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Week 3 Thursday Night NFL Matchups Analysis: Start/Sit for Fantasy Football

Pierre Camus breaks down the Thursday night game for week 3 of the 2016 NFL season. He analyzes which players to start or sit for fantasy football leagues according to matchups.

It's time for the Week 3 installment of Thursday night matchups with my start/sit recommendations. This week, the Houston Texans face off against the New England Patriots. Both teams are off to a 2-0 start and hope to continue on the way to winning their respective divisions again this season. Something's gotta give...

Each week of the NFL season, we will be breaking down every game and providing you with some fantasy football advice and lineup recommendations based on matchups that we love, matchups that we hate, and injury information as well. Later this week, you will find parts one and two of our Week 3 NFL matchups, which should help you prepare your lineups to win this week. It’s essential to analyze the weekly NFL matchups to find lineup sleepers and gems, while also avoiding those players who may turn out to be busts.

Editor's Note: Be sure to check out FantasyAces DFS contests for Week 3. New users that sign up on Fantasy Aces and make a $20 deposit will receive RotoBaller's full season NFL Premium Pass for free (including Premium DFS), normally a $59.99 value. Expert DFS research, sample lineups, matchup ratings and lots more!

Holiday Special! Save 50% on any Premium Pass using discount code THANKS. Win more with our DFS, Betting and Season-Long Pass, get expert tools and advice from proven winners! GAIN ACCESS

 

Texans @ Patriots - Thursday 9/8 @ 8:25 PM EST

Matchups We Love

Will Fuller (WR, HOU) - The hype is real. Fuller hasn't just been the best rookie receiver of the young season, he has been one of the best receivers period. Expecting another 100 yard performance against a veteran team like the Pats is a bit much, but if he can get the best of the Chiefs' tough secondary, why not again this week? DeAndre Hopkins will continue to attract double teams, leaving room for Fuller to use his speed to his advantage. He can be left in starting lineups as a WR3 or flex in standard leagues until he shows signs of slowing down.

LeGarrette Blount (RB, NE) - Feed the monster. Blount put on a show against the Fins and should get even more reps in a tough defensive matchup. He won't find as many gaping holes as he did against Miami, but expect him to tote the rock plenty which makes him a threat to score. He is always a threat to reach the end zone as the only true goal-line back on the roster. Given the severe lack of quality options at RB lately, Blount has cemented himself as an every-week starter and RB2 in standard leagues.

 

Matchups We Hate

Martellus Bennett (TE, NE) - After a quiet first game with his new team, Bennett took advantage of Gronk's absence with 114 yards and a touchdown against Miami. That was with a healthy quarterback. He'll either get Jacoby Brissett or a gimpy Garoppolo this time around. Oh, and it's a distinct possibility Gronk plays. The Texans allowed just seven fantasy PPG to TE last season and a mere 2.4 in two weeks so far this season. For those reasons, he falls out of the top 10 TE rankings for this week.

Lamar Miller (RB, HOU) - Miller will end the year as one of the top running backs in the NFL, but he isn't going to go off every single game. This isn't Eric Dickerson in his prime. Miller is currently 2nd in rushing yards, but is averaging just 3.6 Y/A. The Pats have been decent against the run, allowing 162 rushing yards so far, including 89 to David Johnson in Week 1. Considering the incredible lack of depth at the RB position this season, Miller could have a disappointing game and still put up RB2 type numbers. I'm not saying don't play him, I'm saying don't expect too much.

 

Notable Players

Jimmy Garoppolo (QB, NE) - I'm not even touching this one. It's doubtful he would play, but given recent whispers of the Patriots pushing him to play through the pain and the unpredictability (read: lies) of Bill Belichick make it a fluid situation. Jimmy G has played shockingly well in two starts, but hasn't faced someone like J.J. Watt yet. If he does play, he won't be 100% and will probably not be putting the ball in the air too often. Still, never bet against the Patriots even when you doubt them the most.

