NFL Fantasy Football Podcast: Week 3 Starts & Sits + Hot Takes

0:00 Wow. All right.

0:11 We are staring down week number three of the NFL season. Mike, I'm Trevor Sikma. Welcome to NFL Fantasy Football. I'd like to start with smiles. And I'm going to go there because my fantasy team's 2-0. So I like that. But you, by the way, got a win, Trevor. So that's a win sitting at 1-1. I feel like there's some frowns, though, across the NFL. Injuries continue to mount. My team, the New York Giants, obviously dealing with Jackson Dart. We're not the only team, though, that's got to deal with that.

0:36 with some quarterback news. We'll get to Dart specifically here in just a moment. But Trevor, I feel like I do all these different interviews and everyone's talking to me about injuries. I got to imagine from a fantasy perspective, like people are going crazy right now trying to work this waiver wire.

0:50 Absolutely.

0:51 And if you go back to our NFL pro show that Brett Coleman and I do a couple of times a week, we talked about this very thing after week one, as it relates to how teams emphasize in the preseason, the missed tackle rate was super high in week one. Guys just didn't look ready. There were some injuries there.

1:05 So I wonder if that's a product of maybe how teams are approaching preseason and maybe that gets remedied a little bit next year, but it's something to follow. No doubt about it with all of the chaos that it feels like there is in fantasy land two weeks in.

1:18 No question.

1:18 I'm also wondering, too, how this is going to affect starts and sits. Matt Akata is going to be joining us in just a bit. We'll get his take because I feel like if you wanted to maybe sit a guy, you might not have the option depending on the depth of your league and what's available on that waiver wire.

1:33 So we'll hit that up in just a bit here, but let's get to the latest headlines. In fact, we will start with Jackson Dart and the fact, Trevor, that he is done for the season. It's being reported by Ian Rappaport, Mike Garofalo, Adam Schefter, undergoing season-ending surgery on that knee. The foot's not even planted as he's taken the big hit. He was seen on a night football walking around a lot of tentacles here. There's the Jameis angle.

1:57 There's the neighbor's angle. There's the scataboo angle. Just break this down. Let's start with Jackson Dart. What does this mean for his fantasy owners?

2:04 Where do you go?

2:05 Yeah.

2:06 So obviously I think that the conversation has to start with Jameis, who's going to be stepping in as the quarterback, as he did against the Rams in that game. And unfortunately it doesn't really matter whether it's Malik neighbors or Isaiah likely or anybody down the depth chart, Jameis just didn't look right. He didn't look confident in that game.

2:22 And in order for you to get any fantasy production out of any of those players, Jameis has to be confident. And it just felt like he was in his head too much in that game. He's got to be able to sit down and say, hey, I.

2:33 Am the starter now.

2:34 So it's got to look different. There was a shot of him on the bench saying like, man, I got to get right. And that's true for Scadaboo. I think that things will be relatively fine for him. I think that the rushing opportunities are certainly going to be there, especially those payder opportunities when they get into the red zone and they'll utilize him in the passing game as well but ultimately it all falls on the quarterback as it always does and Jameis has to play a whole lot better than he did against the Rams moving forward if we're going to talk about any of these guys even Malik neighbors very seriously as high impact players week in and week out Yeah.

3:05 By the way, because you play in a dynasty league and I know you can go deep here and I know quarterbacks come at a premium, not just in the NFL, but for fantasy owners. How much are you monitoring potential trades that could happen that add even more depth just in case the Giants have to make a decision to move away from Jameis?

3:21 Yeah, look, I... It's something to think about, right?

3:25 I mean, I think that this situation is wide open on every angle, you know, whether it's the stars that you thought were going to be there no matter what, some of the young guys that are producing early on in the season, or even like you mentioned, maybe some new quarterback options that could change things. It's all really early to tell, but yeah, I mean, with the uncertainty at the production at the quarterback position, everything has to be on the table about how you are evaluating any New York Giants player that is currently on your roster.

3:51 Well, you do have an opportunity to maybe hit that waiver wire, or hopefully you drafted really well and you've been watching this show or listening to the podcast to get an opportunity to know who you should have been targeting, an opportunity for you to tell me about some of those guys that you like in flex positions. Say less, although I do kind of want you to say a little bit more because Devontae Smith, boy, there's a lot of ways that we could describe his game.

4:14 He's looked very good from an Eagles perspective.

4:17 Yeah, so obviously Devontae Smith taking over as the true, no question about it, wide receiver one in that offense with no A.J.

4:23 Brown.

