Fantasy Football Start/Sit Today: Who to Start and Sit This Week in Week 3

Week 3 Fantasy Football Start/Sit at a Glance

Starts:

• Ladd McConkey, WR, Chargers
• David Montgomery, RB, Texans
• Jalen Coker, WR, Panthers

Sits:

• Tony Pollard, RB, Titans
• Jameson Williams, WR, Lions
• Courtland Sutton, WR, Broncos

Setting your fantasy football lineup can be straightforward when it comes to the league's biggest stars, but the decisions on the fringes of your starting lineup can often determine whether you win or lose a given week.

That's especially true early in the season. Two weeks have given us valuable information on player usage, offensive roles and team tendencies, but we're still working with a relatively small sample.

With Sunday's Week 3 slate starting today, let's dig into some of the toughest lineup decisions and identify three players to start and three to consider leaving on the bench.

You can stay up to date with this week’s injury news via our NFL player news page.

All betting references refer to the NFL odds at FanDuel Sportsbook. All statistics via NFL Next Gen Stats and Pro Football Focus unless otherwise stated.

Week 3 Fantasy Football Start/Sit

Fantasy Football Starts for Week 3

Ladd McConkey, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

Ladd McConkey is coming off a quiet Week 2, but this looks like a good opportunity to keep him in fantasy lineups.

McConkey has been dealing with a rib injury, and that clearly impacted his workload against Las Vegas. He played only 45.2% of the Los Angeles Chargers' offensive snaps and ran a route on 67.7% of their passing plays. His 11.1% target share in Week 2 was also well below what fantasy managers would ideally like to see.

The good news is that his health appears to be trending in the right direction. McConkey was a full participant in practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and he carries no injury designation into Sunday's matchup with the Buffalo Bills.

The matchup also gives us reason for optimism. Buffalo has allowed the sixth-most yards per target and eighth-most fantasy points per target to receivers operating from the slot through two weeks.

There is certainly some risk given McConkey's early-season usage, but a healthier version of him should have a chance to get back on track in a game where Los Angeles may need to throw it often. That makes McConkey an appealing WR2/flex option in Week 3.

David Montgomery, RB, Houston Texans

David Montgomery is coming off an ugly performance, but Week 3 offers a nice bounce-back spot.

Montgomery managed only 10 rushing yards on six carries against Cincinnati last week, adding two catches for 14 yards. That was a dramatic change from Week 1, when he handled 20 carries for 60 yards and two rushing touchdowns while adding three catches for 19 yards and another score.

Overall, Montgomery has turned 26 carries into 70 yards and two rushing touchdowns through two games.

There are workload concerns after he played just 53.2% of the Houston Texans‘ offensive snaps in Week 2, but the matchup this week gives him a chance to rebound. The Indianapolis Colts have allowed the third-highest explosive run rate, sixth-highest rushing success rate and fourth-highest missed-tackle rate through two weeks.

Montgomery's fantasy outlook is always going to depend somewhat on game script and touchdown opportunities, but this is the type of matchup where he can produce a solid day.

Jalen Coker, WR, Carolina Panthers

At this point, fantasy managers likely need to stop treating Jalen Coker‘s early-season production as a fluke.

Coker has opened 2026 with exactly eight receptions in each of the Carolina Panthers‘ first two games. He erupted for 138 yards and two touchdowns against Chicago in Week 1 before following that up with eight catches for 66 yards against Atlanta.

That leaves him with 16 receptions, 204 receiving yards and two touchdowns in just two games.

Coker's combination of volume and big-play production gives him an intriguing fantasy profile. Even when he didn't find the end zone in Week 2, he still produced a useful fantasy outing thanks to his eight receptions.

There is one thing fantasy managers will need to monitor Sunday morning. Coker is officially questionable with an ankle injury after being limited in Friday's practice. However, Panthers coach Dave Canales has indicated that he expects Coker to play.

Assuming Coker is active, his early-season role is becoming difficult to ignore. He belongs in the WR2/flex conversation in Week 3.

