Week 3 of the fantasy football season is an intriguing time for managers because there are so many different elements at play. If you struggled to start the season, then there is a desire to overreact and make wholesale changes, but doing so could leave you vulnerable to regression.
The same is true if you have started 2-0. Stay static, and you leave yourself vulnerable but tinker too much, and you could hurt your team as well.
With injuries and all the other elements swirling, let’s examine some of the top start ’em and sit ’em options from our team in Week 3, including Jordan Mason, Zach Charbonnet, J.K. Dobbins, and others.
Who Should You Start in Week 3?
Jordan Mason, RB, San Francisco 49ers (at LAR)
Just like we thought — a single running back would have every single rushing yard at the position for the 49ers and would be on the field for north of 80% of the snaps. Like we thought, said running back would have a 20+ yard tote and a touchdown in every game, driving an offense that is featuring him in a significant way.
The name on the back of the jersey, however, is the part we missed.
Jordan Mason has been nothing short of special in the stead of Christian McCaffrey (256 yards through two weeks). Although I have my concerns about his ability to handle 25 touches per game for months at a time, I have zero reservations about Mason’s ability to gash a Rams defense that owns the worst rush EPA in the NFL through two weeks.
Jordan Mason is a truly exquisite zone runner pic.twitter.com/BdhliKMyaV
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) September 17, 2024
The 49ers are a touchdown road favorite, pointing to a positive game script that should land Mason plenty of opportunities for splash plays against a Los Angeles team that is flailing apart at the seams (3.4 points allowed per drive; NFL average: 1.9).
Deebo Samuel Sr. is really the only player on this roster who I worry about in terms of stealing valuable fantasy opportunities. But we learned that he is set to miss time, leaving Mason as a locked-in RB1 in all formats.
Could Mason be a sell-high with time? It could happen as we gather intel on McCaffrey’s recovery, but until then, you’re plugging in Mason with as much confidence as any player on your roster.
Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seattle Seahawks (vs. MIA)
Zach Charbonnet posted a 95.5% snap share in Week 2, the highest mark by a running back this season, as he assumed Kenneth Walker III’s role in its entirety.
In the spot start, Charbonnet posted his second NFL game with 30+ rushing yards, 30+ receiving yards, and a rushing score. All other Seattle RBs since 2020 have two such games (Walker and Alex Collins), an ode to the skill set that is in his profile.
In a game in which Seattle is expected to win, I have Charbonnet labeled as a starting option in all formats. He’s a nice matchup play, ranking in the same range as D’Andre Swift (at IND) and Jerome Ford (vs. NYG).
J.K. Dobbins, RB, Los Angeles Chargers (at PIT)
We can argue all day about whether J.K. Dobbins is a good sell for the rest of the season, but how about we put that on hold and just enjoy the ride?
Everyone in your league is well aware of the injury profile and the unsustainable nature of some of these big runs. So, instead of selling him for pennies on the dollar, ride this out.
Dobbins is the first player to open a season with consecutive 130-yard performances since Warrick Dunn for the Falcons in 2006, and he’s looked remarkable in doing so.
He’s a fantasy starter in all formats, and while banking on Dobbins to be the fourth-highest scorer at the position (his current standing) is a bit optimistic, he’s still a top-20 option despite a difficult matchup.
Tank Dell, WR, Houston Texans (at MIN)
After an impressive rookie season, I didn’t think we’d be two weeks into Year 2, and 48.6% of Tank Dell’s yards from scrimmage would be courtesy of the rush. The box score isn’t pretty, but he did short-arm a deep pass last week that, due to his creativity with the ball in his hands, had a shot at turning into a 70-yard score if hauled in.
I think that’s what we are looking at in 2024 for Dell: the need for him to produce when given the opportunity. Nico Collins is going to see enough looks to overcome a bad week in terms of catch rate, and we saw in Week 1 that Stefon Diggs’ veteran savvy puts him in a position to win around the goal line.
That’s a dangerous profile that will cause headaches. Dr. Soppe prescribes you plenty of rest and one tablet of sell-high … after next week. The Texans get the Jaguars in Week 4, a defense that ranks 24th in yards per deep pass attempt and 30th in deep pass touchdown rate.
As far as this week is concerned, Dell is hovering around WR30, and I wouldn’t fault you for playing him over “better” receivers that have backups under center (Jaylen Waddle and Jayden Reed) or QBs that are playing like backups (Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen).
That’s more the product of those specific situations than anything. Dell comes preloaded with a wide range of outcomes this weekend, and that can be appealing if your roster lacks upside.
Who Should You Sit in Week 3?
Jaylen Warren, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. LAC)
With only 15 touches this season, it’s easy to be discouraged with Jaylen Warren’s start, but he’s getting healthier, and his nine carries for 42 yards last week in Denver were good to see.
The Chargers have allowed a league-high 147 running back targets since the beginning of last season, making this a potential breakout spot. Warren, despite the snap disadvantage, is dead even with Najee Harris in routes run (20 apiece), giving him an avenue to post a decent stat line.
I’m not Flexing Warren this week if you have receivers with strong profiles, but this matchup could be a turning-point situation.
Rico Dowdle, RB, Dallas Cowboys (vs. BAL)
The four catches for Rico Dowdle last week were nice to see, but that was more the result of a one-sided game script than anything. Ezekiel Elliott hasn’t separated himself in a meaningful way through two weeks (16 carries for 56 yards with his longest rush going for nine yards). While Elliott would still be my pick to lead this backfield in fantasy points because of his scoring equity, his grasp on the leading role is tenuous.
Better times are ahead for everyone on this offense (two non-competitive games thus far), but I’m not sure it will happen this week. Dowdle is roster-worthy, even if he is nowhere close to lineup consideration right now.
Quentin Johnston, WR, Los Angeles Chargers (at PIT)
The 21st overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft has been the punchline of most jokes, but Quentin Johnston has caught eight of 11 targets this season and is coming off of a multi-score game against the lowly Panthers.
The pedigree makes Johnston at least interesting, but given how this offense wants to run, he’s really going to have to separate himself from his teammates to work his way into my Flex rankings.
Last September, Justin Herbert averaged 30 completions per game. Through two weeks, he has 31 completions.
It works in favor of these receivers that the running backs aren’t a big threat as pass catchers, and that has me watching with a careful eye; it’s just a careful eye while they ride the pine for my team.