4:24 And specifically, when the Tennessee Titans actually went to man coverage, the coverage that A.J. Brown was great at taking advantage of over the last couple of years, it was Devontae Smith that was right there. Especially that last drive that the Eagles had, it was built around that. Devontae Smith.

4:39 And there are some nice, exciting rookies and new names that are in Philadelphia, but man, they are going to run the passing attack through this guy. So loving Devontae Smith and going to continue to love him moving forward on that schedule.

4:51 Yeah. I think in the running back spot, Mr.

4:54 Hubbard has had some success really here in a pretty potent offense.

4:59 Yeah, and honestly, I had this in the notes before the Jonathan Brooks injury and that he was going to go on IR. So I already liked what I had seen from Chuba Hubbard, who was their go-to guy when it came to.

5:09 The red zone.

5:10 The red zone snaps were all up for him. And now he gets the lion's share of the carries. Now it is absolutely him for a Carolina offense that has already put up a ton of points over the first couple of weeks. Bryce Young is dealing against defense, especially in zone coverage. And so as teams really focus in on slowing down Bryce Young in that passing offense, Guess what that opens the door for? Chuba Hubbard to continue to play well moving forward. So I like him a lot, especially.

5:34 Over the next three, four weeks. Josh Downs, welcome to the party. Yeah, obviously Josh Downs.

5:41 His role is going to really take a massive step forward with Alec Pierce and his injury. He ran the most routes of any player on the team last week with 28. He had the most targets with nine. I just think that he has to be their go-to guy. The Colts have been able to run the ball well as they did last year, but Josh Downs is the player who they're going to have to go to often in that passing game. And I think that it's set up and the way that Shane Steichen and Daniel Jones want to move the football through the air, it's perfectly through a player's that Josh Downs' skill set has for us.

6:14 So I think that he is going to be a huge volume type of player moving forward for this team.

6:19 By the way, Jonathan Taylor, his teammate, has been an absolute monster.

6:22 And it's got me thinking about the various positions and what it has meant for your fantasy team. In fact, Jonathan Taylor, the highest scoring running back in week number two. Josh Allen led the way for quarterbacks. JSM, man, was a machine. once again leading the way for the wide receivers, Dalton Schultz. Brandon Aubrey, in terms of the kickers and the Panthers, I don't know how often we've been able to say this, but generating plenty of turnovers. the leading defense and special teams unit. So, Trevor, I just name-checked by position the highest scores in week number two.

6:52 Who's going to lead week number three? Let's start with your pick, top-scoring quarterback and running back. Who do you got?

6:58 Look, for the quarterback position, I don't care if he's playing the 85 Bears. I don't care if he's playing the 2000 Ravens. I don't care if he's playing the Legion of Boom. Start Josh Allen have so much confidence in starting Josh Allen he's been unbelievable wherever you drafted Josh Allen in your fantasy drafts you have to love what you have seen two weeks into the season he's been unbelievable I think that is going to be the case.

7:23 Moving forward.

7:24 And Josh Allen seems like the only player to slow down Josh Allen at this point. So there is no, oh, he's playing a tough defense this week.

7:30 Maybe I should sit him. Enough of that.

7:33 No, do not say that at all whatsoever. This guy has to be in your lineup. And then Christian McCaffrey is my guy for the running back position. Now, there are a couple of other running backs that just in a vacuum, you would maybe want to start over Christian McCaffrey, but I like the matchup this week for him facing the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals are 11th in yards per game allowed in the bad way.

7:54 They also aren't really able to get after the quarterback.

7:57 Quarterback pressure rating of just 27%.

7:58 That's second worst in the NFL. So I think that Christian McCaffrey could be that player to really keep the San Francisco 49ers offense on schedule this entire week. I think it's a big volume week for Christian McCaffrey. So I think those are the two that could have the best weeks from those positions.

8:16 Good matchup for CMC in our league.

8:18 I had the sixth overall pick, and it was a JSN-PUCA-CMC conversation in my mind. I went with JSN, and for you, in terms of the pass catchers, you're locking them in.

8:27 Yeah, look, it seems like an obvious answer, but you look at the last two weeks, and even you look at last season as well, I have to talk about JSN for the wide receiver spot. Now, he's playing a commander's team that's allowed a 50% open target percentage so far this season. Although they have limited yards after the catch season, Over the first two weeks, it's Jackson Smith and Jigba. This is a different beast here. And then for the tight end position, I'm actually going to go with Tucker Kraft here. Now, tight end is up and down a lot, but here's why I'm going to go with Tucker Kraft. He already is on the field and running a ton of routes.

9:00 Already, but.

