Start ‘Em, Sit’ Em is the best look at the best and worst matches based on the PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover elite NFL players like Josh Allen, Jonathan Taylor or Cooper Cope. Instead, I’ll look at the players you have questions about who can exceed or fail to meet expectations at each position. For all your final fantasy squad decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player ratings which will be updated daily throughout the NFL season.
Top 10 midfield players
1. Josh Allen in Dolphins
2. Lamar Jackson in the Patriots
3. Galen Hurtz in Leaders
4. Patrick Mahomes in the Colts
5. Justin Herbert vs. Jaguar
6. Killer Murray vs. Ramez
7. Kirk Cousins vs. Lions
8. Matthew Stafford in Cardinals
9. Go Burrow in Airplanes
10. Russell Wilson vs. the 49ers
Full positional arrangement: QB | RB | WR | TE | drape | K | the summer timing
Week 3 Start, sit: Quarters | running back | wide receivers | narrow ends | Kickers and team defenses
Start of Week 3: Midfielders
Beginning of the week
Kirk Cousins vs. the Lions (1 p.m. ET, Fox): I know Cousins looked terrible at a loss to the Eagles on Monday night. But that was last week, and this is a new game in a positive game against the Lions. Their defense has allowed their quarterbacks to average more than 26 Fantasy points per game this season, with Galen Hurts and Carson Wentz beating them by more than 20 points. Forget last week and start Cousins.
start ‘Em
Matthew Stafford at the Cardinals (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Stafford, listed last week’s starting roster, scored three touchdowns and a fantastic 18.9 points in the win over the Falcons. I’ll start it again this week, facing the Cardinals’ defense who gave up seven touchdown passes in the first two games of the season. Stafford has also scored 18.5 or more points in five of its last six games against Arizona.
SI Sportsbook Player Prop: Stafford over 273.5 yards
Joe Burrow on the Jets (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Burrow had a tough start to the 2022 season, scoring just three points while turning the ball five times. His offensive streak was terrible, allowing 13 sacks to be scored in the league. The good news is that the Jets have scored only three sacks in their first two games (T-6th lower) and their quarterbacks have averaged 19.8 points against them since Week 13, 2021.
SI Sportsbook player brace: Penetrates over 266.5 yards
Russell Wilson vs 49 players (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Wilson put in a big stink in last week’s win over the Texans, but I’m going to keep faith and start it up against the 49ers. Their defense allowed the midfielders third-lowest points after two weeks, but they faced Justin Fields in Rainstorm and Geno Smith. Wilson has had success against the Niners as well, averaging 20.8 points in his last eight encounters.
Jared Goff on Vikings (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Believe it or not, Geoff is QB9 after the first two weeks of the season. This doesn’t mean it should start, but it’s a live broadcast or DFS option when the match is correct. That’s the case this week against the Vikings, who have allowed over 18 fantasy quarterbacks in their last eight matches. SI Sportsbook He has an O/U at 52 as well.
More beginnings
• Carson Wentz vs. Eagles (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
• Derek Carr at Titans (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
• Marcus Mariota at Seahawks (4:25pm ET, Fox)
DFS Bargains
• Carson Wentz vs. Eagles ($6,300)
• Jared Goff vs. the Vikings ($5800)
• Marcus Mariota at Seahawks ($5,500)
Week 3 Sitting: Quarterback
sit week
Aaron Rodgers on Buccaneers (4:25PM ET, Fox): Rodgers had a rough start to the season, scoring a total of 20.1 Fantasia points in his first two games. Things may not get any better this week either, as the Packers head south to take on the pirates. Their defense has allowed average sprinting 7.3 points this season and 14.1 points in their last eight games since last year.
SI Sportsbook player brace: Rodgers over 0.5 interceptions
sat down
Justin Fields vs. Texas (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Fields scored a total of 22.4 points in his first two games, and this weekend’s game against the underrated Texans defense is making him fade away. Houston held Brasil Wilson to just 11.1 points last week, and their quarterbacks have averaged just 16.5 points against them in their last eight games dating back to last season. Fields is a very flexible option at best.
SI Sportsbook Player Brace: Fields Over 0.5 TD Passes
James Winston at Panthers (1 p.m. ET): Winston, who was playing with four fractures to his back, was carried away with an imaginary 7.6 points in last weekend’s loss to the Buccaneers. Next is a date with the Panthers, who have only allowed an average of 12 points per game for their quack players this season. Furthermore, their defense allowed for less than 18 points against five of the last seven midfield players.
Jimmy Garoppolo in the Broncos (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Garoppolo was a hot name from the exemption wire this week, returning to the top of the 49ers depth chart after losing Trey Lance. He’s still just a very flexible option this week, even though he’s facing a bad game in Denver. In the last eight games dating back to last season, their tough defense allowed them to average less than 15 points per game for their quarterbacks.
Baker Mayfield vs. Saints (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Mayfield saw his numbers plummet last week, as he was suspended at 13.1 after scoring 18 in the opening game. I’ll caution the veteran warrior this week as well, as he will face a Saints defense that has carried all but one of the opposing midfielders to less than 12 fantasy points in the last eight games dating back to last season. Mayfield is a very flexible option, but that’s about it.
sitting more
• Tom Brady vs. Packers (4:25pm ET, Fox)
• Matt Ryan vs. the Chiefs (1pm ET, CBS)
• Daniel Jones vs. Cowboys (Monday 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)
DFS fading
• Aaron Rodgers in Buccaneers ($6,400)
• Tua Tagovailoa for Bills ($6,100)
• Tom Brady vs. Packers ($6000)
More fantasy and NFL coverage:
Michael Fabiano He is an award winning fantasy football Analyst in Sports Illustrated He is a member of the Fiction Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Click here to read all of his articles here on SI Fantasy. You can follow Michael TwitterAnd the FacebookAnd the YoutubeAnd the Instagram Get the latest fantasy news and the best business analysis to help you win the fantasy tournament!
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