Week 2 was brutal. Injuries piled up across the league, fantasy rosters were absolutely decimated and it felt like no position was spared. If your lineup took a few hits, don't panic just yet. That's where smart streaming comes in. I have five players who can help patch the holes, keep your team competitive and hopefully get you to a Week 3 win.
QB: Bryce Young — Carolina vs. Cleveland
Why I like him: Did you know Young currently ranks second in the NFL in passing yards? He’s also averaging 28.2 fantasy points per game, which is second among quarterbacks this season. That production gets an appealing boost in Week 3 against a Browns defense that allows 19 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks.
Cleveland has also been giving up plenty of production to opposing wide receivers,
making this an especially attractive matchup for a Carolina offense that has leaned heavily on the passing game. If that volume continues, Young has a real chance to stay hot and deliver another strong fantasy performance.
The play: Young should be starting in all formats this week.
RB: Aaron Jones — Minnesota vs. Tampa Bay
Why I like him: With Jordan Mason on injured reserve due to a thumb injury, Jones stepped right back into a featured role in Week 2. He handled 23 carries, rushed for 105 yards and played 80% of the snaps, while DeeJay Dallas managed just eight yards on two carries behind him. The lack of a touchdown should not scare fantasy managers off. The game was played in heavy rain and never really opened up offensively, with both teams settling for field goals.
Tampa Bay has done a good job limiting opposing backfields so far this season, so this isn’t necessarily a matchup play. It’s a volume play. As long as Mason remains sidelined, Jones should continue to see bellcow-level usage and that workload keeps him firmly in the starting conversation.
The play: Jones is a flex play in Week 3.
Of course, fantasy football couldn’t let me finish this article without one more injury update. Jones missed Wednesday’s practice with a knee issue, so I still believe in the workload and the research if he plays. This now comes with an obvious contingency plan. Monitor his status closely and be ready to pivot if Minnesota decides to play it safe with him. If Jones is out on Sunday, Braelon Allen is a preferred replacement and below, I’ll break down why.
RB: Braelon Allen — New York Jets vs. Detroit
Why I like him: My interest in Allen this week is driven more by the matchup than by his current usage. The Jets face a Detroit defense that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season, has given up 147 rushing yards through two games and surrendered the second-most rushing touchdowns in the league.
New York has also leaned heavily on the ground game, running the third-most rushing plays in the league and scoring the fourth-most rushing touchdowns. Breece Hall is still clearly the lead back, but Allen is still involved enough to matter and widely viewed as one of the better backup running backs in football. Against a Lions defense that has been vulnerable on the ground, Allen makes sense as a deeper flex option for fantasy managers navigating an injury-heavy week.
The play: Allen is a deep-league flex option in a week riddled with injuries.
WR: Rashod Bateman — Baltimore vs. Dallas
Why I like him: I wouldn’t be nearly as interested in Bateman if Zay Flowers is active, so fantasy managers need to monitor this closely before locking him into lineups. However, if Flowers is sidelined, Bateman becomes a player you need to consider. Rookie Ja’Kobi Lane is already on injured reserve with a fractured wrist, which leaves Baltimore’s target tree even more concentrated.
Bateman stepped into the WR1 role in Week 2 and responded with 21.8 fantasy points while finding the end zone. If Flowers misses Week 3, the passing game could once again funnel heavily through Bateman and Mark Andrews.
Baltimore heads to Brazil to face Dallas in a matchup with the week’s highest over/under at 52.5 points. With two explosive offenses on the field, there should be plenty of scoring opportunities and we should know early whether Flowers makes the trip, giving fantasy managers time to adjust.
The play: If Flowers is trending toward “inactive,” then Bateman slots in as a low-end WR1/WR2 with upside.
TE: Pat Freiermuth — Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati
Why I like him: Freiermuth’s weekly production may fluctuate, but he has been one of the more reliable pass catchers in Pittsburgh’s offense, which matters with Aaron Rodgers under center. He’s caught 90% of his targets through the first two weeks, has already seen 10 looks and leads the Steelers in red-zone receptions and touchdowns.
Pittsburgh’s healthy receivers have struggled to consistently convert their opportunities, which only makes Freiermuth’s role more valuable. Now he faces a Bengals defense that just allowed Texans tight end Dalton Schultz to erupt for 140 receiving yards. With his efficiency, red-zone involvement and a matchup this favorable, Freiermuth is a smash play in Week 3.
The play: With the Steelers’ wide receivers struggling, Freiermuth should see enough work to be rostered as a TE1 in Week 3.
FLEX: Dontayvion Wicks — Philadelphia vs. Chicago
Why I like him: In two games with Jalen Hurts, Wicks has already established himself as the WR2 in this offense. He’s averaging nearly 14 PPR points per game, commanding a 16.1% target share and playing 74.4% of the snaps. With Dallas Goedert on injured reserve, the Eagles’ targets could become even more concentrated.
Until rookie Makai Lemon’s role expands, Wicks is essentially the Robin to DeVonta Smith’s Batman in this passing game. That makes him especially interesting in Week 3 against a Chicago defense allowing 29.5 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers. The opportunity is already there and the matchup gives Wicks a very realistic path to another productive week.
The play: Wicks belongs in the WR2/WR3 conversation this week, with enough target volume and matchup upside to offer more.
One Last Thing: The first few weeks of the season are always chaotic and Week 2 reminded us how quickly fantasy and real-life rosters can change. Injuries create opportunities, roles shift quickly and sometimes the best lineup decisions come from reacting before everyone else. Trust the volume, follow the usage and don’t be afraid to make the “risky” play when the opportunity arises.
This article originally appeared on The Huddle: Stacy’s Streamers: Six Players to Start in Week 3
