Latest / Upper Hand Fantasy / 2026 Week 3 Start/Sit: 17 Matchup Calls and TE Streamers

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2026 Week 3 Start/Sit: 17 Matchup Calls and TE Streamers · Upper Hand Fantasy

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Week three is the week the injury report starts making lineup decisions for you.
• 0:03
  SPEAKER_00: Alec Pierce is out, Jonathan Brooks is on IR.
• 0:06
  SPEAKER_00: What does that mean?
• 0:07
  SPEAKER_00: Jane Daniels is out.
• 0:08
  SPEAKER_00: Nico Collins and Zay Flowers have in practice all week.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_00: Puka might not go.
• 0:12
  SPEAKER_00: So if you're sitting at your roster right now trying to figure out who's even playing, this video is for you.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: I've got 17 starts and sits, a couple of desperate starts if your bench is thin.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_00: And we're gonna go a lot deeper than just fantasy points a lot per game.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 0:25
  SPEAKER_00: We're gonna hit running backs, receivers, and there's one receiver I'm benching this week because of one potential shadow situation I want to avoid.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: You'll know when we get there.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_00: And stick around to the end because I've got a screaming tight end segment, and there's a deep flyer in there who could end up being a startable tight end the rest of the year.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_00: So that's what we're doing today.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_00: Let's get right into it.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_00: Let's start with David Montgomery against Indy.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_00: I'm starting him all day long.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_00: This is a great bounce back spot for him.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_00: Last week, Woody Marks actually ended up having more carries than Montgomery, but a lot of it was because of a negative game script.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_00: Woody Marks was on the field for a lot of those situations, and he ended up getting more carries and more touches overall.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_00: This week, the Texans are favored.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_00: At the very least, this should be a close game, and that should allow Montgomery to rack up volume like he did in week one.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_00: The Colts have allowed the second most fantasy points, the second most rushing yards, and the fourth most yards per carry.
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_00: Now it is worth noting though that the two running backs that they went up against in the first two weeks were Derrick Henry and Kenneth Walker.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_00: Obviously, great talent, but I think Montgomery can have some version of that success this week.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_00: I think I'm actually gonna start Queenshaw Judkins against Carolina.
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_00: I think we can finally start them.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_00: Running backs have had a lot of success against Carolina so far through two games.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_00: Chicago in week one notoriously ran through them that week.
• 1:31
  SPEAKER_00: Last week they had the Falcons, who also ran through them despite not having a quarterback.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_00: So Carolina knew they were not gonna be able to throw the ball effectively, yet even Brian Robinson was able to average 4.6 yards per carry against them.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_00: And he offers zero threat in the pass game.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_00: Judkins is actually running more routes this year, so that's good.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_00: But either way, I think this game could be close.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_00: Vegas thinks it's gonna be close with a two and a half point spread, and Judkins can actually rack up volume from once.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_00: So far, through two games, Carolina's allowing the most fantasy points per game to running backs, the most rushing yards to running backs, the most yards per carry, and the most rushing touchdowns.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_00: If Judkins can't come through in this matchup, I don't know what to tell you.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_00: Jonathan Brooks is out, so we're starting Chuba Harvard against Cleveland.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_00: Chuba Harvard is gonna be a workhorse, maybe even a bell cow.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_00: He got Cleveland this week, they're allowing five yards per carry, 220 rushing yards so far to running backs, which is seventh in the NFL.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_00: I think overall, Chuba is probably one of the safest running backs you can play this week.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: Pretty simple.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_00: Let's move on.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_00: I got Tony Pollard this week as a desperate start.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_00: Oh my god, we're starting Quinshawn and Tony Powell this week.
