After a Week 1 that tied a record for the highest-scoring opening week in NFL history, things settled down a bit for fantasy football in Week 2. The Bears went from scoring 59 points to struggling to put up only one field goal in a rainy loss to the Vikings. The Ravens looked like they were running in quicksand in a loss to the Saints after scoring 41 points in the opening week. And while the Titans turned it around to look like at least a functional offense, the Falcons made a case for a team to fade for the rest of 2026 regardless of who is playing quarterback.
We can expect the same level of volatility in Week 3 as teams continue to figure out their offenses and which players to prioritize. While we haven't completely wrapped Week 2 yet, it's
never too early to start thinking about your next opponent. Here's who to start and sit in fantasy football for Week 3:
Week 3 fantasy football starts
Adonai Mitchell, WR, Jets
We want to be targeting a horrific Lions secondary all season long, and that doesn't change with the Jets in Week 3. Star WR1 Garrett Wilson scored the team's lone receiving touchdown in the Week 2 overtime loss to the Packers, but it was Adonai Mitchell who led the team in receptions (six), yards (63) and targets (12). With rookie wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. on IR and the defense keyed in on Wilson, Mitchell could have a huge week against Detroit.
Colston Loveland, TE, Bears
The Bears really struggled in the rain vs. the Vikings in Week 2 after looking like the best offense in the league in Week 1. That might temper excitement and expectations for Chicago in Week 3 considering the matchup against the Eagles on Monday Night Football, especially with Caleb Williams potentially missing time with a hamstring injury.
It's borderline unfathomable that tight end Colston Loveland, often the third tight end off the board in fantasy drafts, has one catch for three yards through two weeks, and it seems impossible that Loveland will continue on this pace. If Williams doesn't play, backup QB Tyson Bagent could rely on the tight end as a safety blanket.
Zay Flowers, WR, Ravens
Baltimore's 24-17 loss to the Saints in Week 2 was one of the more shocking results of the weekend, and the game made it clear that the Ravens really missed their WR1, Zay Flowers. There are just not quality receivers catching passes from Lamar Jackson when Flowers is out.
There's a chance Flowers can't play again in Week 3 with an injured hamstring, but he did return to practice in a limited capacity at the end of last week and could potentially suit up in Week 3 vs. the Cowboys in Brazil. There are lots of reasons to not trust Flowers here, but you should still put him in your starting lineup if he's playing. He's that good and that important to what Baltimore does on offense.
Week 3 fantasy football sits
Kyle Pitts, TE, Falcons
The Falcons looked completely inept in Week 2 and now have a short week before playing the Packers on "Thursday Night Football." Michael Penix would be a massive upgrade over Cooper Rush, Jack Strand or whoever else the Falcons have been trotting out at quarterback, but even if the third-year QB makes his season debut on TNF, he's still coming off an injury on a short week of prep.
You probably can't afford to sit Drake London unless you play in a shallow league, but we're fading all Falcons this week, including Pitts, who has a paltry one catch for 15 yards through two weeks. Pitts could be playable with more reps with Penix, but not this week.
Baker Mayfield, QB, Buccaneers
Despite earning a huge contract extension before the start of the season, Tampa Bay's signal caller threw for just 216 yards in Week 1 and followed it up with a disappointing 182 yards and one touchdown in a shocking loss to the Browns in Week 2. His accuracy, especially on deep throws, was all over the place. If Mayfield can't get it going against his former team, it's not going to happen in Week 3 vs. the Vikings, who just held the Bears to three points.
Parker Washington, WR, Jaguars
Jacksonville is playing New England in Week 3, which means having to deal with arguably the best cornerback in the league in Christian Gonzalez. He just held Steelers DK Metcalf to four catches for 27 yards across nine targets after spending most of the afternoon covering the star WR.
While Gonzalez could end up making life difficult for Brian Thomas Jr., who is theoretically the Jaguars' WR1 on paper, Jacksonville's best WR so far this season has actually been Parker Washington. He's led the Jaguars in receiving over the first two weeks and filed an impressive seven catches for 98 yards in a Week 2 loss to the Broncos. It's not going to be easy to sit Washington, but if you have better options this week, leave him on the bench if you can and don't sweat out the Gonzalez experience.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Early Week 3 fantasy football start/sit
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