This is the Fantasy Nerd's look at the best and worst matchups for Week 3 of the 2023 NFL season. Analysis is aggregated from multiple sources including FN. Rankings are based upon PPR (point per reception) scoring. Given the known conditions, these matchups are the ones to watch and/or avoid.
Please Note: This list does not generally include the elite players that you are going to start regardless of matchup. You don't need us to tell you to start Justin Jefferson, Patrick Mahomes, or Christian McCaffrey. Instead, we take a look at other players on your team that we believe either have great matchups or should be avoided for multiple reasons. Factors like opposing defense, performance trending, and peer comparisons may influence our decisions.
Start 'em Kirk Cousins (MIN, QB)The best QB in fantasy football is in Minnesota, and he has thrown for more than 300 yards and multiple scores in his first two games. Kirk Cousins has a terrific matchup this week against the Chargers who just gave up at least 21 fantasy points to both Tua Tagovailoa and Ryan Tannehill. Start him everywhere you can.
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2nd Most Pts to QB
Start 'em Dak Prescott (DAL, QB)Dak Prescott didn't need to do much in Week 1 given that the Dallas defense had the Giants on their heels the whole game. He bounced back nicely last week putting up 19.6 points against a tough Jets secondary. Now he'll get a Cardinals defense that just gave up 30 points to Daniel Jones last week. Dak should be considered a QB1 this week.
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4th Most Pts to QB
Start 'em Jahmyr Gibbs (DET, RB)This is not a great matchup on paper, but with David Montgomery sidelined, Jahmyr Gibbs is primed to handle the workload and should be an interesting RB2 option this week with the potential to flirt with RB1 production.
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4th Fewest Pts to RB
Start 'em Brian Robinson (WAS, RB)Brian Robinson has made a trip to the endzone in each of his first two games this season including two rushing scores last week. He will face some obstacles against the Bills this weekend, but Breece Hall was able to bring in almost 16 fantasy points against them in Week 1, and while Josh Jacobs didn't do anything on the ground, he was able to salvage his day through the air. Brian Robinson can produce similar numbers and should be in the RB2/Flex discussion.
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16th Fewest Pts to RB
Start 'em Puka Nacua (LAR, WR)Unless you've been living under a rock, it's become quite obvious that Puka Nacua needs to be rostered and started in every format. While Cooper Kupp remains out, Nacua has taken it to the house setting an NFL record for the most catches in a rookie's first two games. He has delivered multiple 100-yard games and is the 2nd-best fantasy WR in the NFL right now. The Bengals are not particularly scary so don't be surprised if Puka lands in WR1 territory again.
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12th Fewest Pts to WR
Start 'em George Pickens (PIT, WR)With Diontae Johnson sidelined last week, George Pickens delivered 22.7 fantasy points. He wasn't efficient at all, catching just four of his ten targets, but it's a relatively safe assumption that his efficiency will rise. He racked up 127 yards and a score. Being the focal point of the receiving corp should help provide enough targets to keep Pickens in the WR2/3 discussion.
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11th Most Pts to WR
Start 'em Sam LaPorta (DET, TE)Sam LaPorta has been a wonderful fantasy addition this year. He's had two straight games of five catches and he's averaging 10.1 fantasy points. He's also been a Top 5 fantasy TE over the first two weeks. While he may not be a regular fantasy contributor every week, we still consider him a borderline TE1 against the Falcons.
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11th Most Pts to TE
Start 'em Dallas Goedert (PHI, TE)Dallas Goedert has not lived up to ADP. He's currently the 40th-best fantasy tight end, and given the nature of the TE position this year, this is such a disappointment. We're looking at the Tampa Bay matchup as his get-right game. The Bucs rank in the Top 10 in most points allowed to tight end, so we're going to consider him a low-end TE1. It may be best to cross your fingers though...
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8th Most Pts to TE
Start 'em Kansas City Chiefs (KC, DEF)The Chiefs defense couldn't contain the Lions in the season opener, but they returned to form last week against the Jaguars putting up double digit points. This week they'll get a Bears offense that seemingly can't get it together yet. Look for Kansas City to be a popular streaming option in Week 3.
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Most pts to DEF
Start 'em Jake Moody (SF, K)You may not have noticed, but Jake Moody is quietly a Top 5 fantasy kicker so far this season. In fact, he has put up double digit points in both of his games. Continue to ride the hot hand here and keep him in your lineup against the Giants.
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11th Most Pts to K
Sit 'em Joe Burrow (CIN, QB)This is not the Joe Burrow that any of us drafted. His calf injury has been a problem and he aggravated it again last week. Burrow has averaged just 9.3 fantasy points so far and this week he'll face a Rams defense giving up the seventh-fewest fantasy points. To make matters worse, he's not even a lock to play on Monday night. He'll have a get-right game at some point, but for now, it probably makes sense to play it safe and sit Burrow on the bench.
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7th Fewest Pts to QB
Sit 'em Jordan Love (GB, QB)The 2nd-best fantasy QB has surpassed expectations in his first year as the defacto starter for the Packers. Jordan Love is coming off two straight games of at least 20 fantasy points and three passing scores, but the Saints defense has played shut down the first two weeks. They've given up the 2nd-fewest fantasy points to the position so far this season.
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2nd Fewest Pts to QB
Sit 'em Jerome Ford (CLE, RB)The hottest name on the waiver wire this week was Jerome Ford who put up 24.1 fantasy points against the Steelers after Nick Chubb was lost for the season. The challenge with Ford is not so much in his ability, but rather his matchup. The Titans have kept their opponents to under 70 rushing yards and nobody has given up fewer fantasy points to running backs than Tennessee so far this year. He can still be a flex option for you, but temper your expectations. The addition of Kareem Hunt doesn't help his fantasy value.
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Feweset Pts to RB
Sit 'em Breece Hall (NYJ, RB)With a matchup that should produce solid numbers, it's a shame that we can't count on Breece Hall to deliver. He had such a great game in Week 1, but he was invisible last week against the Cowboys seeing just four carries and delivering less than one fantasy point. The timeshare with Dalvin Cook is a detriment to both players' fantasy value. Breece is tough to trust in the RB1/2 spot, but feel free to take a chance on him as your flex. Raheem Mostert put up a whopping 25 fantasy points against the Patriots last week. Hall always has that potential.
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9th Most Pts to RB
Sit 'em DeAndre Hopkins (TEN, WR)As long as you control your expectations, DeAndre Hopkins can still provide some flex appeal, but largely he's been a non-contributor this season ranking as the 45th-best WR. In a run-first offense, Hopkins is not the focal point of this offense. Derrick Henry is. Making matters worse is the fact that the matchup is scary. Cleveland has given up the second fewest fantasy points to receivers keeping Ja'Marr Chase, Tyler Boyd, and Tee Higgins to single digits (although in a rain-soaked game). Hopkins is no longer a slam dunk starting option.
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2nd Fewest Pts to WR
Sit 'em Kadarius Toney (KC, WR)It's always possible that Kadarius Toney has a big play that cranks out a solid fantasy day, but so far we haven't seen enough to feel confident starting him and waiting for that to happen. He had five targets last week and hauled in all five, but it was for a disappointing 35 yards. His Week 1 performance was laughable - particularly when the ball bounced off of him neatly into the defender's hands. Even in a good matchup like the one this week, Toney remains difficult to trust and therefore we'd keep him on the bench.
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13th Most Pts to WR
Sit 'em Dalton Schultz (HOU, TE)If you enjoy single digit fantasy points, Dalton Schultz is your man. Unfortunately, Schultz has not lived up to expectations, but it is only his second game on a new team. He'll be the TE1 for the Texans but he's been a TE3 on the season for fantasy. He could come out on top in a plus matchup against the Jaguars, but we want to see some spark before we feel comfortable plugging him into our lineups.
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6th Most Pts to TE
Sit 'em Dawson Knox (BUF, TE)Dawson Knox hasn't performed badly per se (13th best fantasy TE so far), but being in one of the more potent offenses, he hasn't lit the world on fire either. The addition of rookie Dalton Kincaid has eaten into his fantasy value a bit. The Commanders have been solid so far against tight ends not allowing double digits to anyone. Knox may be a boom-or-bust player this year and the challenge will be predicting the boom.
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8th Fewest Pts to TE
Sit 'em Minnesota Vikings (MIN, DEF)The Vikings defense will have better days, but Week 3 against the Chargers is not likely to be one of them. Justin Herbert and company will be difficult to contain. The Chargers surrender the third fewest fantasy points.
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3rd Fewest Pts to DEF
Sit 'em Ka'imi Fairbairn (HOU, K)Normally a solid kicking option, Ka'imi Fairbairn hasn't done much so far. He's averaging just four fantasy points, and his output is not likely to change against Jacksonville who have surrendered the third fewest fantasy points to the position.
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3rd Fewest Pts to K
