NFL Insiders predict: Week 3 upsets, fantasy flops, sleepers, more

Mina Kimes, senior writer: Saints +3 over Falcons. Before the season, I thought the Saints were an early Super Bowl favorite; they've disappointed so far, but the team did show some signs of life in the fourth quarter against the Browns. Kamara should bounce back against a Falcons defense that will be missing Neal and Jones.

Mike Sando, senior NFL writer: Chargers +6.5 over Rams. The Rams are better than the Chargers, and the 6.5-point spread reflects that, but an upset wouldn't feel like much of an upset. It's a road game for the Chargers with no real travel, and they have the firepower to build a lead against most teams. If they can do it against the Rams, they could force Jared Goff out of his comfort zone, turning this into a battle of quarterbacks.

Field Yates, NFL analyst: Raiders +3 over Dolphins. It's never easy to travel across the country and win. But let's put our faith in the improved play of Derek Carr, who in Week 2 became the first player in NFL history to ever complete 90-plus percent of his passes in a game in which he attempted 30 or more throws.

Jameis Winston is eligible to return next week, but Ryan Fitzpatrick is on fire. Who should be the Bucs' starter in Week 4?

Bowen: Fitzpatrick. Through two games, Fitzpatrick has thrown for 819 yards and eight touchdowns and is completing an eye-opening 78.7 percent of his passes. Yes, given his league history, we should expect Fitzpatrick to cool off. But until the numbers start to drop, Fitzpatrick should remain the QB1 in Tampa. And he gets another positive matchup on Monday night versus a Steelers secondary that was lit up by Patrick Mahomes in Week 2.

Graziano: Fitzpatrick. Plain and simple, regardless of what happens in Week 3, Fitzpatrick has won two more games than anyone really expected him to win as Winston's three-week replacement. At some point, he'll surely come back to Earth, but Fitzpatrick deserves to continue to start until that happens. And if they're 3-0, they'd be nuts to change quarterbacks.

Kimes: Fitzpatrick. Provided he keeps the FitzMagic alive in Week 3, the veteran quarterback deserves the opportunity to start ahead of the bye week. The rest of the offense clearly believes in him, and for good reason -- Fitz has connected with seven different players on touchdowns so far this season and enabled DeSean Jackson to reemerge as a deep threat.

Sando: Fitzpatrick. He's playing well, Winston hasn't earned the job and the organization doesn't owe Winston anything at this point. Winston will get his chance whenever it comes, but there's nothing to gain by forcing him into the lineup.

Yates: Fitzpatrick. He's been sensational, becoming the first player since Billy Volek in Weeks 15-16 of 2004 with 400-plus passing yards and four-plus passing touchdowns in consecutive weeks. But I'll say this: I do believe there will be a lengthy internal conversation about the decision, particularly with Tampa Bay coming off of a Monday night game and having one less day to prepare.

Who's your pick to be the biggest fantasy flop this weekend?

Bowen: Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers. Yes, he has tossed six touchdowns in his first two games this season, and he racked up more than 400 passing yards in the Week 1 win over Kansas City. However, I don't love the matchup for the veteran quarterback against a Rams defense that will lean on their dime personnel to limit the Chargers' passing script. Rivers still has starting value as QB1 in deeper leagues, but he will drop down in the ranks this week with Wade Phillips setting the Rams' defensive game plan.

Graziano: Carson Wentz, QB, Eagles. Yes, it's exciting that Wentz is back, and I believe he'll be a strong fantasy starter the rest of the way. But factor in rust for a guy who hasn't played since early December, injury issues for the Eagles at wide receiver and an Indianapolis defense that has beaten expectations in two games so far, and I think Wentz's 2018 debut has a real chance to be shaky.

Kimes: Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers. The new-look Rams secondary has put the clamps on opposing offenses; no receiver has put up more than 30 yards against them yet. Rivers and Allen are the best QB-WR duo it's faced so far, but it's hard to project a huge game against this defense right now.

Sando: Andrew Luck, QB, Colts. He doesn't have the offensive weaponry to exploit the Eagles defense the way Tampa Bay did. The road atmosphere in Philadelphia also could make this a tougher challenge.

Yates: LeSean McCoy, RB, Bills. It's been a slow start for the Bills on offense, with McCoy having little room to run behind a shaky offensive line. Plus, the veteran running back is dealing with a rib injury. Next up is arguably the best defensive front in football, with Minnesota likely to put the clamps on the entire Buffalo offensive operation.

The AFC's best team is the _______.

Bowen: Jaguars. The Patriots could be in this spot by midseason, but right now it's the Jags. Jacksonville features the NFL's top defensive front seven, and the secondary is highlighted by ball-hawking cornerbacks who play with some swag. With a proven downhill run game to wear opposing teams out, the Jags have the look of a top squad if Blake Bortles can continue to pass the ball with efficiency.

Graziano: Jaguars. They almost knocked off the Patriots in Foxborough in January and then dismantled them at home Sunday. It's 100 percent true that you have to see them beat New England in the playoffs before believing it can happen, but right now, Jacksonville's roster is the deepest in the conference, and no one's playing better.

Kimes: Jaguars. When Bortles plays well -- and that's obviously not guaranteed, given how streaky he's been -- they're the most balanced team in the conference. The defense is still elite, and offensive weapons like Keelan Cole and Corey Grant have impressed early on.

Sando: Patriots. I think they'd win more than 50 percent of neutral-site matchups against every single team in the conference.

Yates: Jaguars. There's something to be said for having an identity, as I believe it allows players to operate with more confidence within a system. The Jaguars are capable of wearing you down on defense, and the offense -- when Leonard Fournette is healthy -- can and will do the exact same thing.

Pick a fringe fantasy player who should be started in Week 3.

Bowen: O.J. Howard, TE, Buccaneers. Howard's numbers in Week 2 -- three receptions, 96 yards, one touchdown -- were a bit inflated thanks to a 75-yard touchdown grab that featured some atrocious tackling by the Eagles' secondary. However, given the Monday night matchup versus a Steelers defense that was dismantled in the red zone in the Week 2 loss to the Chiefs, I would roll with Howard as a TE1 in 12-team leagues.

Graziano: Keelan Cole, WR, Jaguars. The Titans have allowed 33 catches, 469 yards and four touchdowns to opposing wideouts in two games so far. Only the Saints are allowing more WR fantasy points per game in this young season. Cole was a breakout star in Week 2 and looks like a legitimate big-play threat for Bortles and the Jags.