Key Injuries: Jimmy Garoppolo (QB, NE) - questionable, Rob Gronkowski (TE, NE) - questionable

 




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Kris Murray

Will Play Against the Clippers
Robert Williams III

Available on Friday Night
Austin Reaves

Facing Multiweek Absence With Calf Issue
Anthony Edwards

Listed as Questionable Against Brooklyn
Keegan Murray

Out at Least One Week With Calf Strain
Jock Landale

to Miss Bucks Game With Calf Issue
Jordan Poole

Cleared to Play Friday vs. Suns
Joel Embiid

Set to Suit Up Against Bulls
George Kittle

Questionable to Face the Bears in Week 17
Cedric Coward

Active On Friday Against Milwaukee
Ja Morant

Available On Friday Night Against Milwaukee
Maxx Crosby

Done for the Season
VJ Edgecombe

Available on Friday
Dominick Barlow

Will Suit Up Against Chicago
Collin Murray-Boyles

Good to Go Versus Washington
Scottie Barnes

Upgraded to Available Against Washington
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Cleared to Play on Friday
Jordan Goodwin

Available For Friday Night Against New Orleans
Pelle Larsson

Back on Friday Night
Gary Trent Jr.

Ruled Out For Friday Night Against Memphis
Bam Adebayo

Will Miss Friday's Game Versus Atlanta
Justin Champagnie

Downgraded To Questionable For Friday Night
Scottie Barnes

Now Downgraded To Questionable For Friday
Calvin Austin III

Ruled Out with Hamstring Injury for Week 17
Harold Fannin Jr.

Expected to Play on Sunday
Jordan Love

Ruled Out with Concussion for Saturday's Contest
George Kittle

"Likely a Game-Time Decision" on Sunday Night
A.J. Brown

Returns to Practice on Friday
Josh Allen

Trending Toward Playing Vs. Philly
CFB

Michigan Targeting Kyle Whittingham as Next Head Coach
CFB

Texas Leading Rusher Quintrevion Wisner Set to Transfer
George Kittle

Remains Sidelined During Thursday's Practice
Malik Willis

Carrying Questionable Tag for Week 17 Tilt
Jordan Love

Questionable for Saturday's Contest
Lamar Jackson

Listed as Doubtful for Week 17
Amon-Ra St. Brown

to Suit Up on Christmas Day
Rome Odunze

"Increasing Unlikely to Play" in Week 17
Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Carries Questionable Tag on Thursday
David Montgomery

Expected to Play on Christmas Day
David Montgomery

Questionable to Play With Illness
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Questionable, Expected to Play on Thursday
Rashee Rice

Chiefs Place Rashee Rice on Injured Reserve
T.J. Hockenson

Ruled Out for Week 17
Pete Fairbanks

Marlins Agree on One-Year Deal
Josh Johnson

to Start at QB on Thursday Against Dallas
Brooks Koepka

Leaving LIV Golf
Connor McDavid

Finishes Battle of Alberta With Five Assists
Karel Vejmelka

Battling Upper-Body Injury
Alexandre Texier

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Against Bruins
Alexander Nikishin

Dealing With Apparent Ankle Injury
Denver Barkey

Exits Early Tuesday
Travis Sanheim

Pulled by Concussion Spotter Tuesday
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
Viktor Arvidsson

a Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Ryan Leonard

Available Tuesday
Tom Wilson

in Danger of Missing First Game of the Season
Phillip Danault

Makes Second Canadiens Debut Tuesday
Collin Graf

Available Against Golden Knights
Jack Eichel

Misses Fourth Straight Game
Vince Dunn

Won't Play Tuesday
CFB

Jeff Brohm, Eli Drinkwitz "Names of Interest" for Michigan Head Coach
Timothy Liljegren

to Miss Second Straight Game Tuesday
Will Smith

Out Week-to-Week
Jaccob Slavin

Placed on Injured Reserve, Out Week-to-Week
Seth Jarvis

Considered Week-to-Week
Darren Raddysh

Totals Three Points in Monday's Win
Mason Marchment

Scores Twice Monday
Vince Dunn

Injured in Monday's Win
Ilya Sorokin

to Miss Tuesday's Game
CFB

Byrum Brown Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Bobby Petrino Joining Bill Belichick as North Carolina's Offensive Coordinator
Willson Contreras

Shipped to the Red Sox

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