Fantasy Football Start 'Em Sit 'Em: Week 3 top lineup picks (and benches) from Justin Boone
Justin Boone provides a weekly look at undervalued fantasy players to consider starting this week and potential busts you might want to leave on your bench.
For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult his Week 3 rankings.
StartsDak Prescott, QB, Cowboys
at Bears
After a quiet performance in Week 1 versus the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles, Prescott rebounded in a big way during the Cowboys' overtime win against the Giants.
Dak threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns, adding another 17 yards on the ground en route to finishing as the QB5 overall on the week.
Now, Prescott heads to Chicago, where he'll take on a banged-up Bears defense that's allowing the most fantasy points to quarterbacks. They'll also be missing several key pieces due to injury.
This game has the second-highest projected point total of the week at 50.5, so get ready for another top-five fantasy result from Dak.
Other QBs to start:
Caleb Williams vs. Cowboys - On the other side of that game, Williams has an equally soft matchup with a Dallas defense that's been the third-easiest opponent for fantasy passers so far.
Drake Maye vs. Steelers - It took a week, but Maye looked like the promising sophomore quarterback I was expecting in 2025, while turning in 26.3 fantasy points (QB3 overall). He'll get another favorable draw in Week 3 against a Steelers defense whose teeth aren't quite as sharp as they used to be.
Jordan Mason, RB, Vikings
vs. Bengals
My bold prediction that Mason would finish as a top-12 fantasy running back in Week 2 fell short, but it turns out I was just a week early.
With Aaron Jones Sr. on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury and J.J. McCarthy sidelined with a high-ankle sprain, the Vikings offense will now lean on Mason to power them.
I'm not sure we could have much more confidence in Jordan as a bell cow kind of back," head coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters.
This is like a sequel for fantasy managers, since Mason averaged 108 scrimmage yards per game over the first seven weeks last year when filling in for Christian McCaffrey.
The Bengals are giving up the third-most fantasy points to running backs on the season, so don't be surprised if Mason flirts with top-12 numbers this week.
Other RBs to start:
Kenneth Walker III vs. Saints - How quickly the tables can turn. Prior to last week, we were questioning whether Walker was over his preseason foot injury. But he answered those questions with a big game in Week 2. Now, Zach Charbonnet is dealing with a foot injury of his own, solidifying Walker as a strong RB2 once again.
Javonte Williams at Bears - The veteran, who remains unchallenged in Dallas' backfield, now gets to face a short-handed Bears defense permitting the second-most fantasy points to RBs.
Jaylen Warren at Patriots - While he's no De'Von Achane, Warren should be able to find success in a similar way versus the Pats. Achane caught eight passes for 92 yards and a TD against them last week. And Aaron Rodgers said this week he wants to get Warren even more work in the passing game.
Zay Flowers, WR, Ravens
vs. Lions
The matchup with the Lions is good, but Flowers is making a case to be in the must-start column for fantasy, regardless of his opponent.
Flowers is top 10 in targets this season and delivered a 7-143-1 stat line in the opener and 7-75-0 against the Browns last weekend.
He's finally become a featured part of the Ravens' attack, and if he can find the end zone more frequently this year, it will catapult him into a new fantasy range.
The 25-year-old is the WR6 overall on the year and while that might not be sustainable, a top-12 finish is not out of the question. I have Flowers ranked as a low-end WR1 in both my Week 3 rankings and my rest-of-season trade value charts.
Other WRs to start:
Rome Odunze vs. Cowboys - Odunze has 13 catches for 165 yards and three scores this year, making him the fourth-highest scoring fantasy receiver. He's also heading into a potential high-scoring affair with the Cowboys. Need I say more?
Jakobi Meyers at Commanders - Meyers never feels like the most exciting play, but he's often the right play. His workman-like approach has yielded 8-97-0 and 6-68-0 stat lines. With Brock Bowers playing through a knee injury, expect Meyers to continue to earn double-digit targets and solid production each week.
Ricky Pearsall vs. Cardinals - Whether it's Brock Purdy or Mac Jones, it might not matter for the 49ers' passing attack this week. Arizona's secondary, which already has three cornerbacks on injured reserve, is dealing with more injuries. Expect another boom game from Pearsall here.
Zach Ertz, TE, Commanders
vs. Raiders
Ertz, who will turn 35 in November, continues to produce at a high level for fantasy. The veteran has nine catches for 90 yards and two scores on 13 targets through two games. He's now scored eight touchdowns in his last nine regular-season appearances dating back to last season.
If Marcus Mariota gets the start for the Commanders this week, don't fret. He's a competent backup who had success in the two games when he played the majority of the snaps last year. Ertz even hauled in a touchdown from him in one of those contests.
Other TEs to start:
Juwan Johnson at Seahawks - Johnson leads all tight ends with 20 targets on the season. Combine that with a matchup versus the Seahawks - who have given up the most fantasy points to tight ends - and you have a strong starter this week.