• 2:29
  SPEAKER_00: Jeez.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_00: But if you're pretty desperate, I actually think Pollard can come through for you this week against the Giants.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_00: Now, obviously, New York is down Jackson Dart.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_00: We don't know what Malik neighbor's status is yet, at least of me recording this video on Thursday afternoon.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_00: The Giants are given the three points because they're at home, but Vegas is expecting a close game here.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_00: So far, the Giants have given up the eighth most fantasy points to running backs, the 10th most rushing yards, 5.6 yards per carry, which is second so far this year.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_00: And if Jameis Winston continues to throw picks, then we're gonna see some potential short fields and maybe more red zone opportunities than the Titans would normally see.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_00: This might be the first time that Tony Powler can actually rack up volume and potentially get into the end zone.
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_00: And does this mean you can start Tajay Spears?
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_00: Sure.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_00: Desperate start if you really have to.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_00: Now, as of right now, we don't know who's starting for the Seahawks, but I'm benching either Judarian Price or Emmanuel Wilson, no matter who it is.
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_00: Wilson racked up a ton of volume later in the game last week once Price went down with the chest injury.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_00: But either way, I just want to stay away because of the matchup.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_00: The commanders have actually allowed the fewest fantasy points to running backs so far, only 128 rushing yards on the ground.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_00: They've allowed zero touchdowns to running backs as well.
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_00: Now, can one of them work their way into the end zone in this one?
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, maybe, because the Seahawks do have a 24-point team implied total, but it's gonna be hard to depend on these guys getting the volume that we would love for them to get, right?
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_00: We haven't seen it yet, especially with Jadarian Price.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_00: I don't want to play either.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_00: I'm benching them if I can.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna be sitting in Jakori Kraski Merry, or aka Bill, right?
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_00: On the other side of this game that we just talked about, similar story, right?
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_00: Probably even worse situation.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_00: So no Jaden Daniels, really tough matchup against the Seahawks, probably a negative game script.
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_00: So I don't want to play Bill here, right?
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_00: Can Rashad White do something in a negative game script like he did last week?
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe, but can't really depend on him either in a reliable way.
• 4:11
  SPEAKER_00: The Seahawks have allowed no touchdowns on the ground to running backs, only 3.1 yards per carry, which is terrible for the commanders' running backs.
• 4:18
  SPEAKER_00: I'm just not a fan of this matchup at all.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_00: Now I do want to have Jalen Warren in my lineup, assuming Rico Daddle is not gonna play.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_00: We're not 100% sure yet if Rico is gonna play this week, you know, at least as of me recording this, but he was in a boot to start the week of practice, so that's not great.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_00: Warren also didn't practice, but I would imagine that he'll be good to go by Sunday, you know, if he at least gets a limited session in by the end of the week.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: If Rico doesn't play, we're looking at a potential 70% plus snap share for Warren.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_00: Even though the matchup isn't ideal, he should be in lineups as like a low-end RB2 at the very worst.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_00: They're going up against the Bengals, and sexy Dexie has definitely transformed that run defense.
• 4:51
  SPEAKER_00: They're only allowing 2.9 yards per carry so far.
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_00: However, we know that Warren is a plus pass catcher, and the Bengals have given up 7.5 catches per game to running backs so far.
• 5:02
  SPEAKER_00: That's the most in the NFL and the fourth most receiving yards as well.
• 5:05
  SPEAKER_00: So Warren should have a couple outs in this game, even if they can't establish the run.
• 5:09
  SPEAKER_00: Next up is Josh Downs.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_00: I want to start him against Houston.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_00: Now that Alec Pierce is out for the foreseeable future, Downs is the number one wide receiver for the Colts.
• 5:15
  SPEAKER_00: And at first, you look at this Houston matchup and you're like, well, this is a tough matchup.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_00: Houston's actually given up the most fantasy points to wide receivers through two weeks.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_00: They've given up the six most receiving yards as well.
• 5:26
  SPEAKER_00: His route participation has been above 90% for each of these two games.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_00: He's a full-time player.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_00: He's gonna have to play more on the outside now with Pierce out.
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_00: And Houston's actually given up the most points to perimeter wide receivers through two weeks.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_00: Another wide receiver who is tough to leave out of lineups is Adnai Mitchell going up against Detroit.
