The Carolina Panthers have managed to get to 2-0 on the young season despite playing one game without their starting quarterback. The Pittsburgh Steelers have struggled to get to 1-1 despite neither opponent having their top offensive weapon available to them.
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 3: Steelers vs. Panthers
Everything has gone Carolina’s way so far, while little has gone Pittsburgh’s.
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sport
Basically, Sunday’s game between the two teams, hosted by the Panthers at 8:30 p.m. ET, really seems like it shapes up well for the Panthers. As for fantasy, there is some interest for both teams:
Steelers
Start in every league: Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown
Start if you're desperate: Shaun Suisham
Bench: Ben Roethlisberger, LeGarrette Blount, Markus Wheaton, Heath Miller, Defense/special teams
If the Steelers are going to make anything happen Sunday night, Bell will have to be -- well, the bellcow, considering the Panthers’ strength against receivers. ... And even with the Carolina strengths, Brown is a starting fantasy receiver. He’s a low-end WR1.
Suisham could offer some kicking value, but he’s far from a sure thing.
Roethlisberger is apt to struggle in Week 3, as he did in Week 2. He’s a low-end QB2 this week at best. ... Blount doesn’t offer value as long as Bell is on the field. ... Wheaton is more likely to suffer at the hands of Carolina than Brown is, making him an easy bench candidate. ... My poor opinion on Miller in fantasy is well-documented at this point. ... The Steelers’ defense has offered very little so far, with two total fantasy points through two games.
Panthers
Start in every league: Cam Newton, Greg Olsen, Defense/special teams
Start if you're desperate: Kelvin Benjamin, Graham Gano
For now, Newton doesn’t set up to be his normal top-five, top-six self, but he’s still easily inside the top 10 at quarterback. ... With some of the other options having bad matchups or other problems this week, I rank Olsen as my No. 3 tight end this week. ... The Panthers’ defense is the only unit to score double-digit fantasy points both weeks so far this season.
Benjamin looked great in Week 1, then didn’t do a lot in Week 2. He’s a mid-level flex play at best. ... Gano should get enough kicking opportunities to help, but he’s no guarantee.
The Panthers’ running backs -- Williams, Stewart, Tolbert -- are a really frustrating combination of injured, not good enough, and time-sharing. You can’t use any of them. ... Cotchery did a bit more in Week 2 than Week 1, but there’s still a big gap between him and fantasy relevance.
