If you’re staring at your roster right now feeling like you’re stuck in a blender, you aren’t alone. Week 2 was a total buzzkill for a lot of us. Watching guys like Jayden Daniels, Joe Burrow, and Jayden Reed go down with injuries makes the waiver wire look like a gold mine, even if it's mostly filled with copper. But honestly, Week 3 is where the real managers separate themselves from the casuals who just hit "auto-start" on their highest-projected players.
We’re at that weird point in the season. Two games of data is enough to start seeing trends, but it's also enough to get yourself into trouble if you overreact to one bad half. You’ve probably heard people screaming about "buying low" or "selling high," but let's talk about the guys who are actually in a fantasy football smash start week 3 situation. These are the players whose matchups and usage are aligning perfectly, like some kind of cosmic football miracle.
Why Javonte Williams is Basically Unbenchable
I’ll be the first to admit I was skeptical about Javonte heading into the season. That knee injury from a couple of years ago was nasty, and he looked sluggish last year. But man, has he proved me wrong. He is currently the RB2 on the season. Read that again. He was drafted as the RB42 in most spots, and he’s outperforming almost everyone.
The Dallas Cowboys are giving him a workload that most RBs would kill for. He’s played 77% of the snaps and handled 60% of the carries through two weeks. This isn't a "hot hand" situation; it's a "he's the only hand" situation. This week, he gets a Chicago Bears defense that looks like it’s still on summer vacation. They just gave up 52 points to the Lions. Chicago is currently allowing the second-most fantasy points to the running back position.
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If you have Javonte Williams, you’re starting him. No questions asked. Between his 151 rushing yards, three scores, and surprisingly high involvement in the passing game (six catches last week!), his floor is basically a skyscraper.
Rhamondre Stevenson: The Disrespect Ends Now
Everyone spent the summer talking about the rookie, TreVeyon Henderson. I get it. New toys are fun. But Rhamondre Stevenson is out here playing like a man possessed. He’s the RB6 through two weeks and is looking like the absolute engine of the New England Patriots' offense.
While the "nerds" (I say that lovingly) were worried about a committee, Stevenson has more than doubled Henderson’s snaps. He even popped off for a career-high 88 receiving yards last Sunday. This week, he faces a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that isn't the "Steel Curtain" anymore. They are floundering. They’ve allowed the fourth-most yards in the league and the fourth-most fantasy points to RBs.
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Even with Drake Maye looking better than expected at QB, this team wants to run. Rhamondre is going to get 20+ touches. In a fantasy football smash start week 3 scenario, volume is king, and Stevenson is wearing the crown.
The Drake Maye vs. Caleb Williams Dilemma
It’s the battle of the young guns, and honestly, both are in great spots for different reasons.
Drake Maye (Patriots vs. Steelers)
Maye just hung 26.3 fantasy points on Miami. He’s running for his life, sure, but those scrambles are fantasy gold. He’s finished as a top-12 QB in half of his career starts. Against a Steelers pass defense that is allowing 0.51 passing fantasy points per dropback—which is shockingly bad—Maye is a high-upside streamer.
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Caleb Williams (Bears vs. Cowboys)
On the other side, Caleb Williams has to keep chucking the ball just to stay competitive. The Cowboys' defense is currently a sieve against the pass, ranking 30th in total defense yards allowed. If Ben Johnson finally opens up the playbook, Williams could have a massive "coming out" party at home.
WR Matchups You Need to Target
Let's look at the pass catchers. This is where people usually mess up by chasing last week’s touchdowns.
- George Pickens (Cowboys): He’s the definition of a "smash" this week. Chicago’s secondary just got toasted by Jameson Williams for 108 yards. Pickens is the alpha in Dallas right now. With Dak Prescott facing almost zero resistance, Pickens is a WR1 disguised as a WR2.
- Michael Pittman Jr. (Colts): The Colts offense is electric right now. Pittman is the clear #1, and while he had a "down" week against Patrick Surtain (who doesn't?), he faces a Titans team that is 21st in defense. Davante Adams and Puka Nacua both feasted on Tennessee last week. Pittman is next.
- DJ Moore (Bears): Don't let the Rome Odunze hype scare you off. Moore is still the first read on 3rd and 4th downs. In a shootout with Dallas, Moore’s veteran presence is going to be Caleb Williams' safety blanket.
Tight End: Is it Kyle Pitts Season?
I know, I know. We’ve been hurt before. But Kyle Pitts is actually playing a lot of football. He ranks 2nd among TEs in route share at 86%. The Panthers use a lot of Cover-3 zone, and Pitts has historically been much more effective against that coverage than Drake London or Darnell Mooney. If there was ever a week for the "Unicorn" to actually show up, it’s this one.
Actions You Should Take Right Now
- Check the Jayden Daniels Status: If he’s out, you need a backup. Drake Maye is the priority add/start if you need a high ceiling.
- Flex Decisions: If you’re torn between a mid-tier WR and a guy like Jaylen Warren or Tony Pollard, lean toward the RBs this week. The volume for Warren (14 carries last week) and Pollard (89% snap share) is too high to ignore against struggling defenses like New England and Indianapolis.
- Monitor the Steelers Injuries: Their defense is banged up. If their defensive front can't get pressure, it makes Stevenson and Maye even safer starts.
- Trust the Usage, Not Just the Score: Players like Chuba Hubbard are surviving on "garbage time" TDs. That’s risky. Stick to the guys like Javonte Williams who are getting the touches regardless of the score.
Week 3 is about cutting through the noise. Don't bench your studs, but don't be afraid to bench "big names" like Stefon Diggs if their route participation is tanking (he's at a measly 57%). Follow the targets, follow the touches, and let the matchups do the rest of the work.