I’ve rebranded the classic fantasy football starts and sits column to one that hopefully offers more assistance when setting your lineups. A roast is a player who is not only a clear start, but could be in for a monster game. A ghost meanwhile is a player who could just be a typical sit (not worth even starting) or a fade, a star player who gives you less than you were expecting.
However, that’s not all this season!
This year, for our Patreon members, I’ll be giving a roast, ghost, and a coast—a player who’s a solid, confident start—for every game each week. Make sure you join our Patreon ASAP so you don’t miss even more starts and sits content.
I have a roast and a ghost for each position to help you set your best lineups for Week 3. Let’s get it!
Roasts of the Week
QB Kirk Cousins vs Detroit Lions
Don’t mind Cousins’ complete dud of a game Monday night. We all know Primetime Kirk doesn’t play well. But you know who does play well? 1:00PM Kirk. Vikings vs Lions has the makings of an in-division shootout with both offense being able to put up points. The Lions have done little to slow down opposing QBs this year, allowing the fourth-most points to the position. Back in his safe space, Cousins , and the Vikings offense, will be back to putting up elite fantasy numbers.
RB Miles Sanders vs Washington Commanders
There are a ton of juicy running back matchups this week and it was tough picking exactly which one to highlight. Ultimately, I have the most confidence in Sanders getting the job done. Despite playing barley above 50% of the Eagles’ snaps to start the year, Sanders is clearly the team’s lead back. He ranks 13th among RBs in backfield share, seeing over 66% of the Eagles’ attempts. Against a Commanders defense allowing the third-most points to backs through two weeks, Sanders has a chance to hit big for managers.
And just in case you want a second running back roast of the week…
montogmery also w/ over 70% of bears backfield attempts (7th among backs)
vs texans this week giving up 7th most FP to RBs
didnt make him my roast of the week, but montgomery's insane share both on the ground & through the air makes him a decadent start 🍰🧁🍦🎂 https://t.co/qmF4HGrfng
— pete rogers, herpetologists studying allen lazards (@petemrogers) September 21, 2022
WR Jakobi Meyers vs Baltimore Ravens
I’m happy to admit this is probably just a super homer pick but hear me out before dismissing a Meyers breakout game. The Ravens secondary has been picked on to start the year with both Joe Flacco and Tua Tagovailoa throwing over 300 yards on them. Baltimore is allowing the most .5PPR fantasy points to WRs as a whole (111.2), but also most points to specifically slot receivers (72.3). It won’t surprise you to hear that Meyers is 6th in the league in slot targets (T-14), 10th in slot snaps (79), and 13th in slot yards (T-110). He’s also clearly Mac Jones’ go-to receiver, leading the Patriots in targets by a healthy margin. Convinced?
TE Tyler Higbee vs Arizona Cardinals
Last week Higbee was my TE ghost and he went out and proved me dead wrong. I’m certain this week he’ll prove me dead wrong again and lay a complete stinker. But hey, it’s the process not the result, right? Higbee ranks No. 2 among tight ends in target share, with only Mark Andrews ahead of him (30.5% vs 26%). I thought his Week 1 usage was flukey but clearly as long as Van Jefferson is out, Higbee is a top target for Matthew Stafford. His high usage plus facing a Cardinals defense that’s allowing the most fantasy points to the position makes Higbee a no-brainer start.
Ghosts of the Week
QB Russell Wilson vs San Francisco 49ers
Things have not started in Denver the way many expected them to. Wilson is only completing 59% of his passes and has tossed just 2 touchdowns despite throwing the ball 73 times. This is not the week the Broncos’ passing game gets back on track however. This defense knows Russell Wilson through and through having played him twice a year in the NFC West. They know how to shut him down. It also doesn’t help that the 49ers secondary has been stingy against opposing QBs to start the year, allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to the position. Stay far away from Wilson this week.
RB Travis Etienne vs Los Angeles Chargers
This isn’t necessarily a bad matchup for Etienne as the Chargers rank about league average in points allowed to opposing backs. It’s more to do with Etienne’s usage, or lack there of. James Robinson has proven yet again never to doubt him, and currently ranks 11th among RBs in backfield share (68%) while averaging 18.5 touches per game. Etienne meanwhile is averaging nine touches per game. And those few touches he’s getting aren’t high-leverage ones, sporting a league-average 0.79 PER rating. Wait for Etienne to have a big usage game before regularly starting him.
WR Terry McLaurin vs Philadelphia Eagles
You’d think with Carson Wentz’s ridiculous start to the season, Scary Terry would be a fantasy must-start every week. Unfortunately for Scary Terry Stans (of which I am wholeheartedly one) that has not been the case. McLaurin has almost been the odd man out in this passing tree, currently just fifth on the team in receptions (6). Against the Eagles, he’s likely to see a lot of Darius Slay who’s allowing an unbelievable 25.2 passer rating in coverage and just came of shutting down Justin Jefferson.
TE Mike Gesicki vs Buffalo Bills
Much like his griddy, Gesicki’s fantasy outlook this week is not good. Yes he’s coming off a top-3 TE finish last week but that was him doing the absolute most on just four targets. This passing game is two players deep and Mike Gesicki isn’t one or two. Add to that the Bills having the second-best pass defense per NEFF, and it’s clear why Gesicki doesn’t belong in your starting lineup this week.
Week 3 Rundown
PIT vs CLE
Roast: Diontae Johnson
Coast: Kareem Hunt
Ghost: George Pickens
NO vs CAR
Roast: Chris Olave
Coast: Michael Thomas
