Joe Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) aren't going to play for the Texans in Week 3 at Minnesota. That gives Cam Akers the chance to be Houston's starting running back, which is rather amazing.
He's coming off the second torn Achilles of his career. Think about that for a minute. Last year, Akers rushed for 138 yards and a touchdown in six games for the Vikings before tearing his left Achilles. He also tore his right Achilles in the first week of the 2021 season while playing for the Rams.
Akers made a complete recovery and had a solid preseason for the Texans, and then he did a nice job for Houston in Week 2 against the Bears after Mixon was hurt. Akers had seven carries for 32 yards and one catch for 3 yards on one target, including a lost fumble. And now Akers is getting the starting nod, which makes him a flex in all leagues.
It's not an easy matchup against the Vikings. Minnesota shut down Devin Singletary in Week 1, holding him to 9.2 PPR points on 10 carries for 37 yards and four catches for 15 yards on five targets. But then Jordan Mason had 17.4 PPR points against the Vikings in Week 2 with 20 carries for 100 yards a touchdown and one catch for 4 yards on one target.
Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is confident in Akers.
"He has great vision," Slowik told the Texans media this week, "He's been running, ran zone scheme he came from, he did the same thing in Minnesota. He's really good at reading that, we call it riding the wave, finding the right hole to hit. He always plays under control. When he sees it, he hits it. He finishes physical. And he has really good contact balance, and I'd say those are the things that jump out with Cam. You pretty much see that every carry."
Dare Ogunbowale could also be a factor in the passing game for the Texans, but this is a big opportunity for Akers. He should be considered a quality sleeper in Week 3.
Week 3 Sleepers
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
DFS lineups
Week 3 Preview
Sleepers
Sleeper QBs
Smith is due for a big game after scoring 19.8 and 19.9 Fantasy points in each of his first two matchups against Denver and New England. And it could happen this week against Miami at home. This is the Dolphins' first road game this year, and Miami allowed opposing quarterbacks to average 25.3 Fantasy points on the road in eight games last season. While I'm expecting a big game from Zach Charbonnet as the Start of the Week, Smith should also finish as a low-end starter in all leagues.
| |||||||||||||||
This will be Williams' best matchup to date after facing the Titans and Texans in the first two games of the season. Indianapolis will not pressure Williams as much as those two teams, and Williams has been sacked nine times already. The Colts kept Malik Willis in check in Week 2, but C.J. Stroud scored 22.7 Fantasy points against Indianapolis in Week 1. This should be Williams' first game with at least 20 Fantasy points, and I like him as a low-end starter in all leagues.
| |||||||||||||||
I wouldn't start Watson in a one-quarterback league, but he's a good option in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues. He should take advantage of this matchup against the Giants, especially if Brian Burns (groin) is out for New York's defense. Watson's best game was 15.4 Fantasy points in Week 2 at Jacksonville, but he will hopefully have a two-touchdown outing for any Fantasy managers who need him in Week 3. And it would be great if Watson started to connect with Amari Cooper this week since Cooper only has five catches for 27 yards on 17 targets.
| |||||||||||||||
Sleeper RBs
As expected, the Panthers run defense struggled last week, and J.K. Dobbins delivered as the Start of the Week with 17 carries for 131 yards and a touchdown, along with one catch for 1 yard for 20.1 PPR points. Alvin Kamara scored 22.0 PPR points against Carolina in Week 1, and this should be a game where White can get going. He's struggled so far this season with 22 carries for 68 yards and five catches for 16 yards on six targets, but Antonio Pierce remains committed to White as the lead rusher. Given the matchup, I'm willing to start White as a low-end No. 2 running back in all leagues. And you can also use Alexander Mattison as a sleeper in deeper leagues as well.
| |||||||||||||||
Ford was out-touched by D'Onta Foreman 15-8 in Week 2 at Jacksonville, but Ford still ran well with seven carries for 64 yards. I'm going back to Ford this week as a low-end No. 2 running back, given the matchup with the Giants. They have allowed at least 14.6 PPR points to a running back in each of the first two games against Aaron Jones and Brian Robinson Jr., and Ford will hopefully get back to leading the Browns in touches in Week 3. You can also consider Foreman a sleeper as well, especially if he has the chance for double digits in carries in this game at home.
