Two weeks into the NFL season, we now have twice as much data to play with on the Fantasy Football Points Allowed Tool as we did last week. Of course, two weeks is still a relatively small sample size, so we will also want to look back at 2023’s numbers in certain situations. Let’s get right into it.

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Fantasy Points Allowed: Best & Worst Matchups (Week 3)

Week 3 Quarterback Fantasy Football Matchups

Good Matchup: Joe Burrow (QB – CIN)

Joe Burrow has struggled to start the 2024 season, currently ranking as just the QB14 in total points. But that was in tough matchups against the Patriots and Chiefs. This week, he gets the best possible matchup, squaring off against a Washington team that is somehow first in points given up to opposing QBs despite having played 50% of their games against Daniel Jones. This isn’t just a fluke, either, as the Commanders allowed over 20 points per game to opposing QBs in 2023. Start Burrow with confidence.

Bad Matchup: Justin Herbert (QB – LAC)

Justin Herbert hasn’t had to do much through the first two weeks of the season, as the Chargers have comfortably beaten the Raiders and Panthers. He should be in for a closer matchup this week, but it is unfortunately also one with a tough Steelers defense. Through two weeks, Pittsburgh has allowed fewer than 10 points per game to opposing QBs. Herbert should eventually bounce back from his slow start, but this isn’t the week it happens.

Week 3 Running Back Fantasy Football Matchups

Good Matchup: Zamir White (RB – LV)

This is Zamir White’s last chance to stay fantasy-relevant, as he has averaged just 4.5 half-PPR points in his first two games. The Raiders have taken a surprisingly pass-heavy approach, ranking second in the league in pass rate over expected (PROE). As a result, White has often found himself sidelined for Alexander Mattison. He has also been inefficient when he does get the ball, averaging just 3.1 yards per carry. However, this week, he gets to face the Panthers. Even with Andy Dalton under center, Carolina is still a dream matchup for opposing RBs. They’re the only team to rank in the top five in points allowed in both 2023 and 2024. White is still a risky play with his production so far, but if he’s ever going to have a big outing, it’s this week.

Bad Matchup: James Conner (RB – ARI)

James Conner is in almost the opposite situation of White. He has been on fire to start the season, seeing great usage and making the most of it. But this week, he has a very tough matchup against the Lions’ run defense. The Lions allowed the fewest points to opposing RBs in 2023 at 14.0 points per game. So far this year, they’ve allowed a minuscule 9.8 points on average despite facing Kyren Williams and Rachaad White. With his backfield share and efficiency, Conner isn’t a must-bench, but I would strongly consider it if you have other options fantasy start sit options.

Week 3 Wide Receiver Fantasy Football Matchups

Good Matchup: Rashid Shaheed (WR – NO)

The Saints’ passing offense is just going to keep rolling this week as they get to face off against the Eagles’ notoriously weak secondary. The Eagles allowed the most points to opposing wide receivers last year and rank second to only the Commanders in points allowed so far this year. Lock Rashid Shaheed (and Chris Olave, of course) into your lineups this week.

Bad Matchup: Gabriel Davis (WR – JAX)/Brian Thomas Jr. (WR – JAX)

Overall, the Bills are a bad matchup for WRs so far this season, but not the worst. They’ve allowed just the fifth-fewest points to opposing receivers. However, if we isolate to just receivers lined up out wide, Buffalo’s defense has been absolutely dominant. Both veteran Gabriel Davis and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. should be benched this week, while Christian Kirk gets an upgrade as the Bills are most beatable out of the slot.

Week 3 Tight End Fantasy Football Matchups

Good Matchup: Cade Otton (TE – TB)

Playing Cade Otton in fantasy feels gross. Despite posting consistently high snap and route numbers, the third-year TE has never really made a fantasy impact. However, if there was ever a week to trust him, this is it. The Broncos were the league’s worst defense against tight ends in 2023. They’ve picked up where they left off in 2024. Despite having only faced the Seahawks and Steelers (not teams with elite receiving TEs), the Broncos have still allowed an above-average amount of points to tight ends. Otton is always running routes and the Broncos are likely to leave him open — he could see a handful of targets and find his way into the end zone.

Bad Matchup: Mike Gesicki (TE – CIN)

So far this season the Commanders have allowed a grand total of 1.0 half-PPR points to opposing tight ends. To be fair, they haven’t exactly faced elite talent in Theo Johnson and the aforementioned Otton. But that’s still impressive. They were also a bottom-six matchup for the TE position last year. Mike Gesicki, meanwhile, is the current TE6 on the back of a big Week 2 performance. But he still has just a 49% route participation rate for the year. This matchup is brutal for fantasy football start sit decisions. He should not be started in Week 3.

Ted Chmyz is a fantasy football contributor for FantasyPros.com. Find him on Twitter @Tchmyz for more fantasy content or to ask questions.