Week 3 Start/Sit (Fantasy Football)

After two weeks of football, the fantasy landscape has certainly not been “normal”. All you have to do is look at the top scoring RBs and WRs to see that you’ll need to look further down the page to find all those first round picks. If you take away Greg Olsen’s 78-yard TD against the 49ers last week, he wouldn’t be at the top of the list either at his position. It’s certainly still early so things should get back to the norm soon, but for now, there’s no reason to believe a player ranked further down in the consensus wouldn’t be able to present value to an owner willing to start him.

On the flip side, there’s also no reason to believe a higher ranked players isn’t going to disappoint you this week as many have already done so for two weeks now. To help identify these players, we’re asking our featured pundits to name their deep sleeper starts as well as what top-40 FLEX play is likely to flop.

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Q1. Give us a player outside of our top 110 Flex that represents a deep sleeper start.

Jamison Crowder (WR – WAS at NYG)
“Crowder is a lowly owned player that should be on more rosters. He is currently tied with Jordan Reed for the team lead in targets (18) and receptions (12). Having seemingly surpassed Pierre Garcon on the depth chart by playing more snaps in each of the first two weeks, Crowder is an interesting low-cost dart throw in DFS, and wide receiver three for injury-riddled teams. He has at least eight targets and six catches in each game, and in PPR leagues seems to be good for a five for fifty type of game. He’s also responsible for Cousins’ only passing touchdowns this season, in addition to being the second highest targeted wide receiver in the red zone, behind Larry Fitzgerald with 5 red zone targets. Crowder should have also had a long score from Cousins, but it was overthrown. While a matchup against the Giants looks much more intimidating now than in the preseason, slot players matchups are still tasty. Consider the former Blue Devil a medium ceiling play with some upside, especially in PPR leagues.”
– Staff (Pyromaniac)

Jimmy Graham (TE – SEA vs. SF)
“I expect a very big week from Seattle TE Jimmy Graham. Doug Baldwin, as well as Tyler Lockett, are banged up and Graham played over 80% of the offensive snaps last week. The 49ers are allowing 17 yards per catch to TEs and just allowed four receiving TDs to Carolina WRs or TEs that are 6′ 4″ or taller. Graham is 6’7″.”
– Walton Spurlin (FantasySharks)

Kenny Britt (WR – LA at TB)
“Britt has been relatively unheralded through the first two weeks of the season, but he has easily been the Rams’ No. 1 target. He’s second on the team in targets (16) and first on the team in catches (10) and yards (161). Britt and the Rams face a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that has allowed 327 yards and five touchdowns to the receiver position. One can do much worse than starting Britt as at least a flex for Week 3.”
– Zach Greubel (Gridiron Experts)

Jared Cook (TE – GB vs. DET)
“Cook once again rose up draft boards this summer as it looked like he finally had found a home in an offense that could utilize his skills. Well, Aaron Rodgers and the entire Green Bay offense has struggled out of the gates and Cook hasn’t looked like the sleeper breakout many had hoped. This week Cook gets the Detroit Lions who have given up 15 receptions for 179 yards and 4 TDs to opposing teams’ tight ends through two games. I expect Rodgers to find Cook this week and for Cook to outperform many WRs and RBs who are ranked ahead of him.”
– Dennis Esser (Coach Esser)

Kenny Stills (WR – MIA vs. CLE)
“Miami wide receiver Kenny Stills is a deep sleeper for me in Week 3. After receiving plenty of preseason hype, Stills has been quiet early on for the Dolphins. He has only been targeted nine times through two games, but did find the end zone in Week 2. Miami is playing without Arian Foster this week and expect that to lead to Ryan Tannehill and the team’s passing attack to carry the offense as the lowly Browns come to town. Cleveland has already allowed four wide receivers to score in two games and with them focused on stopping Jarvis Landry and DeVante Parker, expect Stills to get open on a deep play or two that will allow him to easily provide a return on investment for fantasy owners that give him a chance on Sunday.”
– Dan Clasgens (Get Sports Info)

Q2. On the flip side, what player inside the top 40 Flex is likely to disappoint fantasy owners this week?

Latavius Murray (RB – OAK at TEN)
“Murray worries me this week as the Raiders are utilizing a three-headed monster at RB right now. DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard are both eating into his carries meaning we will have to count on Murray producing in the passing game and as the goal line back. That’s a risky road to travel for fantasy purposes and until we see Murray regain the top spot in the running game pecking order, he worries me.”
– Walton Spurlin (FantasySharks)

“Latavius Murray has scored a TD the first two weeks of the season, but has seen his backups put up respectable numbers in weeks 1 and 2. This week he faces the Titans on the road. The Titans completely shut down the Vikings running game Week 1 and held their own against the Lions Week 2. The strength of their defense is their front 7 while their secondary looks vulnerable. I expect the Raiders to pass the ball on the road this week and Murray to likely fall into a situation where he needs to score a TD to get inside the top 50 of Flex plays.”
– Dennis Esser (Coach Esser)

LeGarrette Blount (RB – NE vs. HOU)
“Blount scares me this week. I’m not fading him completely, especially considering the landscape at running back coming off of all the injuries sustained at the position in Week 2. While I do expect the volume to be there as New England welcomes Houston on Thursday night, the fact the Patriots are turning to their third-string quarterback, rookie Jacoby Brissett, absolutely concerns me. The Texans D is not going to have to worry much about the passing game and that will allow them to stack the box heavily. Houston has won five straight regular-season games dating back to last year and during that span, they’ve only ceded two total touchdowns to running backs. Blount is always capable of putting up that big day, but given the circumstances facing him here, he’s being a bit overvalued in Week 3.”
– Dan Clasgens (Get Sports Info)

“I’m not a big fan of LeGarrette Blount this week following his breakout performance in Week 2. The Houston Texans have only yielded 179 rushing yards and one touchdown to running backs in two games. He may see a good amount of carries, but the Texans will be focused on containing him with the unproven rookie, Jacoby Brissett, taking over at quarterback. Don’t expect a duplicate output from Blount.”
– Zach Greubel (Gridiron Experts)

LeSean McCoy (RB – BUF vs. ARI)
“McCoy possesses a high weekly floor because of rushing attempts and targets that will come his way. With tons of injuries at the running back position and running back by committees ruling the league, it is hard to avoid McCoy in leagues because of his workload. Unfortunately, going up against the Arizona Cardinals is not a great matchup for the former Philadelphia Eagle. The Cardinals are allowing just 11.9 fantasy points a game to opposing running backs this season, fifth lowest in the league, and finished with the 8th fewest fantasy points allowed to the position last season. The Cardinals defense matches up so well against the Bills, and with a third of McCoy’s rushes being stuffed this season, it is hard to imagine him going off in this matchup. McCoy is a hard player to sit in the current state of running backs, but if you somehow have the depth after last week, consider it.”
– Staff (Pyromaniac)

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Thank you to the experts for naming their start/sit candidates. For more advice, have a listen to our latest podcast below.

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