Fantasy Football: Week 3 Sits, Starts For Falcons-Buccaneers Matchup

We get it, half your fantasy team got hurt in Week 2. It’s time to turn the page.

Week 3 is upon us in earnest, which means you need to stop complaining and start figuring out what the heck to do with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ backfield. That’s just one of many burning fantasy questions as the Bucs travel to the Georgia Dome to take on the Atlanta Falcons in Thursday night’s NFC South clash.

Both teams have yet to find consistency entering Week 3, and the same can be said of their fantasy-relevant players. Matt Ryan put up pinball numbers against the New Orleans Saints in Week 1 only to lay a dud against the Cincinnati Bengals a week later, while Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans, projected as two major red-zone targets, have zero touchdowns between them.

That doesn’t inspire confidence for fantasy points galore Thursday, but, as always, the opportunities are there. Here’s who you should go with and who you should avoid on Thursday, as well as what the heck to do with Tampa Bay’s backfield.

SIT
Doug Martin, Running Back, Buccaneers: Let’s get right to the point. Martin is listed as questionable on the Bucs’ injury report and has been practicing this week, so there’s a decent chance he’ll play. That doesn’t guarantee fantasy points, though. His knee is clearly still an issue, and after Bobby Rainey’s big performance in Week 2, expect Tampa Bay to ease their starter back into action rather than giving him a full workload. If Martin and Rainey both suit up, you might be better off avoiding them both.

UPDATE (4:45 p.m.) — Martin is inactive Thursday night. That’s good news for Rainey owners, as the Falcons’ run defense is terrible (309 yards and five TDs allowed through two games) and he should see another big workload. If you have Rainey, start him with confidence.

Steven Jackson, Running Back, Falcons: The former St. Louis Rams workhorse just ain’t what he used to be. Jackson is technically Atlanta’s No. 1 back, but the Falcons haven’t run that much and have primarily relied on Jacquizz Rodgers and rookie Devonta Freeman in the passing game. Jackson will get his 10 to 15 carries, but that’s not nearly enough for you to take a potential Sunday starter out of your lineup.

START
Roddy White, Wide Receiver, Falcons: If you have Julio Jones, you’re obviously starting him. But there’s plenty to go around in Atlanta’s passing game, and Roddy is the clear No. 2. White is listed as questionable on the Falcons’ injury report, but ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure said Wednesday that there’s “no doubt” he’ll be good to go on Thursday. Unless you’re loaded with wide receivers, White should be in your lineup.

UPDATE (7:30 p.m.) — White is also inactive, so get him out of your lineup if you can. The Bucs haven’t given up a ton of fantasy points to wide receivers, but if you’re desperate, Harry Douglas is next in line on the Falcons’ depth chart, with 14 targets in his first two games.

Vincent Jackson, Wide Receiver, Buccaneers: It’s tempting to sit a guy like Jackson after two subpar performances, but the one week you sit him will always be the game where he goes off. The Falcons aren’t stellar against the pass and don’t have a player in their secondary listed above six feet, so it’s a favorable matchup for the 6-foot-5 wideout. Jackson is due for a better game, so stick with him on Thursday night.

Photo via David Manning/USA TODAY Sports Images

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