9:01 That offensive line for the Green Bay Packers has really struggled. Now, it can kind of go one of two ways. It could mean that Tucker Kraft's going to have less routes because they need him to block a little bit more, but I actually think that it's just going to be his presence on the team and on the offensive line that is going to help mitigate sort of that lack of pass protection ability, and he's going to become the safety valve player, not just the stay on the line of scrimmage and block type of player, but but also that quick safety valve type of guy. And I think if you're in a PPR league specifically, Tucker Kraft could have a really big week given how bad the.

9:36 Offensive line has been for the Packers. He's going to be on the field a lot.

9:39 Been waiting for that breakout game for him. Got paid just before the season had started. Tucker Kraft obviously coming off of an injury. Maybe this is the week, according to Trevor, that he could potentially break out. Trevor, more from you in just a minute. I want to welcome back into the show. It's Matt Acato, who, of course, you can check out his work. Startsitsnfl.com slash startsits.

9:59 Give me some.

10:00 some quarterbacks here, Matt, because for me, guys that need to be in the lineup, I was going over our notes before we got out here, and there is one QB that I think you and I are on the same page about and maybe not the popular choice.

10:14 No, I'm not going to sugarcoat it. Things have been very ugly for Justin Herbert and for the Chargers at large. But there is good news in week three. He faces the Bills, whose two games this season have resulted in 139 combined real NFL points. That is a lot. And C.J. Stroud and Jared Goff, the two quarterbacks they've faced, have totaled 601 passing yards and six touchdowns in those games, and I think Herbert is at least in their tier as a quarterback. The Chargers, listen, the coaching might be a little off right now, but they're too talented to score 14 points every game. I think we see a bounce back. You drafted Herbert to be your starter. Give him one more chance. Then I've got a guy you

11:00 did not draft to be your starter, Drew Locke, leading the Seahawks into Washington, the other Washington. Locke has been a top-five quarterback in several metrics, including touchdowns, Pass rating, yards per attempt, completion rate over expected. He's been good, and now he gets a commander's defense that's allowed a league-high seven touchdown passes and the second most fantasy points to quarterbacks in total. Both Dak Prescott and Jalen Hurts top 24 fantasy points against his defense. I think Locke does the same in week three.

11:34 I love it because I don't think we would have been talking about Drew Locke before the season as a must-start for you.

11:39 Who are you parking on the bench at the quarterback spot?

11:43 As a Patriots fan, it pains me to say Drake May has not looked good to start this season. His four interceptions are tied for the league lead with Cooper Rush, who doesn't have a job anymore. And all four of those picks came on downfield passes where May has zero touchdowns and a 53.5 passer rating in 2026. That is where he made most of his hay last season. Downfield with 156 fantasy points. That was second to MVP Matthew Stafford.

12:13 I think the injury to A.J. Brown has kind of derailed this Patriots offense a bit, and I would look to sit May until they get it back on track. And then I'm also sitting Jordan Love. He is quietly dead last among quarterbacks in completion rate. Trevor talked about the offensive line. That hasn't helped. And it's been propped up by a couple big plays for Love. Literally 20% of his fantasy points this season came on that 182-yard touchdown by Christian Watson. And even propped up how only has Love at QB 15 in fantasy points through two games.

12:45 As for the matchup, the Falcons have been pretty middling, but I think Love finishes closer to Aaron Rodgers' 12 points against this defense than Bryce Young's 24. So there are better streaming options. I do not love Love this week.

12:57 All right. You don't love Love. Okay.

12:59 We'll just clip that at some point and use it later on you. Running backs, who are you starting?

13:06 Look, David Montgomery, not the best of starts last week. I confess. It was a bit of a miss. The Texans completely abandoned the run game. And on the six carries he did get, he averaged just 1.7 yards per carry. But I am back on the train against Indy. The Colts' run D is bottom three this season in success rate, explosive runs, rush yards over expected per carry, and yards before contact per carry with 3.5, which is absurdly high.

13:35 They've also allowed nine red zone trips in two games. Montgomery will be a high-end RB, too. And then buckle up, Yammer. I am starting Quinn Sean Judkins. I know it's been incredibly ugly for the Browns.

13:47 Yes.

13:47 But as with Montgomery, this is a matchup play. Since the start of last season, only the Giants have allowed more rushing yards to running backs than Carolina. And no team has allowed more rushing touchdowns to the position. And get this. They have allowed 4.9 yards after contact per carry, which is more than 26 teams have allowed in total per carry. I think it's basically now or never for Judkins, and you can bet on now in fantasy.

14:13 Last five games for him, only one time he's been in double figures in terms of fantasy points, so bold claim from Matt Okada.

