Week 3 WR Start’em, Sit’em: Wide Receiver Fantasy Football Strategy

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By Week 3, we start getting a better sample size of who quarterbacks are targetting the most. In this article, I will be discussing which wide receivers you should be starting this week and who you should maybe be avoiding this week. This won’t include receivers that should be started every week, but rather those who you may be between one and another. This could be due to the fact they aren’t being targetted as much as expected or they are facing a tough matchup this week. Either way, this should give you a good insight into making it over the edge against whoever you are playing this week.

Start ‘Em

Marquise Brown, Baltimore Ravens

Opponent: Kansas City Chiefs

Marquise Brown was the pickup of Week 1 when he hauled in 4 catches for 147 yards and 2 touchdowns. There were some questions about whether this was just a huge game for him, and if we could expect the same kind of production out of Hollywood. Week 2 came with more targets for Brown, but only 86 yards which are still a good amount of points for fantasy owners. I believe we saw his ceiling in Week 1 and what could be his floor in Week 2. Lamar Jackson does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon and Brown seems to be his favorite target.

Emmanuel Sanders, Denver Broncos

Opponent: Green Bay Packers

Emmanuel Sanders is beginning to look like a start every week kind of player with 86 yards and a touchdown in Week 1, and 98 yards and a touchdown in Week 2. He is looking to be the number one option for Joe Flacco in the offense. Even when Courtland Sutton got a lot of targets in Week 1, Sanders still put up numbers. The Broncos are relying on the passing game this year with an increase from 31 passing attempts in Week 1 to 50 in Week 2. No matter what, Sanders is going to get a lot of action.

D.K. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks

Opponent: New Orleans Saints

D.K Metcalf has emerged as one of Russell Wilson’s favorite targets to start the season. In Week 1, Metcalf caught 4 passes for 89 yards. This week he had 3 receptions for 61 yards with an additional touchdown. The rookie has been competing with Tyler Lockett for receptions, but Metcalf has the long balls going for him. If Wilson can continue to hook up with Metcalf in space or deep, he is a huge threat to opposing defenses. Be ready for him to receive more attention in Week 3 against a Saints defense that has allowed four passing touchdowns over these two weeks.

Randall Cobb, Dallas Cowboys

Opponent: Miami Dolphins

Randall Cobb put together an impressive Week 1 with 69 yards and a touchdown. We didn’t know what kind of role he would play with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup, but with Dak Prescott looking amazing, all of the receivers are playing a major role. Gallup has been listed as out for the next 2-4 weeks. The Cowboys also find themselves playing the Dolphins who have allowed 8 total touchdowns through the air this year. I expect Cobb to put up tons of points this week with him being the number 2 in a good offense against a terrible defense.

Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers

Opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers

Deebo Samuel is my sleeper pick this week. He has emerged as the top target for Jimmy Garoppolo in an offense that knows how to score. Samuel has found the endzone once so far with a slow Week 1 but a better looking Week 2. They are playing the Steelers this week who have allowed 6 passing touchdowns and the 4th most amount of passing yards which is a good sign for Samuel heading into Week 3. I expect a big game out of him this week.

Sit ‘Em

Geronimo Allison, Green Bay Packers

Opponent: Denver Broncos

Geronimo Allison was hyped up to be a major target for Aaron Rodgers this year, but that hasn’t been proven to be true as of yet. Basically, if you own a Packers’ receiver that is not named Davante Adams, I wouldn’t play him. Allison didn’t touch the ball in Week 1 and posted 25 yards and a touchdown in Week 2. That is not the necessary production you want out of a starting receiver. Consistency is the problem with Allison, but he still has the potential to have value in later weeks once he proves his worth.

Donte Moncrief, Pittsburgh Steelers

Opponent: San Francisco 49ers

Just like with Allison, Donte Moncrief and any other Steelers receivers should not be started this week. He had 7 yards in Week 1 and did not catch a single pass in Week 2. The Steelers are going through a troubling time for their offense as they lost Ben Roethlisberger for the season and James Conner is dealing with a banged-up knee. Mason Rudolph has yet to prove anything crazy about him, at least enough to start someone like Moncrief. I would hold off for a couple of weeks and see what this new Steelers’ offense looks like before starting Moncrief.

Robby Anderson, New York Jets

Opponent: New England Patriots

Robby Anderson finds himself in the mix of an offense that seems to be having nothing go their way. Having to use their 3rd-string quarterback last week, I would not start anyone on the Jets besides Le’Veon Bell. If they aren’t running with Bell, they are dumping it off to him. Anderson did bring in 81 yards but they were playing the Browns. This week is the Patriots who are playing like the best defense in the league, only allowing 3 total points through two games. I wouldn’t start Anderson this week regardless, but the Patriots are the worst team to be playing right now.

Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

Opponent: Green Bay Packers

Courtland Sutton dropped off last week after a big Week 1. He followed a 120-yard performance with 40 yards. Like I said above, Emmanuel Sanders has been looking like the number one option. Sutton will be very touchdown dependent moving forward and this week is not going to be a good week for it against the Packers. The Packers have only allowed one passing touchdown this season. I would hold off at least this week with starting Sutton.

Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns

Opponent: Los Angeles Rams

Jarvis Landry is not a bad option to have on your team, but the matchup this week makes him a questionable start. The Rams have yet to allow a passing touchdown this year and have allowed the 7th lowest passing yard total. Landry is coming off a 32-yard game against a garbage-looking Jets team. I do not see this total getting any better against a better Rams defense.