• 5:43
  SPEAKER_00: He's had a great start to the season.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_00: I think this matchup is just gonna continue his production.
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_00: Detroit's given up the second most fantasy points to wide receivers so far, uh, the most receiving yards to wide receivers as well.
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_00: The Jets will likely have to chase some points in this one.
• 5:55
  SPEAKER_00: It's kind of the perfect setup.
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_00: Not only that, but Detroit plays more single high than two high coverage at the 10th highest rate, actually.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_00: And Adnai Mitchell ranks 17th among 100 plus wide receivers in yards per route run against single high and 18th in targets per route run against single high.
• 6:08
  SPEAKER_00: So, overall, schematically, this is a plus matchup for Mitchell.
• 6:11
  SPEAKER_00: I want to start Mike Evans against Arizona.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_00: Now, I would imagine that most would consider Mike Evans a must-start, but because of his hip injury and because three catches last week, not huge yardage totals in these first two games.
• 6:22
  SPEAKER_00: I can imagine that some people might not consider Evans a must-start right now.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_00: I do consider him a must-start right now.
• 6:28
  SPEAKER_00: The Cardinals are giving up the sixth most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.
• 6:32
  SPEAKER_00: They've given up the 11th most receiving yards, and also Evans has been really doing his thing against two high safety coverage so far this year, which Arizona has played the second highest rate so far through two games.
• 6:41
  SPEAKER_00: You compare his 21st ranked yards per route run against two high coverage versus 36th overall against single high, and his 17th ranked target rate against two high coverage versus 47th ranked rate against single high.
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_00: So absolutely love him this week.
• 6:55
  SPEAKER_00: Jalen Coker is up next against Cleveland.
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_00: At this point, I think most people would expect Coker is a must-start, and I think he is a must-start at this point.
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_00: He is just balling.
• 7:03
  SPEAKER_00: He runs most of his routes from the perimeter, and the Browns have given up the eighth most fantasy points to perimeter wide receiver so far.
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_00: Also, the Browns play the most single high coverage in the NFL so far through two weeks, and he has done way better than Tettera McMillan against Single High.
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_00: You compare McMillan's 55th ranked yards per route run to Coker's 11th ranked yards per route run against Single High, and McMillan's 50th ranked target rate versus Coker's 39th ranked target rate against Single High.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_00: Great start this week.
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_00: Let's talk about Ladd McConkie going against the Bills.
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_00: Great to see him get a full practice in on Wednesday.
• 7:37
  SPEAKER_00: He could have easily opened the week with a DMP or limited, but this is a great sign that he'll be way more of a full go than he was last week.
• 7:43
  SPEAKER_00: Buffalo's given up the third most fantasy points to receivers, the fourth most receiving yards, three touchdowns so far to wide receivers as well.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_00: The fact that Buffalo runs two high safety coverage at the ninth highest rate benefits McConkie.
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_00: He's 12th in yards per route run and 12th in target rate against two high safety coverage so far this year.
• 7:59
  SPEAKER_00: Also, 53% of his routes are from the slot, and the Bills have given up the sixth most fantasy points to the slot through two games.
• 8:06
  SPEAKER_00: He's obviously in most lineups, but if anyone's having any doubts over this injury or the usage or the Chargers offense as a whole, given all the conversation around Justin Herbert, etc.
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_00: etc., I would just overlook that and not overthink this one.
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_00: Trey Tucker's a bit of a desperate start for me this week against New Orleans.
• 8:20
  SPEAKER_00: I would imagine that Brock Bowers plays this week.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_00: We don't know that for sure as of right now, but it seems like he will.
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_00: I am starting Brock Bowers where I have him, but Trey Tucker could have a decent game regardless.
• 8:30
  SPEAKER_00: Now, obviously, if Bowers is not playing, Tucker becomes a much better start, but I think Tucker is a desperate start regardless.
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_00: Not someone who I have to have in my lineup.
