Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (51) celebrates with defensive end Danielle Hunter (55) after a defensive play during the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at NRG Stadium.

Things change quickly in the NFL.

Narratives and perceptions from the offseason are beginning to fade away two weeks into the season. The Denver Broncos came into the year as the top-ranked unit, but have failed to deliver on that through the first two weeks. The Buffalo Bills were primed to be a top unit, but they couldn't stop a nosebleed in Week 1 – or Week 2, although that one had nothing to do with any Buffalo defenders.

Now all of a sudden, we're marching into battle with a bunch of wounded teams. Week 3 might as well be the week of the backup, meaning our ability to navigate these injuries is crucial.

It may only be the third week of the season, however, it's getting late quickly for the 0-2 teams out there. Your pumpkin spice latte hasn't gotten cold and we haven't seen a leaf change colors, but fantasy season will be over before you know it.

Whether you're riding high or taking up residency in the basement, everyone likes to win. Here are four D/ST units that we believe will get the job done in Week 3 and four that we think should be avoided if you can.

Fantasy football start 'em: Week 3 D/STs

Buffalo Bills (vs. Miami Dolphins)

Buffalo is already 2-0 on the young season after experiencing all the emotions in that span. Now they welcome in the Dolphins on a short week – a team that might already be looking at vacation plans for January. Miami's offense came to life after a while in Week 2, but this spot sets up perfectly for the Bills.

They haven't been a top-tier fantasy unit thus far, but you shouldn't hesitate to start them. The game script is likely to force run-first Miami to throw a lot more than they want, which only leads to more turnovers and potential for fantasy points for you.

Seattle Seahawks (vs. New Orleans Saints)

Mike Macdonald's crew has held up over the first two weeks, turning in quality performances for the fantasy managers who have trusted them. There is no reason to believe that won't be the case when the Saints come to town. Seattle has forced four turnovers in those two games, while also holding opponents to just 17 points a game.

This is Kellen Moore's first road game as a head coach and it's not exactly an easy place to play. Spencer Rattler was much better in Week 2, but it might take a miracle for the New Orleans offense to put a significant dent in this great fantasy unit.

Houston Texans (at Jacksonville Jaguars)

Houston may have a problem, but it's not on defense. The Texans defense shut down the Buccaneers on Monday night in Week 2 after a pair of touchdown drives to open the game. It wasn't until the final moments where the faucet started leaking again, presenting Baker Mayfield with countless opportunities to steal a win. Luckily for Houston, they get the Jaguars in Week 3, matching up against a division foe.

Considering Trevor Lawrence's potential tension with head coach Liam Coen and Brian Thomas Jr.'s inability to catch a football all of a sudden, we like our chances for a good day at the office. The results haven't been there for one of the league's best from a fantasy standpoint, but that is likely to change in Week 3.

Atlanta Falcons (at Carolina Panthers)

Bryce Young began to shift the narrative around his play towards the end of the 2024 season. It didn't take long for that to be undone as the offense sputtered, scoring just 10 points in the opener and then looked lethargic in Week 2. Young hasn't been particularly good in the early going despite presenting some rushing upside in Week 1. That was before forgetting to pack that part of his game for Carolina's trip to Arizona.

That doesn't seem like something that will change in the home opener. Atlanta is coming off a dominant defensive effort against the Vikings on "Sunday Night Football" and finds another favorable matchup one line down on the calendar. Carolina's offensive line is in shambles and Atlanta suddenly found a pass rush. This isn't rocket science. Start the Falcons D/ST in Week 3.

Fantasy football sit 'em: Week 3 D/STs

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. New York Jets)

Tampa might be the biggest waiver claim defense of the week, but they shouldn't automatically be inserted into your lineup. The Bucs just lost Calijah Kancey for the season, which presents as a massive hit to their pass rush. Todd Bowles' squad wasn't a great option from a fantasy perspective to begin with, but the matchup against the Jets has some jumping at the opportunity.

Justin Fields might be sidelined with a concussion and Tyrod Taylor could enter the fray. However, the Jets got out of their game plan on Sunday against the Bills, forced to play from behind. Fields missed a wide-open Garrett Wilson on a chunk play just seconds into the contest. Fields' inaccuracy doesn't mean he didn't have open receivers to get the ball to. We'll give Tanner Engstrand the benefit of the doubt and hesitate to play Tampa's D/ST on a short week, especially since New York can be dangerous if they settle in quickly. After all, they've always been a team that plays better when everyone counts them out. Buyer beware.

Cincinnati Bengals (at Minnesota Vikings)

J.J. McCarthy is getting to spend some time on the bench thanks to an ankle injury and Carson Wentz gets his chance as an NFL starting quarterback again. Much like the Bucs, we aren't jumping at the opportunity to start Cincinnati's defense in Week 2. Kevin O'Connell has been known to get more out of his quarterbacks than you'd expect, but McCarthy has looked like a deer in the headlights to open the season.

Much like Sam Darnold in 2024, we think that Wentz might be a stabilizing force for a Minnesota team in desperate need of one right now. Again, buyer beware.

Denver Broncos (at Los Angeles Chargers)

Considered to be the best defense in the league and, as a result, the best fantasy defense in the league, Denver's slow start to the season is concerning. They struggled to pull away from a frisky Titans team at home and then went on the road to lose a heartbreaker to the Colts in Indianapolis.

After seeing the schedule reveal in May, it's safe to say no one saw this coming. Now the road trip makes a stop in L.A. for a meeting with the rival Chargers. With the way Justin Herbert is playing, we're throwing out the preseason narratives and buying into what our eyes are seeing early on.

Baltimore Ravens (vs. Detroit Lions)

The narrative around Monday night's game will be about Jared Goff's struggles outside, but Detroit looked like a team that found its groove in Week 2 after being motivated by Ben Johnson's return. Points will be on the menu in Week 3 and we can't buy stock in Baltimore's defense just yet. They might've had their way with the Browns, but they were shredded by the Bills.

It's not a great matchup and you shouldn't hesitate to seek out other alternatives.

Fantasy football start 'em, sit 'ems, Week 3

Looking for more fantasy football advice? USA TODAY Sports has you covered:

→ Need an edge under center? Here are the best quarterback options to start and to sit in Week 3.

→ A good running back makes all the difference. A bad running back can cost you a lot of points. Here's who to start and who to sit in Week 3.

→ Tight ends can be the perfect X-factor for any fantasy team. Here's who you should start and sit in Week 3.

→ The wide receiver position is one of the deepest each season. Set yourself up for success in Week 3 with start 'em, sit 'em advice for wideouts.

→ Kickers are people, too. Here are the most clutch kickers to start, and some to sit, for Week 3.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Start 'Em, Sit 'Em D/STs: Week 3 fantasy football

Reporting by Nick Brinkerhoff, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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