Sports

Fantasy Football: Week 3 WR Start/Sit, Rashee Rice primed for success

For Week 3 fantasy football, wide receivers including Rashee Rice, Ladd McConkey, Jalen Coker, and Josh Downs are projected for strong performances in favorable matchups.

CBS Sports·Sep 23, 2026·via CBS Sports

Fantasy Football: Week 3 WR Start/Sit, Rashee Rice primed for success

It's been a slow start to the season so far for Rashee Rice, but I'm still starting him as a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues for Week 3 at Miami. This could be the breakout game we've been waiting for.

Through two games against Denver and Indianapolis, Rice has only six catches for 102 yards and one touchdown on eight targets. We were lucky that he caught a touchdown against the Broncos, but I thought he looked better against the Colts with four catches for 83 yards on six targets.

Rice has suffered with the dominance of Kenneth Walker III taking over Kansas City's offense, but Patrick Mahomes has also leaned on Travis Kelce, Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton. Lining up against Patrick Surtain II and Sauce Gardner wasn't ideal either, but things should improve against the Dolphins.

Miami ranks No. 6 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, but the Dolphins haven't been tested yet in matchups against Las Vegas and San Francisco. This week, the Chiefs should be able to do whatever they want, and I'm hopeful they get Rice more involved.

He's no longer an automatic start in two-receiver leagues, but I'm still confident he will be productive in this matchup. I'm giving Rice at least one more chance to prove he's a standout Fantasy receiver in most leagues.

QB | RB | WR

WRs to Start Projections powered by Sportsline

Ladd McConkey

LAC L.A. Chargers

• #15

Age: 24 • Experience: 3 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

@ BUF BUF -7 O/U 50.5

OPP VS WR

30th

PROJ PTS

13.8

WR RNK

20th

YTD Stats

REC

TAR

REYDS

117

TD

FPTS/G

12.9

McConkey looked great in Week 1 against Arizona before suffering a rib injury, and he finished that game with five catches for 82 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. He struggled in Week 2 against Las Vegas with three catches for 35 yards on three targets, but he should rebound in Week 3 at Buffalo. The Bills are No. 3 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and Nico Collins in Week 1 and Amon-Ra St. Brown in Week 2 each scored at least 21.2 PPR points. McConkey has top-10 upside in this matchup.

Matthew Golden

GB Green Bay

Age: 23 • Experience: 2 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs ATL GB -5.5 O/U 43.5

OPP VS WR

17th

PROJ PTS

14.8

WR RNK

21st

YTD Stats

REC

TAR

REYDS

153

TD

FPTS/G

12.7

Golden was great in Week 1 against Minnesota with six catches for 95 yards on 12 targets. He struggled in Week 2 at the Jets with four catches for 58 yards on six targets, but he should be more productive in Week 3 against Atlanta. Jayden Reed (neck) is out, and Jordan Love should lean even more on Golden, Christian Watson and Tucker Kraft. I like all three as starting options against the Falcons, and Golden should be considered a low-end starter in all leagues. Atlanta is down cornerback A.J. Terrell (groin), and Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker just combined for 13 catches for 167 yards on 19 targets against the Falcons in Week 2.

Jalen Coker

CAR Carolina

• #18

Age: 24 • Experience: 3 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

@ CLE CAR -2.5 O/U 42.5

OPP VS WR

26th

PROJ PTS

12.7

WR RNK

18th

YTD Stats

REC

TAR

REYDS

204

TD

FPTS/G

24.2

Coker is hot heading into Week 3, and he's worth starting as a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues. Through two games against Chicago and Atlanta, Coker has 16 catches for 204 yards and two touchdowns on 18 targets, and he has scored at least 14.6 PPR points in each outing. The Browns have already allowed four touchdowns to receivers in two games against Jacksonville and Tampa Bay, and Tetairoa McMillan and Coker are both worth starting in all leagues in Week 3.

Josh Downs

IND Indianapolis

• #2

Age: 25 • Experience: 4 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs HOU HOU -2.5 O/U 42.5

OPP VS WR

31st

PROJ PTS

10.7

WR RNK

25th

YTD Stats

REC

TAR

REYDS

109

TD

FPTS/G

Alec Pierce (heel) has been placed on injured reserve, and Downs is now the No. 1 receiver for the Colts heading into Week 3 against Houston. Pierce was injured in Week 2 at Kansas City, and Downs had seven catches for 72 yards on nine targets against the Chiefs. The Texans have struggled against opposing receivers in two games, allowing four touchdowns. D.J. Moore, Josh Palmer, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have all scored at least 10.4 PPR points. I like Downs as a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues for Week 3.

Rashod Bateman

BAL Baltimore

• #7

Age: 26 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

@ DAL BAL -3.5 O/U 52.5

OPP VS WR

16th

PROJ PTS

13.4

WR RNK

36th

YTD Stats

REC

TAR

REYDS

TD

FPTS/G

10.9

Zay Flowers (hamstring) didn't practice Wednesday, and he could be out again in Week 3 against Dallas in Brazil after missing Week 2 against New Orleans. If Flowers doesn't play against the Cowboys, then Bateman should be considered a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues. If Flowers does play, then I still like Bateman as a high-end flex. Bateman just had seven catches for 88 yards and a touchdown on nine targets against the Saints. He has had nine games since 2024 with at least five targets, and he scored at least 15.8 PPR points in seven of them. Sleepers (Start/Sit) Projections powered by Sportsline

Devaughn Vele

NO New Orleans

• #14

Age: 28 • Experience: 3 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs LV NO -3 O/U 43.5

OPP VS WR

4th

PROJ PTS

10.5

WR RNK

29th

YTD Stats

REC

TAR

REYDS

133

TD

FPTS/G

15.7

Vele is hot to start the season with 12 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown on 16 targets, and he has scored at least 11.4 PPR points in each game against the Lions and Ravens, as well as four of his past five games going back to last season. Tyler Shough should continue to lean on Vele and Chris Olave, and both should do well against the Raiders in Week 3. I like Vele as a high-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues.

