Week 3 is here, which means your fantasy football roster probably looks like a mix of brilliance, regret, and one guy you only started because his headshot made him look trustworthy. Don’t worry — we’ve all been there. To help you sort through the chaos, our Featured Pros have weighed in with their favorite Week 3 Starts and Duds. Whether you need reassurance before locking in a borderline Flex or you’re trying to avoid another soul-crushing dud, this list has you covered.
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Fantasy Football Week 3 Start/Sit Advice
Duds
Which player inside the top 40 in the FantasyPros Flex rankings is likely to disappoint fantasy managers this week?
Brian Thomas Jr.
“Brian Thomas Jr. has had a terrible start to the season. People want to pin his lack of production on Trevor Lawrence; however, he needs to be able to catch the ball to produce. Last week, he was hit in the chest and dropped a 4th and 5 target that would have likely iced the game against the Bengals. Combining for five receptions on 19 targets for 60 yards over two games is not what we hoped for at the end of the first round. This week, he faces Derek Stingley Jr., who has held Adams to 4 receptions on eight targets for 51 yards in Week 1, and Mike Evans to 5 receptions on 11 targets for 56 yards. It sounds wild, but BTJ is outside of my top 30 receivers this week.”
– Ellis Johnson (FantasyPros)
Josh Jacobs (RB – GB)
“Josh Jacobs will struggle this week against Cleveland’s stout run defense. Jacobs has been okay the first two weeks of the season, with both performances saved by a touchdown. That 11-game touchdown streak will have to continue for Jacobs to be a decent start this week. The Browns are allowing the second-fewest rushing yards per game through the first two games of the season. And I think that trend continues as Jacobs will struggle this Sunday.”
– Ryan Prosick (Fantrax)
Omarion Hampton (RB – LAC)
“Although I’m still bullish on Omarion Hampton overall, it’s fair to be concerned about his Week 3 outlook against a tough Denver defense. Hampton had eight carries for 24 yards against the Raiders on Monday night and coughed up a fumble late — although the NFL wrongly charged the fumble to QB Justin Herbert. The snap share for Najee Harris went from 18.5% in Week 1 to 34.5% in Week 2. Hampton investors should be patient, but they should also brace themselves for the possibility of another lackluster game from their rookie RB.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
“It hasn’t been great thus far for Omarion Hampton, and it may not get much better this week against a Denver front that will be livid after letting Jonathan Taylor run loose last week. Hampton couldn’t get anything going Monday night against the Raiders, with the offensive line being an issue in the run game so far, and the Chargers having plenty of success with the passing game. It does get better for Hampton after this week, with matchups against the Giants, Commanders, and Dolphins, three teams that have all struggled against the run so far in 2025, but this may not be the breakout week Omarion Hampton fantasy managers are waiting for.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
De’Von Achane (RB – MIA)
“De’Von Achane has looked like a strong running back this fall, but Miami has not played extremely well. The team showed hints of their old form against the New England Patriots, but still fell short. This week, Achane will go against the Buffalo Bills on a short week. He is the starting running back for the Dolphins and will get touches. Still, owners should temper expectations due to the short week, the offense performing below expectations, the game being in the hostile Buffalo stadium, and a great defense in Buffalo.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
Kenneth Walker III (RB – SEA)
“Kenneth Walker followed up an alarming Week 1 with an RB7 finish in Week 2. However, he had fewer carries than Zach Charbonnet for the second straight week, meaning he had to be extremely efficient with the work he did get. Walker’s strong game came vs the same Steelers defense that was beaten up by the Jets in Week 1. Walker’s metrics are much stronger than Charbonnet’s, but he has been much worse in pass protection (per PFF), meaning this is likely to remain a committee. Walker is playable in Week 3 vs a Saints defense that has looked average through 2 games, but he shouldn’t be thought of drastically different than Charbonnet (currently ranked RB19 vs RB33).”
– Charlie Sisian (The Fantasy DC)
Breece Hall (RB – NYJ)
“Breece Hall is a risky Week 3 start despite his explosive talent. He’s totaled 33 touches through two games, but his usage dipped in Week 2, and he’s still searching for his first touchdown. With Justin Fields in concussion protocol and Tyrod Taylor expected to start, the Jets offense could struggle to sustain drives. Hall is touchdown-dependent just like Nick Chubb, but Chubb scored last week in a much better offense. Fantasy managers expecting RB1 or RB2 production may be let down by a low-volume, inconsistent role that lacks scoring reliability and passing-game involvement.”
– Lawrence Iacona (Gridiron Experts)
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