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Matt's quarterback (QB) fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks for Week 3 of 2025. His QB lineups advice for Week 3 fantasy football start/sit decisions.
It's not time to panic yet, but there have been some alarming fantasy trends that fantasy managers need to be aware of heading into Week 3 of the NFL season.
While some names at the top of the leader board have changed, it is still packed with fantasy royalty, at least for now. We also had a plethora of injuries ravage the position this past week, as Justin Fields (concussion), J.J. McCarthy (ankle), Jayden Daniels (knee), and Joe Burrow (toe) are all looking to miss time over the next couple of weeks.
With that in mind, fantasy managers may need a quarterback now more than ever, so here are your Week 3 starts and sits for the quarterback position.
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Week 3 - Fantasy Football Booms
Dak Prescott - QB, Dallas Cowboys at Chicago Bears
Dak Prescott may have needed some extra time, but when the smoke cleared, the Cowboys' signal caller ended up with 361 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Cowboys' 40-37 overtime victory against the New York Giants. After a minimal Week 1 performance, Prescott rewarded fantasy managers for sticking with him, producing 23.1 fantasy points and earning a top 10 fantasy finish for Week 2.
Prescott ranks inside the top-5 in passing yards (548), first-down throws (28), quarterback grade under pressure (86.9), passing grade (88.0), and big-time throws (9). If not for the league-leading 81 drop yards, Prescott's numbers and fantasy production would be even more impressive.
This week, Prescott heads into Chicago a week after Jared Goff threw the ball all over the field against the Bears' secondary. In that Week 2 contest, Goff threw for 334 yards on 23 of 28 passing while hooking up with his pass-catchers on five occasions in the end zone.
We knew Dallas was projected as a pass-heavy offense, and where Prescott has attempted the third most passes in the NFL, this is a favourable matchup that fantasy managers can exploit this week, as the Bears are allowing 28.09 fantasy points per game to the quarterback position after two consecutive top 12 fantasy finishes against them.
Dak Prescott (2) to George Pickens (1)
Dallas Cowboys
6 yards pic.twitter.com/iSBRZQJnla— NFL Touchdown Videos (@NFLTDsVideos) September 14, 2025
Daniel Jones - QB, Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans
At the surface, this doesn't look like an appealing matchup for Daniel Jones. Last season, the Titans only allowed 15.12 fantasy points per game to the position. So far through two weeks of the 2024 season, they are continuing that dominance as they concede the second-fewest fantasy production to the position, 12.08 per contest.
Against the Broncos, Tennessee kept Bo Nix in check and allowed an insignificant 6.84 fantasy points, allowing 176 yards passing and 18 yards rushing. However, against Matthew Stafford, the Titans' secondary allowed 298 yards passing and 17.32 fantasy points.
Daniel Jones is far from a must-start quarterback in fantasy, yet something has changed since Jones took his talents from New York to Indianapolis. Coaching may matter after all. Perhaps the bright lights of New York were too blinding, but Jones is averaging 26.2 fantasy points per game and trails only Lamar Jackson in that category. Jones is 2-0 as a Colts, and just torched the Broncos' defense for 318 total yards, completing 22 of 34 passing attempts.
The @Colts are the first team in the Super Bowl era to not punt in either of their first two games in a season 🤯#ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/SGwXuqsNpu
— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) September 14, 2025
On the season, Jones has already racked up 616 total yards, an adjusted completion percentage of 74.2%, zero turnovers, five total touchdowns, and led the Colts on 12 different scoring drives. I'm not even sure the Colts have a punter.
Caleb Williams - QB, Chicago Bears vs. Dallas Cowboys
Circling back to the Cowboys and Bears matchup, and as bad as the Bears have been, the Cowboys haven't been much better. Last week, despite a Cowboys victory, Russell Wilson was cooking, popping off for 31.3 fantasy points after throwing for 450 yards and three touchdowns.
Thus far, Dallas has been surrendering 27.14 fantasy points per game; meanwhile, despite his flaws, Caleb Williams has seemingly flown under the fantasy radar with back-to-back performances netting him at least 18 fantasy points. The 21.1 fantasy points Williams is currently averaging is among the top 12 quarterbacks. The data and metrics don't support Williams, but the fantasy points are.
With a good matchup on the docket this week, Williams should see an improvement in his passing numbers that will mesh with what he has been able to do on the ground, where his production has come. Williams has averaged 42 rushing yards in two games, an increase of 13 yards per game from last season.
Williams' offensive line play has improved, but his scramble rate increased from 7% in 2024 to 10% through the first two weeks.
Week 3 Sits - Potential Fantasy Football Busts
Jalen Hurts - QB, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams
It's not wise to call out Jalen Hurts's production when trailing in a ball game, but sitting on the opposite end of a computer screen makes things much easier. Look, players say they don't care about fantasy football, which is likely true for Hurts, but with an average of 17.9 fantasy points through the first two weeks, fantasy managers are a little concerned. After all, that's a 3.4 fantasy points per game drop from last season.
It doesn't get any easier this week for Hurts, whose 253 yards passing have him behind Brock Purdy, who didn't play last week, and 12 yards ahead of Jake Browning, who relieved Joe Burrow the previous week. This season, Los Angeles is allowing the fewest fantasy points to the position, allowing an average of 181.5 yards passing and a single touchdown pass.
When you add that up, it works out to 9.26 fantasy points per game, and the only team to allow 12 or fewer fantasy points to the position this season on a per-game basis. This is a fun fact, or not so fun, depending on your perspective. Tyrod Taylor and Hurts have the same number of completions (2) of 10-plus air yards this season, which is tied for 34th.
Bryce Young - QB, Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons
Last week, Bryce Young was a garbage-time machine. Despite trailing 27-2 against the Cardinals, Young completed 33 of 55 passing attempts, both career highs, and threw for 328 yards and three touchdowns.
In Week 3, things aren't as simple. Once again, Carolina, on paper, appears to be an underdog and, once again, will in all likelihood be playing from behind. Holding a first-year starter in J.J. McCarthy to 11 of 21 passing for 158 yards is one thing; it's another to hold Baker Mayfield to 167 yards passing on 17 of 32, which the Falcons accomplished.
It's easy to dismiss the Falcons after shutting down McCarthy, and while Mayfield did throw three touchdowns, their pass defense was solid. This is a significant reason why the Falcons allowed 12.70 fantasy points to the fifth-fewest position. Atlanta is currently number two in total defense, fourth in scoring defense, fifth in sacks, and among the leaders in takeaways.
Trevor Lawrence - QB, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans
Another quarterback that exceeded expectations last week was Trevor Lawrence, who threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns in the loss to Cincinnati. Lawrence would have posted an even more impressive fantasy outing than the 21.2 fantasy points if not for the pair of interceptions.
While Lawrence has 449 passing yards, the 6.16 yards per attempt accompanying it is somewhat concerning. Despite having playmakers such as Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter, and Dyami Brown, Lawrence's deep-ball rate of 6.8% ranks 30th. Meanwhile, Lawrence's 80.8% first-read target share is again among the top three, trailing only Stafford and Jones.
As brilliant a play caller as Liam Coen is, the Jaguars' offense is predictable, something you can't be when facing Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. Heading into this Week 3 showdown, Houston sits eighth in fantasy production allowed to the quarterback position, allowing 13.60 fantasy points per game.
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