Fantasy Football Week 3 Start ‘Em & Sit ‘Em: Let’s get crazy with Ty’Son Williams against leaky Lions

Week 3 feels like a redemption week for many of our struggling Fantasy stars. After a disappointing start, several players should bounce back in this scoring period.

For example, get ready to see the old Saquon Barkley against the Falcons, and I like him as a starting Fantasy option again. I’m also expecting the best game of the season from Myles Gaskin against the Raiders, and I hope Clyde Edwards-Helaire can take advantage of a great matchup against the Chargers.

Josh Allen should have a big game against Washington, and Justin Herbert’s luck should turn around against the Chiefs in a potential shootout. I’m also not ready to give up on Ryan Tannehill, who should have a quality outing against the Colts.

A.J. Brown should benefit from Tannehill’s big game, and look for Robert Woods to have a breakout performance against the Buccaneers in a potential shootout. I’m also hopeful that Justin Fields starting for the Bears means great things for Allen Robinson against the Browns.

And I’m counting on George Kittle (vs. GB), Mark Andrews (at DET) and Kyle Pitts (at NYG) to all have their best games of the season. That trio will prove why they are among the best Fantasy tight ends this year.

It hasn’t been ideal for several Fantasy stars this season, but don’t give up on them yet. Their time is now, and plenty of points are coming to your Fantasy scoreboard.

Editor’s Note: Projections are provided by CBS Sports and not Jamey Eisenberg. Projected points are for PPR leagues.

More Week 3: Trade Values | Towers’ Top 150 | RB Preview | WR Preview | QB Preview | TE preview

Start ‘Em & Sit ‘Em

There’s a line from the movie Batman starring Michael Keaton where Bruce Wayne is standing in a room with the Joker, and he says, “You wanna get nuts? Let’s get nuts!” That’s kind of how I feel right now with the Start of the Week.

It’s been a rough two weeks for the Start of the Week. In Week 1, Raheem Mostert had a season-ending knee injury and was limited to just two carries. His backup, Elijah Mitchell, took over against the Lions and played great with 19 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown — which is what I expected from Mostert.

In Week 2, I went with a risky option in Ben Roethlisberger against the Raiders, and he was terrible, scoring just 15 Fantasy points. Needless to say, it hasn’t been the ideal start to the 2021 season for the player we like to spotlight.

But that changes now. In Week 3, we’re going to get nuts and trust the volatile backfield in Baltimore. Ty’Son Williams is the best running back for the Ravens, and he’s headed for a big outing at Detroit.

The matchup is perfect for Williams, which is really what this is all about. After Mitchell beat up the Lions in Week 1, Aaron Jones demolished them in Week 2 with 115 total yards and four total touchdowns. For the season, Detroit has allowed six total touchdowns to running backs, and I’m hopeful Williams finds the end zone this week.

He’s going to share touches with Latavius Murray and Devonta Freeman, so he’s risky in that regard, as well as what Lamar Jackson does on the ground. But Williams has been Baltimore’s best running back with J.K. Dobbins (knee) and Gus Edwards (knee) out for the season.

Williams made some mistakes in Week 1 at the Raiders, but he scored 17 PPR points. He followed that up with 13 carries for 77 yards and two catches for 16 yards on two targets against the Chiefs, but he also lost a touchdown when he fumbled at the goal line, which thankfully fell into teammate Devin Duvernay’s hands.

He’s raw, but he has much more upside than Murray and Freeman, which should hopefully lead to more work. Williams played as many snaps as Murray and Freeman combined (37) in Week 2, and he should be the lead back again in Week 3.

I don’t mind Murray as a flex option, and he has a rushing touchdown in each game this year. But Williams has star potential in this offense, especially this week against the Lions.

I’m confident that Williams will be the first successful Start of the Week this year, and I like him as a top-15 Fantasy running back in all leagues. It’s time to get nuts. 

Panthers (at HOU): The Panthers defense has been exceptional to start the season, and now Carolina gets to face a rookie quarterback making his first NFL start on a short week with the game on Thursday night. The Panthers should be able to harass Davis Mills, and Carolina has 10 sacks and three interceptions in two games so far. The Panthers have also allowed just 21 points to the Jets and Saints, so consider the Panthers DST is a top-five unit in Week 3.

• Raiders vs. MIA
  
  Bears at CLE
  
  Titans vs. IND  
  
  

Football Team (at BUF): The Washington defense has been among my biggest disappointments so far this year. Through two games against the Chargers and Bills, the Washington defense has allowed 49 points with only six sacks and two turnovers. It will be hard to trust this defense against the Bills this week even though Josh Allen has struggled. I’m hopeful things will get better for the Washington defense, but I’m sitting the Football Team DST in Week 3.