Jake Ferguson at Bears - Chicago isn't the best matchup for fantasy tight ends, but that's beside the point. Ferguson is seeing great volume (18 targets in two outings) and coming off a 9-78-0 performance. He's a solid start with plenty of scoring projected for this game.
Jared Goff, QB, Lions
at Ravens
Goff's fantasy stats might seem tough to project after he struggled in the opener and then lit up the scoreboard with five touchdowns in Week 2. However, I'd argue there are some clear signals to help predict his results.
According to Fantasy Points Data, Goff has averaged over 5.3 fewer fantasy points per game when playing outdoors versus playing in a dome during the last three seasons.
In Week 3, he heads back on the road to Baltimore, where he'll be forced to take on a tough Ravens' defense outside. The last time that scenario occurred was Week 7 in 2023. Goff threw for 284 yards, no touchdowns and one interception while finishing as the QB24 on the week.
Other QBs to sit:
Trevor Lawrence vs. Texans - Lawrence took advantage of a generous Bengals' defense last week, but Houston will give him the hardest challenge he's encountered this year.
Matthew Stafford at Eagles - When you see Philadelphia on the schedule for a non-elite fantasy quarterback, the safest play is to send them to your bench.
J.K. Dobbins, RB, Broncos
at Chargers
This might be a small revenge game for Dobbins, who spent last season with the Chargers.
Though he's off to a hot start with 139 rushing yards, 14 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his first two appearances for the Broncos, Dobbins will have a difficult time against his old squad.
The Chargers are the second-toughest matchup for fantasy RBs in 2025. They haven't allowed a running back to top 43 rushing yards or 17 receiving yards against them this year and no runner has found the end zone.
You might not have a better option than Dobbins, but just make sure to adjust your expectations this week. He's an RB3 who will likely need to find the end zone to come through for you.
Other RBs to sit:
David Montgomery at Ravens - Montgomery got in on the scoring bonanza last week, but will have a much harder time on the road against the Ravens. He's a TD-or-bust RB3.
Omarion Hampton vs. Broncos - While the usage has been good, the production simply hasn't been there for Hampton. You shouldn't expect that to turn around in a game with the Broncos. Better days will arrive soon - just not yet.
TreVeyon Henderson vs. Steelers - Henderson's playing time took a hit last week after some rookie mistakes. Hopefully, Antonio Gibson turning this into a three-man committee was just a one-week occurrence. Regardless, Henderson needs to head to your bench until we see him start producing.
Tee Higgins, WR, Bengals
at Vikings
No one will feel a greater fantasy impact from the loss of Joe Burrow than Higgins.
Jake Browning is a decent backup who fared well in extended relief duty in the past. However, he's unlikely to support multiple fantasy stars the way Burrow can. Browning also has a tendency to lock onto Ja'Marr Chase (for good reason).
That increases Higgins' volatility and makes him a boom-or-bust WR3 for fantasy. When you add a grueling matchup with the Vikings defense to the mix, it turns Higgins into someone you might want to bench this week.
Other WRs to sit:
DeVonta Smith vs. Rams - Smith hasn't gotten going yet this season and that isn't likely to change against the Rams, who haven't let a receiver reach 60 yards against them this year.
Jerry Jeudy/Cedric Tillman vs. Packers - The Packers defense has quickly become one to avoid for fantasy. Jeudy and Tillman will need a TD to pay off in this game.
Hollywood Brown at Giants - Brown's temporary stint as the Chiefs' No. 1 receiver may already be coming to an end as Xavier Worthy is practicing and may play in Week 3. Even with Worthy sidelined, Brown failed to make much of an impact fantasy-wise. He's just a risky flex option.
Mark Andrews, TE, Ravens
vs. Lions
It would be an extreme leap of faith to start Andrews this week after he came away with just one catch in each game, totaling a measly seven scoreless yards.
We know Andrews can find the end zone, so that's always a path for him to return fantasy value, but he can't be viewed as anything more than a fringe low-end TE1. If he doesn't shake out of this slump this week, he'll be bumped down into the TE2 range moving forward.
This also coincides with the potential return of Isaiah Likely, who's back at practice and may suit up this week. Once Likely is healthy, there's a real possibility that he overtakes Andrews as the top tight end in Baltimore.
Meanwhile, the Lions gave up the fewest fantasy points to tight ends last year and are off to a good start in that department again, preventing any TE from eclipsing 30 yards against them through two weeks.
Other TEs to sit:
T.J. Hockenson vs. Bengals - Hockenson has just 27 yards through two outings, but he also hasn't looked like the difference-maker he was before his injuries. With the uncertainty at quarterback in Minnesota, it's best to find another starting option for the time being.
Hunter Henry vs. Steelers - Henry's usage took a slight turn for the worse in Week 2 and his targets drastically declined from eight to three, resulting in just one catch in Week 2. The matchup isn't daunting by any means, but Henry is in a big group of boom-or-bust tight ends and I'd rather look elsewhere this week.