Week 3 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Reviewing Fantasy Football's Top Fringe Starters

Trends are beginning to emerge across the fantasy football landscape two weeks into the 2024 NFL season. It's still a small sample size, but questions that managers had heading into the year are starting to be answered.

Entering Week 3, fantasy managers have more data to work with when considering lineup decisions. That doesn't necessarily make things easy, though, as there are still challenging choices to make.

Here's some start/sit advice for the upcoming week of NFL action.

No team has been worse against the run through two weeks than the Indianapolis Colts, who have allowed an NFL-high 474 rushing yards so far.

They represent a favorable matchup for the Chicago Bears in Week 3, when D'Andre Swift will look to capitalize.

The 25-year-old's first season with the Bears has gotten off to a bit of a slow start. He had 10 carries for 30 yards in Week 1 vs. the Tennessee Titans, then he recorded 14 carries for 18 yards in Week 2 against the Houston Texans. He also hasn't yet gotten into the end zone.

Week 3 appears to be an opportune time for Swift to get going, so it's worth giving him another shot in fantasy lineups this week.

Brandon Aiyuk is off to a slow start this season for the San Francisco 49ers. Through two weeks, the wide receiver has only six catches for 71 yards with no touchdowns. He's also been targeted 10 total times.

The 49ers could look to get the ball in the 26-year-old's hands more often now that Deebo Samuel is out due to a calf injury. But that could be difficult, as opposing defenses no longer have to worry about Samuel and can focus even more on shutting down Aiyuk.

Aiyuk may struggle again in Week 3, when San Francisco goes on the road to face the Los Angeles Rams. So, it may be best to leave him on the bench this week.

It seems certain Khalil Shakir will be an integral part of the Buffalo Bills' passing attack this season. He has been so far, as he scored a touchdown in Week 1 vs. the Arizona Cardinals and has recorded eight catches for 96 yards over two games.

The Bills' offense has a favorable matchup in Week 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have allowed 491 passing yards thus far (third most in the NFL). That means Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen will have a chance to air it out against this defense.

That should bode well for Shakir, 24, as he may get even more involved. The matchup makes him a solid fantasy option for Week 3.

So far, Kyle Pitts' fantasy output has been touchdown dependent. He got into the end zone in Week 1 but not in Week 2. Through two games for the Atlanta Falcons, he has only six catches for 46 yards.

The 23-year-old tight end has a challenging Week 3 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, whose defense has excelled at shutting down top-tier pass-catchers early in the season. For example, Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews was held to two receptions for 14 yards in the opener vs. the Chiefs.

That type of showing could be what Pitts is in store for this week. Because of that, it's best to try to find another fantasy option at tight end.