Start 'Em, Sit 'Em For Week 3 Fantasy Football Lineups: Tyler Shough, Chuba Hubbard & More

Jeremiyah Love | Cardinals

I think Love will eventually get going in 2026 and provide fantasy value. But Week 3 is a tough time to have him in your lineup.

The Cardinals are eight-point underdogs in Freedman's NFL Game Model with the sixth-worst team total (19.7) per oddsmakers. Historically, that is a terrible combination for RBs in fantasy football. 

The 49ers rank seventh in time of possession in 2026, and their offense could drain much of the play clock—they carry a 28+ team total. Additionally, Arizona could be forced into a passing game script quickly, further limiting backfield touches.

It's even worse for a player like Love, who has yet to reach the workload needed to offset those factors. He has yet to reach a 50% snap share. His work on the ground rose to 56%, but his routes dropped from 38% to 26%. Those routes are the parachute for RBs when a game like this gets sideways, because they keep them in play for receptions.

Last week, we saw this happen to Love against Seattle. The rookie finished with only 9 attempts and 3 targets. 

While he is a big-play threat that can pay off with a smaller workload, Love might not be 100% back from his preseason high-ankle sprain. Love has taken only 5% of his totes for 10-plus yards, averaging only 3.5 yards per carry (YPC).

The Cardinals haven't given him much room to work with. Love has had to generate 3.2 of his 3.5 YPC with yards after contact. Arizona ranks 26th in average yards before contact rushing with 0.82 as a team. If you are looking for a silver lining, the 49ers rank 28th in yards before contact allowed at 2 yards per attempt.

Fantasy Projections

• Median: 11.0
• Xfinity Best (Ceiling): 18.7
• Floor: 8.0

If you don't have other options, the 18.7 ceiling isn't bad, but I lean toward a floor game as the more likely outcome if we simulate this matchup 1,000 times.

Love DOWNGRADES to high-end RB3 territory and can head to the bench in small leagues. In larger leagues, he will be tougher to sit, but there are a lot of WR and even TE options we can flex over him in Week 3, which you can see in our projections and rankings.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt | Commanders

Croskey-Merritt was once again the lead ball carrier for the Commanders in Week 2, but Rachaad White handled the majority of passing-down work. In a trailing game script, that led to a 54% snap share for White versus 34% for Croskey-Merritt.

Despite technically leading the operation in attempt share (48%), the second-year back was limited to 12 attempts and 1 target. The result was 5.8 fantasy points.

Croskey-Merritt also ceded the short-yardage work to White in Week 2. That would be a deathblow to his season-long outlook if it holds. White handled 90% of the short-down-and-distance snaps (SDD) and got the lone attempt inside the five-yard line. 

In Week 3, with Jayden Daniels sidelined, Washington is a six-point underdog in the Wet Blanket's Game Model. And their 17.7 team total is the second-worst on the slate. Woof.

If that isn't enough to get you off of JCM this weekend, consider that the Seahawks have held RB rooms to a minus 4.8-point boost this year (aka schedule-adjusted points allowed to RBs). That aligns closely with their mark of -5.2 in 2025.

After writing this, I just lowered the projections a little further. This is a recipe for disaster.

Fantasy Projections

• Median: 7.8
• Xfinity Best (Ceiling): 13.8
• Floor: 5.6

Keep this man away from your starting lineups in Week 3, even in deep formats if you can help it.

Croskey-Merritt DOWNGRADES to low-end RB3 status in Week 3 against Seattle. He is outside my top-100. But not even I dislike JCM more than Zain, who found 180 players to rank ahead of him!!!

Week 3 RB Downgrades

• Rhamondre Stevenson | Patriots: Stevenson fumbled and took a backseat to Henderson in Week 2. He could still be the starter, but I am projecting this as a rotation, with the hot hand playing a role in how weekly outcomes play out. The Patriots are 4-point underdogs in Freedman's model with a 20.9-point team total. Stevenson DOWNGRADES to mid-range RB3 territory.
   
• MarShawn Lloyd | Packers: Lloyd may have fumbled away the starting role in Week 2. At a minimum, he likely turned this into a gross three-way rotation. The Packers are 7-point favorites, so the running game could be in play with a 23.7 team total. But Lloyd is very hard to trust in Week 3, DOWNGRADING to RB4 status.

