Week 3 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Sam Darnold, Khalil Herbert, Christian Kirk, Luke Schoonmaker and More
We dug deep for these guys but they are all potential solid options if you are searching for someone to start this week.
Quarterbacks
Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings
Darnold hasn't been bad so far this season while leading the Vikings to two wins over the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers. This week he goes up against another good team, the Houston Texans. The game scripts should force him to throw the ball and he proved he can have success in big games when he knocked off San Fran this week. So far this season, he has topped 200 yards and thrown two TDs in both games he's played. We don't expect him to be a world-beater, but he's looking like a solid streaming option.
Running Backs
D'Onta Foreman, Cleveland Browns
Seemingly out of nowhere last week, Foreman and Jerome Ford split snaps almost evenly, with Foreman doubling up Ford with 14 carries to Ford's seven. Pierre Strong was also sent to the injured reserve this week, opening up even more running back snaps and opportunities. The Browns play the New York Giants and their porous rush defense this week. We wouldn't be super confident plugging in Foreman, but if you are desperate, he's not a bad option.
Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears
The Bears are going to run all over the Indianapolis Colts this week. That's why we have D'Andre Swift listed as a start despite how bad he's been. However, what if the coaches have seen enough and decided to feed Herbert this week? It's a real possibility. This is also a matchup where more than one running back can have a strong day. Herbert is a very risky sleeper, but worth considering if you need a desperation flex.
Cam Akers, Houston Texans
Akers is more of a guy you should pick up and stash who could perhaps end up being the starter this week on an offense that likes to run the ball and runs it well. Joe Mixon is dealing with an ankle injury we don't think will keep him out, but it could or at least limit him. The backup Dameon Pierce was inactive in Week 2 with a hamstring injury and is in danger of missing another week because of it. If they are both out, that would leave Akers with a very valuable backfield all to himself. This only applies if Mixon is inactive though.
Wide Receivers
Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints
The top and best target on what has been arguably the best offense in the league so far this season shouldn't be a sleeper. However, Shaheed is still viewed as a sleeper despite standing out above Chris Olave this season. Through two games, Shaheed has caught seven of his nine targets for 169 yards and two TDs, while carrying the ball three times 13 yards. Olave has caught six or eight targets for 98 scoreless yards.
Usually, we wouldn't put that much stock into such a small sample size, but Derek Carr and Shaheed seem to have the better chemistry. Also, this may be a hot take but I'm not fully convinced that Olave is significantly better than Shaheed, if at all. If you have both wideouts on your roster and can only start one of them, you aren't crazy if you start Shaheed is all I'm saying.
Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars
I feel dirty suggesting this after how bad he's been through the first two weeks, however, there are a lot of reasons to like Kirk this week against the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo is very susceptible in the middle of the field. They are currently without their top two coverage linebackers, their All-Pro slot corner, and have two subpar coverage safeties. Last week, Jonnu Smith took advantage of this, catching six of his seven targets for 53 yards.
With Evan Engram looking like he's probably going to miss another week, it's Kirk who should take full advantage of this matchup. If he doesn't go off this week, then it's time to completely throw in the towel on him for fantasy football this season.
Tight Ends
Luke Schoonmaker, Dallas Cowboys
Jake Ferguson was forced to sit out in Week 2 with a knee injury and is trending in the same direction for Week 3. Schoonmaker got the start and had a solid day, catching six passes for 43 yards. We love that volume for a sleeper tight end that you can get off waivers, and if he can find the end zone with that volume, you'll be thrilled. He's as solid an option as most streamable tight ends as long as Ferguson is inactive.