| |||||||||||||||
Hubbard looked better in Week 2 against the Chargers (11.6 PPR points) than he did in Week 1 at New Orleans (1.4 PPR points), and things should be trending up for the Panthers offense with Andy Dalton starting for Bryce Young. It was great to see Hubbard involved in the passing game against the Chargers with four catches for 12 yards on five targets, and hopefully, that becomes a staple of the offense moving forward. This week, Hubbard should be considered a solid flex option against the Raiders, who have allowed a running back to score at least 16.6 PPR points in each of the first two games with J.K. Dobbins and Derrick Henry.
| |||||||||||||||
Moss remains the lead running back for the Bengals heading into Week 3 against Washington, and he should be considered a flex option in all leagues. The Commanders allowed Rachaad White to score 16.6 PPR points in Week 1, and Devin Singletary had 16.5 PPR points in Week 2. Moss played 80 percent of the snaps in Week 2 against the Chiefs compared to 20 percent for Chase Brown, and Moss had 12 carries for 34 yards and one catch for 13 yards on one target. He scored 14.1 PPR points in Week 1, and Moss could return to that level of production against Washington on Monday night. I like Moss as a flex option in all leagues.
| |||||||||||||||
This will be Kansas City's first game without Isiah Pacheco (leg), so we'll see what happens with Steele and Samaje Perine. Kareem Hunt is not going to play in Week 3, which is a big opportunity for Steele and Perine to prove themselves. I anticipate Steele getting the majority of work on rushing downs, with Perine working on passing downs, but it's a guessing game heading into Week 3 at Atlanta. I'm going to use Steele as a flex option in leagues where I added him, and Perine could be a flex option as well. The Falcons have yet to allow a running back to score a touchdown in matchups with Najee Harris and Saquon Barkley, but Kansas City has had a running back score at least 12.6 PPR points in 13 games in a row going back to last season, including the playoffs. Let's hope Steele or Perine can keep that streak alive against Atlanta.
| |||||||||||||||
Hill just got a two-year contract extension on Friday for $6 million, and I expect him to play a prominent role Sunday at Dallas. This game has an expected total of 48 points, and if the Ravens are chasing points, we could see Hill heavily involved in the game plan. In Week 1 at Kansas City, Hill had six catches for 52 yards on eight targets, including one carry for 3 yards. He didn't do as much in Week 2 against Las Vegas, with four carries for 22 yards and two catches for 10 yards on two targets. But this game feels like a track meet, and Hill could be a valuable weapon for Lamar Jackson. Dallas has allowed opposing running backs to catch 10 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown in two games, and Hill is a potential flex play in PPR.
| |||||||||||||||
Sleeper WRs
Smith-Njigba got on track in a big way in Week 2 at New England with 12 catches for 117 yards on 16 targets, and hopefully, this is a sign of things to come. DK Metcalf is a must-start receiver in all leagues in Week 3 against Miami, and Smith-Njigba is a borderline No. 2 receiver in this matchup with the Dolphins. Tyler Lockett should just be considered a flier in the majority of leagues, and most Fantasy managers would rather see Metcalf and Smith-Njigba continue to dominate targets from Geno Smith.
| |||||||||||||||
The volume hasn't been there for Shakir yet with only eight targets in two games, but he's been Buffalo's most reliable receiver so far with eight catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. He scored 13.2 PPR points in Week 1 against Arizona, and I'm hoping he can at least reach that total against Jacksonville. So far, three receivers have scored at least 12.3 PPR points against the Jaguars in two games against Miami and Cleveland, and Shakir should be started in all three-receiver leagues in Week 3.