Wide Receivers To Start In Week 3 Fantasy Football

Matthew Golden | Packers

Golden's role in Green Bay's offense has been red hot to start the season. He has an 88% route share with a juicy 28% target share—numbers that historically align with WR1s. He is averaging 12.7 PPG heading into Week 3. 

While Christian Watson has stolen the show with more fantasy points, Golden is almost tied in air yards per game with 112.5 vs. 113 for Watson. Golden's 76 Utilization Score also has a strong comparison group. They have averaged 15 PPG with 26% turning into top-12 options and 53% finishing as WR2s.

And now the Packers are down another WR in Jayden Reed (neck), who could miss the rest of the season. Reed wasn't in a full-time role, but he was a strong target earner when on the field.

The Packers have the eighth-best team total in Freedman's model at 23.4 points. That is slightly below the market, where the Wet Blanket is correctly accounting for the offensive line injuries.

While the line is a concern, the Falcons lost their No. 1 CB in A.J. Terrell, who will miss at least four games due to a groin injury. It is a small sample, but so far in 2026, the Falcons have provided the eighth-best fantasy boost to outside WRs (+1.8). They gave up the third-largest last year (+3.4).

Fantasy Projections

• Median: 13.3
• Xfinity Best (Ceiling): 20.9
• Floor: 9.8

Golden UPGRADES to mid-range WR2 status and should be in most starting lineups against Atlanta in Week 3. He is my WR20.

Deebo Samuel | 49ers

Samuel is averaging 12.3 PPG, and his route participation leaped to 80% last weekend after playing only 53% of the pass plays in Week 1. The veteran 30-year-old WR also pitched in on the ground, handling 5% of the rushing attempts.

While Samuel didn't splash the box score in Week 2, this is a significant role that should stick over the short term. De'Zhaun Stribling is on IR, and Demarcus Robinson (ankle) will miss the next 3-6 games. Mike Evans should be good to go but left last week's game with a minor hip injury.

With all the injuries, Samuel could top an 80% route share and eclipse a 20% target share with a chance to grab a rushing score. That is a lot of outs for a player on a team with the No. 1 team total at 29.4 in Freedman's NFL Game Model (be sure to check out the four- and five-star bets for this weekend—there are seven as of this writing).

And we also have a good matchup. The Cardinals are providing a 4.3-point fantasy boost to WRs in 2026—their best CB, Will Johnson, has a potential season-ending neck injury in Week 2.

Fantasy Projections

• Median: 12
• Xfinity Best (Ceiling): 20.5
• Floor: 8.6

Samuel comes in as a borderline WR2 in the projection model and is a mid-range WR3, making him a great flex option in most formats.

WR Upgrades For Fantasy Lineups In Week 3

• Jalen Coker | Panthers: Coker was limited in practice on Wednesday with the same ankle that limited him ahead of Week 2. But his Utilization has been ELITE through two weeks in a revamped pass-heavy attack in Carolina. Coker is a strong WR3 option.
• Josh Downs | Colts: Downs is in a full-time role with a 93% route share, and Alec Pierce was placed on IR and will miss at least four games. Downs leads the team with a 21% target share, averaging 10 PPG. The Texans are still a strong defense despite a tough first two games, so the matchup isn't ideal. But Shane Steichen loves moving Downs around to protect him from coverage. Downs ranks 5th in motion-at-the-snap rate (24%) out of all WRs with at least 50 plays. Downs UPGRADES to mid-range WR3 territory. 
   
• Denzel Boston | Browns: Boston scored 20.5 points in Week 2, and his route tree diversified. He now has an 85 Utilization Score, a 22% target share, averaging 17.2 PPG. The Browns' passing game is likely to be a roller coaster, so negative regression is coming, but he might be the No. 1 option. Teams are passing more against the Panthers thanks to their improved offense. Boston UPGRADES to low-end WR3 status in Week 3. 
   
• Adonai Mitchell | Jets: Mitchell played a ton in Week 1, but the targets didn't come his way. In Week 2, that changed. The Year 3 WR led the team in target share (32%) and air yards (154) with a 77 Utilization Score on his way to 12.3 fantasy points. The Jets are 7.8-point underdogs in Freedman's model with a 20-point team total. However, the Lions have sanctioned 42.9 points to WRs—the most in the NFL. Mitchell is a mid-range WR4 with WR2 upside in Week 4. 
   
