Fantasy football · Week 3
Start 'em, sit 'em: Week 3, 2026
Full-PPR and guillotine calls for every week of the season, updated each morning through Sunday and graded against what actually happened.
Raiders · QB · RB · WR · TE · K · DEF · Flex · Guillotine · FAAB
Week 3 is a quarterback ledger. Jaxson Dart (MCL), Jayden Daniels (dislocated elbow) and Caleb Williams (hamstring) are all doubtful, handing the Giants, Commanders and Bears to Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota and Tyson Bagent, and everyone attached to them comes down with the change: Malik Nabers, Isaiah Likely, Stefon Diggs, Terry McLaurin, Rome Odunze. Going the other way, Kyler Murray is out of concussion protocol and starts at Tampa Bay, Michael Penix is back for Thursday, and Sam Darnold is out again, so Drew Lock keeps a Seattle offense implied for 23.75 against the slate's weakest total. Nico Collins and Dallas Goedert are still out, Saquon Barkley, Puka Nacua and Malik Nabers are all questionable, and Brock Bowers practiced and is aiming for his season debut in New Orleans. The Raiders are 2-0 and Kirk Cousins has six touchdown passes on 413 yards, which is a scoring rate, not a volume case. The approach this week: buy target volume attached to healthy quarterbacks (Matthew Golden, Tetairoa McMillan, Adonai Mitchell, Xavier Hutchinson) and fade anyone whose passer changed on Sunday.
Raiders
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Ashton Jeanty
PPRStartGuillotineStart44 carries and 13 targets through two games, roughly 70% of the backfield and a route on most dropbacks. The efficiency is ugly, 2.3 yards a carry against the Chargers, but New Orleans held Derrick Henry to 68 yards on 16 carries and the volume is the case: four catches clears the guillotine line before the run game does anything.
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Brock Bowers
Q SplitPPRStartGuillotineSitHe practiced this week and is aiming for his debut after a September 8 meniscus trim, and the targets come back immediately: this is a top-three tight end in a dome with a 44.5 total. The PPR line is 10 and five catches gets there. Guillotine is different, because a first game back usually means a snap cap and a zero if he is scratched Sunday morning.
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Michael Mayer
PPRSitGuillotineSitHe handled 84% of the tight end snaps with Bowers out and still produced 14.5 points in two games on 11 targets. Bowers practiced this week and is aiming to play, which takes the job back. A backup tight end in an offense implied for 20.75 does not reach 10, and rarely 7.
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Tre Tucker
PPRSitGuillotineSitThe sit missed last week when he turned five catches into 119 yards and a score. What changes is the target tree: Bowers returning takes back the middle of the field, and Tucker has 11 targets in two games, all of them boom or bust. Without a deep touchdown this role lands near 8 points, under both lines.
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Kirk Cousins
PPRSitGuillotineSitSix touchdowns in two games carried a sit to a miss last week, but the underlying line has not moved: 413 passing yards total, minus 5 rushing, and 20.75 implied points in New Orleans. Without three touchdown passes for a third straight week this is a 13-point day, under 18 and under 15.
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Jack Bech
PPRSitGuillotineSitSix targets in two games, and the Week 2 end zone work went to Cody White, who caught two touchdowns on two targets. A fourth option in an offense implied for 20.75 points does not reach 14, and the floor is a two-catch afternoon.
Quarterbacks
Start 'em
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Drew Lock
PPRStartGuillotineStartSam Darnold is out again, so the job is Lock's: 422 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in two games, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba drawing 22 targets. Washington has given up 61 points in two weeks, 37 of them to Dallas, and Seattle is a 7-point favorite implied for 23.75.
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Bryce Young
PPRStartGuillotineStart648 yards, six touchdowns and one interception through two games, 55.5 fantasy points. Cleveland has allowed 53 points and Carolina is a 2.5-point road favorite implied for 22.5. He has cleared 24 points in each week without needing his legs.
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Justin Herbert
PPRStartGuillotineStartThis is a game script bet. The Chargers are 7-point underdogs in the slate's second-highest total, 50.5, which means Herbert throws 40 times in Buffalo. He has 54 attempts and three interceptions in two games, so the risk is real, but volume at that total is how you get to 18.
Sit 'em
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Baker Mayfield
PPRSitGuillotineSit23.8 points in two games and Tampa Bay has allowed seven sacks. Minnesota brings eight sacks and has given up 25 points all season, and the Buccaneers are implied for 20.5 as home underdogs. That is a 200-yard, one-touchdown profile, under both lines.
