Fantasy Football Week 3 Start ‘Em & Sit ‘Em: Kirk Cousins again finds his sub-prime groove

This is an interesting week for many Fantasy managers with knowing who you can trust in your lineup. We’ve been let down by several star players already — see Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, Derrick Henry, Najee Harris, D.J. Moore, DK Metcalf and Kyle Pitts to name a few — and it’s led to some frustrating 0-2 starts.

I could tell you to relax, but no one wants to start the season 0-3. The best thing you can do is trust the players in good matchups, and hopefully this is the week they deliver.

For example, I have faith in Metcalf and Pitts, as you’ll read below, with their head-to-head matchup in Seattle. I also expect this to be the breakout week for Dameon Pierce, and Joe Burrow and Ezekiel Elliott should rebound from slow starts.

However, I’m not as confident in Brady, Wilson and Aaron Rodgers to play at their usual level, especially Brady and Wilson with banged up receiving corps. The good news is there are players you can pivot to, especially at quarterback, and you can read about them here.

We hope you don’t start 0-3 for the season, so hopefully the players you are counting on perform at a high level this week. And for those of you who are 2-0 or even 1-1, let’s keep stacking those wins and enjoying the good fortune. Trust me, there are plenty of Fantasy managers out there dealing with the woes of being winless heading into Week 3, and it’s not fun.  

Kirk Cousins once again had a bad game in prime time. In Week 2 at Philadelphia on Monday night, Cousins melted down against the Eagles, and it appeared like he thought cornerback Darius Slay was on the Vikings. Cousins threw three interceptions and finished with just 10 Fantasy points.

But he should rebound this week against the Lions. He loves facing Detroit, and in his past five meetings with the Lions he’s averaging 296.4 passing yards per game with 11 total touchdowns and just one interception. In three of his past four games with Detroit, Cousins has scored at least 25 Fantasy points.

The game is during the day at home, so Cousins doesn’t have to worry about being afraid of the dark. And this Lions defense has already allowed Jalen Hurts in Week 1 and Carson Wentz in Week 2 to score at least 24 Fantasy points.

It was disappointing to see Cousins struggle against the Eagles on Monday night in Week 2. But he will bounce back in Week 3 and has the chance to be a top-five Fantasy quarterback in this matchup.

• More Week 3: Starts, Sits, Sleepers and Busts | Waiver Wire | QB Preview | RB Preview | WR Preview | TE Preview | Trade Values

Chargers (vs. JAC)

The Chargers defense played well in limiting the Chargers to 21 points in Week 2, and Los Angeles could have had multiple interceptions against Patrick Mahomes in that matchup. The previous week against the Raiders, the Chargers got three interceptions against Derek Carr, along with six sacks. The Chargers DST has the chance for a big week and could be the No. 1 DST in this scoring period.

• Cowboys (at NYG)
• Saints (at CAR)
• Browns (vs. PIT)

Broncos (vs. SF)

Through two games against mediocre offenses in Seattle and Houston, the Broncos DST has underwhelmed. While the defense has only allowed 26 points over that span, Denver has just five sacks and one turnover. Being at home against the 49ers could help, but this is the best offense the Broncos have faced this year. The Broncos DST is a low-end starting option in most leagues for Week 3.