Two weeks have come and gone in this still young NFL season; however. fantasy football fans are beginning to identify the players that need to be in their line ups. Breakout stars are emerging in these first couple of weeks, while at the same time, some players with high expectations are beginning to disappoint fans. This week we’ll highlight some more under-the-radar players that could fill a hole in your lineup and briefly discuss some players who shouldn’t be in your Week three lineup.
Quarterback “Sleeper” Picks:
After a week one performance worth remembering, Carson Wentz (27.78 points) matched that showing in Week two with another stellar game. As a team, Wentz and the Commanders didn’t come out with a win, but the quarterback racked up many personal accolades. He’ll look to continue to stay hot in week three, and his elite level of play removes him from the “sleeper” conversation—Wentz should be a lock in everyone’s lineup. The other week two “sleeper,” Jameis Winston (7.64 points), couldn’t repeat his week one outing. After a two-touchdown performance to begin the season, Winston threw three interceptions and only found the end zone once. If you had Winston in your lineup in week two, it may be wise to give him a week off and see if the quarterback can turn things around.
Jimmy Garapollo (vs. Broncos): The future of the 49ers’ quarterback, Trey Lance, has been ruled out for the season after undergoing ankle surgery. This is terrible news for anyone affiliated with the 49ers, except for one man. That person being Jimmy Garapollo, who had lost his starting role to Lance this season. Garapollo put up 17 points while only playing half a game after Lance went down with his ankle injury midgame, and now he owns the quarterback job in San Francisco. It would be wise to pick up Garapollo since he is a sure lock in the 49ers lineup and is available in 99% of leagues.
Marcus Mariota (vs. Seahawks): The new face in Atlanta has adjusted fairly well so far, and it may be time to snag Mariota off waivers in hopes that he will continue to settle in with his new team. Mariota is available in 90% of leagues, and has his most favorable matchup of the season in Seattle this week. After facing two tough defenses in the Saints and Rams, Mariota gets to go up against a Seattle defense that has allowed the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.
Sit or Start: After two weeks, it may be time to give a few guys a break and think about picking up a “sleeper” for week three. Kirk Cousins had an abysmal game in Philadelphia to wrap up the week two games, and now he has to face Detroit’s hot defense. The Lions forced a safety, snagged an interception, and collected five sacks in week two—with all that being said, it may be time to give Cousins a break. Russell Wilson has had two rough weeks with his new squad in Denver. One of his main targets, Jerry Jeudy, is potentially going to be out for week three. Under those unfortunate circumstances, it would be smart to make Wilson prove himself before he finds himself back in your lineup.
Running Back “Sleeper” Picks:
Entering week two, our top “sleeper” pick was Jeff Wilson Jr. (12.3 points), considering he was going to be the 49ers’ lead back. Wilson Jr. had a solid game, but failed to find the end zone. A touchdown would have turned a good day into a great one, but nevertheless, he was given plenty of touches and should stay in your lineup. On the flip side, our other “sleeper” pick, Khalil Herbert (5.1 points), wasn’t used as much as expected. After nearly splitting touches with teammate David Montgomery in week one, Herbert’s usage was cut in half. Montgomery looks to be the go to guy in Chicago, which means Herbert shouldn’t be put in any lineups for now.
Raheem Mostert (vs. Bills): Mostert has been another example of a running back who has potential, but has to split the action with someone else. However, week two revealed that Mostert is becoming the more reliable running back for the Dolphins. He was busier than his counterpart Chase Edmonds in week two, while also being more effective when Miami called on him. Mostert is a valuable flex option, and it would be smart to continue watching him in upcoming weeks as he attempts to claim sole possession of the main running back job in Miami.
Darrell Williams (vs. Rams): Arizona’s lead running back, James Conner, went down with an ankle injury in week two’s game. Ankle injuries have been a reoccurring issue for Conner, and after he was removed from the game, Williams began to shine. He ran for an impressive 60 yards in a game where the Cardinals were prioritizing the passing game. If Conner is out for an extended period of time, Williams is a valuable asset to have for your flex position. Only 3.6% of fantasy managers have him, so the demand for him may skyrocket.
Sit or Start: The running back position has panned out how many fantasy managers had imagined to begin the year. There are not many superstar backs that have been performing below expectations, but one running back who may need a break is Cam Akers. He followed up his awful week one performance with another lackluster week two showing. Until he shows signs of turning his season around, he has no business being in your RB2 or flex positions.
Wide Receiver “Sleeper” Picks:
We mentioned that a long touchdown pass in week one may have saved Sterling Shepard’s (9.4 points) stat line. In week two, he didn’t score and the fantasy production subsequently went down. He was targeted 10 times; this is noteworthy, so don’t give up on Shepard just yet, especially if the Giants are willing to target him. Curtis Samuel (22.9 points) wowed us in week one and did the same in week 2. If you didn’t have him in your lineup last week as a flex, week three would be the right time to start doing so. He is finding ways to score, and as long as he does that, he’s highly valuable.
Garrett Wilson (vs. Bengals): A decent week one for the rookie was followed up by a jaw dropping week two. Wilson reeled in over 100 receiving yards, and found the end zone twice in a comeback win that he had a major role in orchestrating. The first-year receiver is making his name known throughout the league, and you don’t want to miss out on picking him up if it’s not already too late. Wilson is still available in 30% of leagues, and if you manage to snag him, he’s a valid flex option.
Nelson Agholor (vs. Ravens): Considering putting Agholor in your lineup would be a major risk-reward situation. His week two performance puts him on the map, but we’re going to need to see more from the veteran receiver before he makes his way into anyone’s lineup. He caught all six of his targets in Week two though, and the increase in action is encouraging. He is available to pick up in 99.4% of leagues, and he is worth stashing on the bench in case he was to continue this hot streak.
Sit or Start: Two receptions across two games is not going to get the job done in competitive fantasy leagues. That is the unfortunate stat line for Chicago’s top wide receiver Darnell Mooney who has had a rough start to the season. To say that Mooney’s performance so far has been disappointing, would be an understatement. These gruesome last two weeks for Mooney is enough for me to lose trust in him for now, and place him in the “must sit” category for Week three.
Thank you for reading another week of fantasy picks and advice. As the season progresses, players will have off weeks and some will succumb to injuries that sideline them for extended periods of time. That’s why these early weeks are so crucial to building a solid bench that has players who can be used as a flex. We’ll continue to highlight players who are “sleepers” for Week three, and hopefully the players discussed this week can already begin to make a difference for your team.
Written By: Nick Hancock
Grace Chaves