Two weeks are officially in the books, and fantasy football managers are already getting a clearer picture of which early-season performances are sustainable and which may have been fool’s gold. Week 1 produced an explosive 90 offensive touchdowns, while scoring cooled considerably in Week 2, creating some difficult lineup decisions heading into the third week of the season. With injuries to several notable quarterbacks and offensive weapons adding another layer of uncertainty, managers can’t simply rely on preseason expectations or draft-day ADP anymore. Week 3 is about evaluating usage, matchups and early-season trends—and sometimes that means putting a recognizable name on the bench. Here are four players fantasy managers should strongly consider sitting this week.
Trevor Lawrence Vs. Patriots
Trevor Lawrence enters Week 3 after a dramatic drop-off from his impressive season opener. After throwing for 245 yards and four touchdowns against Cleveland in Week 1, Lawrence struggled against Denver, completing 17-of-29 passes for 189 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception while producing just 6.2 fantasy points. That made him the QB30 in Week 2 and snapped a nine-game streak of finishing as a top-12 fantasy quarterback.
The matchup with New England provides another reason for caution. Through two weeks, the Patriots have allowed opposing quarterbacks to average just 193.5 passing yards, 0.5 passing touchdowns and 8.8 fantasy points per game, the fourth-fewest QB fantasy points allowed in the league. New England has surrendered only one passing touchdown this season and is coming off a 20-3 victory over Pittsburgh. The Patriots have also allowed no more than 13 points in each of their last four regular-season games, creating legitimate concerns about Lawrence’s touchdown upside.
Lawrence’s underlying numbers provide both encouragement and warning. He ranks seventh among qualifying quarterbacks in yards per attempt and fifth in passing success rate, but also owns the highest turnover-worthy-play rate among that group. His Week 1 performance proves he still has significant fantasy upside, but the combination of his Week 2 struggles, New England’s defensive efficiency and a potentially low-scoring matchup makes Lawrence a player to be a must sit in Week 3 if you have a comparable quarterback with a better matchup.
Chase Brown @ Steelers
Chase Brown is a much more interesting must-sit candidate because the volume is actually encouraging, but the matchup creates significant downside. Through two games, Brown has 36 carries for 136 yards (3.8 YPC), one touchdown and eight receptions for 24 yards on nine targets. He dominated Cincinnati’s backfield in Week 2, taking 20 of 22 RB carries against Houston and playing 42 of 60 offensive snaps. However, his receiving production disappeared in that game, with just three catches for two yards on five targets.
The Week 3 matchup against Pittsburgh is where the concern really begins. The Steelers have allowed 128 rushing yards per game through two weeks, but their defense has been considerably stronger against the pass, and Pittsburgh’s ability to pressure Joe Burrow could force Cincinnati into a more pass-heavy game plan. One projection model expects Cincinnati to run the ball on just 34.4% of its plays, the second-lowest rate on the Week 3 slate. Pittsburgh has also been one of the NFL’s more efficient run defenses dating back to last season, allowing only 4.12 adjusted yards per carry.
Brown’s workload keeps him from being an obvious bench in every format, but his 3.8 yards per carry, limited receiving production and potentially unfavorable game script make him a risky Week 3 start. PFF actually projects Brown for 62.5 rushing yards, 23.4 receiving yards, 4.4 targets and 15.9 PPR points, so there is clearly a path to a productive game. However, if you’re looking for a true “must sit” angle for the article, the argument is that Brown is heavily dependent on volume and a touchdown to reach his ceiling, making him a player worth benching in favor of a comparable RB with a more favorable matchup.
Marvin Harrison Jr. @ 49ers
Marvin Harrison Jr. has been one of the biggest fantasy disappointments through the first two weeks of the 2026 season. The former first-round pick has just one reception for 33 yards on four targets through two games, including a completely empty Week 2 against Seattle. Harrison played at least 74% of Arizona’s offensive snaps in both games, so playing time isn’t the issue—the problem is that the Cardinals simply aren’t getting him involved. His four targets currently rank only fifth on the team, while his 6.3% target share is also fifth among Arizona pass catchers.
The underlying usage makes Harrison particularly difficult to trust in Week 3. His 0.06 targets per route run ranks 59th among 59 qualifying wide receivers, while his 18.5-yard average depth of target shows that Arizona is primarily using him as a downfield weapon rather than manufacturing easier opportunities underneath. That creates an extremely low weekly floor when the deep shots aren’t connecting. To make matters worse, Seattle just held Harrison without a catch and currently allows the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers.
Harrison’s talent and draft capital make him difficult to bench, but fantasy managers have to prioritize actual usage over preseason expectations. Through two games, there simply isn’t enough target volume to justify treating him as a reliable fantasy starter. His big-play ability means one deep reception could completely change the fantasy equation, but until Arizona demonstrates a willingness to consistently involve him, Harrison belongs on the bench in Week 3 if managers have a comparable alternative. This is less about giving up on Harrison and more about refusing to gamble on a player who has received only four targets through two games.
Tyler Warren Vs. Texans
Tyler Warren has managed to remain a fantasy TE1 through the first two weeks, but his production has been heavily dependent on touchdowns. Warren has caught 9 of 12 targets for just 34 yards and two touchdowns, averaging only 3.8 yards per reception. His Week 2 performance against Kansas City illustrates the problem: he caught 6-of-7 targets for only 21 yards, with his touchdown turning an otherwise inefficient receiving day into a 10.5-point PPR performance. Warren currently ranks first among qualified tight ends with two receiving touchdowns, but 34 receiving yards rank 23rd at the position.
The Week 3 matchup against Houston provides another reason for caution. The Texans have allowed just 8 receptions for 142 yards and zero touchdowns to opposing tight ends through two games, while PFF currently ranks Houston 10th in overall tight-end coverage. Warren is also facing a Houston defense expected to put significant pressure on Daniel Jones, potentially limiting Indianapolis’ ability to sustain drives and create scoring opportunities. PFF projects Warren for 4.8 receptions, 6.5 targets, 45.9 yards and 0.3 touchdowns, which translates to 11.7 PPR points and a TE9 ranking.
The biggest problem for Warren is that his fantasy production has been almost entirely touchdown-driven. He has scored in both games despite averaging only 17 receiving yards per game, meaning another touchdown may be necessary for him to deliver a strong fantasy performance. The absence of Alec Pierce could increase Warren’s target share, and several fantasy analysts still view him as a TE1 because of that expected volume. However, if you have a comparable tight end option, Warren is a player worth sitting in Week 3 and betting against another touchdown-dependent performance.
The first two weeks of the season have provided enough information to start separating genuine opportunity from misleading fantasy production. Injuries, changing workloads and difficult matchups have already forced managers to adjust their expectations, while several early-season statistical trends are beginning to reveal which players have favorable paths forward and which may be heading toward a disappointing Week 3. Sitting a player you drafted highly is never easy, but fantasy football is about maximizing the lineup in front of you—not protecting preseason expectations. With the fantasy season beginning to take shape, these four must-sits could help managers avoid a costly Week 3 disappointment.
