Fantasy football Week 3 rankings live updates: Start or sit Hurts, Pitts, Fields, injuries, lineups and sleepers

September 25, 2022 at 11:15 AM EDT

Don’t overthink … Derrick Henry

Titans RB Derrick Henry has faced two defenses bent on slowing him down and it has worked. Facing a stacked box (eight or more defenders) 29.4 percent of the time, Henry was limited to just 25 rushing yards on Monday Night Football against the Bills and 82 rushing yards vs. the Giants in Week 1. Things should get considerably easier for Week 3, with the Titans home vs. the Raiders. Las Vegas is the 10th-best matchup for fantasy running backs and fifth-best for quarterbacks. A bit of success in the pass game with Treylon Burks and Robert Woods would take some of the pressure off Henry. I bet we see him break one of his characteristic long TD runs this weekend.

(Photo: George Walker IV / USA Today)

GO FURTHER

Derrick Henry set to get back on track, Tyler Lockett in a primo matchup and more Week 3 plays

September 25, 2022 at 11:10 AM EDT

Tua Tagovailoa or Carson Wentz?

Q: Hey Renee! Carson Wentz or Tua Tagovailoa? Wentz has the better matchup on paper but Tagovailoa is now facing a Bills defense without their starting corner and no Micah Hyde and a questionable Jordan Poyer at safety. I think Tagovailoa is a plug-in here. Your thoughts? — Jon O.

Agree … more on Tua below.

September 25, 2022 at 11:04 AM EDT

Who should I start at RB?

Q: Travis Etienne or Cam Akers? — Ryan D.

Akers.

September 25, 2022 at 10:58 AM EDT

Torn at the flex position

Q: I need the help! I am torn at flex, roll with Cordarrelle Patterson or go with Tyler Lockett? — Jim K.

We could see some surprising fantasy fireworks out of this game. Patterson’s usage has varied according to game script through the first two weeks … this one is expected to be close and I think he’s a safe option. But I’ve already gone out on the Lockett limb, and he’s who I’d personally start today.

(Photo: Kyle Terada / USA Today)

GO FURTHER

Derrick Henry set to get back on track, Tyler Lockett in a primo matchup and more Week 3 plays

September 25, 2022 at 10:54 AM EDT

Avoid WRs stuck in bad offenses

Q: Full PPR, 12 teams, two wide receivers, one flex. Courtland Sutton, Darnell Mooney or DJ Moore in the flex? — Paul C.

Sutton. The anemic passing offenses of Chicago and Carolina have me staying away from their receivers.

September 25, 2022 at 10:49 AM EDT

A rookie WR or Cam Akers?

Q: In the flex … Cam Akers or Treylon Burks? — Jason D.

Burks has been the clear best receiver for the Titans so far, and this could be a close and high scoring game. I’ll take a clear No. 1 over a timeshare every time. I’ve mentioned that I love the Cardinals-Rams game also, but more the passing side of it.

September 25, 2022 at 10:49 AM EDT

JuJu Smith-Schuster or Rashod Bateman?

Q: Half-point PPR, should I start JuJu Smith-Schuster, or Rashod Bateman? — Sam H.

Oh, JuJu. You know you’re asking the wrong person here. As a heavy Smith-Schuster drafter, I am as disappointed as you. I do believe he will have his big games, and there’s no doubt today sets up perfectly for that to happen, but Bateman has equal opportunity and has proved himself by getting in the end zone twice already.

(Photo: Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today)

September 25, 2022 at 10:44 AM EDT

Flex discussion: Dillon, Lazard or Lockett?

Q: AJ Dillon, Allen Lazard, or Tyler Lockett for flex spot? I also have Josh Jacobs but have heard he’s ill. I like Lockett’s potential but Dillon seems a safer choice with potential upside. — Ted P.

I might be accused of paying too much attention to matchups, but the Bucs are really tough on RBs. I’d go with Lazard or Lockett today, and agree on avoiding Jacobs unless it’s the only option.

September 25, 2022 at 10:38 AM EDT

Bench Kyle Pitts for Tyler Higbee?

Q: Tyler Higbee or Kyle Pitts this week? Full PPR. — Brian H.

How does your matchup look? If you’re even or in the lead, I think Higbee is the play — with our limited 2022 defensive data, Arizona has been the best TE matchup and Higbee has 20 targets through two games. If you got down early, like if you faced Nick Chubb and Amari Cooper, you might throw Pitts in as a Hail Mary. In other words, Higbee is the rational play today and Pitts is the DGAF play.

September 25, 2022 at 10:31 AM EDT

Another QB either/or: Cousins or Stafford?

Q: Full PPR, Kirk Cousins or Matthew Stafford this week? — Thomas B.

I think they’ll probably catch the same number of passes, though I do appreciate league context in general. With the talent and receiving weapons they both have, not to mention the matchups, you can’t make a bad decision. Arizona and Detroit have allowed the most points in the league (33.5 and 32.5 per game, respectively). I do think Cousins is in for a bounce-back game after disappointing against a quality Eagles’ pass defense, but Stafford, in one of the potentially highest-scoring games of the week, would be my pick.

(Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea / USA Today)

September 25, 2022 at 10:24 AM EDT

Carson Wentz or Tua Tagovailoa?

Q: Start Carson Wentz vs. Philly or Tua Tagovailoa vs. Bills? — Austin L.

You’re all going to think it’s recency bias getting the better of me, but I had Tagovailoa as my preseason late-round QB pick in our draft guide and summer magazine. Having Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle allows him to compete with anyone, including a Buffalo defense devastated by injuries today. I like Wentz a lot, but Tagovailoa at home in warm Miami coming off a smokin’ hot game is who I’d start.

(Photo: Tommy Gilligan / USA Today)

GO FURTHER

Why Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa is flourishing and how no one in Miami is surprised

September 25, 2022 at 10:21 AM EDT

Tough matchup for James Robinson against the Chargers

Q: James Robinson, Rashod Bateman, DJ Moore or Curtis Samuel in flex? Full PPR. Thanks! — Lucy H.

While I might not trust the Chargers offense this week, their defense has been pretty solid. Robinson might have the highest floor, but I think his upside is capped. Bateman is my first choice, followed by Samuel, Robinson and Moore.

September 25, 2022 at 10:17 AM EDT

You pick 2

Q: Half-PPR, pick two of Courtland Sutton, Garrett Wilson or Christian Kirk? — Max B.

Kirk and Wilson. I think (hope) the Bengals-Jets game could be a really fun one.

September 25, 2022 at 10:16 AM EDT

Pick 1 of these 4 to start at WR

Q: Full PPR — Jakobi Meyers, Jahan Dotson, Allen Robinson II, Treylon Burks … pick one to start at flex. — Russell C.

I was going to say Meyers, given his monster PPR potential, but now that Meyers is not is expected to play today, I’m pivoting to Burks.

September 25, 2022 at 10:11 AM EDT

Which quarterback should I start?

Q: Marcus Mariota or Tom Brady? Separate league. Mariota or Aaron Rodgers? I can’t believe I’m asking these questions. — Bob C.

Mariota over Brady and Rodgers over Mariota. I can’t believe it either but it’s fair. Brady has been awful and now has less to work with.

(Photo: Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today)

September 25, 2022 at 10:07 AM EDT

Will Greg Dortch score again?

Q: Will Greg Dortch scorch again? Or flame out? — Jonathan P.

A sure way to get your question answered is a cute rhyme or clever pun. The Cardinals are 1-1 with every fantasy-relevant player feeling like a disappointment, except for Greg Dortch. Kyler Murray, Marquise Brown, James Conner and Zach Ertz have actually been fine, but relative to the high-flying expectations for this team, meh. I think it’s more likely that Dortch stays hot with Conner listed as a game-time decision and the Vegas point total near 50 with a narrow spread.

September 25, 2022 at 9:59 AM EDT

Identifying a Trey Lance replacement

Q: Two-QB league, need a Trey Lance replacement for rest of season, options are Matt Ryan, Geno Smith or Ryan Tannehill … Help! — Charles D.

I’m a believer in Geno Smith. I drafted him in July in the Scott Fish Bowl league, where incomplete passes absolutely kill you. Smith’s 81 percent completion rate is saving me. I don’t think he makes it through the season at that number, but it’s a great start. I prefer his receiver combination to Indy’s or Tennessee’s, and his rushing potential is higher than the other options.

(Photo: Kyle Terada / USA Today)

September 25, 2022 at 9:50 AM EDT

Expectations for DK Metcalf?

Q: Half PPR — Is this the game DK Metcalf breaks out? Or better to play it safer with one of the committee backs like AJ Dillon or Damien Harris? Thanks! — Stuart J.

As noted, I’m not a fan of using RBs against the Bucs or drafting/starting New England backs ever. That said, I’d rank them in order of their floor: Dillon, Harris, Metcalf.

But I’d start Metcalf for the big-game potential and upside. It’s somewhat dependent on how your matchup looks — did you face Amari Cooper Thursday night? Are you a huge favorite? You have to decide whether to play it more safe or swing for the fences today.

September 25, 2022 at 9:39 AM EDT

What to do with Justin Herbert

Q: What’s the play with Justin Herbert? Start Carson Wentz in the early window or roll with Herbert and pivot to Marcus Mariota, Geno Smith or Cooper Rush if he’s out? — Zane W.

Adding to my mistrust of Keenan Allen this week is Herbert’s own status. Even if he plays, he’s clearly not going to be 100 percent. Rib injuries hurt, A LOT. Although Herbert has been good under pressure this season (completing around 60 percent of his pressured attempts), his protection rate is merely average (79.8 percent). I can see him getting knocked around with the Jaguars defense being above average in sacks. All of this adds context to the Chargers’ questions and puts my vote on starting Wentz.

(Photo: Denny Medley / USA Today)