Fantasy Football Week 3 Quarterback Start/Sit: Aaron Rodgers, Justin Herbert, and More
Three quarterbacks to start and three to sit in Week 3 of the NFL season.
For all we thought we knew before the season started, the following quarterbacks have had at least one 10-top fantasy finish over the first two weeks: Daniel Jones, Michael Penix Jr., Russell Wilson, Bryce Young, Mac Jones, and Spencer Rattler. Plenty of randomness takes place on any given Sunday.
The best way to find the next surprise fantasy starter is to look for the best matchups. Teams who give up the most yards and points offer the best fantasy value to quarterbacks, and facing those teams regularly is a good start toward consistent production.
Let's look at three quarterbacks to start and three to sit in Week 3 of the NFL season. There won't be any obvious name below; you don't need me to tell you to start Lamar Jackson. Instead, these six players are guys who are worthy starters some weeks but are best left on the bench in others.
Be sure to check out FantasySP's weekly projections to help make your biggest lineup decisions every week.
Start
Drake Maye, New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are generally vaunted for their tough defense. While things change from year to year, Pittsburgh figured to again have a successful D after a good 2024. Through the first two weeks, they have been as vulnerable as any team against the pass.
Pittsburgh has allowed the eighth-most passing yards and fourth-most yards per pass attempt. After Justin Fields had 218 yards on 9.9 yards per attempt in Week 1, Sam Darnold went for 295 on 8.9 per attempt in Week 2. The Steelers have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks.
Maye was inefficient on the way to 287 passing yards in Week 1, averaging just 6.2 per attempt. With a better matchup against the Dolphins in Week 2, Maye had 230 yards on 10.0 per attempt, a great mark. He also upped his rushing production from 11 yards in the first game to 31 and a touchdown in Week 2.
Maye was QB3 in Week 2 and is QB10 on the season. He could become something close to a weekly starter, and he belongs in a lineup in every league with a great matchup in Week 3.
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys @ Chicago Bears
The Bears have allowed more yards per pass attempt than any other team; they were second worst last season. Chicago has also given up more fantasy points to QBs than any other team through two weeks.
Prescott started with a rough game against the Eagles (188 yards on 5.5 per attempt) but bounced back in Week 2, throwing for 361 yards on 6.9 per attempt against the Giants. Prescott is a player whose fantasy value often depends on his opponent.
The opponent doesn't get much better than this one. Coming off a poor showing in 2024 and starting as a league-worst defense on a per-attempt basis, Chicago is one of the top teams to target. CeeDee Lamb, Jake Ferguson, and George Pickens all had at least 68 yards on Sunday, showing that a bevy of players can contribute.
Prescott might have one of his best matchups of the season in this one. He just had a good game with an OK matchup, so he could be primed for another big performance in this one.
Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers @ New England Patriots
Rodgers started the year looking like his vintage self, throwing for 244 yards on 8.1 yards per attempt with four touchdowns and no interceptions against the Jets. Last week against the Seahawks didn't go great: 203 yards on just 6.2 per attempt with a touchdown and two interceptions.
Rodgers is likely to be dependent on the matchup for fantasy value, and things bounce back in his favor this week. The Patriots have allowed the most total passing yards and the second-most yards per pass attempt this year. That started with Geno Smith going for 362 yards on 10.6 per attempt and continued with Tua Tagovailoa throwing for 315 yards on 9.8 yards per attempt in Week 2.
Geno and Tua both struggled in the other game in which they weren't facing the Patriots, making it look even worse for New England. Rodgers isn't a guy I'm looking to count on often, but the matchup is in his favor here if you are in need of a QB.
Sit
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos
This is a tough one after the first two weeks. Herbert is QB5 overall and finished at the same mark in Week 1. He had less volume, but it was an efficient day in Week 2, with 242 yards on 9.0 per attempt with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran for over 30 yards in each game.
The consternation is over the matchup here. Denver was one of the best defenses in football last season, and they were similarly tough in Week 1 against the Titans. It was a surprise in Week 2 when Daniel Jones and the Colts continued their torrid start against the Broncos. Indianapolis scored 29 points, had 316 passing yards, and ran for 167 yards.
I still believe in Denver's defense, so maybe Indy is for real? The Chargers could be for real also, but I am looking for a bounce back from Denver's defense, which would possibly limit Herbert's fantasy value. He did have some success against the Broncos in 2024, having one modest game and one very good game, where he went for 284 yards on 9.2 yards per attempt.
It's dangerous to bench a quarterback with a hot hand, but you probably didn't draft Herbert to be a starter, so if you have another option, it might be best to leave him on the bench this week.
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans
Another tough matchup here, the Texans allowed the second-fewest yards per pass attempt last season. The Rams were able to throw on Houston a bit in Week 1, going for 245 yards on 8.4 per attempt; LA will throw all over a lot of teams, though.
The Texans were better in Week 2, holding Baker Mayfield to just 5.7 yards per attempt on the way to 215 yards. Houston has high-level players at all three levels of the defense and can disrupt the passing game at the quarterback and at the pass catchers.
Lawrence has been a little subpar through two weeks. He had just 178 yards on 5.7 per attempt in Week 1 against the bumbling Panthers, and while he racked up 271 yards in Week 2, it took 42 attempts to get there, just 6.5 yards per attempt. Lawrence and the passing game haven't found a groove under new coach Liam Coen.
With a QB who hasn't performed great against a tough matchup, I'm staying away from Lawrence this week. He is a must-sit player.
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos @ Los Angeles Chargers
Denver's defense will work to stifle Herbert, but the Chargers defense has been even better in 2025, allowing the second-fewest yards per pass attempt. They were fifth best in the same category last season, showing sustained ability to limit the pass.
LA held Patrick Mahomes to just 6.6 yards per attempt in Week 1, though he got enough volume to reach 258 yards. After a great Week 1, Smith of the Raiders was completely stifled by Los Angeles in Week 2, throwing for just 180 yards on 4.2 yards per attempt with three interceptions.
Nix has been OK but also struggled at times this year. He gained just 176 yards on 40 attempts in Week 1 (a 4.4 average), then was a little more efficient on lower volume in Week 2, gaining 206 yards on 6.9 per attempt, just a hair below average. Nix does plenty with his legs and has combined for 38 yards in the two games.
Nix put up slightly below-average numbers last year against the Chargers, averaging 6.6 yards per attempt, but had some volume, racking up 479 yards. His season numbers weren't much different, painting Nix as a below-average passer of the football.
This is a case of a middling young quarterback against a strong defense. Nix has been OK, but he's not a weekly fantasy starter; he's a decent player who deserves consideration the right weeks (and not this one).
