Week 3 NFL Matchups Analysis: Start/Sit for Fantasy Football (Part 1)

Welcome to Week 3 of NFL and fantasy football action RotoBallers. Each week of the NFL season, we will be breaking down each of the NFL matchups and providing you with some fantasy football advice and lineup recommendations based on matchups that we love, matchups that we hate, and some high-risk/high-reward players as well.

Below you will find our Week 3 NFL matchups & fantasy football start/sit analysis, which should hopefully 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. Good luck with your matchups this week RotoBallers, and be sure check out our Start/Sit &  Matchups Analysis for Games 9-12.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
• Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Buccaneers @ Falcons - Thursday 9/18 @ 8:25 EST

Matchups We Love

Bobby Rainey and Doug Martin - The Falcons' run defense has had enough trouble trying to contain RBs in the last two weeks. Jeremy Hill, Giovani Bernard, Mark Ingram, Khiry Robinson and Pierre Thomas have each run and caught throws all over this defense. I'd feel safe in playing either of these two running backs this week if they were healthy - although the recent news is Martin may not play at all, due to his lingering injury, which would give Rainey even more fantasy value this week. Update: with Martin officially inactive, Rainey makes for a great RB2 play with upside for more.

Matt Ryan - With Gerald McCoy out the Tampa Bay defense has suddenly become a lot weaker. Ryan has had an up-and-down first two weeks, but he's still amongst the league's best quarterbacks and is looking at a very beatable secondary.

Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans - The Falcons defense hasn't really come together well this season, and if there's any wide receiver who should be able to take advantage of that in this game, it's Vincent Jackson. You'd assume that the Falcons will be trying to gameplan against him though, and as a result, it might actually end up being Mike Evans having his first big game as a pro. I'd start either with some confidence.

Matchups We Hate

I don't think there are any matchups that would make me want to turn away from a player before this game begins.

Notable Players

Either Team Defense - Not my cup of tea this week to be starting either defense. This is a game where a surprise shootout could be brewing.

Julio Jones and Roddy White - This matchup isn't one to scoff at, but it's not one to make you want to sit either of these two wideouts. Update: with Roddy White officially inactive, Harry Douglas will step in as the #2 wide receiver for the Falcons, and makes for a decent play in PPR leagues, especially if you are in a bind with wide receivers.

Chargers @ Bills - Sunday 9/21 @ 1:00 EST

Matchups We Love/Matchups We Hate

There aren't any players that really fit into the above categories. The weaknesses/strengths of each team are decently matched up with no clear advantage on either side.

Notable Players

Antonio Gates - Gates might be a guy who gives another great performance this week, as the Bills struggled when facing another highly skilled quarterback/tight end combo in Jay Cutler and Martellus Bennett.

C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson - The Chargers run defense was able to keep the Seahawks under wraps, but they also ran a lot less than their usual amount, calling for only 10 plays from their running backs. The Bills are much different, and they'll be using Spiller and Jackson much more heavily throughout the game. Both would be viable plays against the Chargers.

Philip Rivers - The loss of LT King Dunlap could impact Rivers against the Bills pass rush. To me, it caps his upside this week.

Cowboys @ Rams - Sunday 9/21 @ 1:00 EST

Matchups We Love

Dez Bryant - This is another one of those games where Dez Bryant has no one on the opposing side of the field that should be able to stop him.

DeMarco Murray - The Rams have given up the fourth-most rushing yards in the NFL in the last two weeks. Their front seven might be among the best in getting pressure, but they take a violent swing to the bottom of the league when it comes to stopping the run. Murray's got serious top scoring RB potential this week.

Brian Quick - Not the typical name you'd expect to see here, but Quick has become the focal point of the Rams' passing offense, and there's a good chance that this becomes Quick's first 100-yard receiving game. It's a difficult bet, thanks to a QB who's starting just his third game ever, but the extremely weak Dallas defense gives him a really good opportunity to show up.

