Week 3 Lineup Winners: Underrated Players You Should Start in Fantasy Football (Ep. 2218)
Seth Woolcock and Derek Brown run through Week 3 must-start players who are ranked lower than their production warrants, arguing several ECR rankings haven't caught up to real usage and matchups. They highlight Bryce Young at QB, Kyle Monangai and three under-the-radar WRs (Dontayvion Wicks, Devon Vele, Adonai Mitchell), and close with Pat Freiermuth as a streaming TE option against Cincinnati.
This episode of the FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast is a Week 3 "must-start" primer built almost entirely around one theme: the industry's expert consensus rankings are lagging behind real performance, and Derek Brown and Seth Wilcock spend the show flagging players who are outproducing their ECR because of role, target share, and soft matchups. With injuries mounting across the league, they frame this week's waiver-wire and depth-chart names as legitimate lineup answers rather than desperation plays.
The arguments
Bryce Young is criminally underranked at QB17 despite being the QB2 in fantasy points per game. Derek notes Young ranks top-10 in yards per attempt, passing success rate, and hero-throw rate through two weeks, and pairs that with a Cleveland pass defense that's bottom-12 in pressure rate and among the worst in CPOE and pass rating allowed. Both hosts agree Young should be closer to a top-12 ECR quarterback, with Seth adding that Dave Canales handing off play-calling duties has unlocked the offense and that he'd rather invest long-term in Young than C.J. Stroud at this point.
Kyle Monangai is a strong flex regardless of who plays quarterback in Chicago. Derek argues Ben Johnson will lean on the run against an Eagles defense that's given up top-10 marks in explosive run rate, missed tackle rate, and yards after contact, and that Monangai profiles as the "1B" back capable of 12-15 touches. Seth agrees the matchup is friendly, pointing to how Washington's and Tennessee's backs already found success on the ground against Philly, though he flags Press Taylor's questionable game-planning as a wildcard.
Dontayvion Wicks has taken over as Philadelphia's clear WR2 and is a must-start. Derek cites back-to-back 70+ yard games, a 23.1% first-read share, and league-leading red zone target share among Eagles receivers, arguing he's outplaying Makai Lemon for target share. Seth co-signs, noting both hosts were higher on Wicks than Lemon entering the season and that the injury to Dallas Goedert (with Johnny Mundt stepping in) further concentrates targets to Devonta Smith and Wicks.
Devin Bell has emerged as a legitimate WR2 in fantasy scoring despite modest per-route efficiency. Derek admits he was wrong about Bell in the preseason but now backs him as a strong flex, pointing to a 23% first-read share and the fact that Travis Etienne's hamstring injury and Alvin Kamara's diminished role are pushing New Orleans into pass-heavy game scripts (68.2% neutral-script pass rate). Both hosts view the Raiders' vulnerable slot coverage as a green light for volume.
Adonai Mitchell is quietly producing WR2 numbers on big-play usage. Derek highlights a 23.1% target share, 2.16 yards per route run, and a 15.7 average depth of target, arguing the Jets will be forced to throw to keep pace with Detroit. Both hosts tie this into a Lions secondary decimated by injuries (Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch limited; Maddox out), which they view as a season-long liability, not just a one-week soft spot.
Pat Freiermuth deserves to be ranked above TE17 given his role as Pittsburgh's only red-zone-targeted player. Derek uses Dalton Schultz's big game against Cincinnati as a proof-of-concept for exploiting a Bengals defense that's historically bled fantasy points to tight ends, and argues Aaron Rodgers' diminished arm strength funnels short-to-intermediate targets to Freiermuth. Seth agrees, noting Michael Pittman's health and DK Metcalf's shadow coverage from DJ Turner narrow Pittsburgh's other options.
What it means for your roster
- Start Bryce Young as a streaming/low-end QB1 this week, and consider buying in more broadly given the hosts think his ECR (QB17) undersells his weekly ceiling.
- Play Kyle Monangai as a flex even without clarity at Chicago QB; the Eagles' run-defense metrics make him a touchdown-equity play regardless of centered under center.
- Move Dontayvion Wicks into your flex or WR2 slot, especially in leagues where he's still rostered as bench depth; Goedert's injury only strengthens the target consolidation.
- Trust Devin Bell as a flex/WR3 in Saints-heavy lineups, since Etienne's injury and Kamara's decline are pushing New Orleans further into pass-funnel game scripts.
- Start Adonai Mitchell over your standard WR3/flex options against Detroit's injury-ravaged secondary; the hosts view this Lions weakness as multi-week, not a one-off.
- Stream Pat Freiermuth at tight end this week over names like Juwan Johnson, Colston Loveland, or Mark Andrews, leaning on his red-zone monopoly and a historically tight-end-generous Bengals defense.
“We need you, Pat. He's a Pennsylvania guy. He played out at Penn State.” — Seth Woolcock
Players in this episode
↓ Noted as banged up with a hamstring issue, reducing Saints backfield competition and boosting passing volume to receivers like Vele.
↑ Mentioned as part of Carolina's improved passing attack benefiting from Bryce Young's play.
→ Referenced indirectly via 'Jeremy Bernard' discussion of Steelers backfield looking good on one drive but not a lineup priority.
↑ Strong flex play regardless of Bears QB situation; expected 12-15 touches vs. a leaky Eagles run defense, with touchdown upside.
→ Credited with moving the sticks and creating more opportunities for Bryce Young, though not viewed as a strong fantasy option himself.
↓ Expected to be shadowed by DJ Turner, who held him under 50 yards in both matchups last year, making him a fade this week.
↑ Leads NFL in passing yards through two weeks and expected to keep throwing heavily (68.2% neutral pass rate), boosting Devon Vele's outlook.
→ Referenced for torching the Bengals defense (12 catches, 140 yards) as evidence of Cincinnati's vulnerability to tight ends, supporting the Freiermuth case.
↓ Hosts say they'd now rather invest long-term in Bryce Young than Stroud, a reversal from a year ago.
↓ Might return this week but not fully healthy, which affects Steelers' passing distribution discussion (foot injury still lingering).
↓ Described as 'dust,' implying he's not a reliable factor, further pushing Saints toward a pass-heavy approach.
↓ Referred to as Malik Nabers-like 'Makai Lemon' being pushed to the side by Wicks' emergence (host was lower on him for redraft than dynasty).
↑ Noted as top-six in NFL in receptions and receiving yards, helping fuel the Panthers passing game.
↑ Ranked QB17 in ECR despite being QB2 in fantasy points per game; hosts argue he should be closer to a top-12 QB given clean pockets and a favorable Browns matchup.
↑ Getting heavy volume (23.1% target share, 25% first-read share) and big-play upside (15.7 ADOT) in a game script where Jets must keep pace with Lions; strong flex against a vulnerable Detroit secondary.
↑ Correction: transcript refers to Devon Vele, WR36 in ECR but WR15 in fantasy points per game, emerging as Saints' clear No. 2 receiving option with Kamara and Etienne banged up.
↑ Clear WR2 in Green Bay passing attack with strong per-route metrics and leads all Eagles... actually Packers WRs in red zone targets; viewed as outplaying his WR3 ranking.
↑ Ranked TE17 but tied for 12th in fantasy points per game; only Steeler with red zone targets, expected to be Aaron Rodgers' primary short-intermediate target vs. a Bengals defense weak against tight ends.