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Should I start Garrett Wilson, DK Metcalf, Cooper Kupp for Week 3? Fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks and recommendations for the 2025 NFL season.
There are plenty of lineup decisions to make for Week 3, and a lot of them involve the wide receiver position. Injuries, new quarterbacks, inconsistent starts, and everything in between have fantasy managers searching for the perfect plays for this week.
Some receivers are automatic starts, regardless of the matchup. Others are harder to pin down. The talent is there, and you spent a high draft pick on him. The problem is, the situation doesn't always call for starting him.
So, who can you have faith in this week? I'll look at three playmakers that can cause trust issues: Garrett Wilson, DK Metcalf, and Cooper Kupp. Let's determine whether they deserve to get the start in Week 3.
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Should I Start Garrett Wilson for Fantasy Football?
Week 2 wasn't kind to the Jets' offense, nor did it do fantasy managers any favors. Wilson brought in just four catches for 50 yards in that contest, while quarterback Justin Fields went down with a concussion, keeping him off the field in Week 3. Now, Tyrod Taylor will be under center when New York faces Tampa Bay.
The Buccaneers' secondary has been stingy to begin the season, allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to wideouts.
That first pass attempt from Justin Fields is one he has to hit. That’s a super clean pocket. Good route from Wilson & he’s open. Should be pitch-and-catch pic.twitter.com/SvOA8mb22r
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) September 15, 2025
Opposing receivers have caught just 21-of-42 passes for 251 and one TD, with zero rushing production. Not ideal: a tough matchup and downgrade at QB.
Wilson is too important to the Jets' offense to ride the pine. He posted 22.5 fantasy points in Week 1 and just 9.0 in Week 2, but the talent is clear as day. Even in a less-than-ideal spot, you have to start Wilson this week. Don't expect fireworks from the wideout, but he should post solid WR2 numbers.
Should I Start DK Metcalf for Fantasy Football?
The Steelers' new wide receiver had a strong showing in Week 1, and despite a quiet Sunday on the yardage front, he still hauled in a TD in Week 2.
Metcalf finished with three catches for 20 yards and his first touchdown with Pittsburgh. Additionally, he led the team in targets with six, which is an encouraging sign despite limited volume. This week, Pittsburgh takes on the Patriots, whose secondary currently allows the second-most fantasy points per contest to wide receivers.
DK Metcalf on Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez, who returned to practice this week: "A great young player. He has the size that a lot of teams want going against a bigger receiver in this league, so he definitely has the size advantages. Smart, and he's a tough kid to go against."
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) September 17, 2025
If CB Christian Gonzalez returns from his hamstring injury this week, Metcalf's value will take a bit of a hit; if Gonzalez sits, the matchup becomes even more appealing. You'll be able to depend on him for fantasy points either way.
Through two contests, Metcalf has registered 12.3 and 11.0 PPR points. He leads the squad in targets and is second in receptions and yards, and Aaron Rodgers should continue to get him the ball. Given the matchup and Metcalf's role on the team, he profiles as a strong WR2 option this week with a chance to deliver a huge game if Gonzalez remains sidelined.
Should I Start Cooper Kupp for Fantasy Football?
We finally saw some life from Cooper Kupp in Week 2. After a disappointing two-catch, 15-yard opener, he bounced back with seven receptions on nine targets for 90 yards against Pittsburgh. His usage shooting up was exactly what managers wanted to see.
The Seahawks will face the Saints in Week 3, a team that has been stingy when facing wide receivers this season (10th-fewest fantasy points to the position).
3rd and 1: #Seahawks go shotgun. Straight pass. And it works. Darnold to Cooper Kupp over the middle. Kupp's 7th catch on 9th target.
Then Danrold hands to Kenneth Walker for a 20-yard run outside left. Here come the Seahawks in a tie game, at the Steelers 36
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) September 14, 2025
They've also allowed the seventh-most points to running backs this year, meaning Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet (foot) will see an abundance of work. Quarterbacks have found success through the air against New Orleans, with Mac Jones tossing three TDs in Week 2 and Kyler Murray registering two in Week 1.
With defenses concentrating on Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Kupp should continue to see action. He doesn't have every week starting appeal like he once did, but he's the perfect player to start based on matchups. Consider him a WR3 or flex option this week, with a good chance to score his first TD of the season.
Who Should I Start Tool
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Who Should I Start? Who Should I Sit? Some common Week 3 fantasy football lineup decisions are regarding players like Garrett Wilson, DK Metcalf, and Cooper Kupp. But not to worry, we are here to help make these decisions and build winning lineups in Week 3. Set your optimal fantasy football lineups for Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season. Our free Who Should I Start? tool will help make your fantasy football lineup decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to start... all free! Get your winning lineups set, and make the right decisions.
Week 3 Player Decisions. Today's focus is on specific players - Garrett Wilson, DK Metcalf, and Cooper Kupp. These are some of the most common searches for fantasy football lineups in Week 3.
Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player's name. In the second box, search for the second player's name. Compare up to four NFL players at once, and then click the Who To Start? button to see who the recommended starts are based on weekly fantasy football matchups.
Improvements For Who Should I Start? You may have noticed, our Who Should I Start? tool has gotten an overhaul. We've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win your fantasy football matchups each week. You'll see NFL player tiles with headshots and bye weeks, enhanced search results with data to compare, and a slick new interface. We hope you enjoy!
How It Works. Each week, our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy football rankings and projections based on their research. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players who are ranked. If someone is out for the week, they will not appear in the search results.
Scoring Formats. Fantasy football managers play in various types of leagues, and this tool allows you to choose whether it's PPR scoring, Half-PPR scoring, or Standard (Non-PPR) scoring. The second thing you want to do is to select the scoring format. There are three small radio buttons (small circles), so click on the scoring format you prefer. The results may vary based on the scoring format you select.
Popular Week 3 Searches. Curious to see some tough lineup decisions for Week 3 (2025)? Below you will find a list of some popular Who Should I Start? searches that RotoBaller readers are looking at this week. Click any of the links to see the result and recommendation.
Popular Week 3 Searches - Start/Sit Player Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 3 searches and comparisons from our 'Who To Start' tool for Garrett Wilson, DK Metcalf, and Cooper Kupp compared to others:
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