Kirk Cousins!

We got a bounce back game from Matthew Stafford as the Start of the Week last week, and Jamey Eisenberg is hoping to get the same outcome from Cousins this week. Don't worry, the Vikings aren't playing in primetime against a tough-as-nails Eagles defense this week. 

No, they've got a Lions defense that has given up 65 and over 800 yards of offense through their first two games. Cousins really struggled in Week 2, but he looked good in this new-look Vikings offense in Week 1 against the Packers, and I expect that's going to be the case more often than not.  You can read about why Jamey expects more from Cousins this week as well as the rest of his Start 'Em & Sit 'Em picks here, and the rest of this evening's newsletter has plenty of other picks for each position. 

Tomorrow morning, we'll have Dave Richard's Start and Sit picks for Week 3, along with Heath Cummings' previews for every position plus all of the injury news you need to know about. But for now, here's who Jamey is starting and sitting this week: 

Start 'Em: Matthew Stafford and Joe Burrow

"Burrow was supposed to have better protection this season with a revamped offensive line, but so far he's once again taken plenty of hits while running for his life. He was sacked six times in Week 1 against Pittsburgh and seven times in Week 2 at Dallas. While that's unforgivable, those are two of the better pass-rushing teams in the NFL, and things should lighten up this week against the Jets , who have just three sacks in two games. Burrow should rebound as a top 10 Fantasy quarterback in all leagues with this matchup."

Sit 'Em: Aaron Rodgers and Tua Tagovailoa

"Tagovailoa was amazing in Week 2 against the Ravens with 50 Fantasy points, and he passed for 469 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. He made me look bad for listing him as a sit candidate in Start 'Em and Sit 'Em last week, and in full disclosure I thought about removing him from the story when the Ravens limped into Miami with a beat up secondary. Tagovailoa might have a similar situation again in Week 3 against the Bills with safety Micah Hyde (neck), linebacker Matt Milano (stinger) and cornerback Dane Jackson (neck) dealing with injuries as of Wednesday morning. We'll see how things progress this week, and the status for Tagovailoa might change. But keep in mind that this Bills defense has been dominant in two games against Matthew Stafford and Ryan Tannehill , allowing just 363 passing yards with one touchdown and five interceptions, and Buffalo has allowed just 17 points over that span. Tagovailoa might have another quality outing, but he also could come crashing down against what could be the best defense in the NFL."

Start 'Em: David Montgomery and Dameon Pierce

"Montgomery quietly had one of the best performances of any player in Week 2 at Green Bay when he ran 15 times for 122 yards, along with two catches for 14 yards on two targets. He needed that type of game given how poorly he looked in Week 1 against the 49ers, and he also proved he's still better -- for now -- than Khalil Herbert. Both Bears running backs are worth using this week -- Montgomery as a must-start option and Herbert as a sleeper in deeper leagues -- against the Texans, who have allowed the most rushing yards to running backs with 287 after games against the Colts and Broncos."

Sit 'Em: Josh Jacobs and Devin Singletary

"We can't say the workload is a problem for Jacobs since he had 19 carries in Week 2 against Arizona and one catch. But he finished with 69 rushing yards and 12 receiving yards, and he's now combined for just 15 PPR points in two games. He'll need to score a touchdown to help Fantasy managers, and he's facing a wounded Titans defense that should be able to slow him down. I expect the Raiders to be passing a lot in this matchup, and Jacobs is just a flex at best in the majority of leagues."

Start 'Em: Brandin Cooks and Christian Kirk

"Cooks didn't have a great game in Week 2 at Denver with just four catches for 54 yards, but he had 10 targets. He now has 22 targets on the season, and it's great that Davis Mills is locked in on Cooks once again. The Bears have yet to allow a big game to a receiver this season, but Cooks should have success against this secondary, especially if he gets double digits in targets once again. I wouldn't be surprised if Cooks is a top-10 Fantasy receiver in Week 3."

Sit 'Em: Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore

"Moore has failed to connect with Joe Flacco so far, and Flacco has favored Garrett Wilson and Corey Davis through two games against the Ravens and Browns. We'll see what happens against the Bengals, but Moore only has eight catches for 90 yards and no touchdowns on 12 targets on the season. Cincinnati did allow two receivers to score at least 14 PPR points in Week 2 with CeeDee Lamb and Noah Brown, but Wilson and Davis would seem to have a better chance of accomplishing that feat than Moore right now."

Start 'Em: Kyle Pitts

"It feels odd telling people to start Pitts three weeks into the season after he was drafted as a third-round pick in the majority of leagues, but that's where we are. He hasn't produced as expected with four catches for 38 yards and no touchdowns on 10 targets, but better days are coming, starting this week against Seattle. Coach Arthur Smith is tired of answering questions about Pitts, and he should get fed targets from Marcus Mariota. Pitts will reward the Fantasy managers who invested in him with a big outing in Week 3."

Sit 'Em: Albert Okwuegbunam

"The 49ers are No. 1 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to tight ends this year, and that should be bad news for Okwuegbunam. He was surprisingly not used enough in Week 2 against Houston with only two targets, and he finished with no catches. Even if Jerry Jeudy (chest) remains out this week, it's hard to trust Okwuegbunam as a No. 1 Fantasy option in the majority of leagues."

Start 'Em: Chargers vs. NYJ

"The Chargers defense played well in limiting the Chargers to 21 points in Week 2, and Los Angeles could have had multiple interceptions against Patrick Mahomes in that matchup. The previous week against the Raiders, the Chargers got three interceptions against Derek Carr , along with six sacks. The Chargers DST has the chance for a big week and could be the No. 1 DST in this scoring period."

Sit 'Em: Broncos vs. SF

"Through two games against mediocre offenses in Seattle and Houston, the Broncos DST has underwhelmed. While the defense has only allowed 26 points over that span, Denver has just five sacks and one turnover. Being at home against the 49ers could help, but this is the best offense the Broncos have faced this year. The Broncos DST is a low-end starting option in most leagues for Week 3."