Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (27) runs with the ball against the Houston Texans in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Aug. 9, 2025.

The fantasy football season is heading into Week 3, and having two weeks of data will help fantasy managers feel more confident in their projections moving forward.

Part of the reason for that confidence? Fantasy managers now know which defenses are shaping up to be strong units and which ones are poised to be the NFL's weakest. The latter is particularly important knowledge for determining the best matchup-based streamers.

If you're ever in doubt about who to start, never be afraid to consider players going up against the Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins defenses. But if you're worried about a potential flex play going against a team like the Green Bay Packers or Minnesota Vikings, those concerns are probably warranted.

What should fantasy footballers do at each lineup position heading into Week 3? USA TODAY Sports outlines 16 players to start or sit in your fantasy matchups this week.

Fantasy football players to start in Week 3

Quarterbacks

  • Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (at Chicago Bears)

The Bears have been humbled in consecutive weeks by J.J. McCarthy, who racked up three touchdowns against them in the fourth quarter of their Week 1 "Monday Night Football" game, and Jared Goff, who threw for five touchdowns in a Week 2 rout.

As long as Jaylon Johnson remains out, Chicago's secondary will remain leaky. That should give Prescott, who is averaging 43 passing attempts per game through two weeks, plenty of opportunities to make plays down the field.

  • Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts (at Tennessee Titans)

Many feared Jones' Week 1 performance was a fluke against a weak Miami Dolphins defense. But after Jones threw for 316 yards and a touchdown against a strong Denver Broncos defense, it's time to start treating him like a high-end streamer.

The Titans rank just 21st in defensive EPA league-wide and just allowed Matthew Stafford to throw for 298 yards and two touchdowns. Jones could be in for similar production if he remains as efficient as he was against Denver.

Running backs

  • Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

Aaron Jones suffered a hamstring injury at the end of the Vikings' "Sunday Night Football" loss to the Atlanta Falcons. He isn't expected to play in Week 3, so that will open the door for Mason to handle a lion's share of the carries.

Mason has been the more effective of the two backs as a runner through two weeks anyway, totaling 98 yards with a 4.1 yards per carry average. That could position him to fare well against a Cincinnati defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to running backs through two weeks.

  • Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders (vs. Las Vegas Raiders)

Like Mason, "Bill" figures to see an increase in opportunities with his main competition, Austin Ekeler, out for the season with a torn Achilles. Jeremy McNichols or Chris Rodriguez Jr. could end up stealing some goal-line carries from Croskey-Merritt, but consider him a volume-based flex play against the Raiders.

Wide receivers

  • Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears (vs. Dallas Cowboys)

The Cowboys traded Micah Parsons on eve of the season and, through two weeks, have allowed an average of 30.5 points per game, tied for fifth-most in the NFL. Add in that Dallas just allowed Russell Wilson to throw for 450 yards and three touchdowns in Week 2 and Caleb Williams looks like an appetizing quarterback streamer.

So does Williams' top receiver, Odunze, who currently leads the Bears in catches (13), receiving yards (165) and has all three of their touchdown receptions.

  • Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)

The Steelers defense has surprisingly struggled to start the season and has surrendered the fourth-most receiving yards to wide-outs through two games. Boutte has emerged as one of Drake Maye's favorite weapons and is averaging 17 yards per reception.

Tight end

  • Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints (at Seattle Seahawks)

Johnson's target volume appears to be legit, as he has averaged 10 per game to open the 2025 season. The veteran has also scored in each of his outings and may have a chance to find pay dirt again facing a Seahawks defense that is thus far the lone NFL team to allowed multiple scores to tight ends thus far.

Defense/special teams:

  • Atlanta Falcons (at Carolina Panthers)

The Falcons have long been searching for a consistent pass rush. It looks like they finally have found one after generating seven sacks across the first two weeks of the 2025 NFL season. Expect Atlanta to continue generate pressure and forcing mistakes against Bryce Young, who is tied for the second-most in the NFL with three interceptions and has been sacked four times.

Fantasy football players to sit in Week 3

Quarterbacks

  • Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. Houston Texans)

Many will be looking for streaming options to trust in wake of injuries to Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels. Lawrence can fill that role in good matchups, as evidenced by his three touchdowns last week against the Bengals, but trusting him against a stout Texans pass rush doesn't seem like the best play.

  • Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (at Baltimore Ravens)

Goff threw for a whopping five touchdowns against the Bears last week but gets a much harder matchup against the Ravens in Week 3. The Ravens just gave Joe Flacco, a less-mobile veteran, fits in Week 2 and could do the same to Goff.

Also interesting, Goff has never thrown a touchdown pass against the Ravens in three career starts (120 attempts). That includes his 53-attempt performance in a 38-6 shellacking in Baltimore during the 2023 NFL season.

Add in Goff's checkered history with playing outside and this seems like a spot in which to fade him.

Running backs

  • TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)

Is Henderson talented? Without a doubt. Should you trust him to get enough work in the Patriots' backfield rotation to justify playing him as a flex? Probably not.

Rhamondre Stevenson just performed well for the Patriots in their win over the Dolphins while Antonio Gibson out-touched Henderson 6-5. The talented rookie, who was selected early in a lot of fantasy drafts, should still be stashed for when he inevitably breaks out, but until he gets more volume, his upside is limited.

  • Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns (vs. Green Bay Packers)

That's right. We're recommending you sit both talented Ohio State rookies. In Judkins' case, it's less about opportunity and more about matchup. The Packers have allowed the second-fewest FPPG to running backs this season and have yet to allow a touchdown to one. Judkins may not break that trend against Jeff Hafley's elite defense.

Wide receivers

  • Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints (at Seattle Seahawks)

Olave is clearly New Orleans' top receiver, but this is a tough matchup for him against a Seahawks defense that has allowed the fewest FPPG to wide receivers this season. Add in that Spencer Rattler is set to start in a tough road environment against a strong pressure defense (the Seahawks generate pressure at a league-best 49.4% clip) and this seems like a tough matchup for the Saints receiver.

  • Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons (at Carolina Panthers)

The Panthers may seem like a great matchup for the Falcons on paper, but Carolina has allowed just 145 yards and one touchdown to wide receivers through two weeks. They are much weaker against running backs and Atlanta wants to have a run-heavy offense. That makes it hard to trust Mooney as he looks to build chemistry with Michael Penix Jr.

Tight end

  • Evan Engram, Denver Broncos (at Los Angeles Chargers)

Engram has been a disappointment for fantasy managers who spent a mid-round selection on him, hoping his insertion into the "Joker" role in Sean Payton's offense would spark him. Adam Trautman has out-snapped Engram thus far and as long as that continues, it's hard to trust the veteran to be a fantasy starter.

Defense/special teams:

  • Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Los Angeles Rams)

The Eagles looked much better defensively with Jalen Carter available, but they still have a hole in the secondary across from Quinyon Mitchell. The Rams have Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, so they could be uniquely positioned to expose that weakness, which could lead to a down week for the Eagles defense.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: 16 players to start or sit in Week 3

Reporting by Jacob Camenker, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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