Fantasy Football Sits for Week 3

Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans

Tony Pollard has run the ball fairly efficiently to begin the season, but his overall fantasy role comes with enough concerns to consider other options in Week 3.

Pollard carried the ball seven times for 35 yards in the Tennessee Titans‘ opener before recording 14 carries for 64 yards against Philadelphia last week. He has averaged 4.7 yards per carry across those two games, but the passing-game usage has been nearly nonexistent.

Pollard has caught only two passes through two weeks, and those receptions have produced a combined zero receiving yards. He has also yet to score a touchdown.

More concerning was his Week 2 workload. Pollard played 52.9% of Tennessee's offensive snaps, handled 48.3% of the team's rushing attempts and ran a route on only 37.5% of its passing plays. Tyjae Spears' presence makes it difficult for Pollard to consistently produce the type of volume we want from a dependable fantasy starter.

The matchup with the New York Giants is actually favorable for the running game, so this isn't a matchup-based sit. Instead, the concern comes from Pollard's workload, minimal receiving production and limited touchdown opportunities within the Titans' offense.

There is one caveat here. Spears enters Sunday listed as questionable with an ankle injury. If he's unable to play, Pollard would become a much more attractive fantasy option due to the potential increase in touches.

If both backs are active, however, fantasy managers with another viable RB2 or flex option can consider leaving Pollard on the bench.

Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions

Jameson Williams remains one of the NFL's more dangerous big-play receivers, but his early-season volume hasn't provided much of a fantasy floor.

Williams caught four passes for 45 yards in Week 1, then managed only two receptions for 33 yards against Buffalo a week ago. He has six catches for 78 yards and zero touchdowns through two games.

His underlying usage hasn't been particularly encouraging, either. Williams has recorded a 15.6% target share and averaged just 1.00 yards per route run through the Detroit Lions‘ first two games.

That's problematic for a player who relies on explosive plays for a large portion of his fantasy production.

The New York Jets haven't been an easy matchup for perimeter receivers, either. Through two weeks, New York has allowed the sixth-fewest yards per target to receivers lined up on the outside.

Williams always possesses week-winning upside because one deep completion can completely change his fantasy output. However, the combination of modest volume and a difficult matchup makes his floor tough to trust.

Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos

Cameron Sutton‘s name carries some weight, but his production through the first two weeks makes him difficult to trust entering Sunday night.

Sutton caught only two passes for 11 yards against Kansas City in Week 1. He followed that up with three receptions for 25 yards against Jacksonville.

That leaves Sutton with just five catches for 36 receiving yards through two games. He hasn't scored a touchdown, and his longest reception of the season has gone for only 10 yards.

It's difficult to justify automatically starting a receiver based on his previous production when his current role isn't generating worthwhile fantasy numbers.

Sutton will get a chance to turn things around against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night, and his ability around the end zone means he always carries some touchdown upside. Still, fantasy managers would ideally like to see the Denver Broncos start generating more meaningful downfield opportunities for him before putting him back into lineups with confidence.

Unless you're thin at wide receiver, Sutton is a risky Week 3 starter who can be left on the bench in favor of a player with a more dependable early-season role.

Fantasy Football Start/Sit FAQ

Who should I start in fantasy football this week?

The best starts are typically players with strong recent usage, favorable matchups and a reliable path to touches or targets. Matchup-specific factors and changes in workload should also be considered before setting your lineup.

Who should I sit in fantasy football this week?

Players can be worth sitting when they face difficult matchups, have seen their role decrease or carry significant risk due to injuries or inconsistent usage. Even proven players can be matchup-based sits in a given week.

How do you decide who to start or sit in fantasy football?

Start/sit decisions should account for a player's expected volume, recent production, matchup, offensive role and game environment. Comparing those factors against your other lineup options can help determine which player offers the best combination of floor and upside.

Should I start a player with a difficult matchup?

It depends. A difficult matchup can lower a player's expected production, but high-volume players can still deliver strong fantasy performances regardless of the matchup. The player's role and expected opportunity should usually carry more weight than matchup alone. Another huge factor is whether or not you have quality alternatives on your roster.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.