by Pedro Ochoa

NFL Week 3 is making us all question whether or not we are really here and watching football in 2020, as the league’s two most high-octane quarterbacks headline Monday Night Football.

If you are debating whether to start or sit Lamar Jackson from the Ravens, then you should really think again, because Lamar is a must start for Sunday. Yes, he will be playing a tough defense in the Chiefs and their own QB Patrick Mahomes but he’s Lamar Jackson, the NFL’s reigning MVP. 

Another great start for the week is Dak Prescott from the Dallas Cowboys. He has averaged 28.7 fantasy points in the first two weeks, and he looks to continue that against a Seattle secondary that struggled against Cam Newton in Week 2. As for his Running Back, Ezekiel Elliott, he is also a must start. You drafted him to lead your team, and he will do that this week again.

One of my favorite starts this week at the Running Back position are Austin Ekeler and Josh Kelley. The Panthers have allowed the most fantasy points to running backs since 2019. Ekeler and Kelley will be getting a lot of touches and targets and put up some big numbers for your team.

Kenyan Drake has really been quiet this season. Averaging 13 points this season, he is not looking like the RB1 that you drafted him to be. However, he faces the Detroit Lions this week. This should be a big week for him and the Arizona Cardinals. Kyler Murray and Deandre Hopkins will also have a big game. Put them into your starting lineups!

Dwayne Haskins has found his favorite wide receiver in Scary Terry McLaurin. Terry McLaurin has had a great two weeks and this week he has a favorable matchup against the Cleveland Browns. 

DK Metcalf had been Russell Wilson’s favorite target so far this season on deep balls. Metcalf is the leading targeted receiver, and is making the most out of them. Metcalf and the Seahawks look to go 3-0 with a win against the Cowboys.

I gave you the players that have the best match-ups, so I have to now give you some players with not so favorable match-ups. Marquise Brown is my first player on this list. We all thought that Lamar would start throwing more, which would result in Brown having more points per week. This has not happened yet, but it will happen, just not this week against the Chiefs. 

Cooper Kupp has been performing to a level that I think he will stay at. Years back, Kupp would be getting most of the touches in the red zone. That now belongs to Tyler Higbee. Higbee is getting Kupp’s touches in the red zone, and this week, with a not so favourable matchup, I am going to have to say to sit Cooper Krupp.

The Raven’s backfield is keeping people guessing on who to start each week. I don’t trust the Raven’s backfield. They had Dobbins get most of the touches week 1, and Edwards and Ingram week 2. I think every Ravens Running Back should be sat this week against the Chiefs because of the uncertainty of the running backs.

David Johnson has been getting a lot of touches for the Houston Texans this season. With Hopkins out, he needs to find another favorite target. This week, however, is not a great matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers have one of the best defenses in the league led by TJ Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Johnson would be a guy that will be locked up throughout the game on Sunday.

The last sit of the week for me is Tom Brady. Tom Brady has really been showing his age recently. He has been averaging less than 13 fantasy points a game. There are plenty of better quarterbacks on the waiver wire that can start instead of him.

These next few guys have really been showing football fans that they are legit players and should be starting in every fantasy team. After Marlon Mack’s injury, Colts’ rookie Running Back Johnathan Taylor has been performing on another level. He is getting over 20 touches a game, which is great for fantasy owners. 

Arizona Cardinals Quarterback Kyler Murray looks to be another early candidate for MVP. He is averaging 30 fantasy points, and that is coming from his ability to rush. He is on pace to break Lamar Jackson’s record for 1300 rushing yards in one season by a QB.

In a grim outlook on the Packers’ Running Back situation, many said, “Don’t draft Aaron Jones, he won’t be getting the same amount of points as last year.” The ones that doubted Jones are hiding because the Running Back has been performing amazing. He is the RB1 right now and looks to stay there against the Saints on Sunday. 

As we go into Week 3, make sure you look at injuries and at the waiver wire. Good luck on your week 3 match-ups!