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USATSI

The 2024 NFL season is underway and now it's time to set your Week 3 lineups.

Jamey Eisenberg has all the Start 'Em & Sit 'Em insight you'll need to make sound decisions at quarterback ahead of Week 3, right here. His Waiver Wire column can also direct you to the best options that may be available in your leagues. And don't forget to check out Heath Cummings' wide receiver preview for more help with matchup notes, Week 2 numbers to know and more. Plus check out Heath's Week 3 projections over at SportsLine.

WRs to Start
Projections powered by Sportsline
PIT Pittsburgh • #14
Age: 23 • Experience: 3 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs LAC PIT -1.5 O/U 36
OPP VS WR
18th
PROJ PTS
12.5
WR RNK
21st
YTD Stats
REC
8
TAR
11
REYDS
114
TD
0
FPTS/G
9.7
Pickens had a tough matchup in Week 2 at Denver with cornerback Patrick Surtain, and he finished with two catches for 29 yards on four targets. In Week 1, Pickens had six catches for 85 yards on seven targets against Atlanta, and I'm expecting a similar stat line -- if not better -- in Week 3 against the Chargers. Pickens is worth starting as a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues.
DET Detroit • #9
Age: 23 • Experience: 3 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ ARI DET -3 O/U 51.5
OPP VS WR
18th
PROJ PTS
14.7
WR RNK
20th
YTD Stats
REC
10
TAR
20
REYDS
200
TD
1
FPTS/G
19.4
It's fun watching Williams have his third-year breakout campaign in front of our eyes. Through two games against the Rams and Buccaneers, Williams has 20 targets for 10 catches, 200 yards and a touchdown, and he's scored at least 14.4 PPR points in each outing. Williams should be considered a solid No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues in Week 3, and he could see a boost in value with Amon-Ra St. Brown (leg) potentially limited if he's less than 100 percent.
BAL Baltimore • #4
Age: 24 • Experience: 2 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ DAL BAL -1 O/U 48.5
OPP VS WR
8th
PROJ PTS
14.6
WR RNK
19th
YTD Stats
REC
13
TAR
21
REYDS
128
TD
1
FPTS/G
16.6
Flowers is off to a solid start this season with 21 targets in two games against Kansas City and Las Vegas, and he has 13 catches for 128 yards and a touchdown over that span while averaging 16.6 PPR points per game. This game has the potential to be a shootout with a projected score of 48.5, and Flowers would be in a great spot if the Ravens are chasing points and struggling to run the ball. I like Flowers as a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues.
CHI Chicago • #2
Age: 27 • Experience: 7 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ IND IND -1.5 O/U 43.5
OPP VS WR
9th
PROJ PTS
16.2
WR RNK
16th
YTD Stats
REC
11
TAR
18
REYDS
89
TD
0
FPTS/G
10.7
Keenan Allen (heel) was out in Week 2 at Houston, and he missed practice Wednesday leading up to Week 3 at the Colts. That should be a boost for Moore, and this matchup against Indianapolis is his best one to date after playing the Titans and Texans in the first two weeks of the season. Moore has 18 targets in two games, but he's only managed 11 catches for 89 yards and is averaging just 10.7 PPR points per game. The Colts are No. 6 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and Moore should finally deliver as a No. 2 Fantasy option in all leagues in Week 3.
NO New Orleans • #22
Age: 26 • Experience: 3 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs PHI NO -2.5 O/U 49.5
OPP VS WR
28th
PROJ PTS
12.5
WR RNK
24th
YTD Stats
REC
7
TAR
9
REYDS
169
TD
2
FPTS/G
18.6
It's time to start Shaheed as a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues. He's been impressive in two games against Carolina and Dallas with seven catches for 169 yards and two touchdowns on nine targets, and he's averaging 18.6 PPR points per game. I'm hopeful that Chris Olave starts playing at a higher level as well, but clearly Klint Kubiak's offense has been great for New Orleans, especially Shaheed. This week, the Saints are facing an Eagles defense that has allowed two opposing receivers to score touchdowns in each of their first two games, so hopefully Shaheed and Olave can each find the end zone in this matchup.