• 8:37
  SPEAKER_00: We've seen a lot of up and down from him over the years, but the difference this year is that he's playing with Clint Kubiak, right?
• 8:43
  SPEAKER_00: Also, New Orleans runs single high safety coverage at the fourth highest rate so far through two weeks, and Tucker ranks 14th among all wide receivers in yards per route run against single high coverage, and he earns a 27% target rate against that coverage as well.
• 8:56
  SPEAKER_00: So good schematic matchup for him this week.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_00: Not only that, the Saints also allowed the fifth most fantasy points to perimeter wide receivers.
• 9:03
  SPEAKER_00: So that is great to know.
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_00: It could be just a matter of whether he is going to be a factor with Bowers on the field or not.
• 9:07
  SPEAKER_00: I really like Dontavian Wicks against Chicago this week, especially without Dallas Goddard.
• 9:11
  SPEAKER_00: I would imagine that Wicks is going to be a little bit more involved this week.
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_00: At least a few more targets peppered his way.
• 9:17
  SPEAKER_00: I would imagine that his route participation also jumps back up to what it was in week one.
• 9:22
  SPEAKER_00: It did go down by a little bit last week, but even with the lower route participation, his targets are actually maintained from week one.
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_00: I think he's a solid flex this week.
• 9:31
  SPEAKER_00: We'll see how competitive the Bears are given their quarterback situation.
• 9:34
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, but they have given up the seventh most fantasy points on his primary left side where he runs most of his perimeter routes from.
• 9:40
  SPEAKER_00: Overall, they've given up the 10th most fantasy points to perimeter wide receivers.
• 9:43
  SPEAKER_00: So I think Wicks could make it happen this week once again.
• 9:46
  SPEAKER_00: Now I do have a few guys that I'm trying to bench this week.
• 9:48
  SPEAKER_00: Starting with Terra McLaurin and Stefan Diggs going up against Seattle.
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_00: McLaurin's target share definitely bounced back last week, going from 14% in week one in a tough matchup to 26% in a better matchup last week.
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_00: He didn't necessarily come through, but the usage was encouraging.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_00: This week, I don't really want to start any of the commander's wide receivers.
• 10:04
  SPEAKER_00: First of all, no Jaden Daniels.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_00: Second of all, going up against Seattle is not an easy task at all.
• 10:08
  SPEAKER_00: They've allowed the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this year, fewest receiving yards to wide receivers.
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_00: They haven't given up a touchdown to the position either.
• 10:15
  SPEAKER_00: Just not loving the situation at all.
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_00: I'm also looking to sit Romo Dunze if I can.
• 10:19
  SPEAKER_00: The one good thing about Odunze's role is that he's actually running the most routes of any of the Bears' wide receivers.
• 10:23
  SPEAKER_00: What isn't ideal is that he's going up against Philly, and because he runs most of his routes in the perimeter, he's gonna see a lot of Quinyon Mitchell, a lot of Reek Woolen.
• 10:30
  SPEAKER_00: So overall in the perimeter, the Eagles have allowed the third fewest fantasy points per game.
• 10:33
  SPEAKER_00: He's also only seeing 13% target share through two games, and the quarterback position is in flux right now.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_00: I just want to stay away if I can.
• 10:39
  SPEAKER_00: I might sit DK Metcalf if I don't have a better option.
• 10:42
  SPEAKER_00: The good news with Metcalf is that he's getting volume, right?
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_00: 25% target share, that's extremely solid.
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_00: That's 17th in the MFL, that's tied with Khalif Raymond.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, wow.
• 10:49
  SPEAKER_00: But he he has been extremely inefficient so far.
• 10:51
  SPEAKER_00: And I think he will bounce back at some point if he continues to get this type of volume, but it might not be this week.
• 10:57
  SPEAKER_00: Why?
• 10:58
  SPEAKER_00: Because of one man and his name is DJ Turner.
• 11:00
  SPEAKER_00: Probably the only true shadow situation that we can project for this week.
