In last week’s Sneaky Starts, I highlighted four players who produced starter-worthy fantasy production. That does not include Jordan Mason who was an obvious Sneaky Start, if such a thing exists. Nor does it include Demarcus Robinson, who finished as the WR42. I do not think anyone who started Robinson was disappointed with him, especially since he was outside the top 60 in terms of percentage started. But he did fall just a bit short. Among the four players who cracked the threshold were three players (Baker Mayfield, Hunter Henry, and Matt Prater) who finished as top-six options at their respective positions.
Let’s see what hidden gems we can uncover this week! Here are my Sneaky Starts for Week 3. All of these players must be started in less than 50 percent of Fantrax leagues to qualify.
Week 3 Sneaky Starts
Quarterback
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
Current Start Percentage: 42 Percent (15th among Quarterbacks)
My Current Week 3 Rank: QB14
If you had asked me two weeks ago when I thought I would first be including Derek Carr in this column, I would assume it was a week where several teams had a bye. Yet here we are. Carr enters Week 3 as the overall QB2, trailing only Baker Mayfield in fantasy points. This may be one of the signs of the apocalypse. In any event, I think Carr is in for another productive week when the Saints face the Philadelphia Eagles. Philadelphia has allowed both Jordan Love and Kirk Cousins to post top-12 weekly finishes against them. And in today’s age of dual-threat quarterbacks, Love and Cousins combined for -1 rushing yards versus the Eagles. All of their production (technically all of their production plus .1 points) came via the air.
Carr did rush for a score last week, which is an outlier. But even without that, he would still be a top-eight fantasy quarterback through two weeks. And he has scored all of these fantasy points while attempting just 39 total passes. The Saints have registered two blowout victories, but this game should be much more competitive. That should mean an uptick in passing volume for Carr and the Saints. New Orleans looks like a much more explosive offense under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. I would not be surprised to see Derek Carr post top-12 numbers against a vulnerable secondary in a dome on Sunday. Carr edges out Geno Smith as my Week 3 Sneaky Start at the quarterback position.
Other Quarterbacks to Consider
- Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
- Current Start Percentage: 35 Percent (20th among quarterbacks)
- My Current Week 3 Rank: QB15
Running Backs
Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders
Current Start Percentage: 47 Percent (31st among Running Backs)
My Current Week 3 Rank: RB31
Austin Ekeler is the kind of back who will probably not post a single top-12 weekly finish all season. However, he will often have a raised floor because of his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. Ekeler is the overall RB29 in Half-PPR scoring despite carrying the ball just 10 times through two games. And his Week 3 matchup could lend itself to more receiving work. Washington is the biggest underdog on the board this week, playing on Monday night against a desperate Cincinnati Bengals team. Washington will probably be playing from behind quite a bit. In Week 1, the Commanders were down by multiple scores for the entire fourth quarter in Tampa Bay. Ekeler had three fourth-quarter catches for 30 yards as well as a six-yard rush. Garbage time counts just as much in fantasy football as at any other point in the game.
Carson Steele, Kansas City Chiefs
Current Start Percentage: 13 Percent (55th among Running Backs)
My Current Week 3 Rank: RB32
It appears that I am in the minority on how the pecking order in the Kansas City Chiefs backfield will play out in the wake of the injury to Isiah Pacheco. Fantasy managers are only starting Carson Steele in 13 percent of leagues, whereas Samaje Perine is starting in 22 percent. For the record, I believe both numbers should be much higher. I currently have Samaje Perine as my RB35, so it is not as if I think it is crazy to prefer the veteran to the rookie. However, I think Steele is undervalued a bit.
Steele lost a fumble last week against Cincinnati. But instead of that being a death knell for an undrafted rookie, coach Andy Reid not only kept Steele in the game but fed him two carries in the final minute. That is not the act of a coach who does not trust Steele. And although Perine is a candidate to fill the old Jerick McKinnon role, it is not as if Steele has no receiving chops whatsoever. Steele caught 58 balls in 37 games in college. Reid knows what he has in Perine, just like he knows what he has in Kareem Hunt. He needs to find out what he has in Steele. I say throw him into the deep end and see if he can sink or swim.
Other Running Backs to Consider
- Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
- Current Start Percentage: 37 Percent (34th among Running Backs)
- My Current Week 3 Rank: RB33
- Samaje Perine, Kansas City Chiefs
- Current Start Percentage: 22 Percent (43rd among Running Backs)
- My Current Week 3 Rank: RB35
Check out all of our Week 3 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex
Wide Receivers
Demarcus Robinson, Los Angeles Rams
Current Start Percentage: 40 Percent (42nd among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 3 Rank: WR34
As I mentioned at the top, if we are going by the letter of the law, Demarcus Robinson was a “miss” last week. But he still exceeded expectations based on how many (or, more accurately, how few) fantasy managers started him. Either way, I like him again this week. Part of the reason I liked him last week was that I expected a bump in volume following the injury to Puka Nacua. Well, now Nacua and Cooper Kupp are both out for an extended period. Robinson may not suddenly soak up 20 targets a game. However, he does not need that level of volume to be a top-36 fantasy wideout. Robinson has played on at least 50 percent of snaps eight times since joining the Rams last year. He has five top-36 finishes in those eight games and has at least 40 yards in seven straight games.
Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills
Current Start Percentage: 45 Percent (38th among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 3 Rank: WR36
Khalil Shakir leads all Buffalo pass catchers in receiving yards through two weeks. To be fair, he has a very modest 96 yards. Still, he has caught all eight targets from Josh Allen after catching 86.7 percent a year ago. At some point, you would think Buffalo has to start giving him more opportunities. Perhaps that begins this week. Buffalo plays Jacksonville on Monday night. The Jaguars have allowed the second-most receiving yards to opposing wide receivers so far this year. They have also been abused in the slot, where Shakir operates. Rookie slot cornerback Jarrian Jones has allowed his opposition to catch six of eight targets for 85 yards. That includes two missed tackles by Jones. I believe Khalil Shakir will find a way to get into the top 36 in this matchup.
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
Current Start Percentage: 28 Percent (53rd among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 3 Rank: WR37
This pick of course comes with the caveat that Tee Higgins plays on Monday night. I do not love the idea of starting players coming off an injury. So I can understand why most fantasy managers are waiting to insert Higgins into their lineups. But I think you have to start him if he plays. I might feel differently in another matchup. But the Bengals are hosting the Washington Commanders and their leaky secondary. Washington has already allowed five different wide receivers to post weekly top-30 fantasy finishes. They have three cornerbacks who are among Pro Football Focus’ 12 lowest in coverage grade. Even if Higgins is on a snap count, I would be hard-pressed to bench him in Week 3.
Other Wide Receivers to Consider
- Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks
- Current Start Percentage: 35 Percent (48th among Wide Receivers)
- My Current Week 3 Rank: WR38
- Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers
- Current Start Percentage: 16 Percent (69th among Wide Receivers
- My Current Week 3 Rank: WR39
- Tyler Johnson, Los Angeles Rams
- Current Start Percentage: 25 Percent (56th among Wide Receivers)
- My Current Week 3 Rank: WR41
Tight End
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
Current Start Percentage: 32 Percent (17th among Tight Ends)
My Current Week 3 Rank: TE10
This is a bit similar to the Tee Higgins situation in that I am projecting Jake Ferguson to play, while many fantasy managers are reserving judgment. Since both have gotten in limited practices to start the week, I choose to be optimistic. The tricky thing about both Higgins and Ferguson is that neither plays in Sunday’s early window. Because of that, we will need definitive word beforehand on whether either or both are playing before we can lock them into lineups. Ferguson has a great Week 3 matchup. The Baltimore Ravens have allowed an 89-percent catch rate and 10 yards per target to opposing tight ends thus far this year. If Ferguson gets the green light before Sunday, I am starting him where I have him.
Other Tight Ends to Consider
- Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
- Current Start Percentage: 19 Percent (24th among Tight Ends)
- My Current Week 3 Rank: TE13
It feels like the fantasy community has finally soured on Taysom Hill after two straight down weeks. Which makes it the perfect time for him to go off on everyone’s bench. I don’t make the rules.
Kicker
Blake Grupe, New Orleans Saints
Current Start Percentage: 29 Percent (14th among Kickers)
My Current Week 3 Rank: K5
You may have noticed that I am buying into the New Orleans Saints, at least for another week. They have scored on 16 of 20 drives this season, excluding a late kneeldown. The Philadelphia Eagles have not proven they can stop anyone, especially through the air. Through two games, the Eagles have allowed 11 scores (six touchdowns and five field goals) while forcing just four punts and one turnover. As long as Derek Carr does not beat himself, the Saints should continue to put up points in this matchup.
Other Kicker to Consider
- Matt Prater, Arizona Cardinals
- Current Start Percentage: 16 Percent (21st among Kickers)
- My Current Week 3 Rank: K8
Defense/Special Teams
Green Bay Packers
Current Start Percentage: 30 Percent (16th among D/STs)
My Current Week 3 Rank: D/ST6
The Green Bay Packers are tied for ninth in fantasy points by a D/ST unit through two weeks. They have also generated pressure at the ninth-highest rate in the NFL. That second point is perhaps more important leading into a Week 3 meeting with Will Levis.
I can very easily argue that Levis cost the Titans a victory in each of their first two games. And both times the turning point was a play that can best be described in print as “ill-advised”. After watching those plays, I immediately swore off mayonnaise forever. The Packers will figure out a way to get pressure on Levis and force him into silly mistakes in this game. If you are streaming fantasy defenses, the Packers should be a high priority in Week 3.
Other Defense/Special Teams to Consider
- Seattle Seahawks
- Current Start Percentage: 36 Percent (14th among D/STs)
- My Current Week 3 Rank: D/ST7
Make sure to check out all of our Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!