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Jalen Hurts
PPRSitGuillotineSitTwo games, zero rushing touchdowns, and two interceptions on Sunday. The Eagles are at Chicago in a 41.5 total, third-lowest on the board, implied for 23, against a defense that held Minnesota to 9 points. Without the goal-line carries this is a 250-yard passer, and 18 needs three touchdowns.
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Deshaun Watson
PPRSitGuillotineSitCarolina has three interceptions and returned two of them for touchdowns, and Cleveland has allowed seven sacks. The Browns are implied for 20 as home underdogs. Watson's 33.7 points in two weeks came on 52 attempts with no rushing scores; the ceiling here is a clean 250-yard game, which is 16.
Running backs
Start 'em
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Aaron Jones Sr.
PPRStartGuillotineStartJordan Mason is on injured reserve with a fractured thumb, which leaves Jones with a backfield he already led: 35 carries and 145 yards through two games. Kyler Murray is cleared and back under center, Minnesota is implied for 22, and Tampa Bay has given up 56 points in two weeks.
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Chase Brown
PPRStartGuillotineStart36 carries and 11 targets in two games, the whole backfield. Cincinnati is a 3.5-point road favorite implied for 23, and the receiving work is what makes this safe: eight catches in two weeks means the PPR floor does not depend on Pittsburgh's front seven cooperating.
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Jaylen Warren
PPRStartGuillotineStart21 carries and 10 targets in two games, and Rico Dowdle is questionable with a toe injury. Aaron Rodgers has thrown 79 times in two weeks, which is checkdown volume, and Pittsburgh is implied for 19.5 at home. Five catches plus a dozen carries clears 14.
Sit 'em
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De'Von Achane
SplitPPRSitGuillotineStart31 carries and 11 targets, and only 22.9 points to show for it. Miami is an 11.5-point home underdog implied for 17, with Malik Willis at quarterback behind a line that has allowed nine sacks: a game like that does not produce 14 PPR points without a touchdown. The 15-plus touches still clear the 10-point guillotine line, so he stays in that lineup.
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Saquon Barkley
QPPRSitGuillotineSitA shoulder stinger sent him for an MRI and he is questionable, with Tank Bigsby taking 15 touches in relief. Even healthy it has been 19 carries for 92 yards and no scores in two weeks, in a 41.5-total road game at Chicago. A split backfield at that total misses both lines.
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Bucky Irving
SplitPPRSitGuillotineStartMinnesota has eight sacks and has allowed 25 points in two games, and Tampa Bay is implied for 20.5. That caps the touchdown equity that 14 PPR points requires. The workload itself is not in question, 25 carries and 11 catches in two weeks, and that floor clears 10, so he is still a guillotine start.
Wide receivers
Start 'em
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Matthew Golden
PPRStartGuillotineStart18 targets and 153 yards in two games without a touchdown, and Jayden Reed is doubtful with a neck injury, which concentrates the tree further. Atlanta has allowed 54 points in two weeks and Green Bay is a 5.5-point home favorite implied for 24.5 on Thursday.
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Adonai Mitchell
PPRStartGuillotineStart15 targets and 123 yards in two games as the field-side receiver. Detroit has allowed 71 points, second only to Indianapolis, and the Jets are 6.5-point underdogs, which is the script that produces 35 pass attempts. Seven targets in that game is 14 PPR points.
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Tetairoa McMillan
PPRStartGuillotineStart18 targets and 176 yards without a touchdown yet, a 25% target share. Cleveland has given up 53 points in two games and Carolina is favored on the road, implied for 22.5. The touchdown is the only missing piece, and volume covers the guillotine line either way.
Sit 'em
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Stefon Diggs
PPRSitGuillotineSitJayden Daniels dislocated his elbow and is doubtful, so this is Marcus Mariota, who went 11 of 16 for 111 yards in relief. Washington is implied for 16.75, the lowest total on the slate, against a Seattle defense with four interceptions and 17 points allowed in two games. Three touchdowns in two weeks does not repeat behind a backup.
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Malik Nabers
QPPRSitGuillotineSitHe dislocated a shoulder Sunday and is questionable, and Jaxson Dart is doubtful with an MCL sprain. Jameis Winston threw for 111 yards on 27 attempts in relief, and Nabers finished with one catch for 1 yard. A hurt receiver catching passes from that is not a 14-point bet, or a 10-point one.
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Puka Nacua
QPPRSitGuillotineSitQuestionable with a groin problem, and the Rams' passing game has moved: Davante Adams has 16 targets for 221 yards and two scores, Nacua has nine targets for 74 yards and 12.4 points in two weeks. Denver at altitude in a 45.5 total is not where a limited receiver gets that back.
