Starting a solid fantasy roster can sometimes be a headache. Injuries, suspensions, and contract disputes can cause players to miss multiple weeks in the NFL season, which can kill your fantasy football matchup.
When multiple players are inactive in a week, we sometimes have to resort to free agency to find a fill-in player. But the free agents have been picked through for weeks. What options do we have?
Let’s take a look at a few sleeper players for Week 3 that have an opportunity to step up for fantasy teams. They may not be the most exciting of names, but any one of them could save your matchup this week.
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Fantasy Football Sleepers for Week 3
Here are a few sleeper players that could have an impact in Week 3.
Jerick McKinnon, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Jerick McKinnon has had a slow start to the 2023 season. After finishing the 2022 season by scoring 20-plus fantasy points in three of the final five weeks of the year, McKinnon has been used scarcely in Kansas City.
McKinnon has just one carry for the year and five total targets. He has been a non-factor for fantasy managers through the two weeks of the 2023 season. This is likely why he is being started in less than 10% of leagues.
But Week 3 could be different. The Kansas City Chiefs have the Chicago Bears coming to town, a team on the schedule that will make every running back excited. So far this year (in 0.5 PPR leagues), the Bears have given up 25.7 points to Aaron Jones in Week 1 and 18.8 points to Rachaad White in Week 2.
While Isiah Pacheco is the likeliest candidate to get the bulk of the action, the Chiefs may be destroying the Bears in this game. As offensive coordinator, Matt Nagy calls plays in the second half of what will probably be a game well in hand, don’t be surprised if the ex-Bears head coach wants to twist the blade and run up the score.
If this is the case and McKinnon is in, he could be a sneaky start for fantasy teams in Week 3.
Nelson Agholor, WR, Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens have many weapons at their disposal this weekend when they take on the Indianapolis Colts. But one of those weapons has had a solid beginning of the year and is only being started in 1% of leagues.
Nelson Agholor was not involved in the Ravens’ Week 1 win against the Houston Texans, but Week 2 was a different story. Agholor had five catches on six targets for 63 yards and a touchdown.
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Meanwhile, Odell Beckham Jr. didn’t practice Thursday and is questionable for Sunday’s game. Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, and Agholor may be the top three targets for the Ravens.
Lamar Jackson aimed at Agholor on six of his 33 attempts last week. If he is going to throw the ball 30+ times again in Week 3 against the Colts, Agholor could be a great spot-start.
Rico Dowdle, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Tony Pollard is the lead back for the Dallas Cowboys. This has been certain in the first two weeks of the season.
But Rico Dowdle has me interested in Week 3. Dowdle has only seen six and seven carries in the first two games of the 2023 season. However, Week 3 has a chance to be different.
Dowdle and the Cowboys face off against the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals are not a strong team, and Dallas has the highest point differential in the NFL (+60 points). The nearest team to the Cowboys is the San Francisco 49ers with a 30-point differential.
With this in mind, I think the Cowboys could be blowing out the Cardinals early in this game and looking to preserve Pollard. If that is the case, Dowdle (who is only being started in 1% of leagues) could have an opportunity to put up some fantasy points in Week 3.
It may not be a sure thing, but Dowdle could help out fantasy managers who are in a pinch in Week 3.
Kalif Raymond, WR, Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions have been one of the more successful offenses in the NFL through two weeks. Quarterback Jared Goff has been able to spread the ball out on offense and several pass catchers have been involved thus far this season.
One of those players is wide receiver Kalif Raymond. Raymond, who is only being started in 1% of leagues, had a solid Week 2. While Raymond only caught two passes on three targets against the Seattle Seahawks, he turned those catches into 46 yards and a touchdown.
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The Lions need a solid option after Amon-Ra St. Brown (who is questionable for Week 3) in their offense. Josh Reynolds and tight end Sam LaPorta have also contributed this year, but Raymond has a chance to see targets as well.
When the Lions face off against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, they will likely be throwing the ball all over the field again. If Raymond gets targeted, he could have a nice Week 3 for fantasy managers.