• Xavier Worthy | Chiefs: Worthy is leading the Chiefs WR room in route participation (90%) and target share (21%). He is getting the screen looks that went to Rice last season and scored 13.5 points in Week 2. The former Round 1 pick will have to improve his gross 0.57 YPRR to hold off Rice from reclaiming the top WR role. The Chiefs carry the No. 3 team total (28.3) in Freedman's model. Worthy is a mid-range WR4 against the Dolphins in Week 3.  

WRs That Bombed In Week 2 That I Am Starting Again In Week 3

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm keeping the faith …" - Billy Joel

• George Pickens | Cowboys: Pickens remains in a full-time role and has a 23% target share. He is due to boom. The Cowboys boast the No. 5 team total against the Ravens in a game with massive shootout potential. Pickens remains a WR1 option. 
   
• Drake London | Falcons: London gets Michael Penix back at QB in Week 3 after having to deal with horrific QB play over the first two games (144 yards per game). London is a high-end target earner who averaged 21.6 PPG in 10 games with Penix in 2024-2025. Atlanta's 16.7-point team total in the Wet Blanket's model is the worst on the weekend, but Green Bay has licensed a 7-point boost to their opponent's pass catchers—the fifth-best mark. London is a high-end WR2 with WR1 upside in Week 3.

WR Injury Watch For Week 3 In Fantasy Football

• Puka Nacua | Rams: Nacua (hip) didn't practice Wednesday and could miss another game as Los Angeles is preaching patience on their star WR. The matchup against the Broncos is not good (-6.3 boost vs WRs), but Davante Adams could once again be the undisputed top option. Adams would be a mid-range WR2 against Denver if Nacua can't go.
   
• Zay Flowers | Ravens: Flowers (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday. If he can't go again in Week 3, Rashod Bateman will get a bump up the ranks. Bateman scored 21.8 fantasy points on a 95% route share and 33% target share in Week 2. The veteran WR moved all over the formation, matching reports for him from training camp. With no one else on the depth chart making a splash, Bateman is in a position of strength. The Cowboys have boosted opposing pass-catching units by 8.1 points—the third-best matchup and the Ravens own the No. 2 team total (28.9) per the NFL Game Model. Bateman is a strong WR3 with WR1 upside against Dallas if Flowers can't play. If Flowers is active, he is a boom-bust WR.  
   
• Malik Nabers | Giants: Nabers picked up a shoulder injury against the Rams on Monday night and was limited in practice on Wednesday. Nabers is a high-end WR2 if active. If he isn't, Malachi Fields is the big-bodied archetype WR Jameis Winston LOVES, and he would climb to boom-bust WR4 territory.
   
• DJ Moore | Bills: Moore was limited with an AC joint sprain on Wednesday—an injury that knocked him out of Week 2 against the Lions. If he suits up, he has a strong matchup against a Chargers secondary that is boosting opposing passing attacks by 6.9 points per game. That is the complete opposite from last season, when they were one of the worst matchups. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, but the loss of Jesse Minter might be a bigger deal than anticipated. Moore is a borderline WR2 with re-injury risk if he plays. If he is out, we will probably see a heavy rotation at WR that will make it hard to pinpoint the beneficiary outside of Dalton Kincaid. Keon Coleman (ankle) didn't practice on Wednesday.
   
• Mike Evans | 49ers: Evans missed practice on Wednesday due to a hip injury that forced him to depart from the Week 2 game against Miami. The 49ers insist it isn't a big deal, but they often shroud injury information. We need to see Evans practice, preferably at full capacity, to have confidence in Week 3. If he gets in a full session, Evans is in a SMASH spot with a 29.4 team total and a matchup against an Arizona defense without their top cornerback, Will Johnson. The Cardinals have boosted opposing pass-catching units by 4.3 points per game in 2026. That ranks 10th best. Evans is a strong WR2 if he practices in full. If not, Samuel and George Kittle are the biggest beneficiaries.

