Fantasy Football Matchups to Exploit: Sleeper starts, plus players to sit/fade for Week 3 James KohSeptember 19, 2025 at 10:56 PM 0 No question the storyline of Week 2 was the brutalization of quarterbacks across the league. Joe Burrow, Justin Fields and J.J.
- - Fantasy Football Matchups to Exploit: Sleeper starts, plus players to sit/fade for Week 3
James KohSeptember 19, 2025 at 10:56 PM
0
No question the storyline of Week 2 was the brutalization of quarterbacks across the league.
Joe Burrow, Justin Fields and J.J. McCarthy will all miss at least one week and we wait to hear about Brock Purdy and Jayden Daniels and what their status will be come Sunday.
With injuries already beginning to creep its ugly head into the season, we're already dancing around the waiver wire, attempting to navigate tricky roster spots.
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So whether you're 0-2 and looking for a lifeline or 2-0 and looking to put a stranglehold on your league mates, let The Sleeper King be your guide and this matchup data be your torch cutting through the fantasy fog.
LFG and good luck!
Week 3 Sleepers Based on MatchupQuarterbacksCarson Wentz vs. CIN -
The aforementioned McCarthy is out and Wentz is the next man up taking on a Bengals defense that is flat out dooks.
Cincy is a bottom-five team in passing yards allowed and bottom eight when talking about quarterback pressure rate.
Plus, I love the fact that Wentz is a veteran playing under the guidance of Kevin O'Connell. Let's see if the Notorious K.O.C can help another former first-round "bust" with a big arm revive his career like he did for Sam Darnold last year.
Caleb Williams vs. DAL -
This game has big-time shootout potential as both secondaries are in rough shape.
Jaylon Johnson is out for the foreseeable future for Chicago, which will help Dallas post a big number and the Bears will hopefully be forced to chase, going up against a defense that just gave up an unreal 450 yards passing to a foot-in-the-grave Russell Wilson.
Dallas was dead last in fantasy points allowed to QB last year, they're third worst this year. Oh, by the way, top corner DaRon Bland missed practice with a foot injury Wednesday and Thursday. Something to keep an eye on.
While Williams has been incredibly inconsistent, he has produced, scoring four touchdowns in two games. I thought we saw real improvement from Week 1 to 2, let's see if he can keep that forward momentum going against a secondary that is one of the worst in the NFL.
Sam Darnold vs. NO -
The Saints have given up the eighth most fantasy points per game to the QB spot but what has me the most intrigued is that they are currently posting the second-lowest QB pressure rate in the NFL. A clean pocket for Darnold is huge.
Darnold threw for nearly 300 yards last week to go along with his two touchdown passes.
Drake Maye vs. PIT -
PIT has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to the position and Maye is coming off of a strong three-touchdown performance from last week.
The Steelers are also bottom 10 in a number of key metrics including sacks, pass yards, completion percentage and yards per attempts allowed.
Coming off of one of his best games contributing three total touchdowns versus the Dolphins.
Running BacksIsiah Pacheco vs. NYG -
I know none of you are buying what I'm selling in regards to Pacheco but listen, the matchup is right!
Last year, the Giants gave up the fifth-most fantasy points to the running back position. This year? They're dead last.
Javonte Williams tagged them for a 25-spot last week and Jacory Croskey-Merritt posted 82 yards and a touchdown in Week 1.
The 5.7 YPC allowed to the position ranks as second worst and the G-Men are third worst in explosive run rate allowed (16.3%).
PLUS, it's worth mentioning that Pacheco saw an uptick in playing time last week: 48% snap share in Week 1, 60% in Week 2.
Javonte Williams vs. CHI -
This is likely the last week I can get away with saying Williams is a sleeper but he's taking on a Bears defense that is getting hammered on the ground. They've allowed the fouth-most fantasy points to the position while the 123 rushing yards allowed to opposing backs ranks as third worst.
The Bears are getting mauled up front. Per Next Gen Stats, Chicago's 2.62 yards allowed before contact ranks dead last. For those of you unfamiliar with this stat, this basically means running backs are running 2.6 yards upfield before they are met by a defender. League average is around 0.7 yards allowed before contact. The Bears are about four times league average… so… yeah.
Williams is the workhorse of workhorses, averaging more than 70% of the snaps.
Jordan Mason vs. CIN -
With Aaron Jones on injured reserve, fire up Mason with confidence.
Three different running backs have scored double-digit PPR points against this Bengals defense through two weeks and they've allowed the second-most fantasy points to the position group thus far.
