Quick answerThis is the archived Week 3 edition. Week 3 concluded September 28, 2026. The September 23 outlook below is preserved for reference; visit the weekly hub for current advice.
Quick answerWeek 2 is complete. Start your Week 3 review with unavailable starters, then compare waiver options and new workloads. The Giants' quarterback change is the clearest immediate action point. Separate a confirmed absence from an uncertain practice status, and have your Atlanta and Green Bay choices ready before Thursday.
Week 2 ends with Rams 28, Giants 6
Los Angeles beat New York on September 21. Wednesday's NFL report confirms Jaxson Dart will undergo season-ending knee surgery, with Jameis Winston named the Giants' starter against Tennessee. This supersedes the initial, more optimistic MCL-sprain outlook.
LineupLab takeaway: replace Dart in an active starting slot now. In dynasty, separate his future value from the need for a usable quarterback this week. A backup becoming a starter changes availability; it does not guarantee efficient passing or the same target quality for his receivers.
The injury watch changes your waiver priorities
Caleb Williams left Week 2 with a hamstring injury and Jayden Daniels with an elbow injury. FantasyPros also flags Saquon Barkley's shoulder and the hamstring issues affecting Denver's J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey. These reports identify positions to cover; they do not establish final Week 3 designations.
Before chasing a bench breakout, count how many legal starters you have at each position. A second usable quarterback can be essential in superflex and optional in a one-quarterback league. If you have only one tight end and his availability is uncertain, solve that slot before adding a fifth receiver.
Waiver research: identify the role you are buying
CBS Sports highlights Denzel Boston and Jonah Coleman among its Week 3 targets. Use that shortlist to start a league-availability check, then compare the pickup with your actual drop. A receiver depth claim and an injury-dependent running back claim carry different risks.
Look for repeatable opportunity across the first two games: routes, targets and work near the goal line. A spike in touchdowns is less persuasive if playing time did not change. For an injury replacement, write down what would happen to his role if the starter returns.
Week 3 lineup deadlines to put on your calendar
Atlanta visits Green Bay on Thursday, September 24, at 8:15 p.m. ET. Baltimore–Dallas in Rio is Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET; Rams–Broncos follows at 8:20 p.m. ET. Philadelphia–Chicago closes the week Monday, September 28, at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Preserve an eligible late replacement if you wait on Sunday-night or Monday availability. Where your platform permits, start early players in dedicated RB or WR slots and keep FLEX open for later choices. Check your own league's lock settings before assuming substitutions remain possible.
How to react to an 0–2 fantasy start
Audit the cause before trading. Two close losses with healthy starters require a different response from two weeks of empty lineup slots. Compare each proposed move with the lineup you would field afterward. Do not sacrifice an established role solely to undo last Sunday's score; do replace a bench spot that cannot help you through current injuries.