Week 3 QB Start, Sit: Quarterback Fantasy Football Strategy

We are seeing some explosive offenses in the NFL this season. There are tons of QBs who have been feasting and winning fantasy players their weeks. However, going into week 3 there is more than one trap game that could leave you with a bust from your highest scoring spot in the QB position. Whether you are in a 2QB/Superflex league or you are streaming your QBs after drafting a late-round Week 1 starter, this article should help you decide who to play and who is better left on the bench.

Start Them

Ben Roethlisberger

Vs Houston Texans

While the Texans’ pass defense looks good on paper, giving up only 380 yards (the third least in the league), they have been strongly benefited by the game script. The Texans’ defense has given up huge chunk plays and fallen behind against both the Chiefs and the Ravens. This left them with no reason to pass. I do not think that the Steelers have as easy of a time, and I think that they will rely heavily on their myriad of weapons i.e. JuJu Smith-Shuster, Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, and James Washington. This is a set of WRs that almost no defense can cover and Roethlisberger looks to be getting back to his old self.

Two extremely efficient and good games so far against two decent passing defenses in the Broncos and Giants, Roethlisberger is shaking off the rust and producing. I think that the past two performances have proven why Big Ben is a must-start most weeks.

Joe Burrow

Vs Philadelphia Eagles

This Eagles and Bengals showdown is going to feature very limited defense and a game script that will force Burrow to once again air out the football. He has a great baseline as a QB who will use his legs and has tons of weapons on the field. The Eagles should put up a lot of points, but I expect many of those to come from Miles Sanders. However, I think that Joe Mixon will be shut down for a third straight week forcing reliance on Burrow’s arm. He threw 61 passes last week for 3 TDs and you did not even get the plus side of his rushing talent. A low-end QB1 should be the outcome for Burrow this week.

Matt Ryan

Vs Chicago Bears

Many people will see this matchup for Ryan and look to pivot. However, Matt Ryan and the Falcons’ offense looks unstoppable. I am not fazed by a tough Bears’ defense and will be starting Matt Ryan in two of my money leagues. This Bears’ defense is not as good as they once were, as they gave up 23 points (should have been 30) to a Detroit Lions team without Kenny Golladay. They do not have enough players in the secondary to cover Jones, Ridley, and Gage. I think that Matt Ryan is a startable QB regardless of matchup.

Sit Them

Deshaun Watson

Vs Pittsburgh Steelers

This is a bold call; however, there is so much that I saw in the Ravens game that worries me about this Houston offense. This has led me to attempt to pivot off of Watson anywhere that I have him. His best WR in Will Fuller was not able to register even a single target in the game against Baltimore. While the Steelers’ secondary is not quite as elite as the Ravens’ they are near their level and have just as good, if not better, of a pass rush. Watson and the Houston offense should be shut down Sunday and if you have a better option, play them instead.

Tom Brady

Vs Denver Broncos

Tom Brady has not looked sharp in his first two starts. Despite the more efficient numbers against the Panthers, we need to keep in mind that the Panthers may be the worst defense in the league. The Broncos’ defense is much closer to the Saints’ talent level that Brady struggled against in Week 1. Do not get sucked into playing Brady this week, Arians will look to try and run the ball. Meanwhile, if they do attempt to pass the Broncos’ pass rush will be too much for Brady to handle.

Jared Goff

Vs Buffalo Bills

Jared Goff against an elite Bills’ defense is an extremely scary play. He has had back to back good weeks as a QB; however, it is all about the matchup. Dallas showed just how bad their defense was Sunday against the Falcons, and Goff could not even register a TD in his game against them. The Bills are a massive step up in terms of defensive talent and Goff will struggle. If you played him last week and got big points against the Eagles, good job, now take him out of your lineup and continue working on getting good streamers in to fill that QB slot.

Baker Mayfield

Vs The Washington Football Team

I do not think that many of you in 1QB leagues would consider this play. So, this is a message to all those playing in 2QB and Superflex leagues: DO NOT start Baker Mayfield against this Washington defense. The one thing we have seen in Mayfield’s two-year career is the fact that he struggles against pressure. Washington has the best pass-rush and front 4 in the league. They are leading the league in sacks with 11 and are going to bring the heat on Mayfield.

There is not a single world in which I see Mayfield being a good play. If the Browns succeed against Washington it will be because of rushing the football with Chubb and Hunt. Mayfield is very likely to turn the ball over multiple times this game and get hit more than a few times. Of course, when this happens his WR core of Landry and OBJ get frustrated and perform worse as it did many times last year. The offense easily spirals out of control and performs horribly. Stay away from Mayfield this week.