Fantasy Football Week 3 Preview: Matchups, Sleepers, and Lineup Decisions

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Two weeks into the NFL season, and fantasy managers already face the tough reality of injuries, underperforming stars, and surprising breakout candidates. As Week 3 approaches, let’s break down the biggest storylines that could swing fantasy matchups.

Quarterbacks to Watch

Josh Allen (Bills vs. Jaguars)
Allen rebounded in Week 2 and gets a Jacksonville defense that has struggled against mobile quarterbacks. Expect QB1 production.
Jordan Love (Packers vs. Lions)
A sneaky streaming option, Love has thrown multiple touchdowns in back-to-back games. Detroit’s defense can be exploited through the air.
Sit Alert: Geno Smith (Seahawks vs. 49ers)
San Francisco has been ruthless against opposing passers. Smith could be in for a rough outing.

Quick Reference – QB

Start	Sit	Sleeper
Josh Allen	Geno Smith	Jordan Love
Jalen Hurts	Daniel Jones	Brock Purdy
Tua Tagovailoa	Russell Wilson	Sam Howell

Running Back Outlook

Christian McCaffrey (49ers vs. Seahawks)
CMC is matchup-proof. Lock him in as the top RB play of the week.
James Cook (Bills vs. Jaguars)
Coming off a strong showing, Cook should see plenty of touches against a shaky front seven.
Risky Start: Joe Mixon (Bengals vs. Ravens)
Baltimore’s defense has been stout against the run. Mixon could be touchdown-dependent.

Quick Reference – RB

Start	Sit	Sleeper
Christian McCaffrey	Najee Harris	Roschon Johnson
Bijan Robinson	Joe Mixon	Jerome Ford
Tony Pollard	Rhamondre Stevenson	Tyjae Spears

Wide Receivers to Start and Sit

CeeDee Lamb (Cowboys vs. Giants)
Lamb is in line for a big game with Dallas leaning on the pass. WR1 upside.
Tank Dell (Texans vs. Colts)
Dell continues to emerge as C.J. Stroud’s favorite deep threat. Solid WR2/Flex play this week.
Sit Alert: DK Metcalf (Seahawks vs. 49ers)
Like Geno Smith, Metcalf faces one of the toughest defenses in the league. Risky play.

Quick Reference – WR

Start	Sit	Sleeper
CeeDee Lamb	DK Metcalf	Marvin Mims
Tyreek Hill	Terry McLaurin	Zay Flowers
Stefon Diggs	Drake London	Rashee Rice

Tight Ends Trending Up

Sam LaPorta (Lions vs. Packers)
Quickly becoming a reliable target, LaPorta should see plenty of volume against Green Bay.
Jake Ferguson (Cowboys vs. Giants)
Dak Prescott looks Ferguson’s way in the red zone—making him a touchdown-dependent but intriguing start.

Quick Reference – TE

Start	Sit	Sleeper
Travis Kelce	Tyler Conklin	Chigoziem Okonkwo
Sam LaPorta	Gerald Everett	Luke Musgrave
Mark Andrews	Hunter Henry	Cade Otton

Sleeper Picks of the Week

Marvin Mims (Broncos vs. Raiders) – Explosive rookie could break out against a shaky secondary.
Roschon Johnson (Bears vs. Vikings) – Chicago may give him more work, making him a sneaky Flex play.
Chigoziem Okonkwo (Titans vs. Jets) – A deeper TE option with upside if you’re streaming.

Final Word

Week 3 is often where fantasy seasons begin to take shape. Injuries are mounting, trends are forming, and those who stay ahead of the waiver wire will gain a crucial edge. Trust your studs, but don’t be afraid to roll the dice on emerging playmakers.