Fantasy football Week 3 Start ‘Em & Sit ‘Em: Chuba Hubbard due for breakout week

The theme for Week 3 — and maybe the season — is surviving injuries. It’s been a rough start so far with players getting hurt.

At quarterback, we just lost Jaxson Dart (knee) for the season, and Jayden Daniels (elbow) and Caleb Williams (hamstring) could miss several weeks. That’s a lot of star power out for that position.

Running back has a lengthy list of injuries that we need to monitor, including Saquon Barkley (shoulder), Jadarian Price (shoulder), Travis Etienne (hamstring), Aaron Jones (knee), Rico Dowdle (toe) and all three Broncos running backs. J.K. Dobbins (hip), RJ Harvey (hamstring), and Jonah Coleman (ankle) are all hurt heading into Week 3 against the Rams, and whoever is the healthiest might be a must-start Fantasy running back.

At wide receiver, we’re keeping an eye on Puka Nacua (groin), Malik Nabers (shoulder), Mike Evans (hip), Nico Collins (hamstring), D.J. Moore (shoulder) and Zay Flowers (hamstring), among others. With A.J. Brown (ankle) on injured reserve, this position has taken a beating so far this season with several players who were selected in the early part of the draft.

The big injury at tight end is Dallas Goedert (knee), who is expected to miss several weeks. But we might get good news in Week 3 with Brock Bowers (knee) set to make his 2026 debut.

Injuries stink for everyone, including Fantasy managers. And there’s a trickle-down effect — pro and con — to other players as a result.

For example, we’re downgrading the receivers in Chicago and Washington due to the quarterback injuries, but the Giants’ pass catchers might benefit from Jameis Winston starting for Dart. Jaylen Warren and Rashod Bateman are two players who could become must-start Fantasy options because of injuries in Week 3. And, as you’ll read below, the Start of the Week is in a great spot with Chuba Hubbard taking over Carolina’s backfield with Jonathon Brooks (abdomen) on injured reserve.

Ideally, we’d never have to worry about injuries, but that’s not a reality. In Fantasy, injuries impact your roster in a major way. Hopefully, you can overcome them and still win, and we’re all trying to do that in Week 3 — and for the rest of the season.

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Chiefs (at MIA)

Malik Willis has been sacked nine times in two games, and the Dolphins have scored a combined 26 points in two games against the Raiders and 49ers. Miami hasn’t turned the ball over much with one interception and one fumble, but I’ll trust the Chiefs DST in this matchup. Kansas City was fantastic in Week 1 against Denver with four sacks, one interception and one fumble, while allowing 10 points. The Chiefs weren’t as successful in Week 2 against Indianapolis with no sacks, one interception and 30 points allowed, but I expect a bounce-back performance against the Dolphins.

Bengals (at PIT)
Giants (vs. TEN)
Saints (vs. LV)

Ravens (at DAL)

This game is in Brazil, and we’ll see how that impacts both teams. But the Cowboys’ offense has been great as usual with only two sacks allowed and one fumble in two games against the Giants and Commanders, while averaging 28.5 points per game. The Ravens only have five sacks in two games against the Colts and Saints and two turnovers, but they are allowing just 23.5 points per game. I don’t want to trust the Ravens DST against Dallas, so I would find another starting option for Week 3.