Week 3 Fantasy Football Start/Sit Candidates: Quarterbacks
Wondering whom to start and sit at quarterback this week? Below are two top-notch start and two sit options at the quarterback position for Week 3 of the 2022 NFL season.
Week 2 Review – Half-PPR scoring
Starts
- QB Kirk Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) @ Philadelphia Eagles – 11.84 (QB25)
- QB Marcus Mariota (Atlanta Falcons) @ Los Angeles Rams – 15.44 (QB18)
Sits
- QB Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams) vs. Atlanta Falcons – 20.88 (QB10)
- QB Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks) @ San Francisco 49ers – 7.08 (QB30)
Quarterback – Starts
Russell Wilson (Denver Broncos) vs. San Francisco 49ers
After 10 years in the NFC West as a Seattle Seahawk, Russell Wilson built himself a long history of successful showings against the San Francisco 49ers’ defense. Current San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan began his career in 2017.
| Game | Comp./Pass Att.-Pass Yards-TD-INT | Carries-RushYds-TD-FumLost |
|---|---|---|
| vs. SF - 12/5/21 | 30/37-231-2-1 | 3-15-0-0 |
| at SF - 10/3/21 | 16/23-149-2-0 | 4-26-1-0 |
| at SF - 12/27/20 | 20/36-181-2-0 | 5-29-0-0 |
| vs. SF - 11/1/20 | 27/37-261-4-0 | 6-23-0-0 |
| vs. SF - 12/29/19 | 25/40-233-2-0 | 8-29-0-0 |
| at SF - 11/11/19 | 24/34/232-1-1 | 6-53-0-0 |
| at SF - 12/16/18 | 23/31-237-2-0 | 5-15-0-0 |
| vs. SF - 12/2/18 | 11/17-185-4-0 | 4-14-0-0 |
| at SF - 11/26/17 | 20/34-228-2-1 | 7-25-1-0 |
| vs. SF - 9/17/17 | 23/39-198-1-0 | 12-34-0-0 |
Though Wilson typically hangs around the 200-passing-yards mark, he has thrown multiple touchdowns in nine-of-10 games, twice totaling four scores. Wilson’s exceptional ball security has resulted in three total interceptions and zero fumbles lost. His scrambling ability has helped him clear 20, or more, rushing yards in seven of the 10 contests. Wilson has failed to produce a top-12 quarterback finish this season but this bout should help him get there.
*4for4’s full QB rankings can be found here.
Joe Flacco (New York Jets) vs. Cincinnati Bengals
New York Jets quarterback Joe Flacco is No. 4 in passing yards per game (308.0), No. 8 in passing touchdowns (5), and No. 5 in interception rate (1.0%), per 4for4’s NFL Player Stat Explorer. Armed with a capable wide receiver trio in Garrett Wilson, Elijah Moore, and Corey Davis, plus two of the league’s best pass-catching running backs, Michael Carter and Breece Hall, Flacco has worked his way to the league’s 10th-best quarterback fantasy points per game, 21.12.
New York should have little issue maintaining its 11th-ranked explosive pass play rate, 9.2%, against the Cincinnati Bengals this week as Cincinnati’s 20th-ranked quarterback pressure rate, 20.3%, is just 1.7% better than the Baltimore Ravens and 3.4% better than the Cleveland Browns, New York’s two prior opponents. Cincinnati has zero interceptions on the year.
Quarterback Sits
Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Aaron Rodgers makes his second appearance on this list ahead of his date with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rodgers’ right tackle Elgton Jenkins returned to play last week (ACL reconstruction, pectoral strain) and made it through unscathed. There is no word as to whether left tackle David Bakhtiari will return this week though. Rodgers bizarrely was not blitzed by the Chicago Bears last week but could hardly function vs. the blitz in Week 1, producing a league-low -0.902 passing expected points added (EPA) vs. the blitz.
Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles is known as a dynamic, blitz-happy defensive mind and is blitzing opposing quarterbacks on 27.5% of their defensive snaps, seventh most in the NFL. Tampa Bay sits No. 1 in the NFL with 10 sacks to their name, nine of which have come from blitzing linebackers. Opposing quarterbacks have suffered the 10th highest pressure rate in the league, 25.3%. Expect Bowles to throw extra defenders around the left side of Green Bay’s line, regardless of if the rusty Bakhtiari makes his 2022 debut.
Tom Brady (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) vs. Green Bay Packers
Tampa Bay Starting center Ryan Jensen is on Injured Reserve, both offensive tackles Donovan Smith (elbow) and Tristan Wirfs (abdomen) are hurt, No. 2 wide receiver Chris Godwin was irresponsibly started in Week 1 post-ACL reconstruction and suffered a compensatory hamstring injury (likely from a hamstring graft), No. 1 wide receiver Mike Evans is suspended, and No. 3 wide receiver Julio Jones is dealing with a knee injury.
Green Bay’s 20.4% five-man blitz rate has helped them climb to the league’s second-best quarterback pressure rate, 38.0%. Brady’s passing EPA vs. the blitz is negative for the first time in three years, -0.228.
Both teams are likely to opt for a run-centric game script. Expect Brady to continue handing off to running back Leonard Fournette, who is already No. 2 in the league in running back carries, with 45 through two contests.
