WR Starts/Sits
The trends are starting to emerge after two weeks. Consider these facts when making the tough WR lineup decisions.
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Now, on to the picks…
🔥 START: DeVonta Smith @ CHI
Smith just showed why the Eagles made him their alpha, and his target share is about to get even more concentrated.
Caught 10-of-13 targets for 117 yards and a game-winning 22-yard TD in Week 2 (27.7 fantasy points), the third 10-catch game of his career.
With TE Dallas Goedert out (MCL sprain), fewer mouths to feed means more looks for a receiver who led the team in targets even during a quiet Week 1.
The Bears have been the 8th-most favorable WR matchup so far this season, and Philly gets an extra day of rest for Monday night.
Smith entered 2026 with the league's easiest projected WR schedule and was due for touchdown regression after scoring only 4 times on 21 deep targets last year, so start him as a WR2 with WR1 upside.
🚫 SIT: DK Metcalf vs. CIN
Metcalf is getting the targets. He just isn't turning them into fantasy points.
Hasn't cleared 8 fantasy points in either game, catching only 8-of-19 targets with drops, two offensive pass interference flags in Week 1, and a dropped third down in Week 2.
Cincinnati has surprisingly been the 3rd-toughest WR matchup so far this season. Trend could change, but they have opened strong
DK was held under 10 fantasy points in both meetings with the Bengals last season.
Rodgers promised to "keep feeding" him, and Michael Pittman's absence helps with volume, but volume without efficiency against a stingy defense leaves Metcalf as a low-end WR3 at best.
🔥 START: Parker Washington vs. NE
Washington is no longer a sleeper. He's Trevor Lawrence's No. 1 option, according to both eye test and the numbers.
Commanded a 44% target share in Week 2 (12 targets, 98 yards). No other Jaguar saw more than eight targets.
Averaging 16.8 PPR points per game, with a TD in Week 1 and a near-miss by half a yard in Week 2.
New England allows the 7th-lowest EPA per target, but top CB Christian Gonzalez may shadow Brian Thomas Jr. while Washington motions all over the formation.
He finished 2025 with 100+ yards in three of his final four games and has carried that No. 1 role into this season, which makes him a top-15 play even in a tougher matchup.
🚫 SIT: Marvin Harrison Jr. @ SF
2026 was billed as Harrison's make-or-break third season, and so far the targets aren't there.
Has only four targets through two games, including a 0-for-1 Week 2 on just 74% of snaps.
He's fallen behind Michael Wilson and Kendrick Bourne in the target hierarchy, while Trey McBride dominates the short areas.
Head coach Mike LaFleur met the idea of manufacturing touches for him "with skepticism," saying "everyone's kind of got their role."
The 49ers are only a middle-of-the-pack WR matchup, so this is a role problem, not a matchup problem. Until the targets show up, Harrison is a boom-bust FLEX for deep leagues only.
🔥 START: Rashod Bateman @ DAL (Rio de Janeiro)
Bateman is this week's boom play, and the matchup makes a strong case for him.
Led all Ravens with nine targets in Week 2 (7/88/1) with Zay Flowers (hamstring) sidelined and Ja'Kobi Lane on IR.
Dallas has been the single most favorable WR matchup so far by the numbers, and its secondary is heavily banged up. The Cowboys also allowed a league-worst 33.1 fantasy points per game to WRs last season.
Ravens-Cowboys carries the week's highest projected scoring environment at 52.5 points.
Watch Flowers' status, since he's back at practice and Bateman saw just one target in Week 1 with him active. If Flowers sits, Bateman is a confident FLEX with WR2 upside.
🚫 SIT: Luther Burden vs. PHI
Burden's Year 2 breakout hasn't started yet, much to the dismay of his fantasy drafters. Unfortunately, Week 3 is a bad setup for it.
Has 15.7 combined fantasy points through two weeks (8 catches, 95 yards) and has been out-produced by Kalif Raymond both times.
With Caleb Williams sidelined (hamstring), Tyson Bagent (or someone else since Bagent is in concussion protocol) takes over against an Eagles defense generating a 47% pressure rate.
Philadelphia has been the 4th-toughest WR matchup so far this season.
His talent is real: his 2.62 yards per route run as a rookie trailed only Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Hold him, but look for another option this week.
That’s the list. Make the right decisions on wide receivers to get the most out of your lineup.
-Joe
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