• 11:04
  SPEAKER_00: And because DK Metcalf runs 80% of his routes from the perimeter, Turner is likely going to be on him pretty much all game long.
• 11:10
  SPEAKER_00: Overall, so far, the Bengals have allowed the fourth fewest fantasy points to perimeter wide receivers as a whole.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_00: If I have another option, I'm benching Metcalf.
• 11:18
  SPEAKER_00: All right, let's talk about some streaming tight ends.
• 11:20
  SPEAKER_00: And I figured I'd do a segment on this real quick because I know a lot of people are going through it when it comes to the position.
• 11:24
  SPEAKER_00: I think if you want to start some of these guys over Coles and Loveland this week, I totally understand.
• 11:28
  SPEAKER_00: If you lost Dallas Goddard, that's another reason you might want to do this, or if your tight end is just underperforming, like a Harold fan and that sort of thing.
• 11:34
  SPEAKER_00: I think TJ Hawkinson against Tampa is a decent option.
• 11:37
  SPEAKER_00: They've given up the second most fantasy points and third most receiving yards so far to the tight end position.
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_00: They've given up a touchdown to a tight end in each game so far as well.
• 11:45
  SPEAKER_00: Hawkinson has also been a lot better against single high than two high this year in terms of both yards per route run and targets per route run, and Tampa plays it at the second highest rate.
• 11:53
  SPEAKER_00: We also have to consider Dalton Schultz against Indy this week as well, because they give up the fifth most fantasy points per game and the fourth most receiving yards, two tight ends through two games.
• 12:02
  SPEAKER_00: Nico Collins didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday this week.
• 12:06
  SPEAKER_00: Very good chance that he misses, assuming that he doesn't go on Friday.
• 12:09
  SPEAKER_00: Mark Andrews against Dallas, seventh most fantasy points given up, fifteenth most receiving yards.
• 12:13
  SPEAKER_00: I think he can be solid this week, especially given that Zay Flowers might not play.
• 12:16
  SPEAKER_00: He hasn't practiced on Wednesday or Thursday with that hamstring injury.
• 12:19
  SPEAKER_00: A few other guys that we have to consider Terrence Ferguson, Aronda Gasson, Kenyon Sadiq.
• 12:23
  SPEAKER_00: I think my number one play would be Terrence Ferguson if Puka doesn't go.
• 12:26
  SPEAKER_00: Next up will be Aronda Gasson against Buffalo.
• 12:29
  SPEAKER_00: They've given up the 10th most fantasy points and ninth most receiving yards to tight end so far this year.
• 12:33
  SPEAKER_00: Again, remember David Najoku is on IR.
• 12:35
  SPEAKER_00: Charlie Kohler is going to be out for a few weeks.
• 12:37
  SPEAKER_00: So the last man standing here is Aronda Gathan.
• 12:40
  SPEAKER_00: Now, I think Kenyon Sadiq is a solid deeper play because Mason Taylor is actually out for a few weeks as well because of a thumb injury.
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_00: This is a deeper play, I'd say, but regardless, even if you're in the shallow leagues, I want Sadiq on my bench in case he ends up breaking out.
• 12:53
  SPEAKER_00: This is going to be his opportunity here, right?
• 12:55
  SPEAKER_00: Over the next couple weeks with Taylor out.
• 12:57
  SPEAKER_00: So if his route participation goes up and he starts to pop off because that he is that first round talent, he might end up being a very startable tight end the rest of the year, and he has a ton of upside.
• 13:07
  SPEAKER_00: This week against Detroit, the Lions have given up the most fantasy points to tight ends, the second most receiving yards, and they've given up four touchdowns so far to the position.
• 13:15
  SPEAKER_00: Nice little deep flyer there if you need one.
• 13:18
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• 13:23
  SPEAKER_00: It helps so much.
• 13:24
  SPEAKER_00: Good luck this week.
• 13:25
  SPEAKER_00: See you in the next one.