Fantasy football sit and start advice should always be relative and league-specific. Many starts and sits are also obvious, so we’ll focus on fringe options in this column, the ones that really require some thought. Good luck with your Week 3 lineups!

Philadelphia Eagles @ New Orleans Saints

Start: Rashid Shaheed

Derek Carr is the No. 2 fantasy QB despite New Orleans attempting the fewest passes (40) in the league through the first two weeks. Klint Kubiak’s extreme use of play action and motion has been a cheat code, as the Saints have scored 91 points while barely attempting after halftime. Shaheed will certainly regress after catching two touchdowns on just nine targets, but he should also see more volume in less lopsided games going forward.

Shaheed leads the NFL by a mile in yards per route run and is seventh in average separation score on a team using 2-WR sets, a league-high 90% of plays. The Saints also lead the NFL by a wide margin in fantasy points per dropback. The Eagles have allowed the second-most fantasy points to wideouts, so I have Shaheed as a top-20 WR this week (and top-30 rest of the season).

I wasn’t exactly positive about the Saints at the start of the year, but I’m going to significantly revise my previous expectations.

DeVonta Smith (no AJ Brown) and Chris Olave (a leading candidate to buy low) are both top 10 wide receivers in this contest.

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New York Giants @ Cleveland Browns

Start: Amari Cooper

Cooper’s slow start to the season could have been much better, and he remains Cleveland’s clear WR1. The Browns are one of five teams with a positive pass rate above expectations this year, and the Giants are allowing the fifth-most YPA (8.2) through two games. Cooper has historically been much more productive at home, so keep him in the lineups this week.

Chicago Bears @ Indianapolis Colts

Start: DJ Moore

The Colts have been pounded for a league-high 175.0 RB rushing yards per game to open the year, but that’s helped by an NFL-high 93 rush attempts. Volume may not be there for the Bears with Indianapolis a slight favorite on Sunday, and D’Andre Swift has struggled. Moore is Chicago’s clear WR1, especially with Keenan Allen out and Rome Odunze playing with a sprained MCL. Chicago’s offense has been a disaster, but Moore gets a favorable matchup indoors against a Colts defense that allows the fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers. Keep him in the lineups this week.

Houston Texans @ Minnesota Vikings

Start: Tank Dell

Dell easily had a 67-yard touchdown pass last week, and he ran routes on 66 of 77 C.J. Stroud dropbacks (with some run plays thrown in). That 86% rate is on par with Nico Collins’ 88%; the Texans have used 11 personnel 79% of the time this season with the addition of Stefon Diggs. Houston will likely look to pass more with Joe Mixon out with an injury, while hip/foot issues have limited Nico Collins in practice. The Vikings have a strong run defense and an underrated offense, so Dell’s targets should increase on Sunday.

Jalen Nailor is a deep fantasy sleeper as Jordan Addison is out with an ankle injury and Justin Jefferson is out with an injury (though he is not listed on the injury report).

Los Angeles Chargers @Pittsburgh Steelers

Seat: Najee Harris

An injured Justin Herbert could lead to a favorable game scenario for Pittsburgh, and Harris remains the team’s clear leader. Still, his snap rate dropped to 48% last week, while a healthier Jaylen Warren saw 45%. Harris ran just six routes (Warren ran 10 in a game without much passing) and still risks losing rushing scores to Justin Fields. The Chargers have given up just 73.5 RB rushing yards per game without a TD, which gives them the lowest EPA/rush in the league. The Steelers have only an implied total of 18.5 points in a game that will be slow, so Harris deserves consideration on the bench this week.

DenverBroncos @Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Start: Rachaad White

White is admittedly a risk with a groin injury, but he has practiced limited and was able to finish last week’s game while playing through the ailment. He’ll still lose rushing work to rookie Bucky Irving, but White still has 32 of 50 RB touches in Tampa Bay’s backfield. The Buccaneers’ passing attack has looked great and White is a good receiving back who will still see targets. Tampa Bay is a 6.5-point favorite at home against a Broncos team with an overmatched QB and a defense that allows the 11th-most fantasy points to running backs.

Green Bay Packers @ Tennessee Titans

Start: Tony Pollard

Pollard had more yards after contact (71) in Week 1 than in any game in 2023, as he looks more explosive the further he gets from tightrope surgery. Tyjae Spears saw more work last week but left with an ankle injury. He’s insisting he’ll play Sunday, but it’s unlikely he’ll be 100% when that happens. The Titans have an impressive defense and may be underrated with two blocked punts (and some QB blunders) through the first two weeks. The playbook could favor Malik Willis or a compromised Jordan Love on Sunday. The Packers have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to running backs, so treat Pollard like a top-15 RB this week.

