Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 3
SSSQ is a weekly look at the under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting, and the potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut. For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our weekly rankings.
Start
Derek Carr, QB, Raiders
at Titans
The Titans have surrendered just one passing touchdown this season, but were the beneficiaries of some highly questionable penalties and a lot of dumb luck against Matthew Stafford and the Lions in Week 2. The Titans don't have cornerbacks who can match up with Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree.
Fearless prediction: 321 yards passing, 3 TDs
Other QBs to start
- Matt Ryan, Falcons
- Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins
Frank Gore, RB, Colts
vs. Chargers
Gore is old, slow, and a tremendously unsexy fantasy player at this stage in his career. And he hasn't produced much over the first two weeks of the season. So why is he a recommended start? It's because of this very juicy matchup against a Chargers defense that has really struggled to defend running backs who can catch passes. With Donte Moncrief injured and T.Y. Hilton and Phillip Dorsett facing tough matchups on the perimeter (the strength of the Chargers' defense), Gore should get plenty of work.
Fearless prediction: 66 yards rushing, 54 yards receiving, TD
Other RBs to start
- Theo Riddick, Lions
- Shane Vereen, Giants
- Charles Sims, Buccaneers
Sterling Shepard, WR, Giants
vs. Redskins
Josh Norman should shadow Odell Beckham Jr. for most of the game (which isn't cause to bench Beckham, but could limit his stats a little), likely leading Eli Manning to look to Shepard and perhaps Victor Cruz, too, more than usual. Shepard has looked far more advanced than a typical rookie, catching 11 of his 12 targets and scoring at least 10 fantasy points in each of his first two games. He's a strong bet to top 100 yards with a touchdown this week.
Fearless prediction: 111 yards receiving, TD
Other WRs to start
- Michael Crabtree, Raiders
- Tajae Sharpe, Titans
- DeVante Parker, Dolphins
Dwayne Allen, TE, Colts
vs. Chargers
With Donte Moncrief on the shelf for a while, Allen's role in the Colts' offense should grow. Speedy wideouts T.Y. Hilton and Phillip Dorsett are simply too small to be ideal red-zone targets, so Allen should draw plenty of attention from Andrew Luck when the Colts get close to the end zone. The Chargers are vulnerable to tight ends, priming Allen for a big week.
Fearless prediction: 66 yards receiving, 2 TDs
Other TEs to start
- Eric Ebron, Lions
- Dennis Pitta, Ravens
Sit
Sam Bradford, QB, Vikings
at Panthers
Yes, Bradford looked excellent in his Vikings debut. But he's still Sam Bradford, and he's still about to play the reigning NFC champions on the road. We need to see at least one more week of high-end production out of Bradford before he should be anywhere near your starting fantasy lineup.
Other QBs to sit
- Tyrod Taylor, Bills
- Kirk Cousins, Redskins
Jeremy Langford, RB, Bears
at Cowboys
Don't let his two short touchdowns fool you: Langford has been wholly unimpressive this season and his starting job is in peril. Rookie Jordan Howard saw some work late in the Bears' Week 2 loss to the Eagles and his workload could be ratcheted up - at the expense of Langford's touches. More on Howard in our "Stash" section below.
Other RBs to sit
- Carlos Hyde, 49ers
- Matt Jones, Redskins
- Duke Johnson and Isaiah Crowell, Browns
Sammy Watkins, WR, Colts
vs. Cardinals
Watkins can't be trusted until he proves he can play through his painful foot injury and still be effective. Don't count on that happening this week. Even if healthy, Watkins would garner "sit" consideration since he'll likely be shadowed by Patrick Peterson all afternoon.
Other WRs to sit
- Doug Baldwin, Seahawks
- Golden Tate, Lions
- Torrey Smith, 49ers
Gary Barnidge, TE, Browns
at Dolphins
Breakout wide receiver Corey Coleman's hand injury might mean 2015 fantasy star Barnidge gets more looks in the passing game, but it also means opposing defenses can key on him since the Browns now lack anything resembling a threat at wideout (at least until Josh Gordon's return). The Dolphins' defense is one of the NFL's best at defending tight ends, so Week 3 should be another disappointing day for Barnidge. Sit him down.
Other TEs to sit
- Vance McDonald, 49ers
- Jimmy Graham, Seahawks
Stash
Dwayne Washington, RB, Lions
With Ameer Abdullah on IR, the Lions' rushing attack should become a two-headed monster featuring Theo Riddick and seventh-round rookie Dwayne Washington. The former is exceptionally elusive in space and one of the NFL's best receivers out of the backfield, so it's no surprise that he's the player most fantasy owners are targeting. But don't overlook the 6-foot-1, 223-pound Washington, who's a better between-the-tackles runner than Riddick and is fairly explosive in his own right. Washington is the best bet to get the Lions' goal-line carries and could easily return better fantasy value than Riddick. Stash him if you can.
Jordan Howard, RB, Bears
After two straight listless performances to start the season, Jeremy Langford's time atop the Bears' depth chart could soon come to an end. If/when it does, fifth-round rookie Howard could get the next crack at carrying the load. Howard is a physical battering ram and has looked good in small doses this season, including taking three carries for 22 yards and adding two catches for 9 yards in the Bears' Week 2 loss. He could be a viable fantasy starter if the Bears make him a workhorse.
Quit
Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings
Peterson is expected to miss three-to-four months after undergoing lateral meniscus surgery. If you have a spot to stash him, by all means keep him in hopes he returns in December and helps your team in the fantasy playoffs. But if you play in a league where bench spots are at a premium and you can cut Peterson for a player who will actually help you make the playoffs, Peterson is droppable.
Corey Coleman, WR, Browns
Coleman is expected to miss four-to-six weeks with a broken bone in his hand. The rookie had been a revelation prior to going down, topping 100 yards with two touchdowns in his second start as a pro, but he is in no way a must-hold. With the Browns rapidly headed down the toilet and Coleman unlikely to help you until late October at the earliest, you can send him packing.