14:20 Who do you put on the bench?

14:24 I think we're sitting Travis Aitken against the Raiders. Look, It's kind of a three-headed problem for the Saints running back right now. One, he had a promising receiving role in week one, but he lost that role to Alvin Kamara on his return last week. Two, HN is 41st among running backs in fantasy points, specifically on rushes. So when the receiving role disappeared, so did his fantasy value.

14:47 And three, instead of being the clear lead back like he was paid to be, A-chan's muddled in this committee with Kamara and undrafted rookie CJ Donaldson. This whole backfield makes no sense until it does keep A-chan on the bench. And speaking of messy backfields, I don't think we can start Ramondre Stevenson after he basically fumbled away his job in week two. His 18 career fumbles, Yam, are the most by any non-quarterback since he was drafted back in 2021.

15:17 It is a serious problem. And while he served his penance last Sunday, Travion Henderson looked great, broke off an explosive 39-yard touchdown run that Stevenson could only dream of making. This might be a classic New England backfield for a while. Annoying, hard to predict, and at least until we see that Stevenson's out of the doghouse, I think you should leave him on your bench.

15:39 All right, good advice. Prerequisite for the running back spot.

15:41 Got to hold on to the football, and Stevenson right now not able to do that. Meanwhile, was there anything better than Jamar Chase's first touchdown grab on Sunday? Body control was there, off-bounds, spinning around, falling out of bounds, and still able to hold on. We relive it coming up next. One of the sickest grabs that you will see.

16:02 By the way, if you like the theme of sick, Trevor Sykema's sick flexes.

16:07 Still to come. I'm telling you, man, like I should be a rapper at some point.

16:12 Anyway, Matakata back with us. We'll get his start and sit at the wide receiver spot. Take me through this, man.

16:18 Pass catcher. Who do we like to start?

16:23 I buy your album, Yammer. Listen, you heard me highlight Justin Herbert as a start earlier in the show. That goes hand in hand with Ladd McConkie at wide receiver. Despite L.A. 's troubles, and McConkie's rib injury, he's actually been very good when on the field this year. Three yards per route run, a 26% target rate. The only receiver to have a higher EPA per route on at least 35 routes is Jackson, Smith, and Jigba. Best of all, the Bills have been wrecked by wide receiver ones, Nico Collins and Amon Raw. McConkie's a borderline top 10 receiver this week. And then, I gotta sit.

16:59 Yeah, what do we got? Yeah, give it to me.

17:02 Look, Very often with Jamison Williams, he's a dud in your lineup and a star on your bench. It's very frustrating, but we are still sitting him this week against the Jets. He has posted consecutive single-digit fantasy performances, but I also hate the matchup. Against receivers aligned out wide, the Jets have allowed just 5.7 yards per target and a league-low 4% explosive catch rate. Only Seattle has allowed fewer downfield receptions.

17:28 This is not a good matchup for Jamo in particular. He's always a threat for a big play, but he is not reliable this Sunday, I'd mention.

17:36 Yeah, and there's some familiarity here.

17:37 Aaron Glenn, obviously, we know what he's used to do, and that's orchestrate the defense for the Detroit Lions. An interesting call from Matt, which, by the way, you can go to NFL.com slash start sick at an opportunity to take a look at his tight ends, not to mention the defense and special teams that you need to make sure are in your lineup or not. sitting on the bench uh matt more from you in just a moment i want one of your hot takes but trevor an opportunity for you man to double down on sick flexes zay flowers this is a guy that was a little who's a monster in the first half of week number one he's been dealing with that hamstring injury what do i do so i'm only shouting this one out really

18:14 because i think you should Take advantage of the strategy of having somebody in your flex.

18:19 Normally, if Zay Flowers is fully healthy, you're starting him. There's no real question about it. When you look at the Ravens, 173 yards after the catch. When Zay Flowers was out there, only 86 in Week 2 when he was not out there. It is night and day. He is their passing offense. But I'm just telling people, put him in the flex spot so that, you know, when we get to Saturday, Sunday, we get more information with the injury. You have the ability to flex him out of that spot.

18:43 If you want.

18:44 But if he's healthy and he's a go in Rio, you're starting him this week.

18:48 I'm keeping my fingers crossed for my fantasy team that Z Flowers is out there. And I think Ravens fans in real life are hoping the same. Vele, by the way, just been a machine, man. Ultra productive.

18:58 No, Valle has been fantastic. Nine targets in week one, seven targets in week two, 35 routes run last week. I like the matchup going against a younger Raiders secondary as well. This has been a good secondary for the Raiders over the last couple of weeks, but these guys are still rookies. And so sometimes that can show up in the worst way. And I think Devon Valle and how they're pushing the ball down the field in that Saints offense could take advantage of a younger secondary for the Las Vegas Raiders.