Carolina Panthers @ Las Vegas Raiders

Start: Zamir White

White’s snap share jumped from 39% in the season opener to 65% last week, even in the passing game. The Raiders have been surprisingly pass-heavy and have struggled to run the ball this season, but this is a favorable matchup for White. The script will be more competitive with Andy Dalton taking over for Bryce Young, but the Raiders come in as five-point favorites at home. Carolina has allowed the second-most RB rushing yards per game (166.5) and fantasy points to running backs this season. Volume has played a role, but the Panthers have also given up 4.9 YPC and the fourth-most EPA/rush.

Brock Bowers has already wrapped up this role and should be considered a top three fantasy tight end going forward.

Miami Dolphins @Seattle Seahawks

Start: Zach Charbonnet

Charbonnet isn’t as good as Kenneth Walker, but he saw a league-high 95% of snaps and all 19 RB opportunities last week. Walker is expected to sit again on Sunday, so Charbonnet gets another chance to be a feature back in an exciting new Seattle offense in a favorable home series. The Dolphins have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to running backs in two weeks, and the script should be positive with Skylar Thompson taking over as Miami’s QB.

Jaylen Waddle total 101 scoreless yards in Thompson’s three starts in 2022, and his over/under for receiving yards on Sunday is 44.5. Waddle is still one of the top 35 WRs this week, but he’s a candidate for the bench if you have alternatives.

Detroit Lions @ Arizona Cardinals

Starting point: Jameson Williams

Williams ranks in the top five in first-read targets and expected fantasy points per game. Amon-Ra St. Brown appears to be doing well, but he’s coming off a quad injury that kept him from finishing last week’s game. Jared Goff has struggled, but Detroit is on the verge of a major red-zone regression. Goff easily leads all quarterbacks with 13 red-zone attempts thus far. The Lions once again have the highest implied team total (27.3 points) in a fast-paced matchup against an Arizona defense that allows the 10th-most fantasy points to wide receivers.

Baltimore Ravens @Dallas Cowboys

Seat: Ezekiel Elliott

Elliott and Rico Dowdle have the same number of snaps and opportunities through the first two weeks. The 29-year-old Elliott is averaging just 3.5 YPC for the second straight season and he’s facing a Ravens defense that’s allowed NFL-lows in YPC (2.7) and RB rushing yards per game (37.0). Aim higher than an aging back who’s avoided just one tackle all year and is facing a stout Baltimore run defense.

San Francisco 49ers @ Los Angeles Rams

Seat: Matthew Stafford

The Rams are decimated on the offensive line and will be without Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. Los Angeles has one of the league’s lowest implied team totals (18.8 points) against the 49ers, so Stafford belongs on the fantasy bench this week.

Demarcus Robinson and Jordan Whittington are definite fantasy sleepers, as the Rams still managed to field a heavy 11-man team last week despite the WR injuries.

Brandon Aiyuk is one of the top five WRs this week as George Kittle and Deebo Samuel are out with injuries.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Atlanta Falcons

Starting Point: Kyle Pitts

Pitts saw his route share drop from 96% in Week 1 to 73% last week, and he has a lowly 11% air yards share through two games. Drafting Pitts over Brock Bowers was clearly a mistake with hindsight, but Pitts should remain in fantasy lineups this week. He could be much busier against a Kansas City defense that is allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to running backs and will likely be focused on eliminating Drake London. Meanwhile, the Chiefs have allowed by far the most fantasy points to tight ends this year.

Pitts has been moving better this season and Kirk Cousins ​​calmed concerns that he’s been washed out with an improved performance in Week 2. Tight end production has declined dramatically across the league and all seven of Pitts’ career touchdowns have come at home, so he’s still a top-seven option this week.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Buffalo Bills

Seat: Trevor Lawrence

Lawrence ranks 31st out of 33 quarterbacks in completion percentage above expectation, and he has by far the worst sack pressure (29.2%) of his career. Lawrence has lost seven straight starts, the most in the NFL, and he will likely miss Evan Engram again. Buffalo has given up the third-most fantasy points to running backs but the 11th-fewest to quarterbacks, so Lawrence will be benched this week.

Washington Commanders @ Cincinnati Bengals

Start: Zack Moss

Moss’s stock in Cincinnati’s backfield grew even more last week, when he saw 82% of the snaps (third-most in the league) and 13 of 17 RB opportunities. The game plan should be favorable Monday night with the Bengals 7.5-point home favorites. Cincinnati is tied for the highest implied team total (27.3 points) this week after facing some tough defenses to open the year. Moss was productive when he caught 15+ rushes last season, and he’s primed for some good volume Monday night.