| |||||||||||||||
I'm hopeful that things start to improve for Johnson in Week 3 at the Raiders, with Andy Dalton starting at quarterback for the Panthers in place of Bryce Young. Johnson has been awful so far in two games in Carolina, with five catches for 34 yards on 12 targets. I'm willing to use Johnson as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues against Las Vegas, and the Raiders have allowed at least one receiver to score at least 14.9 PPR points in each game this season against the Chargers and Ravens.
| |||||||||||||||
The Rams need someone to step up with Puka Nacua (knee) and Cooper Kupp (ankle) injured, and Robinson will hopefully be a go-to target for Matthew Stafford. Jordan Whittington, Tyler Johnson, and Tutu Atwell are also potential No. 3 Fantasy receivers in deeper leagues, but Robinson should have the best rapport with Stafford and the most upside in Week 3 against the 49ers. In his past three home games, Robinson has 12 catches for 181 yards and three touchdowns, and he scored at least 14.7 PPR points in each outing. San Francisco has also allowed four receivers to score at least 12 PPR points in two games this year.
| |||||||||||||||
Jeudy is off to a good start with the Browns with eight catches for 98 yards on 14 targets, and he's scored at least 11.5 PPR points in each game against Dallas and Jacksonville. This week, he has a favorable matchup against the Giants, and Jeudy is worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in the majority of leagues. I'm hopeful this is also the week that Amari Cooper gets on track, and he's worth starting as a No. 2 receiver in all leagues. But Jeudy is worth using as a flier if he's been sitting on your bench to start the season.
| |||||||||||||||
The 49ers are extremely beat up right now, with Christian McCaffrey (calf), Deebo Samuel (calf), and George Kittle (hamstring) all hurt heading into Week 3 at the Rams. That makes Brandon Aiyuk a potential star in all leagues, and Jennings is a sleeper to use as a No. 3 receiver. He had a quality outing in Week 1 against the Jets with five catches for 64 yards on five targets, but he only managed two catches for 37 yards on four targets in Week 2 at Minnesota. This is a great opportunity for Jennings to be second on the team in targets behind Aiyuk, and hopefully, Brock Purdy leans on Jennings against the Rams.
| |||||||||||||||
Sleeper TEs
Even though Tee Higgins (hamstring) is expected to play Monday night against Washington, Gesicki is still worth using as a streamer in all leagues. He looked great in Week 2 at Kansas City with seven catches for 91 yards on nine targets with Higgins out. Gesicki also had three catches for 18 yards on four targets in Week 1 against New England, and he had a touchdown negated in that game due to a penalty. We'll see what happens with Gesicki when everyone is healthy for Cincinnati, but it appears like he's establishing a nice rapport with Joe Burrow. And this is a solid matchup for him in Week 3 against the Commanders.
| |||||||||||||||
The Seahawks couldn't stop Hunter Henry in Week 2 as he went off for eight catches for 109 yards on 12 targets, and Smith should benefit with Skylar Thompson starting for Tua Tagovailoa (concussion). Smith had a big role for the Dolphins in Week 2 against Buffalo with six catches for 53 yards on seven targets, Thompson will likely continue to use Smith as a short-area weapon, especially in this game.
| |||||||||||||||
Evan Engram (hamstring) is expected to be out again in Week 3 at Buffalo, which should allow Strange to have another prominent role for the Jaguars. In Week 2 against Cleveland with Engram out, Strange had six targets from Trevor Lawrence and caught three passes for 65 yards. Jacksonville will likely be chasing points in this game, and Lawrence will need reliable targets. He seems to like Strange, and he's worth using as a flier in deeper leagues in place of Engram.
| |||||||||||||||
Defense/Special Teams
Seahawks (vs. MIA)
Packers (at TEN)
Bears (at IND)
Kickers
Jason Myers (vs. MIA)
Dustin Hopkins (vs. NYG)
Blake Grupe (vs. PHI)
No ad available
Who should you start and sit this week? And which surprising running back could lead you to victory? Visit SportsLine now to get Week 3 Fantasy rankings for every position, plus see which RB comes out of nowhere to crack the top five, all from the model that has outperformed experts big-time.