Quarterbacks
Struggleing with a QB Sit/Start decision? Check out our
Sit/Start Tool for FREE
Start: C.J. Stroud (HOU) vs. DAL
C.J. Stroud is QB20 through three weeks of the 2026 season. He’s averaging 15 fantasy points per game, but he gets a nice matchup this week facing the Dallas Cowboys defense. The Cowboys defense has allowed seven passing touchdowns through three games and has allowed Jaxson Dart , Jayden Daniels/Marcus Mariota (combined due to a mid-game injury), and Lamar Jackson to score over 20 fantasy points. This is a defense that you want to target for fantasy production.
The Texans have the seventh-highest team implied total this week at 25.25 and will need to pass to keep up with the explosive Dallas offense, which is averaging 29.3 points per game (7th) so far. Fortunately, the Texans are expected to get their alpha wide receiver, Nico Collins, back from a hamstring injury, which should help this passing attack.
Stroud is the consensus QB16 this week, but if this leaky Dallas secondary keeps getting abused by the pass, he could sneak into the top 12. The Houston run game has struggled to be efficient, and while we may never see rookie-year C.J. Stroud ever again, he has looked better this year. Through three weeks, his average depth of target (10.8), big-time throw rate (3.8), and turnover-worthy play rate (1.4) have all improved compared to last year’s numbers. This means that he’s pushing the ball downfield more consistently with fewer mistakes. Don’t be surprised if this is the week where we see him throw for three-plus touchdowns.
Sit: Drake Maye (NE) vs. BUF
Anyone who owns Drake Maye in any fantasy format would be lying to you if they said they weren’t panicking about his brutal start to the season. After last year’s magnificent showing, even against an easier schedule, he was a locked-and-loaded top-three quarterback coming into the year for both redraft and dynasty. Now dynasty rooms are debating whether he should even be considered a top-five option.
Maye is averaging less than 10 fantasy points per game through three weeks. It certainly didn’t help him that his alpha wide receiver, A.J. Brown , went out on injured reserve as soon as the season started. Maye is too good to drop, but you should actively look for an alternative starter until the Patriots offense shows any signs of life.
Maye is this week’s consensus QB14 against the Bills, and the Patriots have the 24th-highest team implied total at 21.0 points. Maye offers some rushing floor, but his passing has left much to be desired. Maye has regressed in several areas that cannot be blamed solely on the surrounding talent. His turnover-worthy play rate jumped from 3.3% in 2025 to a grotesque 8.6% thus far. His big-time throw rate has been sliced in half, and he’s holding onto the ball longer than he did last year.
The Buffalo defense isn’t a stalwart, as they’ve allowed seven passing touchdowns and 763 passing yards through three games. However, there are likely better streamable options than Maye right now, as less than 10 points per game is simply unacceptable and untrustworthy.
Tight Ends
Struggleing with a QB Sit/Start decision? Check out our
Sit/Start Tool for FREE
Start: Darren Waller (CAR) vs. DET
Whatever you think of the wannabe rapper, Darren Waller is set up for a cake matchup this week against the Detroit Lions’ absolute sieve of a secondary. If Geno Smith can carve up this secondary, Bryce Young can too. As of this writing, Jalen Coker is still questionable. If he misses, expect Waller to see an increased target share for the second straight week. He’s currently the consensus TE16. As with all TE2s, a touchdown is typically all they need to finish inside the top 12.
On his player card, you’ll notice Waller has only seen 4.3 targets per game. However, if you dig a little deeper, you’ll see that when Coker was ruled out last week, Waller saw eight targets and turned them into five receptions for 51 yards. Waller is a big body and a red-zone touchdown threat, as he scored two touchdowns in Week 2. Detroit will miss two safeties in this matchup and has already allowed 28 receptions, 331 yards, and six touchdowns to tight ends this year.
The Panthers have the 13th-highest team implied total of 23.5 points this week and will have to pass often to keep up with Detroit’s juggernaut offense, which has the fourth-highest team implied total of 27.0 points. If you don’t have a top-ten option at the position this week and Coker ends up sitting, Waller is a fun streaming option.
Sit: Harold Fannin (CLE) vs. PIT
Harold Fannin is undoubtedly a talented, young tight end. He torched the Panthers in Week 2 on nine targets for seven receptions, 51 yards, and two touchdowns. It is nice to see his target volume grow each week; however, he has a brutal matchup against the Steelers this week. As the consensus Week 4 TE10, I’d consider a different option if one is available.
The Steelers do an excellent job of erasing the tight end position in 2026. Over three weeks, they surrendered only 4.7 targets per game to the position (31st). This has translated to an average of 3.3 receptions for 40 yards, or just 9.3 fantasy points.
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has looked good lately, but he now faces a defense that derails passing games. They rank top-eight in dropback EPA/Play, so every time quarterbacks drop back, this unit mathematically steals potential points. Watson also hasn't surpassed 240 passing yards yet this season, and this will be one of the toughest pass defenses he’s faced since Week 1 with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
With wishy-washy quarterback play, Fannin should continue to have volatile weeks, so matchups will matter when deciding when to start him if you have other options. This week, it makes sense to pivot if possible.
Looking for MORE fantasy football insight? Check out our ARTICLES page
Think Like a GM
Start managing your team on Dynatyze, where our data & tools lead to championships. Sign up for an account today and dominate your league.