only thrown one touchdown and has four interceptions. He was missing WR Michael Pittman Jr. due to injury, but that wasn’t a huge reason for Ryan’s struggles. He faces the Chiefs this week and I don’t see Ryan turning his season around in Week 3.
  • WR D.K. Metcalf (Seattle Seahawks) – Metcalf is still a solid flex play this year, but he’s not performing at the level of his fantasy draft selection. It’s clear that Seattle downgrade to QB Geno Smith hurts Metcalf’s fantasy production.
  • TE Cole Kmet (Chicago Bears) – Kmet is in the doghouse and doesn’t have a single reception. You should have dumped him before last week’s game, but it’s crystal clear now. You should add Cincinnati’s Hayden Hurst or New York Jets’ Tyler Conklin.
  • Indianapolis Colts Defense & Special Teams – The Colts still don’t know the playing status of LB Shaquille Leonard. They’ve struggled without their star linebacker and the Chiefs come to town this week. I’d rather start Philadelphia or Dallas this week.
  • TE Albert Okwuegbunam (Denver Broncos) – Okwuegbunam was someone I targeted late in my fantasy drafts, but he hasn’t paid off. It’s a bit due to QB Russell Wilson’s below-average play, but he’s not even getting many targets.
  • Tennessee Titans Defense & Special Teams – The Titans defense is struggling due to their offense being bad. They are being put in bad field position and the Raiders high-tempo passing attack comes to town. I’d avoid playing the Titans this week. I’d rather start San Francisco or Minnesota.
  • WR George Pickens (Pittsburgh Steelers) – There were a lot of hype about Pickens heading into the season. If Pittsburgh still had a guy like prime Ben Roethlisberger under center, Pickens would live up to the hype, but he has Mitchell Trubisky passing him the ball. He only had six targets on the year and 26 receiving yards. I’d rather start Green Bay’s Allen Lazard or New York Jets’ Garrett Wilson.

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sweetbob-author-picAbout the Author…

Bobby Roberts (otherwise known as Sweetbob) is the creator of ‘America’s White Boy’ and contributor at Project Shanks. His writing has been featured on ESPN’s ‘SportsNation’, Sports Illustrated’s Hot Clicks, Guyspeed, and various other sites. You can follow him on Twitter at @Sweetbob.