Zac Stacy - The Cowboys' defense is still very bad. It showed up against the Titans, but that seems more like an outlier than not. Smart money still says they are among the bottom three defenses in the league, and if that's right, Zac Stacy should be in for a good day.

Matchups We Hate

Either Team Defense - This is another game with shootout potential. I wouldn't trust either defense here unless I absolutely had to.

Notable Players

Tony Romo - This isn't exactly the best matchup for a quarterback trying to get back into rhythm. The Cowboys seem a lot more content with easing Romo back into the game, and against this pass rush, it shouldn't be surprising if Romo has fewer than 30 passing attempts.

Austin Davis - Davis has been a surprising force over the last two weeks, looking like a much more decent player than everyone expected. If the Cowboys' defense is as weak as it should be, Davis makes for a surprising stream candidate.

Redskins @ Eagles - Sunday 9/21 @ 1:00 EST

Matchups We Love

Pierre Garcon - DeSean Jackson might be out, and that would open up all the targets to be split between Pierre Garcon and Niles Paul. Add to that a weakened defense, and Garcon could be getting a lot of opportunities.

Niles Paul - It wasn't surprising that he had a great game when Kirk Cousins came into the game last week. Why's that? Because Cousins practiced with the second stringers all preseason/training camp, and so did Niles Paul. They've got a chemistry together and have spent a lot of time practicing, so this could be another opportunity for Paul.

Alfred Morris - The Eagles' run defense has been incredibly lacking. They smothered the horrendous Jaguars' run game, but once they had to play against a merely average offensive line, they gave up nearly 150 yards on the ground. The Washington offensive line is better than that, and should be able to open many holes for Morris.

Jeremy Maclin - The Redskins' defense might be #1 right now, but that's also including a game played against the dreadful Jacksonville offense. If there's a week I'd feel comfortable starting Maclin, it's this one. Maclin has also been the most targeted receiver on the Eagles, with 22 targets, good for fifth-highest in the league.

Zach Ertz - Despite only being targeted 10 times this season, Ertz has the 15th-most receiving yards in the league at a ridiculous 23.3 yards per catch. Ertz is another player who should benefit against this weak defense.

Matchups We Hate

Either Team Defense - Another game where two middling-to-good offenses go up against two average-to-below-average defenses. Either defense would be a gamble this week, and I wouldn't bet on either.

Notable Players

Nick Foles and Kirk Cousins - Every offensive player has a good matchup, but these two inconsistent quarterbacks could really suffer this week. Quarterback value is directly tied to passing touchdowns, and even with a weak defense, these are two players who aren't playing at a level where they're able to truly take advantage of the matchup being presented to them.

LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles - The Redskins do have one sure strength, and that's being good against the run. Although they gave up over 100 yards to Arian Foster, they did it at a rate of 3.8 yards per carry. McCoy and Sproles can both still have good games, but this isn't an outstanding matchup for either.

Texans @ Giants - Sunday 9/21 @ 1:00 EST

Matchups We Love

Texan's Defense - The Texans have already smothered two weak offenses and are now entering the third of their amazingly weak September matchups. They will probably be smothering the Giants.

Matchups We Hate

Rashad Jennings - Houston's run defense hasn't been as great this year as in years past, but against the Giants they should have an easy way into the backfield. Jennings' ability to also catch passes will help keep his floor up, but as a rusher, he's going to be limited unless the Giants offense clicks.

Giants Defense - It's not that the Texans have been prolific on offense, as much as the Giants have been turnover prone on offense. Nothing will suck the points out of your defense faster than an offense giving the opponent a short field.

Notable Players

Andre Johnson - Johnson is among the top 15 players in the league for yardage, and he is again on pace for a 1,000-yard season. This week isn't a great matchup for Johnson, but it's one that's good enough to see him put together another 4/70-type performance.

Arian Foster - Arian Foster currently leads the league in carries and is second in rushing yards. It should be expected that his overuse continues, especially against an offense that is lacking. However, the Giants' run defense is just good enough to keep Foster in check.

