Start Chris Godwin vs. Tee Higgins vs. Puka Nacua vs. Mike Evans vs. Tutu Atwell | Fantasy Football Week 3 WR Start Decision

Week 3 of the NFL season wraps up Monday with a game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and another between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals. Is your fantasy team in a tight battle as the games approach? Need help with a last-minute roster decision? I’m here to offer some guidance.

We’ll be discussing five receivers playing tonight, Cincinnati Bengals’ Tee Higgins, Los Angeles Rams’ Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell and Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. Let’s figure out which ones are the best starts.

Tough start decision? We have you covered. Find out in depth stats, red zone opportunities, projections, breaking news, and crowdsourcing real fantasy owners faced with the same start/sit decision. Check out our Who Should I Start tool. 

Why You Should Start Chris Godwin

Godwin is off to a solid start to his 2022 season. He’s caught 10 of the 14 passes thrown his way, gaining 109 yards for his team. He hasn’t caught a touchdown yet, but has been targeted three times in the red zone, and that number leads the teams.

Godwin has played the most of any Bucs’ receiver. He trails only tight end Cade Otton in offensive snaps played.

Godwin is our 32nd-ranked receiver in the week 3 projections. He’ll be taking on a Eagles’ defense that’s struggled to slow opposing receivers through two weeks. Opposing wideouts are averaging 16.5 catches on 28 targets and 205.5 yards a game. They’ve also scored four touchdowns and are averaging 47 fantasy points, the fifth-most points in the league.

Why You Should Start Tee Higgins

Through two weeks, Higgins has been the Bengals’ best receiver. His numbers aren’t all that great, with just eight grabs on 20 targets for 89 yards. His two touchdowns are the only thing really separating him from Ja’Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd.

Higgins has played a total of 106 snaps, behind only Chase’s 113. Higgins has three of the team’s nine red zone targets and his two red zone catches are tied with Chase for the team lead.

The Bengals are looking to get their season going after an 0-2 start, so they should be playing with a sense of urgency. The big question is whether quarterback Joe Burrow will play or not. He’s questionable with his calf injury.

The Bengals will be facing a Rams’ defense that’s been strong against opposing wide receivers through two weeks. Wide receivers are averaging 9.5 catches and 113.5 yards on 16 targets and have scored just once. The 29 total points average from opposing receivers is in the top 10 in the league.

Higgins is the 11th-ranked receiver in the week 3 projections. Chase is seventh and Boyd is 63rd.

Why You Should Start Puka Nacua

Nacua has looked like a star through two NFL starts. Despite playing the fourth most offensive snaps of the team’s pass catchers, Nacua leads the Rams in targets (35), catches (25) and yards (266).

Even with those incredible numbers, Nacua has yet to find the end zone. He’s caught his only red zone target through two weeks.

Nacua was limited most of the practice week with an oblique injury, but he’s expected to play against the Bengals.

The Bengals’ defense ranks near the Rams against opposing receivers. Opposing wideouts are averaging 11 catches and 132 yards on 20 targets and have scored only one touchdown.

Nacua is ranked 12th in our weekly projections

Why You Should Start Mike Evans

Evans leads the Bucs with 237 receiving yards and two touchdowns despite trailing Otton and Godwin in snaps played so far. In total, Evans has caught 12 of the 18 passes thrown his way.

Even with his two touchdowns, Evans hasn’t been targeted once in the red zone.

Evans is ranked 19th for week 3.

Why You Should Start Tutu Atwell

Atwell has been the second-most targeted receiver on the Rams, but is a whopping 18 targets behind Nacua already. Atwell has played the third-most snaps of any pass catcher.

Atwell has caught 13 of the passes thrown his way, going for 196 yards and no touchdowns. He has not been targeted in the red zone.

Atwell is the 24th-ranked receiver in our week 3 projections.

Final Numbers and the Recommended Start

In many cases where fantasy owners roster two of these players, the most popular decision is to start both guys. Atwell is the receiver that’s least liked of the group we’re discussing, while Evans was the favorite, just ahead of Nacua.

My preference of who to start of these five is swayed by if Burrow plays or not. If Burrow doesn’t play, I’d take the other four receivers over Higgins. If Burrow plays, then I’d take Higgins over Atwell.

Granted he plays, I like Nacua as the top scorer of this group. I don’t think he’ll be targeted 20+ times, but I think he’ll lead the Rams’ pass catchers again and maybe make up for the lack of catches and targets with his first career touchdown.

I’d take Evans next, giving him the edge over Godwin simply because he’s produced more in the first two weeks. I believe both players will outscore their projections and finish with similar outputs.

With Burrow playing, I’d take Higgins next. I think a breakout game is coming for the Bengals and think it’s the next one Burrow plays in. Atwell has been solid so far, and could get more targets and catches if the defense tries to take Nacua away, but I think he’d have to break off a couple bigger plays or score a touchdown to outscore Higgins or any of the other guys I chose over him.

I'd be pretty comfortable starting all five of these players tonight if you had to fill multiple starting spots.