2021 Fantasy Football: Week 3 Start Em / Sit Em

Quarterback 

Start of the Week: Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

Despite sitting at 0-2 on the season, veteran Kirk Cousins has absolutely dominated the box scores. After two weeks, Cousins has an elite QB rating of 112.9, with 595 yards, five touchdowns and no picks. And despite losing up-and-coming tight end Irv Smith Jr. prior to the season, it appears like a new star is emerging in Minnesota named K.J. Osborn. That’s on top of Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen, one of the top wide receiver tandems in the entire league. It appears the Vikings’ defense isn’t going to stop many teams based on early performance, so the offense will need to keep scoring in bunches. Cousins did enough to get Minnesota the win last week, but a missed field goal by Greg Joseph gave the Cardinals a one-point victory. Cousins will continue to light it up when he faces a Seahawks defense that allowed Ryan Tannehill to post 347 yards and no interceptions. Expect Cousins to eclipse 300 yards in what could be a shootout against Russell Wilson. Cousins will also find the end zone twice.

Start: Daniel Jones, New York Giants

Daniel Jones has shocked everyone, however, my boldest prediction this preseason was saying that Danny Dimes could be a QB1 this season. With more weapons at his disposal and of course more time to adjust to Joe Judge and Jason Garrett, this is the make or break year for the third-year quarterback. Heading into Week 3, Jones gears up for an Atlanta defense that has allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. Not to mention, Jones proved that he can accumulate a ton of fantasy points with his legs on RPO’s last week. He would have eclipsed 40 fantasy points against a stout Washington defense if not for a terrible holding call and a dropped touchdown by Darius Slayton. The biggest knock on Jones throughout his short career has been his inability to protect the football. However, Jones has yet to throw an interception this season and has a career-high 96 quarterback rating. With Kenny Golladay finally looking healthy and great chemistry built with Sterling Shepard, look for Danny Dimes to shred Atlanta’s secondary.

[projection="Daniel Jones"]

Sit: Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints will see the New England Patriots a week after the Patriots forced rookie Zach Wilson into four interceptions. We all know Winston’s past as far as interceptions are concerned. Winston has been pressured at a higher percentage this season than every other NFL quarterback, except for Zach Wilson. The Saints starting center, Eric McCoy was listed as DNP again this week and offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton was limited. 

The Patriots’ defense is first in interception rate after last week’s game. They are also fourth in goal-to-go situations, fifth in first downs per game, sixth in sacks per pass attempt, sixth in passing yards per game and 10th in red-zone percentage. Expect Winston’s Week 3 to look eerily similar to his Week 2 output. Don’t expect lightning to strike as it did in Week 1 when he dominated the Packers. The Patriots have a much better defense and Winston will struggle without any real weapons at the wide receiver position. 

Running Back

Start of the Week: Saquon Barkley, New York Giants

It’s weird to have to tell people to start Barkley, however, after two weeks with less than double-digit fantasy points, I understand why some fantasy owners would feel like they should bench the electric running back. However, anyone who drafted Barkley knew that he would start off slowly as the Giants eased him back from a knee injury. Last week, he played a much larger percentage of snaps and he did rip off a nice 41-yard rush against Washington’s strong running defense. The Falcons have one of the worst defenses in the league so I’m predicting a coming-out party for Saquon this week. I think Daniel Jones utilizes Barkley quite a bit in the short-passing game. Barkley will accumulate 100+ all-purpose yards and will find the end zone. Lock it in!

[career="Saquon Barkley"]

Start: Chase Edmonds, Arizona Cardinals

Edmonds had yet to find the end zone, however, he has accumulated 75+ all-purpose yards in each of his first two games with the Cardinals. Now he gets a Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense that is quite easy to run all over. The Jags can’t stop anyone, and while Edmonds shares backfield duties with James Conner, there will be enough meat on the bone for both. Although Conner may steal some goal-line touches, Edmonds is the superior option on passing downs. He’s a great route runner in an explosive offense. The Jags have given up three total touchdowns to opposing running backs in two games, including one through the air. The Cards will get a big lead in this one, and hand it off to take their foot off the gas a bit. For that reason, Edmonds could see 20+ touches this week. 

