Fantasy Football 2025: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 3

Start: CJ Stroud vs. JAX

CJ Stroud has not gotten off to a great start for fantasy managers over the first two weeks of the season. However, the Texans quarterback has another chance to bounce back against division rival Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags allowed 241 passing yards to an ice-cold Jake Browning in Week 2 when he came in for the injured Joe Burrow. On 32 attempts, Browning tossed two touchdowns but added three interceptions to his stat line against the Jaguars. The Jags surrendered 17.7 fantasy points in the game and average 19.5 FPPG on the season so far. If Stroud can’t get right with this matchup, fantasy managers should consider making a move to acquire a new starting fantasy quarterback.

Start: Jordan Love vs. CLE

The Cleveland Browns may not be bleeding a ton of passing yards, but they certainly are handing out passing touchdowns. The Browns average 292 yards per game (ranked 30th fewest). They are also tied with giving up the second-most touchdown passes among NFL defenses heading into Week 3. Jordan Love may be down a weapon in wide receiver Jayden Reed, but he has plenty of weapons left to toss a few touchdowns against the Browns. Love has four touchdown passes already this season and could add to that total in Week 3.

Sit: Bo Nix vs. LAC

The Denver Broncos take on the Los Angeles Chargers for Week 2. While these two teams are familiar with each other, this time around, it could be a tougher matchup for Bo Nix. The Chargers head into the game as one of the toughest defenses after two weeks. The Chargers are averaging 199 passing yards allowed per game. They’ve also allowed just one passing touchdown heading into Week 3. They shut down Geno Smith and the Las Vegas Raiders’ passing attack in Week 2, holding Smith to just 180 passing yards and no touchdowns. Nix may see better days, but fantasy managers might want to avoid this matchup.

Running Backs

Start: Javonte Williams vs. CHI

Javonte Williams has been a pleasant surprise for both fantasy managers and the Dallas Cowboys backfield. Williams ranks 7th in rushing yards and has three rushing touchdowns heading into Week 3’s matchup against the Chicago Bears. The Bears’ defense got taken to the woodshed last week against the Detroit Lions. The Bears’ defense gave up two rushing touchdowns and 151 yards on the ground from the combined efforts of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. The Bears are also tied at third in fantasy points allowed to running backs. On paper, this looks like a good matchup for Williams this week.

Start: Jonathan Taylor vs. TEN

Jonathan Taylor has been playing well to start the season. Taylor is averaging 5.5 yards per carry and currently leads all running backs in rushing yards with 236. Taylor also leads all running backs in rushing attempts at 43. Now he gets a Tennessee Titans defense that is allowing 24 fantasy points per game. The Titans are also giving up the fourth-most rushing yards at 300, and also allowing 5.5 yards per attempt. The Titans could be in for a long day trying to slow down Taylor, who can also catch out of the backfield. Taylor is one of the best fantasy backs this season, averaging 21.1 fantasy points per game. He’s a “set it and forget it” player for Week 3.

Sit: Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs. LVR

With Austin Ekeler out for the season with a torn Achilles, Jacory Croskey-Merritt will step in as the lead back for the Commanders. JCM had a great game in Week 1, averaging a whooping 8.2 yards per attempt against the New York Giants. He finished that game with 82 rushing yards and a touchdown. He came back to earth in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers, ceding work to Ekeler. JCM did average 4.3 yards per attempt but saw just four carries for 17 yards. Now he faces off against a tough Raiders defense that shut down Chargers rookie back Omarion Hampton, holding him to just 24 yards on eight carries. The Raiders also held the Patriots’ backfield tandem of TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson to just 42 rushing yards combined.

Wide Receivers

Start: Brian Thomas Jr. vs. HOU

This could be one of those “overcorrection” games for Brian Thomas Jr. BTR has 19 targets after two weeks, but just five catches for 60 yards. Not what you would expect from a receiver currently ranked 12th in targets. Trevor Lawrence’s accuracy has been a little questionable, but BTJ has to do a better job of catching passes. He’ll get the opportunity to readjust his game against the Houston Texans. The Texans have allowed nearly 41 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers and rank ninth in that category. Thomas is one of the top options for the Jaguars’ passing game, and they’ll need him to be active in this game if they want to have a hope of winning.

Start: Xavier Worthy vs. NYG

This is a risky play for the third game of the fantasy season. Xavier Worthy is now practicing after missing Week 2 with a shoulder injury. By all accounts, it sounds like he has a strong chance to play against the New York Giants. Worthy was supposed to be the Kansas City Chiefs’ “crown jewel” for their offense in Week 1 before Travis Kelce ran into him on a play early in the game that knocked Worthy out. The Giants just gave up a ton of passing yards in an overtime thriller against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2. The Giants currently lead all fantasy defenses in fantasy points allowed to enemy wide receivers with nearly 41 FPPG. If Worthy gets the green light to play, he should be in your lineups. If you want to wait and see, you can’t be blamed for leaving him on the bench.

Sit: Courtland Sutton vs. LAC

Courtland Sutton was all but shut down against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2. Sutton mustered just six yards in the contest on four targets. Sutton also took a backseat to second-year receiver Troy Franklin, who led all Broncos receivers with 89 yards against Indy. Now the Broncos and Sutton get a Chargers defense that is allowing the 11th-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers. While Sutton may not have many games like the one he had last week, in a tougher matchup against a division rival, play him at your own discretion.

Tight Ends

Start: TJ Hockenson vs. CIN

Hockenson has not been playing well to start the season. Hockenson currently ranks outside of the top 15 among fantasy tight ends. He is averaging just 6.7 fantasy points per game and has just seven targets on the season. That could change with quarterback JJ McCarthy expected to miss the next four games with a high-ankle injury. Backup quarterback Carson Wentz will assume starting duties, and this could improve Hockenson’s stock this week. The Cincinnati Bengals rank 13th in fantasy points allowed against the tight end position at 12.5. Wentz could be what the doctor ordered for Hockenson if Wentz can get some of that Kevin O’Connell “quarterback whisperer” magic that he has.

Sit: Tyler Higbee vs. PHI

Tyler Higbee is another tight end who has disappointed this season. Averaging just 7.7 fantasy points per game, Higbee is barely involved in the Los Angeles Rams’ passing attack with studs like Puka Nacua and Davante Adams ahead. Higbee has just four targets after two weeks and faces an Eagles defense allowing just 9.2 fantasy points per game to the tight end position. Higbee should not be considered a start. And you probably shouldn’t have him in your lineups this week. Or next week.