It’s Week 3 of the 2024 NFL regular season, and it has been a rocky road so far. There have been so many injuries, and we’re just two full weeks into the season.
No position has been immune to the injury bug, either. The Los Angeles Rams have lost their top two wide receivers to multiweek injuries, both of the Super Bowl teams from last season are without their starting running backs, and the Miami Dolphins lost their starting quarterback until at least Week 8.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg, too. It might explain why the standings are a little upside down in some divisions. We’ll try to navigate the minefields again in Week 3, trying to help you to success.
Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.
Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.
Feel free to ask any specific start/sit questions via X, formerly Twitter, (@danieledobish), or check out our start/bench list for Week 3:
Quarterbacks
Start ‘Em
Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Cousins struggled mightily against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1. For most of the Week 2 game Monday in Philadelphia, Cousins was having another tough game. He was 5 of 6 for 70 yards and a touchdown to WR Drake London on a game-winning, 65-second drive, which might turn things around for Cousins and the team. The Chiefs have allowed 531 yards through two games, fourth worst in the league, so the good times should continue to roll.
Skylar Thompson, Miami Dolphins at Seattle Seahawks: OK, obviously you wouldn’t sit a stud in favor of Thompson, but hear me out. Thompson struggled last Thursday in place of the injured QB Tua Tagovailoa. However, with a full week of practice under his belt, and with weapons like WRs Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and RB De’Von Achane to target, Thompson could post some big-time numbers vs. vulnerable defenses until Tagovailoa is healthy enough to return.
Sit ‘Em
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills: Lawrence has managed to complete just 51.0% of his pass attempts for 382 yards, one touchdown, and 53 rushing yards through two games. Hey, at least he hasn’t had an interception. Facing the Bills in hostile territory on a Monday night won’t be the elixir to cure his ills as Buffalo has allowed just 387 passing yards through two games.
Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears: Richardson is off to a rough start. While he accounted for three total TDs in Week 1 against Houston, including a rushing score, he has managed to complete just 49.1% of his passes for 416 yards, and he had three INTs in a loss at Green Bay in Week 2. Richardson needs to get his completion rate way up, and his miscues way down, or most fantasy managers might start using the “B” word when discussing him.
Running Backs
Start ‘Em
D’Onta Foreman, Cleveland Browns vs. New York Giants: Foreman saw 14 carries last week in Jacksonville to just seven for Jerome Ford. Until Week 2, Ford was presumed to be the starter, and Foreman was on the radar of very few. However, coach Kevin Stefanski had other ideas and apparently is intrigued about the bigger back, especially around the goal line. The Giants have been gouged for 326 rushing yards in two games, while allowing 5.3 yards per tote. Foreman is a must-start RB3 or flex option, as is Ford.
Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders vs. Carolina Panthers: White was drafted as a RB2 in most fantasy leagues of 12 or more teams, but he has managed just 68 rushing yards on 22 carries, good for an average of 3.1 yards per tote. He has totaled just 84 scrimmage yards on 27 total touches through two games, and he lost a fumble. White faces an ultra-favorable matchup against the hapless Panthers, who rank 31st in the NFL with 399 rushing yards allowed. The time is now for White to show out.
Sit ‘Em
J.K. Dobbins, Los Angeles Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers: Dobbins has had a nice resurgence in SoCal, and it helps that coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman want to jam the ball down people’s throats. But, the game plan might have to be altered a bit against the Steelers, as they’re sturdy against the run, allowing just 153 total rushing yards through two games, with 3.7 yards per carry permitted.
Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Williams was a disaster last week, rushing 11 times for just 17 yards. If not for his five grabs for 48 yards on five targets, he would have done absolutely nothing for PPR fantasy managers. Through two games, Williams has 19 carries for 40 yards, which is just 2.1 yards per attempt. If rookie QB Bo Nix could be a little more effective, perhaps teams wouldn’t stack the box.
Wide Receivers
Start ‘Em
Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams: Aiyuk has struggled through two games, and he might have been a bit rusty after a contract impasse kept him from participating in training camp. He has played just 73% of the snaps, and he dropped a sure TD grab in Week 1. However, the time is now for Aiyuk to shine, as he faces a Rams team which has been gouged for eight pass plays of 20 or more yards, and a league-worst 13.8 yards per reception. Deebo Samuel also is sidelined, so Aiyuk should top the charts in targets.
Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: Shakir has been OK for fantasy managers in deeper PPR leagues, as he has absorbed all eight of his targets for 96 receiving yards and a touchdown through two games. It’s good production, but it isn’t great. He saw a slight uptick in targets in Week 2, catching the eye of QB Josh Allen five times. The Jags have allowed eight pass plays of 20 or more yards, tied for 2nd-most in the NFL, so the opportunity is there for Shakir to have his best stat line of the season.
Sit ‘Em
Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders at Cincinnati Bengals: The veteran receiver is one of the most consistent and durable players in the NFL. However, the Washington passing game has struggled with rookie QB Jayden Daniels under center, and Scary Terry has just 39 receiving yards on eight receptions. He had six grabs in Week 2 against the New York Giants, but it was all short stuff on the route tree. The Bengals allow 8.2 yards per reception, the third-lowest mark in the NFL, so the Commanders should struggle again through the air.
George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Los Angeles Chargers: Pickens has struggled to jell with QB Justin Fields through the first two games. His first game wasn’t terrible, but he had two catches and just 29 yards in Week 2 in Denver, and he was targeted only four times in a difficult matchup. The Bolts have allowed just 341 passing yards, 7.9 yards per pass attempt, and four pass plays of 20 or more yards. The Steelers passing game won’t generate much again in Week 3.
Tight Ends
Start ‘Em
Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Washington Commanders: Gesicki exploded for 91 yards on seven receptions and nine targets against the Chiefs last week, although we haven’t seen a touchdown yet. He should have had a score in Week 1 against the New England Patriots, but replay overturned what appeared to be a score. We even had a premature Griddy dance. The Commanders aren’t great against the pass, and Gesicki has some low-end TE1 ability this week, even if Tee Higgins (hamstring) returns.
Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons vs. Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs have allowed more points to tight ends than any other team. Pitts has the opportunity on Sunday Night Football to have a breakout performance, and it helps that his quarterback enters play with newfound confidence after leading an improbable game-winning drive Monday in Philly. Pitts has three grabs in each game, and he scored in Week 1, but he is capable of so much more. Look for a big stat line here.
Sit ‘Em
Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders vs. Carolina Panthers: The rookie has quickly emerged as a fantasy mainstay through just two games, becoming Sam LaPorta 2.0. He has at least six grabs in each game, totaling 17 targets, instantly displaying chemistry with QB Gardner Minshew. However, against the lowly Panthers, the Raiders are likely to establish the run early, and the passing game should see fewer opportunities than the first two games.
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts: The Bears tight end was expected to be a low-end TE1 in fantasy leagues, but the Chicago offense has struggled mightily with rookie QB Caleb Williams under center. The Colts have allowed just 9.9 yards per reception, and only three pass plays of 20-plus yards. It will be another slow go for the Chicago aerial attack in Week 3.