WR SICKO START For Week 3 Fantasy

These players are for you, deeper-league SICKOS, in 14- 16-team or 12-team leagues where you have 2-3 flex spots or multiple starting WRs. These players are available in over 50% of Yahoo leagues and aren't in many starting lineups, but they offer a ray of light. You could get lucky.

• Tre Tucker | Raiders: Tucker scored 22.9 points in Week 2, bringing his season average to 13.8 PPG. He is in a new role in 2026, shedding his downfield duds for a 9.5 average route depth (despite his misleading 16.7 aDOT) with 29% of reps coming from the slot. He ranks No. 17 in motion rate at 18% in Klint Kubiak's scheme. Essentially, he is getting the JSN routes minus the talent profile. Tucker will take a backseat when Brock Bowers returns, but he's the Raiders WR with the best role and could continue to post surprising numbers. Tucker is a WR3 against the Saints in a game with sneaky shootout potential despite a low team total of 19.4 points. He is rostered in 42% of Yahoo leagues.

Sit These Wide Receivers In Week 3 Fantasy Football

Chris Godwin | Buccaneers

If you followed me this preseason, you know that I was in on Godwin as an underpriced option with Mike Evans gone. While I still think he could get going thanks to a full-time role in an offense still ironing out the kinks in a new scheme, I am taking a wait-and-see approach.

Godwin has an elite route share of 90% but only a 12% target share through the first two games, leading to 8.6 PPG and a 43 Utilization Score.

While targets are not as predictive as routes for WRs early in the season, this data paired with a brutal matchup has me fading him in Week 3.

In 2025, passing games averaged -0.7 TDs against Minnesota. And the Vikings defense is at it again, starting 2026 at -0.5. Overall, pass catchers saw a -10.5 boost against Brian Flores's unit. That was the toughest matchup in the NFL.

Tampa Bay has the 10th-lowest team total on the slate at 20.8, which honestly could be too high.

Fantasy Projections

• Median: 8.9
• Xfinity Best (Ceiling): 14.6
• Floor: 6.4

Godwin is a borderline WR4 in the projection model and is my WR51 this weekend.

WR Downgrades for Sit Consideration in Week 3 Fantasy Football

• Luther Burden | Bears: I elaborated at length on challenges for Burden and his short-term outlook in the Utilization Report this week. In a nutshell, I remain bullish long term, but his 71% route participation rate is concerning with Kalif Raymond playing over him. With Caleb Williams highly unlikely to play this week, against an Eagles secondary that held pass-catching corps to -8.5 PPG last season, Burden DOWNGRADES to low-end WR3 status in Week 3.
   
• Stefon Diggs | Commanders: The Commanders draw the worst matchup of this young season for pass-catching units. Minnesota has held opposing WRs to a -5.3 PPG boost—the second-hardest matchup and they have been better against slot WRs (-3.9) than outside options. When you pair this with Diggs low route participation rate of 60% on the season, we aren't likely to see the slot WR regress from his 18.6 PPG in a significant way. Not a bad sell-high moment with Diggs—he DOWNGRADES to WR4 status in Week 3 against the Vikings.  

Start These TEs In Fantasy Football Week 3

Mark Andrews | Ravens

Andrews is averaging 9.9 PPG as the TE14 in fantasy through two games. No, he isn't the same talent we once knew, but he has a 75% route participation rate and a strong 25% target share.

Historically, TEs with a similar Utilization Score to his 74 have averaged 10.8 PPG. So, he isn't a league-winning archetype. However, the 31-year-old is in a fantastic spot in Week 3.

The Cowboys green-lighted the No. 1 boost to opposing pass catchers in 2025 at +5.8 PPG. This year they are at +8.1, which ranks No. 4.

With Ja'Kobi Lane on IR and Zay Flowers dealing with a hamstring injury, Andrews could be in for a big day. The Ravens own the second-highest team total, 28.8 points, in Freedman's model.

Fantasy Projections

• Median: 10.5
• Xfinity Best (Ceiling): 16.3
• Floor: 7.6

Andrews is a low-end TE1 in the projections and is my TE12 in the rankings.

