The fantasy soccer panorama has modified dramatically after the primary two weeks of the NFL season, as many star gamers have suffered accidents that might maintain them out for an prolonged time frame.
Whether or not your roster has been decimated by accidents or just wants a spark, this is what to do about a number of flex choices, streaming candidates and different gamers you would be on the fence about beginning in Week 3.
Quarterbacks
Begin: Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
Eagles at Saints / 1 p.m. ET Sunday
Carr and the high-powered Saints offense have arguably been the largest surprises of the younger season, with the staff averaging a league-leading 45.5 factors per recreation. Though we should always count on that degree of manufacturing to say no, Carr is well-positioned to construct on his early success in a matchup boasting the second-highest implied level whole (49.5) on this week’s slate.
Philadelphia’s secondary has improved since final season, however by way of two video games, the staff has nonetheless allowed the sixth-most passing yards (501) and third-most passing touchdowns (4) within the NFL. It would not be stunning to see Carr, who might nonetheless be in your waiver wire, ship one other week-winning efficiency.
Different begins: Jared Goff, Detroit Lions; Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
Sit: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Ravens at Cowboys / 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday
The three-time Professional Bowler is barely averaging 13.2 factors this season, which ranks him because the QB16 on a per-game foundation. Whereas Prescott has the expertise and receiving corps to get pleasure from some large outings, it is unlikely he’ll get his fantasy season on monitor towards a stingy Ravens protection. Not solely is Baltimore permitting simply 13.5 fantasy factors per recreation to opposing signal-callers, however the staff must also be enjoying with better depth after blowing a 10-point fourth-quarter result in the Raiders final week.
Different sits: Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings; Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Operating backs
Begin: Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders
Panthers at Raiders / 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday
White has struggled to start his first season as a starter, speeding for a mere 68 yards on 22 carries by way of two video games. Regardless of White’s lackluster manufacturing, Raiders HC Antonio Pierce nonetheless envisions him as a workhorse tailback, recently telling reporters that the staff’s purpose is to get the Georgia product at the very least 20 touches per recreation.
It is exhausting to place a lot inventory in Pierce’s feedback, however even when White sees a slight uptick in carries this week, he ought to get pleasure from a robust efficiency towards a weak Panthers run protection. Thus far this season, Carolina has given up 333 speeding yards and three touchdowns to opposing working backs, the second most amongst groups in every class.
Different begins: Zack Moss, Cincinnati Bengals; Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sit: Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings
Texans at Vikings / 1 p.m. ET Sunday
After scoring 18.9 PPR points throughout Minnesota’s Week 1 win over the Giants, the 29-year-old turned in a lackluster outing towards a formidable 49ers protection this previous Sunday. Though he was nonetheless an element within the passing recreation, recording 5 receptions for 36 yards, Jones obtained fewer carries (9) than backfield mate Ty Chandler (10) and rushed for simply 32 yards.
With a matchup towards a Texans protection that has allowed the second-fewest speeding yards (75) and fourth-fewest fantasy factors (22.3) to opposing working backs looming, Jones’ threat vastly outweighs the potential reward of beginning him.
Different sits: Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers; Carson Steele, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Huge receivers
Begin: Diontae Johnson, Carolina Panthers
Panthers at Raiders / 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday
Whereas Johnson is not a must-start, if one or two of your high wideouts are sidelined with an harm, the 2019 third-round decide must be thought-about to your beginning lineup. There isn’t any denying that the beginning of Johnson’s Panthers tenure has been disappointing, as he has caught simply 5 passes for 34 yards in two video games.
Even so, the Panthers passing offense ought to see some enchancment in Week 3, contemplating 2023 No. 1 general decide Bryce Younger has been benched in favor of journeyman QB Andy Dalton. In his lone begin final season, Dalton accomplished 34 of 58 cross makes an attempt for 361 yards and two touchdowns, offering optimism that Johnson generally is a viable flex choice towards the Raiders.
Different begins: Tank Dell, Houston Texans; Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints
Sit: Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins at Seahawks / 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday
Relying on the scenario of your roster, Waddle may be too gifted to bench this week, however when you’ve got strong depth, it might be value sitting him. As you in all probability know, Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa will be out until at least Week 8 attributable to a concussion he suffered throughout final Thursday’s loss to Buffalo.
With Tagovailoa out, 2022 seventh-round decide Skylar Thompson will begin at quarterback for Miami, which might be detrimental to Waddle’s manufacturing, particularly since he was already the No. 2 receiver on his staff. As identified by Draft Shark’s Jared Smola, Waddle averaged simply 5.3 targets, 3.7 catches and 37 yards in three full video games with Thompson in 2022, failing to attain a landing in any of them.
Different sits: Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders; Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
Tight ends
Begin: Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
Chiefs at Falcons / 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday
One of the irritating gamers to roster in fantasy soccer, Pitts adopted up a decent Week 1 efficiency with a dud towards the Eagles, scoring simply 5 PPR factors. Happily for Pitts’ managers, he has a possibility to bounce again towards Kansas Metropolis, which has already allowed Baltimore’s Isaiah Probably and Cincinnati’s Mike Gesicki to complete as top-five fantasy tight ends.
Total, the Chiefs have allowed probably the most receptions (25), receiving yards (276) and fantasy factors (33.6) to the tight finish place in 2024.
Different begins: Hunter Henry, New England Patriots; Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins
Sit: Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars at Payments / 7:30 p.m. ET Monday
Engram, final season’s TE2 general in PPR scoring codecs, was a late scratch for Jacksonville’s Week 2 house loss to Cleveland after tweaking his hamstring throughout pregame warmups. On the time of this text’s publication, it is nonetheless unclear whether or not Engram might be energetic in Week 3, seeing as if he hasn’t practiced since struggling his harm.
Regardless that Engram is without doubt one of the NFL’s higher tight ends, if his standing remains to be up within the air on Sunday morning, it would be sensible to seek out another in case he will get dominated out on Monday. To not point out, even when he performs, Engram’s workload might be restricted, and his matchup wasn’t all that thrilling to start with, contemplating Buffalo has allowed simply 5.21 fantasy factors per recreation to opposing tight ends.
Different sits: Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals; Isaiah Probably, Baltimore Ravens
