The 15 Biggest 'Love/Hate' Shocks Of NFL Week 3 (2024 Season): Fantasy Football's Wildest Rollercoaster
The annual "Week 3 Love/Hate" list is arguably the most crucial and controversial fantasy football segment of the entire season, and the 2024 NFL slate was no exception. As of December 2025, the dust has settled on the highly unpredictable third week of the 2024 season, where analysts like Matthew Berry made bold predictions that either crowned champions or crushed hopes, forcing fantasy managers to make agonizing start/sit decisions that defined their year. The week is a pivotal moment where early-season narratives are either solidified or completely shattered, creating a massive wave of confidence for some players and a crushing sense of dread for others.
This deep dive explores the biggest shocks, the most brilliant calls, and the most painful misses from the 2024 Week 3 "Love/Hate" landscape, focusing on the specific players and matchups that generated the most intense debate among the fantasy community. From unexpected quarterback breakouts to running backs facing brutal defensive matchups, understanding these key entities is essential for anyone looking to master the unpredictable art of fantasy football analysis.
Matthew Berry: The Architect of Fantasy Football's Love/Hate
The "Love/Hate" segment is inextricably linked to one of the most prominent figures in the fantasy sports world: Matthew Berry. His weekly column and show appearances have been a staple of fantasy advice for decades, making his endorsements or warnings a major factor in lineup decisions for millions of players.
Berry’s approach is not just about raw statistics; it’s about game script, historical trends, and gut feeling, which is why his "Hate" picks often generate as much buzz as his "Love" picks, especially when they involve highly-drafted players. The segment has become a cultural phenomenon, evolving into a benchmark for fantasy analysis across NBC Sports and other major networks.
Biography and Profile:
- Full Name: Matthew Berry
- Primary Role: Fantasy Sports Analyst, Author, and Content Creator.
- Notable Segment: "Love/Hate" List (Weekly fantasy football predictions).
- Associated Networks: NBC Sports (Currently), ESPN (Previously).
- Key Publications: Numerous books on fantasy football strategy and culture.
- Influence: Considered one of the most influential voices in the fantasy football industry, capable of single-handedly moving players up or down in weekly rankings.
The "Love" List: 10 Must-Start Players Who Dominated 2024 NFL Week 3
The "Love" list is where analysts identify players with favorable matchups, high-volume opportunities, or breakout potential, often recommending them over more established, but poorly-matched, stars. The 2024 Week 3 list was a masterclass in matchup exploitation, particularly at the quarterback and wide receiver positions. Here are the 10 biggest "Love" entities that paid off.
- Kyler Murray (QB, Cardinals): The consensus "Love" pick at quarterback, Murray faced a struggling Detroit Lions defense. Analysts predicted a high-scoring affair, and Murray delivered with a massive yardage total and multiple touchdowns, solidifying his status as a top-tier fantasy QB for the week.
- Joe Burrow (QB, Bengals): Despite a slow start to the season, Burrow was a "Love" against the Washington Commanders. The logic centered on the Commanders' vulnerable secondary, which Burrow exploited with high-efficiency passing, leading to a much-needed fantasy explosion for his owners.
- Brock Purdy (QB, 49ers): A strong "Love" candidate, Purdy was projected to thrive against the Los Angeles Rams. His performance was characterized by surgical precision and a high expected points model, making him a reliable "boom" candidate for the week.
- Devonta Smith (WR, Eagles): Matthew Berry specifically "Loved" