Boom or Bench: Week 3 start/sit fantasy tips

Boom or Bench provides insight and analysis to help you handle your difficult fantasy football starting lineup decisions every week.

QB: Patriots' Drake Maye vs. Steelers

Maye was my quarterback pick last week, and I expect him to put up another strong performance against a Steelers defense that ranks 29th in points (31.5) and yards (394.5) allowed per game through two weeks.

The 23-year-old showed off the tools that got him picked third overall in the 2024 draft Sunday. He threw for 230 yards with two touchdowns and added 31 yards and a score on the ground. Look for Maye to continue using his legs against a unit that surrendered 48 yards and two touchdowns to Justin Fields in Week 1.

Projection: 256 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 36 rushing yards

Other QBs primed to boom:

• Cowboys' Dak Prescott at Bears

• Bears' Caleb Williams vs. Cowboys

RB: Patriots' Rhamondre Stevenson vs. Steelers

The same Steelers defense that's likely to let Maye cook is also susceptible to Stevenson. Pittsburgh ranks 28th in rushing defense, and the Steelers have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to running backs this season.

Stevenson could also see plenty of targets. He hauled in all five of his looks against the Dolphins for 88 yards and a touchdown while tallying 54 yards on the ground.

Projection: 71 rushing yards, 48 receiving yards, 6 receptions, 2 TDs

RB: Jaguars' Bhayshul Tuten vs. Texans

Tuten made the most of his 25% snap share in Week 2, rushing for 42 yards and hauling in two targets for 32 yards and a touchdown. He and Travis Etienne both have a chance to put up strong numbers against a Texans team that's allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to running backs.

The rookie has electric speed and is quickly rising through the Jaguars' ranks. Look for him to see more snaps and opportunities against Houston.

Projection: 62 rushing yards, 34 receiving yards, 4 receptions, TD

Other RBs primed to boom:

• Cowboys' Javonte Williams at Bears

• Seahawks' Kenneth Walker III vs. Saints

WR: Lions' Jameson Williams at Ravens

Williams is a low-floor, high-ceiling player, but he's set up to reach that ceiling on Monday Night Football. Quarterback Jared Goff has excelled in this prime-time slot, averaging 285.2 passing yards, 2.1 touchdowns, and 0.7 interceptions in nine career Monday games.

Beyond that, Williams is fresh off his first 100-yard game of the season, having showcased his world-class speed on a 64-yard score against the Bears. He should get more than four targets against a Ravens defense that's 31st in passing yards (298.5) and tied for 26th in points allowed (29) per game.

Projection: 124 receiving yards, 5 receptions, TD

WR: Bills' Keon Coleman vs. Dolphins

Coleman had a big Week 1 (8/112/1) before coming back to earth in Week 2 (3/26/0). I expect his output to fall between those extremes against a Dolphins defense that ranks 24th in passing and 31st in points.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound wideout has the size and power to bully Miami's smaller defensive backs, and he should benefit from Josh Allen's strong track record against the Dolphins. The reigning MVP has averaged 266.9 passing yards, 2.6 touchdowns, and 0.6 interceptions in 14 games against the AFC East foe.

Projection: 86 receiving yards, 9 receptions, TD

Other WRs primed to boom:

• Cowboys' George Pickens at Bears

• Colts' Michael Pittman Jr. at Titans

TE: Cowboys' Jake Ferguson vs. Bears

Ferguson is set up for solid production in Week 3. Lions tight ends combined for six receptions, 54 yards, and a touchdown on seven targets against Chicago last week despite not being the focal point of Detroit's 52-21 dismantling of the Bears.

Ferguson, however, was a key contributor to Dallas' comeback win over the Giants. The 6-foot-5, 244-pounder hauled in nine of his 12 targets for 78 yards while playing over 70% of the Cowboys' offensive snaps for the second consecutive week.

Projection: 70 receiving yards, 6 receptions, TD

Other TEs primed to boom:

• Falcons' Kyle Pitts at Panthers

• Saints' Juwan Johnson at Seahawks

QB: Broncos' Bo Nix at Chargers

Nix hasn't lived up to his ADP so far. Don't expect that to change against a Chargers defense that ranks seventh in yards (282.5) and third in points (15) allowed per game. Los Angeles is also tied for fourth in turnover differential (plus-2) after picking off Geno Smith three times, while the Broncos are tied for the third-worst differential (minus-3).

Nix has only racked up 382 passing yards through two games despite throwing the ball 70 times, and he has three interceptions against four touchdowns. That lack of efficiency and poor ratio are the kinds of mistakes this Chargers defense capitalizes on.

Projection: 208 passing yards, passing TD, 2 INTs, 16 rushing yards

Other QBs to bench:

• Rams' Matthew Stafford at Eagles

• Steelers' Aaron Rodgers at Patriots

RB: Jets' Breece Hall at Buccaneers

The Buccaneers have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to running backs through two weeks, but Hall may have a tougher time finding points this weekend with Justin Fields out. The Buccaneers will be able to dedicate more bodies to stopping the run with Tyrod Taylor at quarterback for the Jets.

Hall wasn't productive in Week 2 no matter which signal-caller was taking snaps. He had just 29 yards on 10 carries plus two receptions for 9 yards. The Iowa State product's playing time has slipped; he's only taking 60% of the Jets' offensive snaps compared to 72% last season. Hall may need a change of scenery to unlock his full fantasy potential.

Projection: 40 rushing yards, 21 receiving yards, 2 receptions, TD

RB: Vikings' Jordan Mason vs. Bengals

Backup and 1B running backs are often poised to succeed when a team's starter goes down, but the Vikings will be without both Aaron Jones and quarterback J.J. McCarthy this weekend (and beyond). Cincinnati will devote plenty of attention to limiting their running game as Carson Wentz makes his third start over the last three seasons.

The Bengals' secondary has allowed plenty of passing yards, but the defensive unit has been solid against the run. Cincinnati ranks 10th in rushing yards allowed per game and has tallied a respectable six combined tackles for loss.

Projection: 51 rushing yards, 12 receiving yards, 1 reception

Other RBs to bench:

• Titans' Tony Pollard vs. Colts

• Saints' Alvin Kamara at Seahawks

WR: Steelers' DK Metcalf at Patriots

I don't like quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the road this week because the Patriots lead the league in sacks and Pittsburgh is tied for fourth in sacks allowed. That translates to Metcalf being held in check. The Steelers will likely attempt more short, consistent throws that favor smaller receivers rather than the deep shots that a player like Metcalf can feast on.

The Patriots have also been exceptionally stout against the run, allowing just 58.5 rushing yards per game. That further decreases Metcalf's chances of exploiting the Patriots' secondary on deep passes via play action.

Projection: 58 receiving yards, 4 receptions

WR: Panthers' Tetairoa McMillan vs. Falcons

Atlanta's pass-rushers tallied an impressive six sacks against the Vikings, the Falcons rank second in passing yards allowed at just 139.5 per game, and Bryce Young has thrown for fewer than 200 passing yards in two of his three previous matchups with the team. That's a tough set of circumstances for McMillan. Plus, Panthers teammate Hunter Renfrow was a big-time target last week, hauling in a pair of touchdowns.

McMillan has been solid through two weeks, hauling in 11 of his 19 targets for 168 yards, but the first-rounder has yet to score and appears poised for another average outing in Week 3.

Projection: 42 receiving yards, 5 receptions

Other WRs to bench:

• Dolphins' Jaylen Waddle at Bills

• Saints' Rashid Shaheed at Seahawks

TE: Browns' David Njoku vs. Packers

Rookie third-rounder Harold Fannin Jr. might take over as the Browns' TE1 sooner rather than later. The 21-year-old has outproduced Njoku through two games (12 receptions for 111 yards vs. seven receptions for 77 yards) despite playing notably fewer snaps (68% vs. 83%).

Njoku could potentially have a bounce-back game against a Packers defense that's surrendered quite a bit of yardage to tight ends this season, but the overall inefficiency of the Browns' offense and the threat of Fannin make Njoku a risky start for now.

Projection: 34 receiving yards, 4 receptions

Other TEs to bench:

• Vikings' T.J. Hockenson vs. Bengals

• Bills' Dalton Kincaid vs. Dolphins

Andrew Dixon is a contributing fantasy analyst for theScore.