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Quincy's top fantasy football matchups for Week 3 of 2024. His favorite start 'em, sit 'em picks and predictions - strong start/sit matchups that he loves.
Week 2 was a much more normal week with quarterbacks finally putting up solid numbers through the air. As such, fantasy scores were higher.
Unfortunately, many tight ends remain nonexistent thus far this season. That is poised to change, but it is certainly worrisome moving forward. Even so, as fantasy football managers, we will continue to push forward.
Week 3 is when we will start to have a better understanding of how the fantasy season is going to go. Pretenders should start to show their true colors and contenders should start to emerge. Let's check out our favorite fantasy matchups in Week 3.
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Fantasy Football Quarterback Matchups We Love
Kyler Murray - Arizona Cardinals
Opponent: DET
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 23rd
Quarterbacks continue to get the job done against the Detroit Lions defense. While Baker Mayfield did not exactly light up the scoreboard in Week 2 against this team, he still managed to score 19.80 fantasy points.
This Cardinals offense is legitimate. Murray and Co. just torched the Los Angeles Rams for all they could handle in Week 2. Now that this offense seems committed to feeding Marvin Harrison Jr., the sky is the limit.
The Lions beat themselves in Week 2 and I do not expect that to be the case in Week 3. Arizona's defense should have trouble containing the Lions offense. This will force the Cardinals to need to score to keep up. The points should flow on both sides of this game. Fire Murray up with confidence.
In today's @AZCardinals victory, Kyler Murray (@K1) became the 2nd player in @NFL history with 250+ passing yards, 50+ rushing yards and a 158.3 passer rating - the highest attainable mark - in a single game.
He joins Ken Anderson, who accomplished the feat on Nov. 3, 1974. pic.twitter.com/R4riWfygVd
— NFL345 (@NFL345) September 15, 2024
Derek Carr - New Orleans Saints
Opponent: PHI
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 24th
Don't look now but Derek Carr is the QB2 in fantasy. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has unlocked the playmakers in this offense. Carr looks the best he has looked possibly ever in his career.
The Eagles pass defense has been beaten by both Jordan Love and Kirk Cousins in the first two weeks of the season. They have allowed each quarterback to pick up huge chunk plays. With Carr having so much luck chucking it deep to Rashid Shaheed, expect more of the same this week.
Carr should at least be rostered in every league. If this output continues, then he could be a league-winner.
Fantasy Football Quarterback Matchup to Temper Expectations
C.J. Stroud - Houston Texans
Opponent: at MIN
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 3rd
This is less of an "avoid" and more of a "temper expectations." From a real-life perspective, Stroud has been awesome thus far in 2024. However, he has not delivered in fantasy due to a low rushing floor and lack of touchdowns.
The Texans do not seem to have figured out how to best use their three superstar weapons in Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs, and Tank Dell. While Collins has feasted through two weeks, Dell and Diggs have been left out.
Further compounding the lack of upside for Stroud this week is the fact that the Vikings defense is very good. They have only allowed 20 points through two weeks, including holding the 49ers to 17 points in Week 2. If you can find a way to stream another quarterback over Stroud (Derek Carr comes to mind), then this may be the week to do so.
Fantasy Football Running Back Matchups We Love
Tony Pollard - Tennessee Titans
Opponent: GB
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 26th
Pollard has been excellent this season, especially concerning draft cost. In Week 3, he will face a Packers defense that has been gashed by both Saquon Barkley and Jonathan Taylor through the first two weeks.
Further supporting Pollard's case is the fact that he may have the backfield to himself with Tyjae Spears nursing an ankle injury. Buckle up and enjoy the show this week as these two teams figure to grind it out against each other.
Rhamondre Stevenson - New England Patriots
Opponent: at NYJ
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 22nd
With as good as the Jets pass defense is, their run defense has slacked this season so far. They allowed Jordan Mason to run all over them in Week 1 and Tony Pollard had a solid day in Week 2.
The Patriots are not getting much out of their passing offense but Stevenson has run the ball very effectively thus far in 2024. Both of these teams are struggling to produce high-end offensive numbers. This game projects to be a gritty divisional battle on Thursday night that could be decided by each team's run game.
Fantasy Football Running Back Matchups to Temper Expectations
James Conner - Arizona Cardinals
Opponent: DET
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 1st
Conner has been so good through two weeks that it is difficult to put him on this list. However, he is facing a different beast in the Detroit Lions defensive front.