Sleepers (Start/Sit)
Projections powered by Sportsline
SEA Seattle • #11
Age: 22 • Experience: 2 yrs.
Smith-Njigba got on track in a big way in Week 2 at New England with 12 catches for 117 yards on 16 targets, and hopefully this is a sign of things to come. DK Metcalf is a must-start receiver in all leagues in Week 3 against Miami, and Smith-Njigba is a borderline No. 2 receiver in this matchup with the Dolphins. Tyler Lockett should just be considered a flier in the majority of leagues, and most Fantasy managers would rather see Metcalf and Smith-Njigba continue to dominate targets from Geno Smith.
BUF Buffalo • #10
Age: 24 • Experience: 3 yrs.
The volume hasn't been there for Shakir yet with only eight targets in two games, but he's been Buffalo's most reliable receiver so far with eight catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. He scored 13.2 PPR points in Week 1 against Arizona, and I'm hoping he can at least reach that total against Jacksonville. So far, three receivers have scored at least 12.3 PPR points against the Jaguars in two games against Miami and Cleveland, and Shakir should be started in all three-receiver leagues in Week 3.
CAR Carolina • #5
Age: 28 • Experience: 6 yrs.
I'm hopeful that things start to improve for Johnson in Week 3 at the Raiders with Andy Dalton starting at quarterback for the Panthers in place of Bryce Young. Johnson has been awful so far in two games in Carolina with five catches for 34 yards on 12 targets. I'm willing to use Johnson as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues against Las Vegas, and the Raiders have allowed at least one receiver to score at least 14.9 PPR points in each game this season against the Chargers and Ravens.
LAR L.A. Rams • #15
Age: 30 • Experience: 9 yrs.
The Rams need someone to step up with Puka Nacua (knee) and Cooper Kupp (ankle) injured, and Robinson will hopefully be a go-to target for Matthew Stafford. Jordan Whittington, Tyler Johnson and Tutu Atwell are also potential No. 3 Fantasy receivers in deeper leagues, but Robinson should have the best rapport with Stafford and the most upside in Week 3 against the 49ers. In his past three home games, Robinson has 12 catches for 181 yards and three touchdowns, and he scored at least 14.7 PPR points in each outing. San Francisco has also allowed four receivers to score at least 12.0 PPR points in two games this year.
CLE Cleveland • #3
Age: 25 • Experience: 5 yrs.
Jeudy is off to a good start with the Browns with eight catches for 98 yards on 14 targets, and he's scored at least 11.5 PPR points in each game against Dallas and Jacksonville. This week, he has a favorable matchup against the Giants, and Jeudy is worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in the majority of leagues. I'm hopeful this is also the week that Amari Cooper gets on track, and he's worth starting as a No. 2 receiver in all leagues. But Jeudy is worth using as a flier if he's been sitting on your bench to start the season.
WRs to Sit
Projections powered by Sportsline
MIA Miami • #17
Age: 25 • Experience: 4 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ SEA SEA -4.5 O/U 41.5
OPP VS WR
30th
PROJ PTS
12
WR RNK
33rd
YTD Stats
REC
9
TAR
9
REYDS
150
TD
0
FPTS/G
12.4
Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) getting hurt is awful news for Waddle. He's played eight games in his career without Tagovailoa, and Waddle has 42 catches for 453 yards over that span with no touchdowns. That's an average of 5.3 catches and 56.6 yards per game. While Tyreek Hill remains a must-start Fantasy receiver -- he has 25 catches for 302 yards and a rushing touchdown in four games without Tagovailoa -- Waddle is tougher to trust. I would only start Waddle in three-receiver leagues in Week 3 at Seattle with Skylar Thompson under center.
