It’s Week 3, folks! Time to set your fantasy lineups! Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups of any given week for fantasy football leagues. I’m not going to go into elite players like Josh Allen or Jalen Hurts because you already know you have to start them! Instead, I’m going to examine other quarterbacks who could exceed or fail to meet expectations based on their weekly opponent… like Daniel Jones in Week 2!
To make your final lineup decision, check out my fantasy player rankings. I update them daily! Also, don’t forget to subscribe to Fantasy Dirt with Lindsay Rhodes and I as we analyze all things fantasy football five days a week!
Don’t forget to check out my “Start ’em, Sit ’em” tips for all other positions before you set your lineup: RB | WR | TE | K & D/ST
1. Josh Allen vs. Jaguars (Monday)
2. Jalen Hurts at the Saints
3. Lamar Jackson with the Cowboys
4. CJ Stroud at the Vikings
5. Kyler Murray vs Lions
6. Patrick Mahomes at the Falcons
7. Joe Burrow vs Commanders (Monday)
8. Jayden Daniels at the Bengals
9. Dak Prescott vs Ravens
10. Anthony Richardson vs. Bears
Full Week 3 quarterback rankings coming soon!
Start of the week
Joe Burrow vs. Commanders (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+): Burrow hasn’t been great lately, scoring over 17 points once in his last six games dating back to last year. The good news is he scored 17.2 points last week and now has a great matchup against the Commanders. Since the start of last season, their terrible defense has allowed quarterbacks to score over 18 points 14 times, including 11 that scored over 20 points.
Start it
CJ Stroud on Vikings (1:00 p.m. ET, CBS): Stroud is coming off a down week, throwing just one touchdown and scoring 14.3 points. However, I would still believe in him as he faces the Vikings next, in a game where they scored a total of 46.5 points. Last season, their defense allowed the fourth-most points to visiting quarterbacks. In a game that could end in a shootout, I would have Stroud start. He will be a top-12 signal-caller this week.
Kyler Murray vs. Lions (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Murray, who was listed as a starter last week, scored 28.5 fantasy points in a win over the Rams. After two weeks, he ranks first among quarterbacks in expected points added. Next up is a potential shootout against the Lions, in a game Vegas opened with 51.5. Detroit has also been poor on the road against opposing quarterbacks, allowing the third-most fantasy points since the start of last season.
Derek Carr vs. Eagles (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Boy, was I wrong about Carr last week. Instead of going to the bench, he went full throttle and outscored my favorites by 21.8 points. The Saints offense has also scored an incredible 91 points in the first two weeks, which is insanely impressive. I’d put the veteran up against the Eagles, who have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks since the start of last season (20.2 PPG).
Brock Purdy at Rams (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Purdy has had a poor start this season, scoring just 24.3 combined fantasy points in his first two games. Still, he’s worth a look because of his positive matchup against the Rams. Their defense just allowed a ton of points to Murray and has allowed the sixth-most points to visiting quarterbacks since the start of last season, so for managers in need, Purdy is worth a look.
QBs with good matchups
• Jayden Daniels at Bengals (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+)
• Baker Mayfield vs. Broncos (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
• Deshaun Watson vs. Giants (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Sit of the week
Trevor Lawrence at Bills (Mon. 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN): It might be time to use the “B” word when it comes to Lawrence. He’s scored just 24.6 points in his first two games of the season and hasn’t managed to score more than 15 points in any of his last six games since last season. He’ll have to sit on the fantasy bench against the Bills, who have allowed an average of fewer than 13 points to visiting quarterbacks since last year.
sit down
Jared Goff at the Cardinals (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): I’m on the fence about Goff this week. On one hand, he’s playing in a game with a 51.5 total. On the other hand, he’s had a terrible start to the season and is playing on the road. Last season, when he wasn’t at Ford Field, he averaged 13.8 points. Goff is also near the bottom of the league in EPA among quarterbacks after two games, so he hasn’t played well.
Justin Herbert for the Steelers (1:00 p.m. ET, CBS): Herbert was a major disappointment to many managers last week when he scored 11 points in a win over the Panthers. He’s now averaging 21.4 points in his first two games, and things aren’t likely to get any better against the Steelers. Herbert, who had a leg rolled up last week, will likely struggle against a Pittsburgh defense that has allowed an average of 13.8 points to visiting quarterbacks since 2023.
Kirk Cousins vs. Chiefs (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Cousins put up a good stat line last week, scoring 17.5 fantasy points in a come-from-behind win at Philadelphia. However, I would be wary of him this week as he faced a much tougher opponent against the Chiefs. Since the start of last season, quarterbacks have rarely averaged more than 15 fantasy points per game when facing Kansas City. I would limit Cousins to super-flex leagues this week.
Caleb Williams at Colts (1:00 p.m. ET, CBS): Williams was considered a big dark horse in the preseason, but instead his numbers are in deep sleep. In his first two games, he has scored 14.6 points with no touchdown passes and has the third-worst EPA among quarterbacks. So while this week’s game against the Colts is positive on paper, I just can’t see the rookie playing a prominent fantasy role at the moment.
QBs with bad matchups
• Aaron Rodgers vs. Patriots (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
• Justin Fields vs. Chargers (1:00 p.m. ET, CBS)
• Daniel Jones at the Browns (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
And remember, I have Week 3 starting and sit-em picks for every other position for you as well:
