Week 3 brings the usual mix of feast or famine. Some players have defenses to exploit, while others could get smothered. We’re running through the best and worst matchups so your lineup has a fighting chance.
Quarterback
Best: QB Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott looks set up with the top QB matchup of Week 3. Chicago’s secondary has been torched in back-to-back games — giving up three late touchdowns to rookie J.J. McCarthy in Week 1 and then getting dismantled for five scores by Jared Goff last Sunday. With CB Jaylon Johnson still sidelined, the Bears don’t have the pieces to slow down a high-volume passer with two elite receiving options in Ceedee Lamb and George Pickens.
Prescott has averaged 43 attempts per game through two weeks and just threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns in a high flying tilt with the Giants. He’s firmly back in QB1 territory and is a must-start against a porous Chicago defense.
Worst: QB Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Lions QB Jared Goff went off for five touchdowns against Chicago last week, but he’s in for a much stiffer test in Week 3. Baltimore just frustrated QB Joe Flacco with constant pressure and has the kind of defense that gives pocket passers trouble. Goff’s track record against the Ravens is brutal — 120 attempts across three games without a single touchdown pass, including a 53-throw dud in a blowout loss in Baltimore back in 2023. Combine that history with his struggles outdoors, and this matchup has all the makings of a fantasy letdown.
Running Back
Best: RB Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings
Jordan Mason steps into one of the best RB matchups of the week. With Aaron Jones headed to IR and Carson Wentz set to make his first start in 2 seasons, Mason should see no shortage of touches in Minnesota‘s offense. The fourth-year back has already outperformed his backfield mate on the ground, racking up 98 yards on 4.1 yards per carry through two games. Now he draws a Cincinnati defense that has been gashed for the third-most fantasy points to running backs so far. With a clear path to volume and encouraging efficiency metrics (10th in rushing yards over expectation per attempt), Mason profiles as a strong Week 3 start.
Worst: RB Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers RB Josh Jacobs draws what might be the worst RB matchup of Week 3. Cleveland’s run defense has been dominant, holding opponents to just 91 rushing yards total through two games while leading the league at 2.1 yards per carry allowed. They’ve already bottled up Chase Brown and Derrick Henry, and they rank seventh in opponent rushing touchdown rate (14.3%). That’s bad news for Jacobs, whose 11-game scoring streak is very much at risk against this front.
Wide Receiver
Best: WR Ceedee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
CeeDee Lamb is set up with one of the best WR matchups of the week. Chicago has given up the third-most fantasy points to receivers (38.4 per game) and was just carved up by Amon-Ra St. Brown and the Lions. Lamb has opened the season with back-to-back 100-yard games and sits second in the league in targets (24), yet he’s still searching for his first touchdown. That could easily change this week in what looks like a breakout spot — lock him in as a must-start.
Worst: WR Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
Chris Olave remains the clear WR1 in New Orleans, but Week 3 shapes up as a tough assignment. Seattle has held receivers to the fewest fantasy points in the league so far, and their defense has been overwhelming quarterbacks with a league-best 49.4% pressure rate. With rookie QB Spencer Rattler making a road start in that environment, the Saints’ passing game could sputter — making Olave a risky play despite his talent and target share.
Tight End
Best: TE Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
While I am out on Saints WR Chris Olave this week, Saints TE Juwan Johnson is a different story. Johnson has quickly become QB Spencer Rattler’s safety valve, and in a hostile road environment, Rattler should look his way often.
Johnson is averaging 10 targets per game and has found the end zone in both outings so far, racking up 31.5 fantasy points on 20 targets. Johnson also leads the team in red-zone looks and is tied for the team lead in first-read share, making him the primary focus in the passing attack. Seattle’s defense has been the only unit to allow multiple TE touchdowns so far, giving Johnson a strong shot at another score — a solid TE1 option this week.
Worst: TE Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars
Brenton Strange draws a brutal matchup in Week 3. Houston has been one of the stingiest defenses against TEs, allowing just 5.1 fantasy points per game through two weeks. Trevor Lawrence is likely to face heavy pressure from the Texans’ dominant pass rush that just sacked Baker Mayfield four times on Monday night football. On top of that, the Jaguars’ offense has been unsettled, with potential off-field tension between HC Liam Coen and WR Brian Thomas Jr. spilling into game planning and target distribution. With things a bit odd in Jacksonville right now, Strange is a clear bench candidate with a less than favorable matchup.
