Week 3 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Matchups to Exploit and Avoid on Sunday’s Schedule

Understanding matchups, when to pull the trigger and when to hold back remain the biggest keys to fantasy football success once owners have rosters set for a week. 

Week 2 served as good an example as any. Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers crushed the San Francisco 49ers to the tune of 29 points. Then there was Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith and his three points (he scored 27 in Week 1) in a nightmare matchup against the Houston Texans.

Similar hurdles exist in Week 3, where bad matchups will shut out recognizable faces and the usual suspects will downright dominate overmatched foes. Here is a look at matchup comparisons before a deep dive on those to exploit and avoid outright.

          

QB

Matchup to Exploit: Aaron Rodgers, GB (vs. DET) 

Maybe a matchup against a familiar divisional foe not touting an elite defense is what Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers needs.

Rodgers has looked rough for his past standards, scoring 22 and 16 points over the first two games of the season despite having Jordy Nelson back in the lineup.

This week, though, Rodgers gets to take on the Detroit Lions, a team he roasted for 21 and 24 points last year without Nelson. This year, Detroit has found a way to cough up six passing touchdowns to quarterbacks over two games.

The same old Lions might help produce the same old Rodgers. Those who gambled on him early in drafts can rejoice.

     

Matchup to Avoid: Kirk Cousins, WAS (at NYG)

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Kirk Cousins is a good example of the inverse also being true at quarterback when it comes to divisional rivals.

Cousins has had a mediocre start to the season, scoring nine and 18 points. Now he gets the New York Giants, a team he scored 14 and 22 points against last year.

Those Giants, though, held Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott to 10 points in Week 1 before silencing Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints, holding him to one touchdown and 14 points despite 44 passing attempts.

Cousins has plenty of weapons and knows the Giants, but this isn’t the week to gamble on him.

     

RB

Matchup to Exploit: Melvin Gordon, SD (at IND) 

Denis Poroy/Associated Press

Melvin Gordon of the San Diego Chargers was a must-start play against the Indianapolis Colts even before the season-ending injury suffered by running …

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