10 D/ST sleepers to target for fantasy football in Week 3

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) is thrown down by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) as he throws in the second quarter of the NFL Week 2 game between the Chicago Bears and the Cincinnati Bengals at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021. The Bears led 7-0 at halftime.Cincinnati Bengals At Chicago Bears /

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6. New York Giants vs. Atlanta Falcons

The Giants’ defense has not delivered on its sleeper potential yet this season (six total fantasy points; Yahoo! scoring), but back to the well for Week 3 with a matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan topped 300 yards in Week 2 against the Buccaneers, but he also threw three interceptions (two pick-sixes). In Week 1 against the Eagles, he threw for just 165 yards and took three sacks with a lost fumble. So it looks like it’ll either be mediocre yardage and nothing exciting, or big yardage and mistakes as the Falcons’ defense puts the offense into comeback mode.

The Giants will be at home Sunday, and Ryan is in line not to have No. 2 wide receiver Russell Gage (ankle).

5. Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers

The Packers looked pretty bad defensively for a game-and-half to start the season. Then they shut out the Detroit Lions in the second half of Week 2, and Week 3’s matchup isn’t scary.

The San Francisco 49ers will go into Sunday night’s game with plenty of confidence based on their last few games against the Packers. But the fact remains Jimmy Garoppolo is a limited quarterback, often reigned in by his own head coach as the running game rolls.

If the Packers can find a way to put the game in Garoppolo’s hands, it will be to their advantage. The range of outcomes here includes negative fantasy points, but the upside is clear.

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