Jameson Williams

DET Detroit

• #1

Age: 25 • Experience: 5 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs NYJ DET -6.5 O/U 47.5

OPP VS WR

10th

PROJ PTS

12.1

WR RNK

28th

YTD Stats

REC

TAR

REYDS

TD

FPTS/G

6.9

Williams is due for a breakout game, and hopefully it happens in Week 3 against the Jets. I'm going to continue starting him in all three-receiver leagues, and he had nine targets in his last home game in Week 1 against the Saints. He only had four catches for 45 yards in that outing, and he's combined for just six catches for 78 yards and no touchdowns on 13 targets in two games. But he's been open a lot, and he's just not connecting with Jared Goff right now. That should change soon, and we hope Williams will have a standout performance against the Jets in Week 3.

Denzel Boston

CLE Cleveland

• #12

Age: 22 • Experience: Rookie

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs CAR CAR -2.5 O/U 42.5

OPP VS WR

13th

PROJ PTS

11.4

WR RNK

32nd

YTD Stats

REC

TAR

REYDS

154

TD

FPTS/G

17.2

It's time to start using Boston as a starter in three-receiver leagues and hopefully, he'll stay hot against the Panthers in his first-ever game in Cleveland. The rookie is off to a great start in his first two NFL games with seven catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns on 11 targets against the Jaguars and Buccaneers. Deshaun Watson has played better than expected to start the season, and Boston is his big-play threat. He's worth using as a high-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver against the Panthers.

Deebo Samuel

SF San Francisco

• #19

Age: 30 • Experience: 8 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs ARI SF -8.5 O/U 47.5

OPP VS WR

27th

PROJ PTS

14.2

WR RNK

34th

YTD Stats

REC

TAR

REYDS

TD

FPTS/G

12.3

Mike Evans (hip) is banged up, and Demarcus Robinson (ankle) is out. Brock Purdy should lean more on Samuel in Week 3 against Arizona, and he is worth using as a high-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues. Samuel was great in Week 1 at the Rams in Australia with six catches for 48 yards and a touchdown on seven targets, but he only had three catches for 31 yards on four targets in Week 2 against Miami. The Cardinals have allowed Ladd McConkey and Jaxon Smith-Njigba to each score at least 19.2 PPR points in the first two games of the season, and Samuel could be the No. 1 receiver for San Francisco if Evans is out. Samuel is a borderline No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues if Evans is out and a high-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver if Evans plays.

Adonai Mitchell

NYJ N.Y. Jets

• #15

Age: 23 • Experience: 3 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

@ DET DET -6.5 O/U 47.5

OPP VS WR

31st

PROJ PTS

8.6

WR RNK

40th

YTD Stats

REC

TAR

REYDS

123

TD

FPTS/G

10.7

I'm expecting the Jets to be chasing points in Week 3 at Detroit, and that bodes well for Garrett Wilson and Mitchell. Wilson is already a starter in the majority of leagues, but I like Mitchell as a high-end option in three-receiver leagues. He was heavily involved in Week 2 against Green Bay with six catches for 63 yards on 12 targets. He now has nine catches for 123 yards on 15 targets in two games, and this is a great matchup. The Lions are No. 1 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and Chris Olave, Devaughn Vele, Keon Coleman and Josh Palmer have all scored at least 11.3 PPR points against Detroit in two games. WRs to Sit Projections powered by Sportsline

Terry McLaurin

WAS Washington

• #17

Age: 31 • Experience: 8 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs SEA SEA -7 O/U 40.5

OPP VS WR

1st

PROJ PTS

8.5

WR RNK

30th

YTD Stats

REC

TAR

REYDS

TD

FPTS/G

5.2

McLaurin is struggling to start the season with a combined 10.4 PPR points in two games against the Eagles and Cowboys. He has four catches for 64 yards and no touchdowns on 13 targets over that span, and Washington just lost quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) for the foreseeable future. Now, the good news is McLaurin played well with Marcus Mariota in 2025. In five games together, McLaurin scored at least 14.4 PPR points in three of those outings and averaged 14.3 PPR points over that span. But the bad news for Week 3 is McLaurin has to face Seattle. I would only start him in three-receiver leagues, and I'd rather start Stefon Diggs over Washington's other receivers. Diggs has scored at least 15.5 PPR points in each of his first two games, with nine catches for 102 yards and three touchdowns on 15 targets.

Brian Thomas Jr.

JAC Jacksonville

• #7

Age: 23 • Experience: 3 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs NE JAC -3 O/U 45

OPP VS WR

12th

PROJ PTS

9.4

WR RNK

39th

YTD Stats

REC

TAR

REYDS

TD

FPTS/G

Thomas is off to a slow start this season with a combined 14 PPR points in two games against Cleveland and Denver. He has six catches for 80 yards on 11 targets over that span, and he should have another rough outing in Week 3 against New England. Thomas could see a lot of Patriots' cornerback Christian Gonzalez, and the only Jaguars receiver I want to use this week is Parker Washington. He has scored at least 16.8 PPR points in each of his first two games with 12 catches for 181 yards and a touchdown on

_Originally reported by [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/start-em-sit-em-wr-in-week-3-give-rashee-rice-another-chance/)._