As we head into Week 3 of the fantasy football season, the stakes are rising. By now, fantasy managers have a better idea of how their rosters are shaping up, which players are living up to the hype, and which waiver-wire gems are emerging. But no matter how carefully you’ve managed your team, each week brings its own set of surprises. Whether it’s a breakout performance from an under-the-radar player or an unexpected dud from a star, identifying the booms and busts is key to fantasy success.

In Week 3, several matchups stand out as prime opportunities for big performances. Injuries are beginning to take their toll, and some players are stepping into expanded roles, while others are facing tougher defenses that could limit their production. We’ll dive into the players you can count on to explode for fantasy points, as well as those who might let you down despite high expectations. Navigating these choices could make all the difference as we enter the critical middle stretch of the season.

Whether you’re eyeing potential starts, sits, or trade targets, this week offers plenty of intrigue. From high-octane offenses facing soft defenses to elite players in less-than-ideal situations, we’ll break down which players are poised for a boom and who might be set for a bust in Week 3. Let’s get into the names you need to watch to keep your fantasy squad ahead of the competition.

Week 3 Woos (Booms)

Derek Carr – (QB – NO) vs. Philadelphia Eagles

In a shocking turn of events, Derek Carr has been one of the best quarterbacks in fantasy football through two games. The Saints offense has come out on a mission, and Carr has been one to reap the benefits. Through Week 2, he currently ranks as QB2 in fantasy points per game (22.1) while also pacing the position in passing touchdowns (5), yards per attempt (11.4), and fantasy points per dropback (1.08).

Carr accomplished this on a limited sample size as the team currently ranks at the bottom of the NFL in pass plays per game (20). With how the Saints have looked so far, many fantasy managers are expecting this to be a fluke and that Carr will come crashing back down to Earth very soon. But in this game, riding the hot hand can be the key to winning weeks.

That should again be the case in Week 3, as the Saints return home for a matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. A defense that has been somewhat giving to opposing QBs through the first two weeks as they are ranking 12th in points allowed to the position (17.5). With this game currently having the second-highest total for the week (49.5), the expectation is that both offenses will be going up and down the field.

This should allow Carr to take his shots and exploit the Eagles’ secondary to provide fantasy managers with the QB1 value they are hoping for after grabbing him on waivers this week. Needless to say, Carr should be in store for another solid performance in Week 3 and should be in lineups for managers looking for upside at the position.

Zamir White – (RB – LV) vs. Carolina Panthers

To say that Zamir White has gotten off to a slow start this season would be a massive understatement. Through the first two games, he ranks as the RB45 (5.7 FPPG) with just 68 yards on the ground (RB36). To show just how inefficient he has been this year, he has scored almost half of his expected FPPG (10.4).

White is your prototypical volume back and the fact that he has just 22 carries (RB28) over the first two games has greatly impacted his fantasy appeal as he remains a non-factor in the receiving game (16 yards). His evaded tackles (8 – RB13) speak to a player who is attempting to create yardage, but as defenses continue to focus on stopping the Raiders running attack, White will struggle to generate points on limited touches.

All that being said, the matchup awaiting White in Week 3 could not get any better for the fantasy managers expecting the breakout. The Raiders will be at home to face an extremely soft Panthers defense. Through the first two games, the Panthers have allowed the second most rushing yards and touchdowns en route to surrendering 31.15 FPPG to the position.

Although the Panthers will be making a change at quarterback this week to Andy Dalton, the expectation is that the Raiders should be able to take care of business at home against a team with an implied total of 17 points. With a positive game script finally in front of him, we should likely be seeing peak Zamir White as HC Antonio Pierce continues to state his desire to feed the ball to him. The expected heavy workload should put White on the radar for fantasy managers as an RB2 this week.

Khalil Shakir – (WR – BUF) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

A question coming into the 2024 season was who would be the player to step up for the Buffalo Bills in the absence of Stefon Diggs to become the WR1 for Josh Allen. After Week 1, the answers were not yet available, but in Week 2 we started to see Khalil Shakir step up to the plate and show a strong rapport with Josh Allen. He went from a first-read target share in Week 1 of 12.5% to 25% in Week 2, which shows that trust is building between the two.

On the season, he has just eight receptions (WR23) for 96 yards (WR37) with one touchdown which has landed him as the WR30 with 11.9 FPPG. If his target share continues to rise (19.5% – WR40) and he becomes the bonafide WR1 in Buffalo, Shakir could evolve into one of the steals in 2024 fantasy drafts.

Heading into Week 3, a very favorable matchup is on tap for Shakir and the Bills as they will be at home facing the Jacksonville Jaguars. A defense that has been very susceptible to surrendering points to opposing WRs through the first two weeks (37.95 FPPG). The Bills carry the fourth-highest team total into this matchup (25.25), which means that the overall expectation is that there will be several opportunities to score.

