Fantasy football owners in Arizona, Louisiana and California have some hard decisions to make after Week 3, as several high-profile players tied to the region’s NFL teams continue to disappoint.
Thursday night’s game settled one lingering question for fantasy managers: Atlanta’s Kyle Pitts Jr. is still not producing, even with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. back under center. Pitts caught just one pass for 5 yards, leaving managers who drafted him early searching for answers.
Chargers: Be Patient With Herbert
For those holding Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, the advice is to stay the course. Herbert is playing in a talented, high-powered offense under coordinator Mike McDaniel, whose system has historically produced efficient, explosive passing attacks once the pieces come together. The early frustration is understandable, but experts say this is not the time to sell low on a proven, top-tier quarterback.
Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr. on Thin Ice
The mood in Arizona is far tenser. Head coach Mike LaFleur appears unhappy with the performance and effort from rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. Asked by a Cardinals beat reporter about scheming up easier touches for Harrison, LaFleur pushed back.
“Well, just get some easy completions to get going,” LaFleur said. “And that’s fine. You also have Trey McBride, who’s one of the best underneath guys in the world. And there’s only about 60, 65 plays a game. And you’ve gotta run the ball. And you’ve got Kendrick, who works underneath pretty well too. So everyone’s kind of got their role.”
That response suggests LaFleur isn’t planning to prioritize getting Harrison more involved. Fantasy analysts now consider Harrison a legitimate drop candidate unless he shows more effort and better target conversion in Sunday’s game at San Francisco.
Saints: Etienne Struggling to Find a Role
In New Orleans, running back Travis Etienne Jr. has been a significant disappointment. His skill set doesn’t appear to fit head coach Kellen Moore’s scheme, which relies on quick decision-making and versatility in both the run and pass game. Etienne is already losing valuable touches and passing-down work to veteran Alvin Kamara, which limits both his floor and ceiling in fantasy lineups. Analysts suggest managers try to trade Etienne now, while his name still carries some value, rather than waiting for his role to shrink further.
The overall advice for fantasy managers: explore trades before cutting players outright, but don’t be afraid to make tough roster moves now. Starting a season 0-2 is manageable, but falling further behind can be difficult to recover from as the season progresses.