Tight ends
Start 'em
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Tyler Warren
PPRStartGuillotineStart12 targets, nine catches and two touchdowns in two games, and Alec Pierce is doubtful with a heel injury. Houston has allowed 56 points in two weeks and Indianapolis is implied for 19.75 at home. Six targets from this role clears 10 PPR and 7 guillotine.
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Pat Freiermuth
PPRStartGuillotineStartNine catches on 10 targets for 78 yards and a touchdown through two games, and Michael Pittman is questionable with a foot injury. Aaron Rodgers has 79 attempts in two weeks and looks for him underneath. Five catches is 10 PPR points before yardage.
Sit 'em
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Isaiah Likely
PPRSitGuillotineSitHe was a start here last week and it missed by two points; what changed is the quarterback. Jaxson Dart is doubtful with an MCL sprain, and with Jameis Winston throwing, Likely turned 10 targets into five catches for 33 yards. Volume without a passer is 8 points, under both lines.
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Michael Mayer
PPRSitGuillotineSitHe handled 84% of the tight end snaps with Bowers out and still produced 14.5 points in two games on 11 targets. Bowers practiced this week and is aiming to play, which takes the job back. A backup tight end in an offense implied for 20.75 does not reach 10, and rarely 7.
Kickers
Start 'em
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Tyler Bass
PPRStartGuillotineStartBuffalo is implied for 28.75, the highest mark on the slate, in a 50.5-point game at home. Bass has 17 points in two weeks, mostly on extra points, and the Chargers have allowed 52 points in two games. Volume of scoring drives is the whole kicker case and this is the best one available.
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Harrison Butker
PPRStartGuillotineStartFour field goals and three extra points for 15 points in Week 2. Kansas City is an 11.5-point favorite implied for 28.5 against a Miami defense that has given up 62 points. Blowout scripts stall drives inside the 30, which is exactly where a kicker gets paid.
Sit 'em
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Cameron Dicker
PPRSitGuillotineSitTwo points in each of the first two weeks, with one field goal attempt all season. The Chargers have scored 28 points in two games and Justin Herbert has three interceptions. The 50.5 total is tempting, but Buffalo scoring first tends to mean Los Angeles goes for it, not kicks.
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Cairo Santos
PPRSitGuillotineSitCaleb Williams is doubtful with a hamstring, which puts Tyson Bagent behind a Chicago offense implied for 18.5 in a 41.5-point game. Santos is 2 for 3 on field goals with no extra points in Week 2. Eight points needs two field goals and two extra points; this offense may not produce four scoring drives.
Defenses
Start 'em
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Seahawks D/ST
PPRStartGuillotineStartSeventeen points allowed in two games with four interceptions, and now Washington is down to Marcus Mariota with Jayden Daniels doubtful. The Commanders are implied for 16.75, the lowest total on the board. Points allowed alone pays here, and a takeaway from a backup makes it comfortable.
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Vikings D/ST
PPRStartGuillotineStartEight sacks and 25 points allowed in two games, including holding Chicago to 9. Tampa Bay has surrendered seven sacks and is implied for 20.5 as a home underdog. Three sacks and one turnover clears 8 in PPR and 6 in guillotine without needing a return touchdown.
Sit 'em
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Ravens D/ST
PPRSitGuillotineSitBaltimore has allowed 47 points in two weeks and travels to Rio de Janeiro for a neutral-site game with the slate's highest total, 52.5. Dallas has given up two sacks all season and Dak Prescott has six touchdowns. With the Cowboys implied for 24.5, the points-allowed tier is zero and the sacks are not there.
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Broncos D/ST
PPRSitGuillotineSitThe Rams have allowed one sack in two games, second only to San Francisco, and are implied for 24 as road favorites. Denver cleared this line last week only by holding Jacksonville to 13 with a takeaway. A defense that has to manufacture turnovers against a quarterback who is not being pressured is a coin flip, not a start.
Flex
Running backs, receivers and tight ends for the flex spot, beyond the calls above.
Start 'em
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Jaylen Waddle
PPRStartGuillotineStart13 targets for 140 yards in two games and the clear first read in Denver, with Courtland Sutton at nine targets for 36 yards. The Rams have two sacks and have allowed 33 points, so Bo Nix should have time, and Denver is implied for 21.5 at home in a 45.5 total.
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Denzel Boston
PPRStartGuillotineStart11 targets, 154 yards and two touchdowns in two games, already the Browns' leading receiver. Carolina has allowed 62 points in two weeks and Cleveland is implied for 20 at home. Five catches and a score is the median outcome for this role now.
