Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 3: Reviewing Fantasy Football's Top Fringe Starters

If your fantasy football team is off to a strong start, you've likely made some wise lineup decisions over the past two weeks.

Even if your team is 0-2, though, there's plenty of time to turn things around. That's why it's important to be adding depth constantly from the waiver wire, as well as making the right lineup decisions before another week of NFL action rolls around.

It can be tough to choose whether to start a fringe player. Maybe they have a ton of upside but carry some risk by starting them.

So, here's some start/sit advice to help with some of those borderline players for Week 3.

Kirk Cousins' Week 1 performance (277 yards and two touchdowns) was much better than his Week 2 showing (221 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions). So it may be tough for fantasy managers to decide whether to start the Vikings quarterback in Week 3.

But it wasn't a huge surprise that the 34-year-old struggled against the Philadelphia Eagles last Monday. He hasn't fared well in prime-time contests throughout his career and holds a 2-10 career record in Monday Night Football games.

Minnesota will be playing the Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon in Week 3, which should be a great bounce-back opportunity for Cousins. That game has the potential to be a high-scoring affair, so the Michigan State product may have to keep airing it out for four quarters.

Have confidence in starting the QB this week, as it's unlikely he'll have a repeat of Week 2. Detroit will have a tough time stopping Minnesota's offensive playmakers, leading to a big day for Cousins.

Cam Akers was much more involved in the Rams' offense in Week 2 after barely touching the ball in their season opener.

The 23-year-old had three carries and no receptions in Week 1, but he recorded 15 carries and two catches in Los Angeles' win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

However, Akers wasn't effective with his opportunities. He averaged only 2.9 yards per carry and had only 18 yards on his pair of receptions. And he still hasn't gotten into the end zone through two weeks.

It's tough to decide whether to start either Rams RB (Akers and Darrell Henderson Jr.), as it's unclear how the team is going to divide up the workload throughout the season.

Even though Akers had a larger role in Week 2, there's always a chance Henderson gets a hot hand and Los Angeles opts to keep giving him the ball.

The Florida State product isn't running the ball well right now, so leave him on the bench for the Week 3 road matchup vs. the Arizona Cardinals.

The New York Jets may be starting backup quarterback Joe Flacco in place of the injured Zach Wilson, but their passing attack has been rolling through two weeks. And rookie wide receiver Garrett Wilson has been a big reason for that.

The 22-year-old had four catches for 52 yards in his NFL debut in Week 1, and he was targeted eight times in that loss to the Baltimore Ravens. So, it was clear he was already one of Flacco's top options.

In Week 2, though, Wilson broke out with eight catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns in a win over the Cleveland Browns while being targeted 14 times.

Flacco will be starting again in Week 3, and the Jets could put up more big numbers against the Cincinnati Bengals, which are off to an 0-2 start. That should bode well for Wilson, who is getting a ton of passes thrown his way.

The Ohio State product has only played two NFL games, but he's already proving to be a must-start receiver early in the season. Make sure he's in your lineup this week.

The Detroit Lions have scored 71 points over the first two weeks of the season, and they've put up some big offensive numbers while doing so.

And players such as running back D'Andre Swift and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown have been standout fantasy performers in the process.

However, Detroit's offensive success has not included tight end T.J. Hockenson. He has had only seven catches for 64 yards during the Lions' 1-1 start, and he has yet to get into the end zone. He's been targeted 14 total times, but that hasn't led to strong fantasy performances.

It's been tough to find options at tight end if you've been streaming the position, so you may have to take a chance on the 25-year-old again if there aren't any great choices on the waiver wire. But if you can find a stream-worthy candidate, it's best to bench the Iowa product this week.

Even though the Lions could fare well on offense against the Vikings, Hockenson can't be relied on until he starts catching more of quarterback Jared Goff's passes.