Week 3 Fantasy Football Sneaky Starts

Last week was a good one for the Sneaky Starts as we had a 75% hit rate!

Jordan Mason got good usage and should see an uptick moving forward with Aaron Jones sidelined, but he still didn’t crack double-digit points, so he’s our lone miss.

Kayshon Boutte and Cedric Tillman both found the end zone to salvage otherwise forgettable fantasy outings. They both hit the 10-point PPR threshold to be considered a hit for this article, but I think we can temper expectations on both a bit moving forward.

The big win however, was Juwan Johnson! After a great Week 1, Johnson followed it up with 5 catches and a highlight reel touchdown on 9 targets in Week 2. The team is clearly intent on using him as they kept feeding the big man after two egregious early drops. I think he’s a major part of their game plan moving forward and should be a regular start until we see otherwise.

Sneaky Start Season Tally: 5-3

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Now let’s keep the hits rolling and figure out who will make you look like a genius in Week 3!

Week 3 Sneaky Starts

Romeo Doubs, Green Bay WR @ Cleveland Browns

Doubs is neither the flashiest nor the highest upside receiver on the Packers, but he is consistent. He’s played at least 70% of snaps in each of the first two games, the only Green Bay receiver to do so, and has gotten 4 and 5 targets, respectively. He also found the endzone last week.

Jayden Reed broke his collarbone and will be out for a few months, which will give Doubs plenty of time to soak up extra targets. Every other Green Bay receiver is going to continue on in their carousel of snaps, meaning it will be hard to trust any of them, but Doubs will almost always be out there. The Browns defense doesn’t scare me, and while the Packers should be playing with a lead for most of the game, they’ll still need to throw from time to time.

He’s never going to have a truly explosive game, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who can get you at least 10 points more consistently than Doubs.

Jauan Jennings, San Francisco WR vs. Arizona Cardinals

I’ve learned my lesson, so I’m going to put the caveat here of *assuming he plays* Jennings should be in line for a big week.

After a slow start in Week 1, Jennings came out in full force last week, receiving 10 targets for 5 catches and a score on 87% of snaps. I don’t really think it matters who the “1” is on this team between him and Pearsall, especially while George Kittle is on IR. Jennings is going to get his targets, and he’s a good enough receiver with a varied enough route tree to always be a touchdown threat.

The entire team is banged up, so he will be playing with backup Mac Jones again this week. They were able to work well together against the Saints and should be able to do so again against the Cardinals, this time at home.

Najee Harris, LA Chargers RB vs. Denver Broncos

Betting on a backup running back going against a top-tier rush defense doesn’t sound like a great idea at first, but it’s not a Sneaky Start if it doesn’t involve some risk.

Najee seems to be getting back to full health, logging 10 total touches in the Week 2 win over the Raiders. His backfield mate, Omarion Hampton, hasn’t exactly looked ready for the spotlight yet, having trouble on the goal line and coughing up a fumble in an extremely important late-game drive. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a doghouse week for the rookie.

Najee, meanwhile, has looked strong in his limited attempts and certainly seems to have the edge as a pass blocker. Going against a tough defense, I think he gets more time on the field because of this. He’s not a great pass catcher, but he’s good enough that Herbert will trust him as a dump off. I don’t see him as a long-term play by any means, but a couple of good weeks while Hampton finds his footing could be in the forecast.

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville TE vs. Houston Texans

Let’s take another swing against a very good defense. Strange played 79% of snaps in Week 1, and increased to 90% in Week 2! The team trusts him enough to be out there blocking, and also gave him touches with 4 and 5 targets, respectively, through the first two weeks. While he’s no superstar, he’s clearly an important piece on this team.

The Texans’ defense is going to try and bottle up the Jaguars’ top playmakers, which should leave Strange open to get more looks. The Jags also seem to be a bit more pass-happy this season under Liam Cohen. Strange is in his third year and hasn’t received a ton of opportunity thus far, but coming into the league, he was regarded as an athletic tight end and got drafted in the second round. I assume Cohen wants to know what he’s working with and should give him some opportunities to prove himself.

I’m not calling for a full breakout just yet, but I do foresee a couple of boom games coming from him this season. There’s no reason that Week 3 can’t be one of them.

Make sure to check out all of our Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!