Early-Season Fantasy Football Disappointments: Hold or Bench?
Updated September 25, 2026, using stats from Weeks 1 and 2 and injury news available that day. This is a look at the remaining Week 3 games. Check the latest news before setting your lineup.
I think the hardest part of a slow start is deciding how patient to be. Give someone another week and you might get another bad score. Bench him and you get to watch his first touchdown of the season from the wrong side of your lineup.
Before making a change, I'd want to know whether the player is still getting the chances I expected. That's why I feel differently about De'Von Achane, Tony Pollard, and Colston Loveland right now. I'd give Achane more time, take a closer look at my alternatives to Pollard, and try to find someone else to start for Loveland this week.
De'Von Achane: I'd Give Him More Time
Achane's official Dolphins game log shows 11 carries and four catches in Week 1, followed by 20 carries and three catches in Week 2. His total yards rose from 66 to 93, but he scored no touchdowns in either game.
That works out to 10.6 and 12.3 full-PPR points. I'm counting one point per catch and one point per 10 rushing or receiving yards, with no bonuses.
I get why those scores would be frustrating. But going from 15 touches to 23 gives me a reason to keep starting him, depending on who else is on the roster. I'd have a harder time being patient if Miami had stopped giving him the ball.
I'd hold for now. If the carries or receiving work start disappearing, I'd reconsider. Another game without a touchdown would be annoying, but it wouldn't be enough on its own to change my mind.
Tony Pollard: I'd Look at Who Else I Can Start
Pollard also had more work in Week 2. His Titans game log shows his carries increasing from seven to 14, with rushing yards rising from 35 to 64. He caught one pass in each game, for minus-one yard and one yard respectively, and had no touchdowns.
That's 4.4 and 7.5 full-PPR points using the same scoring rules. I like seeing more carries. One catch a week doesn't give him much help in PPR, though, so I'd want to see what my other options look like.
The backfield news makes this a little harder. The Titans' Friday report says rookie Nick Singleton could get more opportunities. The Week 3 injury report lists Pollard as limited Thursday and Friday with an ankle injury, but without a game-status designation. Tyjae Spears was questionable. That still leaves us guessing about how Tennessee will divide the work.
I'd keep Pollard on the roster, but I wouldn't lock him into the lineup without checking my bench. If my alternative also has an uncertain role, Pollard could still be the better choice. If I have someone with steadier work, especially as a receiver in PPR, I'd give that player a serious look.
What I'd most like to see next is a clearer picture of his workload. A touchdown would help the score, but I'd still want to know whether I can count on the touches the following week.
Colston Loveland: I'd Try Someone Else This Week
Loveland is the one I'd be most uncomfortable starting. NFL.com's September 23 tight-end analysis reports one catch for three yards across two games, despite leading Chicago in routes run.
The routes are a reason to keep paying attention. He's getting out into the passing game. But I'd need more than that to feel good about starting him again, so I'd look for a tight end who's actually been getting catches and check the current projections for both.
If I can find a reasonable replacement, I'd bench Loveland for Week 3 and keep him rostered if I have room. I don't need to decide his entire season right now. I just need someone to fill the TE spot this week.
To feel better about putting him back in, I'd want to see targets turning into catches over more than one game. I'd be happy to see him score, but a touchdown on his only catch would leave me with most of the same questions.
Who Would You Start Instead?
This is where I'd slow down before changing anything. It's easy to decide you're tired of a player. You still have to put someone else in his spot.
I'd compare the two players in my scoring format, check their availability, and make sure both can fill the opening. A receiver might replace Pollard in a flex spot, but he can't solve an RB-only problem.
You can compare two players free in ffwrapped, with no account or league import. Choose your scoring format and check the week. The recommendation uses Sleeper's weekly projections, with recent stats alongside them for context. The opinions above are my reading of the linked reports, not recommendations produced by the tool.
If the projections are almost even, I'd spend more time on the news before making the call. A fraction of a point wouldn't settle it for me. I go through that in more detail in the start/sit walkthrough.
What About Trading Them?
I'd listen to offers. But before accepting one, I'd set my lineup with the new players and see whether I actually like it better. Getting a disappointing player off the roster can feel good right up until you see who has to replace him.
The early-season trade guide has a worked example of checking both lineups after a deal. If you're worried about the whole team, the team-diagnosis checklist is a better place to start.
For now, I'm most interested in whether Achane keeps getting the ball, how Tennessee splits the backfield, and whether Loveland finally gets more involved. Those are the things I'd check when deciding what to do next week, even if one of them happens to score twice in his next game.