Vikings @ Saints - Sunday 9/21 @ 1:00 EST

Matchups We Love

Cordarrelle Patterson - I'm loving Patterson's chances this week of putting up big numbers. The Saints' defense has struggled the last two weeks, and this week shouldn't be much different, especially if the Vikings employ the same run plays that gave Patterson his big days to begin with.

Matt Asiata - Another player that should benefit from the Saints' horrible defense.

Jimmy Graham - I don't think there's ever going to be a game where Graham isn't one of my favorite players that week.

Matchups We Hate

Saints Defense - Two weeks in, and one of the potentially stronger defensive picks is now being put down as a team I don't want to start against the Vikings offense. This could completely be a whiff, while the Saints put up a good game. But I have a feeling that if Hoyer could carve up this defense, then so can Cassel, especially since he has better weapons.

Notable Players

Drew Brees - Brees is still as good as ever, but this defense might be the best of the passing defenses he's faced so far. It doesn't stop Brees from putting up monster numbers though, especially at home.

Titans @ Bengals - Sunday 9/21 @ 1:00 EST

Matchups We Love

Bengals Defense - I'm not sold on Locker. He's lacked the accuracy you want to see out of a fourth-year quarterback, and despite his more-than-capable weapons, he hasn't put together anything special so far. I want to buy into Locker, but the Bengals have a great defense with a lot of capable players, and being at home only helps.

Matchups We Hate

Shonn Greene - This is an obvious hate - Greene is a solid play while he's starting, but not against a defense like this. Even with Burfict out.

Jake Locker - The Bengals' defense isn't up because I think Locker's going to dazzle. On the contrary, I feel like it's widely expected that Locker will have difficulty this game.

Notable Players

Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter - I don't feel like Locker will be able to feed both of these players as the season goes on, and in a game like this one, it's kind of a toss up which becomes the #1 wide receiver and which will play second fiddle.

Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill - Bernard has a decently difficult matchup against the front seven of the Titans, and the Bengals don't exactly have the necessary blockers to give Bernard consistency against them. Bernard's silver lining, of course, is his receiving ability, where he should thrive in this game, especially if A.J. Green is missing time. Jeremy Hill received a lot more work last week, which may eat into some of Bernard's rushing yards, but both running backs can be started this week. The coaches have stated that Hill and Bernard are a tandem, and both should receive plenty of work, especially if Green sits and the Bengals have to rely on the running game more.

A.J. Green and Mohamed Sanu - Green returned to a limited practice today, which is a good sign for his chances of playing this week. If he can't go, then Sanu would assume the #1 wide receiver role for the Bengals and would be a decent start for fantasy owners, especially if you have a WR crunch this week.

Ravens @ Browns - Sunday 9/21 @ 1:00 EST

Matchups We Love

Torrey Smith and Steve Smith - The Cleveland Browns' defense has been gashed the last two weeks by both Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees. With Torrey, he's had at least 75 yards and five catches in his last two games against the Browns. You have to hope that if there's any game he can come back to form, it's this one.

Matchups We Hate

Terrance West - This pick comes with a potential whiff. The run-stopping ability of the Baltimore Raven's isn't a joke; the addition of NT Brandon Williams into the lineup has changed them substantially. It's not hard to imagine that the Cleveland line will get overwhelmed, but the Browns do have a good offensive line and enough skill to potentially outplay the Ravens' unit.

Notable Players

Bernard Pierce and Justin Forsett - Regardless of who's starting, the Cleveland Browns' run defense hasn't been exceptionally great. This is an opportunity for the Baltimore RB timeshare to put together 120 total yards, at least, whatever the split of carries will end up being.

Andrew Hawkins - As usual, I'm going to mention Hawkins. Tied for fifth in the league in targets, he's in just the right type of position to maintain  fantasy viability, especially if Cameron continues to miss time (and even if he doesn't).