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Xavier Hutchinson
PPRStartGuillotineStart15 targets in two games with Nico Collins out, and Collins is not expected back from his hamstring strain this week. Indianapolis has allowed 74 points, the most in the league, and Houston is a 3-point road favorite implied for 22.75 in a dome. Seven targets from the second option in that spot is a 14-point path.
Sit 'em
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Terry McLaurin
PPRSitGuillotineSit13 targets have produced four catches for 64 yards and 10.4 points, and now Marcus Mariota takes over for Jayden Daniels, who is doubtful with an elbow injury. Washington is implied for 16.75 against a Seattle defense with four interceptions. Low catch rate plus a backup quarterback is how rosters get eliminated.
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Rome Odunze
PPRSitGuillotineSitSeven targets and 95 yards in two weeks, and Caleb Williams is doubtful with a hamstring, leaving Tyson Bagent. Chicago is implied for 18.5 in a 41.5 total, third-lowest on the slate, against Philadelphia. The Bears will lean on D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, not on 40 pass attempts.
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Courtland Sutton
PPRSitGuillotineSitNine targets for 36 yards in two games, 8.6 points, while Jaylen Waddle has taken over as the first read with 140 yards. Denver is implied for 21.5, and the touchdown equity that used to carry this role is now split. Name recognition is doing the work in most lineups, not the usage.
Guillotine survival
No byes until Week 5, so every roster is still full and the team that gets chopped this week will be the one that started a skill player tied to a backup quarterback. That is the whole survival rule for Week 3: Washington, Chicago and the Giants are all down to replacements, and their receivers are floor risks rather than upside plays. Tight end is thin again, with Dallas Goedert out on an MCL sprain and Brock Bowers a game-time question in his first week back, so have Tyler Warren or Pat Freiermuth ready rather than chasing a returning player's snap count. Favor backs carrying 15-plus touches (Aaron Jones, Chase Brown, De'Von Achane, Bucky Irving clear the 10-point line on volume even in bad game scripts) and receivers with eight-plus targets. Two rosters have been chopped now, so waivers finally hold real depth.
Guillotine FAAB
Budget: two chops in, with 15 weeks of bidding left and no refills. Spend 10 to 15% this week. That is a step up from Week 2, because the players hitting waivers now include starters from a roster that was built to win, not just the September leftovers.
What deserves a real bid: a back who inherits a full backfield through injury, and a receiver whose target share went up because someone ahead of him is out for weeks. Those hold value through October. A 25 to 35% bid on that kind of player is defensible; a 40% bid on a committee back is not. Skip quarterbacks from chopped teams unless yours is hurt, because the 15-point line is streamable off the wire in any week. Skip kickers entirely and stream defenses on matchup.
Targets likely available in regular leagues:
Emanuel Wilson, SEA: 21 carries for 92 yards in Week 2 with Zach Charbonnet out for the season and Jadarian Price banged up. Seattle is favored in most weeks ahead.
Tank Bigsby, PHI: 15 touches and a touchdown once Saquon Barkley left with a shoulder stinger. If Barkley misses time, Bigsby is a lead back in a good offense.
Jonah Coleman, DEN: J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey are both hamstrung, and Coleman has 14.8 points on limited work.
Xavier Hutchinson, HOU: 15 targets in two games with Nico Collins out on a hamstring strain, and Collins is not expected back this week.
Denzel Boston, CLE: 11 targets, 154 yards and two touchdowns, already Cleveland's leading receiver as a rookie.
Tyquan Thornton, KC: four catches for 86 yards in Week 2 and the deep role in the league's best scoring offense.
How calls are graded
Every call is locked at its player's kickoff and graded on full-PPR points from the official box score: a point per reception, a tenth of a point per rushing or receiving yard, one per 25 passing yards, six per rushing or receiving touchdown, four per passing touchdown, minus two per interception or lost fumble. Two-point conversions and return touchdowns aren't counted.
Kickers: three per field goal, one more from 40 to 49 yards and two more from 50 or longer, one per extra point, minus one per miss. Defenses: one per sack, two per interception or fumble recovery, six per defensive or return touchdown, two per safety, plus points allowed (the opponent's final score): shutout 10, 1 to 6 is 7, 7 to 13 is 4, 14 to 20 is 1, 21 to 27 is 0, 28 to 34 is minus 1, 35 or more is minus 4.
A start cashes if the player reaches the line for his position; a sit cashes if he stays under it. PPR lines: QB 18, RB 14, WR 14, TE 10, K 8, DEF 8. Guillotine lines are survival floors: QB 15, RB 10, WR 10, TE 7, K 7, DEF 6.
Other weeks: Week 2