DeMeco Ryans offered little clarity on Joe Mixon’s status, while the Texans prepare for two returns from the PUP list this week: edge rusher Denico Autry and safety Jaylen Reed, opening a 21-day window to play. Tank Dell has been a constant at practice, with a late-season return possible but uncertain.

Mixon led Houston’s ground game last season with 1,016 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, but his current ankle/foot injury and non-committal updates leave fantasy managers on alert. In his absence, Nick Chubb and Woody Marks have shouldered carries elsewhere, with Dare Ogunbowale and Dameon Pierce in the deeper backfield mix as Houston navigates the offense without a clear Mixon timetable.

Week 3 fantasy starts hinge on returns and backfield roles. Christian Kirk could make his season debut for Houston, reshaping the Texans target tree and taking some attention away from Nico Collins. Bijan Robinson leads Atlanta, with Tyler Allgeier a viable flex behind him; Justin Herbert remains a steady top 10 QB against Denver. Kayshon Boutte has a high ceiling but volatile floor; RJ Harvey is a shaky bench stash in Denver; Calvin Austin III offers boom bust for Pittsburgh; Trey Benson and Tank Dell push for touches for TB and Houston. The Who Should I Start tool lets you compare up to four players to pick the best start based on matchup, scoring and news.

Use the tool to evaluate up to four players, consider scoring formats, and review strength of schedule and player news to set winning Week 3 lineups. The feature also highlights bye weeks and player tiles to help you optimize decisions with a rapid, data driven approach.