TE Upgrades For Fantasy Lineups In Week 3

• Tucker Kraft | Packers: Kraft saw his target share drop from 15% to 11% from Week 1 to Week 2, but his route participation rate surged from 48% to 91%. Those routes came from Jonnu Smith. In the preseason, we heard that Kraft's reps could be limited early in the year, but he is trending up now. The Packers have the eighth-highest team total (23.7), and with Jayden Reed (neck) sidelined, this offense will highly condense around Kraft, Christian Watson, Golden, and Kraft. Kraft is a mid-range TE1 against Atlanta.
   
• Dalton Schultz | Texans: After scoring 26 fantasy points in Week 2, Schultz was the most-added TE on waivers. With Nico Collins (hamstring) out, Schultz was the top option for C.J. Stroud with a 28% target share and a 91 Utilization Score. Collins didn't practice on Wednesday and could miss Week 3. The Colts have a lackluster LB corps, which makes sense for Houston to attack. Indianapolis has allowed 18.9 PPG so far to TEs in 2026. Schultz is a top-10 TE if Collins is out. If Collins plays, he is a high-end TE2.   
   
• Oronde Gadsden | Chargers: With David Njoku (IR) and Charlie Kolar (out) injured in Week 2, Gadsden is the favorite to lead the Chargers TE room in Week 3. They don't like him as a blocker in 21 personnel—a staple of the Mike McDaniel offense - so it is still a bit tricky to predict playing time. But Gadsden is the second-best receiving option on the team, and the thing we do know is that his playing time will improve. The Bills have boosted opposing pass-catching units by 7.1 PPG. That is the fourth-best matchup on paper. Gadsden UPGRADES to high-end TE2 territory and offers high-end TE1 upside if his route participation rate climbs to 70% or higher. 
   
• Terrance Ferguson | Rams: With Nacua out last week, the Rams leaned heavily into their multi-TE personnel, pushing Ferguson's route rate to 70%. He ranked second on the team with a 29% target share, scoring 17.4 points. The Broncos are a tough matchup against the pass, but their LBs aren't elite, which could funnel another big target game to Ferguson. Justin Strnad and Alex Singleton have coverage grades of 51.6 and 49.5, respectively. Those rank 43rd and 54th out of 56 LBs with at least 40 coverage snaps in 2026. Ferguson is a mid-range TE2 if Nacua plays. If Nacua is out, he is a borderline TE1 with high-end upside.    

TE Injury Watch For Week 3 In Fantasy Football

• Brock Bowers | Raiders: Bowers (meniscus trim) was limited in practice on Wednesday. If he suits up, he could face a snap count, but is still a mid-range TE1 because he is Brock-freaking-Bowers. If Bowers is out, Michael Mayer is a mid-range TE2. 

TE SICKO START For Week 3 Fantasy

These players are for you deeper-league SICKOS who play in 16-team leagues or TE premium formats with two flex spots.

• Kenyon Sadiq | Jets: Mason Taylor is out for Week 3 against the Lions, who have given up 29.4 points per game to TEs in 2026. In a trailing game script as 7.8-point underdogs in Freedman's model, the Lions could play plenty of deep coverage, inviting targets underneath. That is where Sadiq shines as a significant YAC threat. Sadiq is available in 84% of Yahoo leagues. If he smashes, the Round 1 NFL pick could be in the driver's seat for the rest of the season. Sadiq is a borderline TE1 with mid-range TE1 upside this weekend. He is a great late-week waiver wire add as a stash even if you don't want to start him.

Sit These Tight Ends In Week 3 Fantasy Football

Jake Ferguson | Cowboys

Ferguson scored 20.3 points in Week 2 thanks to a pair of receiving TDs. But his 69% route share and 10% target share are too low to make him a dependable option.

CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are the top two options for the Cowboys, leaving Ferguson as a TD-dependent option.

Dallas typically carries a strong team total, and that is the case again this weekend, which helps a TD-dependent option like him. They have the fifth-best team total at 25.3 points in Freedman's model, and this could be a shootout with the Cowboys as 3.5-point underdogs.

Fantasy Projections

• Median: 8.8
• Xfinity Best (Ceiling): 13.8
• Floor: 6.4

Ferguson isn't a must-sit, but he is a mid-range TE2 for me and the projection model. There are a lot of names I prefer over him, including Hunter Henry, Kenyon Sadiq, and Juwan Johnson.