5 breakout fantasy football stars to pick up for Week 3

2. Top fantasy football pickups for Week 3 – Patriots RB James White

Experienced fantasy owners know that trusting a Patriots running back is the equivalent of hitting on 16 in blackjack. Bill Belichick has long been the nemesis of fantasy owners for changing his backfield structure on a whim, making it tough to predict who will be the key factor in his offensive game plan every week.

There is some value to be had in New England, however, with long-time Tom Brady security blanket James White experiencing a renaissance this season. The Patriots have been notably cautious with rookie quarterback Mac Jones, who has played the role of check down Charlie more often than not, making White a valuable outlet for intermediate passes.

White had a strong performance against the New York Jets in Week 2, catching six passes on six targets for 45 yards while carrying the ball five times for 20 yards and another score. The rushing touchdown may be an outlier for White but the targets are encouraging since it backed up a seven target effort in Week 1.

Rostered in just 42 percent of Yahoo leagues, White has flex value as an elite check down option in PPR leagues. Matchups with the Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the coming weeks will challenge New England’s offense, making White’s ability to serve as an escape route for Jones an important asset for the Patriots and fantasy owners.