[projection="Chase Edmonds"]

Sit: Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills

Singletary has shown off his explosiveness through the first two weeks, averaging over six yards per carry. However, he may continue to lose touches to Zack Moss, who wasn’t healthy until Week 2. Singletary only out-carried Moss 13-8 last week and unfortunately for Singletary, Moss seems to be the goal-line back. Also, Washington hasn’t been as stingy to fantasy running backs as we thought, but teams have been able to move the ball on them through the air. The game script is going to favor Josh Allen and the passing game. I’m just not sure the Bills will succeed when trying to establish the run against Chase Young and that ridiculously talented defensive line. 

Wide Receiver 

Start of the Week: Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

Surprisngly, Teddy Bridgewater has been one of the league’s top quarterbacks through two weeks of the NFL season. Bridgewater has a 120.7 QB rating and has completed a whopping 77% of his passes (without the services of Jerry Jeudy). After seeing just three targets in Week 1, Courtland Sutton was the focal point of Denver’s aerial attack in Week 2. He caught nine of 12 targets for 159 yards. Now Denver gets a cupcake matchup against a Jets secondary that is atrocious. New York is allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete more than 70% of their passes. Although the implied total for this game is very low, Denver has to put points on the way somehow, and Sutton is poised to build off of his incredible Week 2 performance. 

Start: Kenny Golladay, New York Giants

Golladay has failed to get it going in New York thus far, however, this is Golladay’s coming out party in New York. Although Vegas is projecting just a 43-point total, I see this as a potential shootout between Daniel Jones and Matt Ryan. The Giants’ defense is not as good as it was last year, which means that opposing teams will score more, and Jones will have to throw the rock more often. Although Golladay only caught three passes last week, he was targeted a healthy eight times in Week 2, including on a red-zone look that would have been an easy touchdown if not for a pass interference call. Look for Golladay’s catch percentage to increase against a poor Falcons secondary.

[career="Kenny Golladay"]

Sit: Brandin Cooks, Houston Texans

Cooks was the lone bright spot for the Texans last week, especially after Tyrod Taylor went down. In comes rookie signal-caller Davis Mills, who is making his first start against a strong Carolina Panthers defense. The Panthers’ defense is much better than anyone expected. They have only allowed 287 passing yards through two games and have produced three interceptions. They have been the top passing defense by far in a small sample size. Davis Mills is going to struggle in primetime. If you have another option, look elsewhere. Carolina will be looking to take Cooks out of the game. 

Tight End

Start of the Week: Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles

After Goedert and Ertz tallied just three catches for 30 yards against the 49ers, the Eagles get a favorable matchup for tight ends against the Cowboys. Dallas is giving up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends thus far. Jalen Hurts has been an undeniable stud and Doedert found the end zone in Week 1. Since Philly lacks many weapons at the wideout position outside of rookie DeVonta Smith, expect Goedert to be used quite a bit in this clash between NFC East rivals. 

[projection="Dallas Goedert"]

Start: Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears

After seeing just one target in Week 2, Kmet will benefit from Justin Fields being the starter due to Andy Dalton’s injury. Fields should provide the entire offense with a spark of energy. Kmet will give the rookie a nice security blanket on underneath routes. He should be Fields’ top check-down option outside of David Montgomery. We all know rookies love to utilize tight ends, so look for Fields to find the big-bodied tight end in the red zone. Although Cleveland has only allowed eight catches to opposing tight ends, two of those receptions were in the end zone. Look for Kmet to score his first touchdown of the season in Week 3. 

Sit: Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers

Tonyan got back on track in Week 2 with three catches for 52 yards and a touchdown against Detroit. As much as I want to believe in my fellow Indiana State Sycamore, it’s going to be a tough week as Green Bay travels to San Francisco. In 2020, the “Niners were the stingiest against the position in fantasy. They haven’t been as tough on tight ends thus far in 2021, but it’s going to be tough for Tonyan to get any breathing room in this one. 

D/ST

Start of the Week: Carolina Panthers

The Panthers are easily my favorite defense in Week 3, mainly because the Texans will be without Tyrod Taylor and must turn to rookie Davis Mills. The Panthers have been extra stingy against the pass and will get Mills in his first career start. There aren’t too many weapons to stop in the Texans’ passing game, but you have to feel bad for Taylor after that terrific start and then yet another injury. That said, Mills is not Tyrod. Carolina is available in a lot of leagues, and hopefully, you were able to make that waiver add quicker than your opponents. They are going to dominate the Texans tonight!