There are going to be some gruesome lineups out there in Week 3. The injuries across the league are taking their toll on fantasy football. Some of the biggest studs are out for multiple weeks. That forces fantasy football managers to dig a little deeper into their bench or free agency to find a replacement worth starting. Investing in a bold prediction for added juice to your lineup may be the way to go depending on who your options are. Below are a few weekly bold predictions to get you thinking that could help swing your matchup, too.
Week 3 Bold Predictions for the 2024 Fantasy Football Season
D’Andre Swift, RB, Chicago Bears
Bold Prediction: 18 carries, 85 yards, 1 touchdown; 2 receptions, 10 yards
17.5 fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Colin McTamany, @Colin_McT
Colin’s Breakdown: The numbers for this Week 3 bold prediction aren’t outrageous by any means. However, it’s still a bold prediction because of just how bad D’Andre Swift and the Bears’ running game has been after two weeks. Swift has just 24 total carries for 48 scoreless rushing yards. He’s also caught just four of six total targets for 24 scoreless yards. A startling 38% of Swift’s carries have been tackled for a loss or resulted in no gain.
So why should Swift be in Week 3 fantasy football lineups? The matchup. Just last week we watched Josh Jacobs rush 32 times for 151 yards against the Indianapolis Colts defense. The week prior, to open the season, Joe Mixon ran 30 times for 159 yards and a touchdown. That’s just the lead back from each of the Colts’ respective opponents. Swift is that guy for the Bears as his 24 carries are 20 more than the next closest running back’s total in Chicago.
The reason this bold prediction isn’t as grand as the numbers from Mixon or Jacobs is the overall struggles of the Bears’ offense. The offensive line has its flaws. Caleb Williams also has just 267 total passing yards without a touchdown in his first two NFL starts. Without a threat through the air, it’s been tough for Swift to get going on the ground. The Colts are the first of three straight advantageous matchups for Swift and the Bears. In Weeks 4 and 5, they’ll host the Rams and Panthers. If Swift comes close or, even better, surpasses my bold prediction numbers, we’ll feel much better about starting him in those games moving forward.
Diontae Johnson, WR, Carolina Panthers
Bold Prediction: 8 receptions, 94 yards, 1 touchdown
23.4 fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Ray Kuhn, @Ray_Kuhn_28
Ray’s Breakdown: This is my craziest bold prediction yet. Before you ask, yes, I have seen how bad the Carolina Panthers have looked over the first two weeks of the season. Those games are in the past. We know that up is down in the NFL over the first two weeks of the season most of the time anyway. While Bryce Young is likely not done as an NFL quarterback, even this year in fact, he’s heading to the bench in favor of veteran Andy Dalton.
The Panthers showed no semblance of an offense to begin the season with Young under center. The entire team is suffering as a result. After the trade from the Steelers to the Panthers this past off-season, Diontae Johnson has struggled in his first two games with Carolina. Fantasy managers drafted Johnson relatively early this season as he had a solid set of expectations on his new team. To begin the season, Johnson has caught five of his 12 targets for only 34 scoreless yards. The hope now with my Week 3 bold prediction is that you exercised patience with Johnson through the early part of the season.
Andy Dalton will start in Week 3 for the Panthers and the veteran should restore a sense of normalcy. From a defensive standpoint, the Raiders aren’t incredibly imposing. It’s possible they will be a in letdown situation after a big upset victory against the Ravens in Week 2. Carolina should get a bump from Dalton being under center. I expect Johnson to be targeted early and often.
Check out all of our Week 3 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex
Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Bold Prediction: 112 rushing yards, 3 touchdowns; 2 receptions, 16 yards
32.8 fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Brandon Blanco, @BrandonBlancoFF
Brandon’s Breakdown: Drafted as a low-end, top-10 running back in fantasy drafts, Derrick Henry has not lived up to his Average Draft Position thus far. He is the RB21 on a points-per-game basis to start the 2024 fantasy season. Although he finished as the RB14 in Week 2, Henry has not seen over a 47.6% snap share in either of the first two games. There is a concern and, with limited to no receiving upside, a positive outlook can be made for Henry finishing as the RB14 with a lower-than-expected snap share.
The Baltimore Ravens are 0-2 and now go into Dallas to face the Cowboys. Not only does Lamar Jackson need to be the two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, but the Ravens need rushing king Derrick Henry to get a much-needed win. Since 1990, 162 teams have started 0-3 and just FOUR (2.5%) have gone to make the playoffs.
The overall RB1 for Week 3 will be the king of running backs across the past five years, Derrick Henry. My bold prediction is next level with three touchdowns, as well 112 yards on the ground, and two catches for 16 yards. That’s a total of 32.8 fantasy points, saving the Ravens and your fantasy season for the time being.
Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions
Bold Prediction: 300 passing yards, 3 touchdowns
24.0 fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Colin McTamany, @Colin_McT
Week 3 will be the first away game for Goff and the Lions. History tells us to stay away from Goff when he’s on the road. Additionally, Goff’s first two weeks of production, or lack thereof, in the passing game tell us to stay away, too. However, my bold prediction is that Goff bounces back in a big way so that you can feel better about starting him in Week 4, before a Week 5 bye, at home against the Seattle Seahawks.
Goff and the Lions head to Arizona to take on a Cardinals defense that’s been pretty good against the run so far. They’ve allowed just 144 yards rushing on 44 total attempt (3.7 yards per carry) to opposing running backs. That includes James Cook and Kyren Williams in each of the first two weeks. Through the air, however, the Cardinals rank inside the top-10 in receptions and yards allowed to wide receivers.
This Week 3 matchup has shootout potential. The Over/Under sits around 51.5 total points which is the highest amongst any matchup across the league. We saw a major 41-point explosion from the Cardinals’ offense last week that could carry into Week 3 against a Lions defense allowing the 12th-most passing yards per game. All things considered, Jared Goff may be busy through the air in this one. He has good protection up front and the weapons to keep up with the Cardinals. Those with Goff in their fantasy lineups may be panicking, but my bold prediction will put those worries to rest.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!