Simply put, you do not run on this team. Even with Conner's expected passing targets, the Lions have kept the likes of Kyren Williams, Rachaad White, and Bucky Irving in check thus far this season. Williams was bailed out in Week 1 by a touchdown and you are likely going to be hoping for something similar from Conner this week.
The passing side of both offenses should be great in this game, and that should help Conner a bit. However, do not expect Conner to run wild.
Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Matchups We Love
Davante Adams - Las Vegas Raiders
Opponent: CAR
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 11th
This is a "start everyone you can" type of situation. The Panthers have been nothing short of awful in just about every facet thus far this season. Adams just found success against a much more serviceable defense in the Ravens in Week 2. He should have no trouble in Week 3 against the Panthers.
With the Panthers benching quarterback Bryce Young in favor of Andy Dalton, this game should be more competitive. That bodes well for Adams because it will keep the ball in the air rather than a hard-nosed ground attack to run out the clock.
Adams was not a favorite of mine at draft cost but I always figured he would have several good games. This should be one of those games.
Luke Getsy realizing he has Davante Adams and Brock Bowers on his team https://t.co/eDK3Mw5gz1 pic.twitter.com/DfwsXTHJ0Y
— Michael Ritter (@MikeSteveRitter) September 15, 2024
Jaxon Smith-Njigba - Seattle Seahawks
Opponent: MIA
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 7th
That's right, we are going there. Smith-Njigba finally had a huge breakout in Week 2. The game plan against the Patriots was clear, get the ball to Smith-Njigba and DK Metcalf. Smith-Njigba demonstrated that he can be that dude with 12 receptions for 117 yards on 16 targets.
Metcalf should be tied up with Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey in this game. That should open lanes for Smith-Njigba to thrive.
Smith-Njigba is likely, at worst, your flex option. He may even be your fourth or fifth wide receiver. Throw him in your lineup this week as the Seahawks appear to have hit their stride in the passing game.
Some very promising signs on #Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba:
1. Has run 69 routes on 76 Geno dropbacks this season. That's more than Tyler Lockett (62).
2. Still getting a lot of short-area targets, but now mixing in deeper routes. Average depth of target yesterday was 10.6… pic.twitter.com/45PT8IlzFM
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) September 16, 2024
Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Matchups to Temper Expectations
Mike Evans - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Opponent: DEN
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 1st
This has turned into the Patrick Surtain II section. If you have the No. 1 wide receiver on the team that is playing the Broncos, then expect a tough day.
Evans is likely going to draw the Surtain shadow in Week 3. DK Metcalf and George Pickens were each limited to 29 yards and a total of five catches in their matchups with the Broncos in Weeks 1 and 2.
Evans already struggled in Week 2 against a beatable Lions secondary. Hopefully, he can score a touchdown, but the yardage output projects to be lower than usual.
Fantasy Football Tight End Matchups We Love
George Kittle - San Francisco 49ers
Opponent: at LAR
Opponent Rank vs. TE: 31st
Given how the tight-end position has performed thus far in 2024, it is difficult to project success for any of them. However, George Kittle should be a smash play in Week 3.
The 49ers will be without Deebo Samuel Sr. (calf) and Christian McCaffrey (calf) in Week 3. Kittle has always thrived when at least one of the other 49ers stars is out. Take two out of the picture and Kittle may be in store for a 30-point fantasy outing.
Kittle scored 20.6 fantasy points in Week 2. The 49ers will need to lean on him and Brandon Aiyuk heavily to get a win against the division-rival Rams. Kittle is easily a top-3 option at the position in Week 3.
9. TE George Kittle (SF): I love it when the best overall TE in football BALLS OUT! Currently sitting as the TE1 for Week 2, Kittle had 76 yards and a TD (20.6 points). If Kittle wasn’t used so much to block, he’d certainly post even better numbers weekly. pic.twitter.com/TtiBQx70Xv
— Joshua Cho (@jbchoknows) September 16, 2024
Fantasy Football Tight End Matchups to Temper Expectations
Colby Parkinson - Los Angeles Rams
Opponent: SF
Opponent Rank vs. TE: 3rd
Parkinson was a popular pickup and start in Week 2. He did not deliver, and only scored 2.2 fantasy points. Now, he gets a 49ers defense with excellent coverage linebackers.
The Rams need Parkinson to step up with Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee) both out with injuries. However, this projects to be a rough game for the Rams in general.
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