Fantasy QB Week 3: Mahomes, Prescott Lead Starts as Maye, Herbert Sit

Key points

• Patrick Mahomes is the top start, facing a Dolphins defense that has allowed over 21 fantasy points per game to QBs.
• Dak Prescott and Brock Purdy are highlighted for strong recent performances and favorable matchups against the Ravens and Cardinals, respectively.
• Drake Maye is the top sit, continuing a three-week trend of poor fantasy output and facing a tough Jaguars defense.
• Justin Herbert and Bo Nix are also benched due to poor early-season stats and unfavorable matchups.
• Josh Allen is ranked No. 1 overall by USA Today, averaging 38.3 fantasy points per game, but is not the focus of matchup-based start/sit advice.

Background

This Week 3 guide follows earlier fantasy football coverage from the 2026 season, including Week 1 and Week 2 start/sit recommendations. Previous guides highlighted players like Kyler Murray, Brock Purdy, and Patrick Mahomes, with Mahomes facing a tough matchup in Week 1 but recovering in Week 2. The current guide builds on these trends, focusing on matchups and recent performance for non-elite quarterbacks.

How outlets are covering it

Sports Illustrated and USA Today agree on the top starts (Mahomes, Prescott, Purdy) and sits (Maye, Herbert, Nix). However, USA Today ranks Josh Allen as the undisputed No. 1 quarterback, while Sports Illustrated focuses on matchup-based advice for non-elite players. ESPN's source was inaccessible, so no comparison could be made.

Why it matters

Fantasy football managers need to make lineup decisions based on matchups and recent performance, not just overall rankings. This guide provides actionable advice for Week 3, helping managers optimize their lineups and avoid common pitfalls.

What to watch

Managers should monitor injury updates and final lineup decisions before kickoff. Future weeks may see changes in rankings due to performance, injuries, and matchup shifts. Analysts will continue to provide updated start/sit recommendations for each week.