Rhamondre Stevenson vs. PIT -
The Steelers have allowed the second-most rushing yards to running backs through two games. The 5.0 yards per carry allowed to RBs between the tackles ranks as the seventh worst, according to Next Gen Stats. And this is an important number as the Patriots' run scheme under Josh McDaniels is leaning primarily on between-the-tackles rush attempts.
More Week 3 adviceConsensus Half-PPR Rankings -
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | FLEX | D/ST | Kickers
Consensus PPR Rankings -
RB | WR | TE | FLEX
More Roster Advice: Trade Value Charts -
QB | RB | WR | TE
Wide ReceiversWan'Dale Robinson vs. KC -
Robinson obviously had a huge explosion game last week, going for 142 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions (28.2 PPR points) but remember he also saw good volume (eight targets) in Week 1, catching six passes for 55 yards.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs gave up a lot of production in the slot last year, and the trend has continued into this year. In 2024, KC allowed the second-most fantasy points to receivers lined up in the slot. Through two games this year, they've allowed the third-most fantasy points, including the second-most receptions and the fourth-most yards.
Josh Downs vs. TEN -
Very quietly Josh Downs led the Colts in targets last week posting a 8/6/51 slash line.
One very important injury to watch for: Tyler Warren missed practice Wednesday and was limited Thursday with a toe injury. If Warren is banged up, this could open more underneath opportunities for Downs, who himself missed practice Wednesday (ankle) but was a full participant Thursday.
The Titans have thus far allowed the fourth-most receptions to receivers in the slot and rank dead last in receiving yards allowed to inside receivers.
Dontayvion Wicks vs. CLE -
With Jayden Reed (clavicle/foot) out for a couple months there is a wide-open opportunity for Wicks to show that last year was a fluke.
Wicks is now the primary slot player for the Packers, but he also has outside versatility. His 65/35 inside-outside split is important because it means he could stay on the field on Green Bay's two-receiver sets.
Tight EndsJuwan Johnson vs. SEA -
Seattle has been great versus wide receivers but has struggled to contain tight ends; they've allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing TEs.
Double J has played an outrageous 98% of the team's offensive snaps and has run the second-most routes on the team, trailing Chris Olave by just three.
A.J. Barner vs. NO -
Same game, Barner is a DFS tournament dart throw.
Barner caught a touchdown last week but has flown wayyyyy under the radar because folks were more excited about the rookie in Elijah Arroyo.
But through two games, Barner has established himself as the dominant starter, playing nearly 87% of the team's offensive snaps and running the third-most routes.
The matchup is good, too! The Saints have allowed the fifth-most receptions and the ninth-most yards to opposing TEs.
DefensesSeattle vs. NO -
The Saints have multiple offensive linemen dealing with injuries in Dillon Radunz and Taliese Fuaga. Radunz has already been ruled out and Fuaga missed practice Wednesday and Thursday.
The Seahawks are playing at home and Mike McDonald's defense already has four interceptions through two games, tied for the second most in the NFL. As a result they've scored the fifth-most fantasy points thus far among all fantasy defenses.
Atlanta vs. CAR -
The Falcons have been low-key TOUGH vs. opposing quarterbacks. They have the fifth-most sacks, have allowed the second-fewest passing yards and lead the league in completion rate allowed.
This might surprise some folks but the Falcons have scored the most fantasy points through two weeks among all D/STs.
The Panthers meanwhile are down two starting offensive linemen. This could be a long day for Bryce Young and company.
Sits/FadesJared Goff vs. BAL -
You already know about the home-road splits for Goff and this game is in Baltimore. While the Ravens have technically allowed the third-most fantasy points to the position group, they saw Josh Allen Week 1 and gave up a lucky, tipped-pass touchdown last week to Joe Flacco.
I still believe that the Ravens possess one of the best secondaries in the NFL.
Josh Jacobs vs. CLE -
I get it, you're not sitting Jacobs but definitely lower expectations and avoid in DFS.
This Browns defense has already seen a couple RB beasts and tamed both. Derrick Henry ran for just 23 yards last week and Chase Brown in Week 1 was stymied to the tune of 51 total yards.
Overall, the Browns have given up the second-fewest fantasy points to the position.
Chuba Hubbard vs. ATL -
As mentioned, the team is down two offensive linemen and the Falcons have been tough defensively. They've allowed the second-fewest total yards to the position group while completely shutting down both Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason last week.
In Week 1, if not for the touchdown, Bucky Irving would have been in trouble, too, as the Falcons limited The Winter Soldier to just 45 total yards on a 2.64 yards per carry average.
Chris Olave vs. SEA -
It's a tough paper matchup for Olave as Seattle has allowed the fewest fantasy points to outside receivers this year. They have yet to give up a touchdown to any outside receiver and the 40% completion rate allowed ranks as the second best.
Source: "AOL Sports"
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