Fantasy football rankings Week 3: Dave Richard makes tough decisions who to start, sit and flex — SkimNews
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- Drake London has scored 17-plus PPR in 7 of 12 games with Michael Penix Jr., making him a clear start, while Kyle Pitts has drawn more than five targets from Penix just three times in 12 games — Pitts is downgraded to a borderline sit despite the downfield role Atlanta has given him.
- Justin Herbert has been pressured on 45.5% of his dropbacks (most in the NFL) and holds a 61.8 QB rating when pressured, with his yards per attempt dipping from 6.8 in 2025 to 5.4 in two games this year — Richard ranks him a borderline starter and prefers Herbert only over Bo Nix, Baker Mayfield, or Drake Maye.
- Bryce Young is playing at 'another level' per Richard, with the Panthers fifth in pass rate at 64%, and is ranked a top-10 quarterback to start ahead of Trevor Lawrence, Justin Herbert, and Drake Maye, though his 37.9% completion rate under pressure tempers 30-point upside.
- Dalton Schultz is expected to post a top-10 PPR finish against Lou Anarumo's Colts, having scored between 11 and 12.5 PPR in both matchups against Anarumo last year and drawing eight targets in their Week 13 meeting.
- Josh Downs is a high-end PPR flex after flashing speed and a higher snap rate wide (instead of slot), and the Texans have allowed a second-most 17.9 yards per catch to outside receivers through two weeks — Downs' stock rises with Alec Pierce sidelined.
- Quentin Johnston is a sit after catching just two passes on eight targets for 17 yards against two-high safety looks, the same coverage Buffalo is leaning into, leaving him behind Ladd McConkey in the Chargers' pass game hierarchy.
Why it matters: For fantasy managers weighing start-sit decisions this week, the source attests concrete splits: Herbert's league-high 45.5% pressure rate and Pitts' three-out-of-12 target inconsistency with Penix are documented reasons to bench players most managers drafted as starters, while Drake London's 7-of-12 PPR track record with Penix is a stated green light — three lineup spots materially shift based on this analysis.
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