IND Indianapolis • #11
Age: 27 • Experience: 5 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs CHI IND -1.5 O/U 43.5
OPP VS WR
25th
PROJ PTS
13.4
WR RNK
27th
YTD Stats
REC
7
TAR
15
REYDS
52
TD
0
FPTS/G
6.1
Pittman has 15 targets in two games against Houston and Green Bay, but he only has seven catches for 52 yards and no touchdowns over that span. He's been outplayed by Alec Pierce, and Josh Downs (ankle) could return this week for the Colts to further complicate things for Pittman. The Bears secondary has been great so far this season in holding Calvin Ridley, Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell to 8.0 PPR points or less, and Pittman is only worth starting as a No. 3 PPR receiver in Week 3.
LAC L.A. Chargers • #1
Age: 23 • Experience: 2 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ PIT PIT -1.5 O/U 36
OPP VS WR
9th
PROJ PTS
13.1
WR RNK
NR
YTD Stats
REC
8
TAR
11
REYDS
89
TD
2
FPTS/G
14.5
Johnston is worth adding in the majority of leagues after his performance in Week 2 at Carolina with five catches for 51 yards and two touchdowns on six targets, but you don't have to start him in Week 3 at Pittsburgh. The Steelers have yet to allow a receiver to score a touchdown this season and have held Drake London and Courtland Sutton to a combined three catches for 41 yards on seven targets. Stash Johnston on your bench, and hopefully he'll continue to remain a go-to target for Justin Herbert so you can use Johnston as a reliable Fantasy option later in the year.
JAC Jacksonville • #13
Age: 27 • Experience: 7 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ BUF BUF -5 O/U 45.5
OPP VS WR
10th
PROJ PTS
12.3
WR RNK
37th
YTD Stats
REC
2
TAR
7
REYDS
29
TD
0
FPTS/G
2.5
We keep waiting for Kirk to become a factor for the Jaguars and Fantasy managers, but he's basically been invisible for the first two games of the season against Miami and Cleveland. Kirk has seven targets combined in those two games for two catches, 29 yards and no touchdowns. Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis are outplaying Kirk, and he didn't get any boost in Week 2 against the Browns with Evan Engram (hamstring) out. Buffalo's secondary has held Marvin Harrison Jr., Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to a combined eight catches for 69 yards and no touchdowns on 13 targets in two games, and this could be another poor outing for Kirk in Week 3.
DEN Denver • #14
Age: 28 • Experience: 7 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ TB TB -6.5 O/U 39.5
OPP VS WR
28th
PROJ PTS
12
WR RNK
42nd
YTD Stats
REC
5
TAR
16
REYDS
64
TD
0
FPTS/G
5.7
Sutton is one of 18 receivers this season with at least 16 targets, but he's been a miserable Fantasy option despite all of those chances. In two games against Seattle and Pittsburgh, Sutton has combined for five catches for 64 yards and no touchdowns, and he's not worth trusting in most leagues in Week 3 at Tampa Bay. Bo Nix is going to have to look better throwing to Sutton before Fantasy managers can rely on starting him in most leagues.
Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
Projections powered by Sportsline
TB Tampa Bay • #13
Age: 31 • Experience: 11 year
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs DEN TB -6.5 O/U 39.5
OPP VS WR
15th
PROJ PTS
17.4
WR RNK
18th
YTD Stats
REC
8
TAR
12
REYDS
103
TD
2
FPTS/G
15.2
It's tough to sit Evans in the majority of leagues, but this could be a rough week for him against the Broncos and cornerback Patrick Surtain. So far this season, Surtain has helped limit DK Metcalf and George Pickens to a combined five catches for 58 yards and no touchdowns on eight targets. Evans is coming off a down game in Week 2 at Detroit with three catches for 42 yards and no touchdowns on six targets, and he could have another poor performance in Week 3 given the expected matchup with Surtain.

Who should you start and sit this week? And which surprising running back could lead you to victory? Visit SportsLine now to get Week 3 Fantasy projections for every position, plus see which RB comes out of nowhere to crack the top five, all from the model that has outperformed experts big-time