Week 3 of the NFL season had quite a few fantasy football implications, and several quarterbacks had eventful days that will impact their respective franchises and fantasy managers going forward. Many Fantasy Life staffers joined forces to do a stock watch on the quarterbacks to see if they're set up for success or if there is cause for concern. We're starting in the Steel City, where a castoff may have found a new home. 

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Has Justin Fields earned his way into fantasy lineups? 

Even if Russell Wilson were healthy, it would be tough to bench a quarterback like Justin Fields, who has led the team to a 3-0 start. While Pittsburgh’s defense has been a major factor in the Steelers’ early success, Fields is starting to make plays that are contributing directly to the wins, moving beyond just managing the game.

The 55-yard TD pass to Calvin Austin is an example, as Fields hit the wideout about 15 yards in stride over the middle, allowing Austin’s speed to do the rest of the work. That throw did not happen often in Chicago last year. What’s encouraging about Fields’ prospects is that he had to run only six times against the Chargers (for 6 yards and a score). Imagine a game when the QB needs to unleash his legs more. Fields is worth a pickup and could be an every-week fantasy starter soon—maybe starting as early as next week in Indianapolis. The Colts came into Week 3 having allowed a league-worst 474 rushing yards, and on Sunday Caleb Williams passed for 363 yards against them. Fields looks very startable next week and possibly beyond. 

—Jorge Martin

Any concern with Caleb Williams and Anthony Richardson?

Richardson has a big arm and the legs necessary to be an electric franchise quarterback. Still, he has likely been the worst value pick in many fantasy lineups in Weeks 2 and 3, finishing with 9.86 and a season-low 5.08 fantasy points, respectively.

Through three weeks, he has not had a completion percentage higher than 50.0 and has thrown 6 interceptions, 2 coming against the Bears. Also, this week, he had only 167 yards through the air, 24 on the ground, no touchdowns, and finished with a passer rating of 39.0. Colts fans shouldn’t panic yet, and Richardson still has upside value for fantasy owners, but his floor is low—very low. 

If I own Williams (and I do), I’ve already benched him and will continue to do so. While he scored 17.32 fantasy points this week, he also committed 3 turnovers, did not pass the eye test, ran for only 8 yards, and looked frustrated more than once. The good news is that his passing yards have increased with each subsequent week, from 93 in Week 1 to 174 in Week 2, to 363 this week. He will surely improve, but I don’t know if he’ll ever be a reliable fantasy QB in 2024.

—Jess Bryant

Anthony Richardson is starting to remind me of Josh Allen in 2019, the year before his breakout. There were flashes of the talent, but ultimately Allen threw for over 250 yards just four times on the season. He passed for more than 2 TDs just once. Allen did salvage his fantasy season with 510 rushing yards and 9 TDs. This could be the Richardson we’re looking at this season.

The big-armed QB hit Alec Pierce on a 44-yard shot, and added a 40-yard pass to Kylen Granson in the game. Six times, the Colts ran no more than five plays before surrendering the ball on a punt or interception. He now has been picked off five times in the past two weeks. 

There is no questioning Richardson’s immense talent, it just might be early to expect him to be peak Allen or Cam Newton. With the Steelers coming to Indy next week, fantasy teams with solid backups might consider sitting Richardson. Do that at your own risk, because Richardson will have his blowup games. We just won't be able to plan them. 

—Jorge Martin

Is Sam Darnold now an every-week starter?

Depending on your other options, Sam Darnold has to be in consideration for your starting fantasy QB. Thriving in Kevin O’Connell’s offense, Darnold has surpassed any expectations that Vikings’ fans might have had. Through Week 3, he has thrown 8 TDs and just 2 INTs. Having Justin Jefferson certainly helps Darnold’s production, but the star receiver is about the only viable option the Vikings have. Jordan Addison (ankle) and T.J. Hockenson (knee) are both missing, although the former should be back soon. This team could get even better offensively as the season progresses.

Minnesota’s defense is doing its part by allowing only 10 points per game. The Vikings also have the tools—like veteran RB Aaron Jones—to play with a lead. In the right system (his fourth), Darnold is finally looking like the franchise QB he was expected to be.  

—Sam Wallace

I found myself rooting for Darnold coming into the season, after seeing him have so much success while at USC (and I’m a UCLA fan). The ecosystem around Darnold is just what he needs, though in this game he went beyond just tossing it up to Jefferson. All told, six different pass catchers hauled in Darnold’s throws, and four Vikings caught TD passes. He was efficient with 181 yards, but that low total was more a product of the Vikings getting ahead early and not being challenged on the way to a 34-7 victory. When he gets Addison back, he could be even better.

Next week at Green Bay, followed by a home date against the Jets, might be tough games to start Darnold before the bye in Week 6. But after that, the Vikings face the Lions, Rams, Colts, and Jaguars, all favorable matchups; he’ll be sniffing the top 12 in rankings those weeks. Darnold is another example of not giving up on a player who showed great talent in college but didn’t have a favorable environment surrounding him when he entered the league. 

—Jorge Martin

What do we make of the Andy Dalton-led Carolina Panthers?

Bryce Young should start begging for a trade. With Andy Dalton under center, the Panthers looked like a different team this week, securing an easy 36-22 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Dalton threw for 306 yards and 2 touchdowns with no interceptions in Week 3, while Young threw for 135 and 69 yards in Weeks 1 and 2, respectively, with a total of 3 interceptions and no touchdowns. The passing game created space for Chuba Hubbard, who had 114 yards on 21 carries in Week 3, more in both categories than in Weeks 1 and 2 combined with Young at quarterback. 

With a 120.4 passer rating in his first game back, Dalton is suddenly in the Comeback Player of the Year conversation. Diontae Johnson (8-122-1) can now be a player who lives up to or surpasses his preseason ADP, and Xavier Legette, who secured 2 receptions for 42 yards on 3 targets, has the chance to show off his speed. Adam Thielen left the game with a hamstring injury and still finished with a 3-40-1 line. 

Every skill player on the Panthers’ offense benefits from the QB change, and so does Dave Canales, whose job is suddenly a lot more secure. Who else benefits? Panthers fans everywhere who are certainly celebrating (while also coming to terms with one of the worst trades in history that sent D.J. Moore and four draft picks to the Bears for the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft). 

—Jess Bryant

How encouraging was that Bo Nix performance? 

Bo Nix was highly efficient in college, throwing for 113 touchdowns and only 26 interceptions in five seasons. He entered the league with more experience than most rookie QBs, and I thought he was a good fit for Sean Payton’s system. But, he made a fool out of me in Weeks 1 and 2 when he looked in over his head, had a completion % of 59.7, and threw 4 interceptions with 0 TDs. 

Week 3, however, was a different story. Against a Tampa Bay team that came in 2-0 and looking good, Nix had his first impressive performance of the year. His completion % jumped to 69.7, and he threw for 216 yards, adding 47 on the ground with a 3-yard rushing touchdown. He spread the ball and helped Courtland Sutton achieve—at least some—fantasy relevance and took down the Buccaneers easily in a 26-7 win. His Week 3 success isn’t enough to depend on Nix in a fantasy lineup, but if you kept him on your bench hoping the tide could turn, this game offers a glimmer of hope. 

—Jess Bryant

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