Week 3 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em, Play or Bench Advice on Top Fantasy Football NFL Stars

Week 3 will get underway on Thursday night with a battle between the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers. It's an intriguing matchup because it'll mark the return of Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr.. His return could have serious fantasy implications.

Poor quarterback play has hampered fantasy stars Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, and Drake London. Ideally, Penix will help return them to form, though Robinson remains the only true must-start of the bunch for now.

Who else can managers rely on in Week 3? Let's dive into the recent production and the matchups for some start/sit recommendations. All picks and analysis are based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.

The Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens will play in Brazil on Sunday afternoon, and the travel and change of venue could throw the two teams off. However, managers should still expect a strong outing from Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense. Otherwise, Dallas isn't going to stay in this game.

The Ravens have enough offensive firepower to make this a high-scoring game, and their defense has surrendered an average of 16.2 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.

Even with Puka Nacua out of the lineup, Matthew Stafford managed to have a bounce-back game against the New York Giants on Monday night. However, he'll face a much stiffer challenge in Denver against the Broncos.

Expect Denver to do a much better job of limiting Davante Adams, which could leave Stafford with rather pedestrian numbers. Other Week 3 QB sits:

Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

The New York Giants will be without starting quarterback Jaxson Dart for the foreseeable future. This means that they'll need to lean heavily on the run to support backup Jameis Winston.

The Tennessee Titans have been fairly respectable against the run thus far, surrendering an average of 20 fantasy points to opposing backfields. However, a heavy workload will raise Skattebo's value significantly.

MarShawn Lloyd has largely disappointed as the Packers' starting running back. He did find the end zone in Week 2, but he also fumbled while averaging just 3.3 yards per carry. Kaleb Johnson looked like the stronger runner, and he could eat into Lloyd's workload significantly this week.

The Falcons, meanwhile, have surrendered the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs. Other RBs to sit in Week 3:

OK, so we said that the Broncos are likely to do a decent job of limiting Adams. That just means that he's probably not going to go off for eight catches, 195 yards, and two touchdowns this week.

Adams is still going to get peppered with targets, and he's going to remain a strong start for as long as Nacua is out. Other WR starts for Week 3:

Chicago Bears wideout Rome Odunze has been a low-end flex option to this point, but his value took a massive hit when Caleb Williams suffered a hamstring injury on Sunday. Backup QB Tyson Bagent is in the concussion protocol , too, meaning Case Keenum could see his first game action since 2003.

Unless Williams makes an unexpected return to face the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night, Odunze will be unplayable.

Nico Collins is expected to miss the Houston Texans' Week 3 matchup with the rival Indianapolis Colts. That could mean another massive game for tight end Dalton Schultz.

Schultz served as C.J. Stroud's go-to target during last week's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He finished with 12 catches and 140 yards. The Colts, meanwhile, have surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.

Sit: Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns have found some viable wide receivers in rookies Denzel Boston and K.C. Concepcion. However, that has hurt the value of Harold Fannin Jr., who has just seven catches and 75 yards through two weeks.

Fannin could still regain his 2025 form if Deshaun Watson can keep playing at an average level as he did in Week 2. This week, though, the Browns host the Carolina Panthers, who have surrendered the ninth-fewest fantasy points to opposing TEs.

*Fantasy scoring information from FantasyPros