Week 2 is over and that could not come fast enough considering all the injuries. As we all know, injuries are part of real football which is one of the reasons we are adamant about handcuff and backups during draft season. This year just hits different with a list of Pro Bowl talent already on the IR or experiencing multi-week ailments. So, what now? Well, we need to work the wire and trades to the best of our ability while also having an eye on the upcoming bye weeks. With this column, I am moving away from my normal WR-only write-up, so bear with me as I get comfortable in this new arena. My goal is to provide my Start recommendations based on matchup and what I saw in the previous week(s). So, as you prep your fake football rosters, I present you my Starts for all positions Week 3 edition.
Be sure to check out Razzball Football’s updated rankings: Top 150 | QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | Rookie
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Start These Players:
- Position: QB
- Player: Sam Darnold
- Week 2 Opponent: home versus Houston Texans
I originally wrote this column with Kyler Murray as my QB recommendation, then I realized how easy (and lazy) that is for the reader. Coming off his perfect QB-rating Week 2, Kyler would have been plug-and-play for this write-up but that does nothing to help you. So, I deleted all my Kyler comments and am pivoting to New York Jets/Carolina Panthers/San Francisco 49ers HOF QB, Sam Darnold at home versus the Texans. With the news Justin Jefferson should be good to go and knowing the Vikings will need to score to win this ballgame, give me Sammy D to put up numbers on Sunday. Even if WR2 Jordan Addison cannot make it, the role WRs have been solid enough and the RB tandem of Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler have been well above average. Darnold is currently 9th in passing yards and tied for 3rd with 4 TDs. He is not a running threat, but can chuck the rock, and will need to do so to keep up with the potent Houston offense.
- Position: RB
- Player: Derrick Henry
- Week 2 Opponent: at Dallas Cowboys
Dem Boys got absolutely throttled by the Saints in Week 2, and the country (outside of DFW area) rejoiced as one! King Henry has not done King Henry things through two weeks, but Dallas is the remedy to his box score ills. Look for Henry to get right in a big way while Mike McCarthy starts to hear the hot seat talk out of sports talk radio. I think we are looking at 100 yards and at least one TD for Henry in Week 3.
- Position: WR
- Player: Brandon Aiyuk
- Week 2 Opponent: at Los Angeles Rams
We have not seen what we need to see from Aiyuk and the entire San Fran offense to date. In come the Rams, banged up and licking their wounds. Look for Stafford to throw early and often with the 9ers pulling away early in the 3rd Quarter with Aiyuk being the beneficiary of most of Purdy’s passes. With no CMC and no Deebo, Purdy will lean on Aiyuk to lead the way. This is a smash start for me considering divisional games tend to bring heightened competition. I fully expect the Rams to scratch and claw enough that SF must throw to win.
- Position: TE
- Player: Sam LaPorta
- Week 2 Opponent: at Arizona Cardinals
I am willing to admit I missed my Week 2 TE call with Cole Kmet. I place that at the feet of Caleb Williams and not the TE himself. Can we talk about how bad Caleb has looked through two weeks? Let’s save that for a later column (Packers fan here laughing about another potential bust QB drafted by the Bears). I digress. With WR1 Amon-Ra St. Brown dinged (left Week 2’s game twice) and the Lions needing to keep pace with the 2-0 Vikings (this will not last BTW), the offense needs to figure out a way to increase the targets for LaPorta (only 8 through Week 2). The kid is a stud as proven by this rookie campaign. Those 8 targets have only netted 6 receptions for 58 yards and 0 TDs. It is time to get the TE more involved thus helping the run game and providing some much-needed relief to St. Brown. I have LaPorta as my TE1 for Week 3.
Since you are here, check out more fantasy goodness at Razzball. Follow me on Twitter/X @Stiles08. Don’t forget to drop a comment or question down below. Looking forward to seeing you during our Sunday Start/Sit Show on YouTube @RazzballFantasy two hours before kickoff where we answer all your questions live on the air!
-Stiles-
