5 must starts in fantasy football for Week 3

It was a good week in Week 2 for my must starts, with five of my six picks getting double digit fantasy points and four finished in the top 20 at their respective positions. Josh Allen was Week 2’s QB7, Calvin Ridley the WR8, Matt Breida the RB16 and David Montgomery the RB18. Even DK Metcalf got you 15.1 PPR points as he scored his first NFL touchdown against the Steelers. The only disappointment came from Miles Sanders, who despite 13 total touches for the Eagles, only managed 6.7 fantasy points.

Onto my must starts for Week 3.

RB Peyton Barber, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New York Giants - 74.7% Owned

Barber carried the ball 23 times last week against the Panthers for 82 yards and a touchdown and faces a Giants defense that has allowed 240 rushing yards and 4 rushing touchdowns through the first two weeks. He’s not a flashy player, but the volume is all his and that’s exactly what you want as an RB2/Flex option.

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WR John Brown, Buffalo Bills vs Cincinnati Bengals - 59.6% Owned

The fact that Brown is under 60% owned despite catching 14 balls for nearly 200 yards in the first two weeks is pretty mind boggling. Add in that he faces a bottom five pass defense that’s allowed 508 receiving yards and five touchdowns through so far and Brown is a borderline WR1 this week. If he’s out there, pick him up and start him everywhere.

WR Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers vs Pittsburgh Steelers - 41.3% Owned

The second round rookie is putting his head above a parapet to be the number receiving option for the Niners. five catches for 86 yards and a touchdown last week against the Bengals and now faces the Steelers who have been a bottom three pass defense through the opening two weeks. Minkah Fitzpatrick will help the Steelers secondary eventually, but this week, Samuel is primed for another standout week.

RB Rashaad Penny, Seattle Seahawks vs New Orleans Saints - 68.3% Owned

Penny looked really explosive as he ran for 62 yards at six yards per attempt and a touchdown against the Steelers in Week 2 and faces a Saints defense this week that has allowed 295 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Penny may not be the starter with Chris Carson set in that role, but as a change of pace back against a defense that has hemorrhaged rushing yards early in the season, Penny is an intriguing flex option this week.

WR Randall Cobb, Dallas Cowboys vs Miami Dolphins - 25.7% Owned

The Cobb-aissance is real and gains even more traction in Week 3 as the Cowboys face the league’s basement dwelling Dolphins, who have allowed 643 passing yards and a huge EIGHT passing touchdowns to start the season. With Michael Gallup out for 2-4 weeks with a meniscus tear, Cobb gets promoted to the number two receiver spot and is in line for six to eight catches, a hundred yards and a touchdown in what has been the league’s top offense through the opening two weeks. At just 26% owned, Cobb should be rostered everywhere for the next month at the very least.

Bonus Start - RB Tarik Cohen, Chicago Bears @ Washington - 87.3% Owned

Week 2 was very disappointing for Tarik Cohen owners as he landed just six touches in the win over the Broncos for just 4.5 fantasy points. Facing a Washington defense that has been a bottom five run defense and bottom 10 pass defense to start the season, Cohen should see an uptick is both targets and rush attempts as the Bears’ offense finds their identity against a team lacking one of their own.