If the Jaguars can keep this game competitive, Shakir could put up his best performance of the year and provide fantasy managers with the value of a WR3 in Week 3 with WR2 upside. He should be a player that you look to get into your lineups given injuries and below-average play around the league up to this point.

Cade Otton – (TE – TB) vs. Denver Broncos

Cade Otton might as well be on the side of a milk carton after two weeks of the 2024 NFL season. He may be seen on the field as he ranks inside the Top 10 in both snap share (90.7% – TE2) and routes run (51 – TE9), but he is simply not getting any looks. His four targets (TE31) have netted just one reception (TE52) for five yards (TE62).

This has led to an ugly 0.6 FPPG (TE69), for a player that was ranked as a low-end TE2 during fantasy draft season. With so many other options on the Buccaneers offense, it appears that Otton will have to be schemed into plays just to earn value.

With a player that presents so many negatives on paper, you may be asking yourself, why suggest him as a potential boom for Week 3? The answer for me is that this will be my “longshot call of the week”. He will be facing a Broncos defense that has been somewhat strong against opposing tight ends for the first two games. But they still rank as a bottom third unit in terms of points allowed to the position (9.25 FPPG).

Another factor that I am playing into this call is the fact that Mile Evans being shadowed by Patrick Surtain will essentially take away a key weapon for Baker Mayfield and the passing attack. So look for Mayfield to adjust and find targets elsewhere, which should open the middle of the field up for Otton. For fantasy managers in a pinch at the position this week with injuries to the likes of George Kittle and Evan Engram, swinging for the fences on a player like Cade Otton could be amove to win you the week.

Week 3 Boos (Busts)

Anthony Richardson – (QB – IND) vs. Chicago Bears

Anthony Richardson continues to be the biggest wildcard for fantasy managers through the first two weeks of the 2024 NFL season. Things looked great in Week 1 (27.1 FP – QB4) but fell apart last week on the road against the Packers (12.9 FP – QB21). This week he will be back at home but will be facing a very game Chicago Bears defense. A secondary that has been among the best in terms of points allowed to opposing QBs (10.49 FP).

With two very strong cornerbacks on the outside (Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson), Richardson may struggle to find open windows for pass completions. This will likely hinge his value in Week 3 on his ability to create yardage with his legs. If the Bears can limit his ability to scramble, Richardson could be in store for a subpar performance for fantasy managers counting on him as their QB1.

Saquon Barkley – (RB – PHI) @ New Orleans Saints

Saquon Barkley has paid off well so far for the fantasy managers who were able to acquire him in drafts. Through the first two games, he has provided RB1 finishes in both games as he has been a set-it and forget-it player in lineups. He may not find the going as easy in Week 3 as the Eagles will be heading down to New Orleans to play the red-hot Saints. A defense that has been one of the stingiest in the NFL over the first two games, allowing just 11.05 FPPG to opposing RBs.

Obviously, Barkley is not a player that you will ever think about taking out of your lineup but setting realistic expectations is advised for a matchup like this. Even though this game carries the second-highest total for the week (49.5), it could develop into a back-and-forth passing affair as the Saints look to limit the damage Barkley can do. Don’t be shocked if Barkley finishes outside the Top 10 at the position in Week 3.

Jaylen Waddle – (WR – MIA) @ Seattle Seahawks

Jaylen Waddle and his fantasy managers now find themselves in troubled waters after the injury to Tua Tagovailoa. With Skylar Thompson now inserted into the starting lineup at QB, the offense as a whole is in store for struggles. On top of that, the team will be making the long cross-country trip to Seattle to play the Seahawks. A secondary that has been Top 5 in points allowed to the position (20.05 FPPG) over the first two games. Even though the game script will be in favor of Waddle and the Dolphins’ offense as they play from behind, Skylar Thompson presents such a downgrade that it will not be of any help to Waddle.

In eight games in which Waddle has played with Thompson at QB, he has yet to catch a touchdown pass from him, and his FPPG dips from 16.03 to 9.65. Waddle now goes from a guaranteed WR2 in starting lineups for fantasy managers to a player that you could feasibly start someone like Demarcus Robinson or Jauan Jennings over in Week 3.

Sam LaPorta – (TE – DET) @ Arizona Cardinals

How the mighty have fallen for the TE1 from 2023. Sam LaPorta has gone from a threat to score each week last season to a player who is averaging just three receptions and 29 yards after the first two weeks. Even though Lions OC Ben Johnson has stated this week that this could be the week that Sam LaPorta returns to form, the numbers tell a different story.

The Lions will be going on the road to face a Cardinals defense that has been stout against opposing tight ends. Through two games they have given up just three receptions for 46 yards which comes to just 3.80 FPPG. With Jared Goff focusing most of his attention on Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams so far, it has left LaPorta with a lowly 8.6% first-read target share. Combine this with the tough matchup and we could yet again be in store for a below-average performance from LaPorta as fantasy managers worries continue to increase.