19:26 By the way, the Saints all of a sudden, man, like they might be the favorite inside that division playing some good football. Almost came out with a win in week number one against the Lions. I'm starting to buy some of this stock. Dalton Schultz, what do I need to know?

19:38 14 targets last week. I mean, look, I think that that sort of speaks for itself. As long as they're banged up at that wide receiver position, which and Nico Collins up and down kind of thing but Dalton Schultz to me he's he he's got to be a flex play if he's not your tight end play outright the reason why I'm shouting him out here is because I'd play two tight ends this week if you already have a tight end that is better than him you know if you have somebody that you drafted extremely high at the tight end position and you just have Dalton Schultz sort of as a backup or a flex type of player.

20:07 This is one of those weeks. I like him here in this matchup, especially because the Colts linebackers have.

20:13 Not been great this season.

20:14 So it was a great week two for him. I think he could also be a great week three. I'd start two tight ends if he's on your team, and he could be one of those flex players.

20:22 Just curious, because you own Brock Bowers. Is Schultz on your squad too?

20:28 Uh, I don't think Schultz is specifically on that team, but I know I have him on other teams. Cause you know, you gotta, you gotta diversify the leagues that you're in, uh, when you, when you've got a lot of, uh, different strategies that you want to implement here.

20:41 Yeah, I know it's been a little bit of a buzzkill for you. Obviously, you thought very highly. I think most of us did of Brock Bowers, and he's been banged up.

20:48 But don't look now. The Raiders sitting at 2-0.

20:50 All right, time to look inside that crystal ball and give me a hot take.

20:55 Matt, which way we lean in here? Go bold.

20:59 We're going bold. We're going the wrong way, unfortunately. Roma Dunzey and Colston Loveland. combine for single-digit fantasy points again on Monday night. These two guys have combined for fewer than 16 total fantasy points through two weeks. Odunze, 12% target rate. He's been heavily outproduced by Kalief Raymond. Loveland has seen an 8% target rate and been arguably fantasy's biggest bust through two games. Both of these guys should turn it around at some point, Yammer, but it's not this week. The Bears might be down to third-string quarterback Case Keenum, and the Eagles' defense has been really tough against outside receivers and against tight ends. I'd legitimately bench Odunze for tons of flex options, and I might play

21:47 Pat Friermuth, A.J. Barner over Colston Loveland. It's bad.

21:52 Wow. Going deep here, Trevor.

21:55 It seems like you want to pump the brakes on it, but I'll give you an opportunity to give me your bold take.

22:00 No, that's hot. That's real hot. It's not rooted in fallacies, but it is hot. My hot take this week, I'm going to go with Garrett Wilson, New York Jets, as a top five fantasy wide receiver this week. And the reason why is because they're playing the Detroit Lions. The Lions have given up the second most passing yards per game two weeks into the season. Specifically, they're still dealing with injuries, especially on the back.

22:25 End of that defense.

22:27 And this is a team that tries to play a lot of man coverage.

22:30 The Lions, that is.

22:31 Garrett Wilson, I mean, if you're not on your P's and Q's and you do not have that man coverage type of skill set locked down, he is going to cook you. And I think that this game has shootout potential. And if it really lives up to that billing, Garrett Wilson is going to get the lion's share of those passing yards for the New York Jets. So I'm going to say that he gets that. And he's a top five fantasy wide receiver this week.

22:53 Yeah, I've been loving that combination with Wilson and Geno Smith. If you would have told me heading into this show that we would not just say Justin Herbert is a start, not just double down on it because Ladd and McConkie, but I'm going to say Justin Herbert is going to finish his QB1 for the week.

23:08 And hear me out. I get it.

23:09 They're one of the more disappointing teams in the NFL sitting at 0-2. He's got the second worst QBR right now in the NFL. The interceptions have been there. But there's a lot of haters. There's a lot of haters about one of the guys that's got the biggest arm, or at least one of the biggest arms, in the NFL.

23:23 They are due in such a meaningful way.

23:26 I like Herbert. People have been talking about him getting engaged.

23:29 Talking about the pictures of him with the picnic and the whole thing and just hating on this dude. If he doesn't break out in this game, by the way, I'm going to pretend like I didn't actually say it, and I'll be done with it. But I'm telling you, for this week, he's got a great opportunity to rack up some points after that.

23:45 I'd be concerned. Appreciate you guys watching, and good luck in your fantasy leagues.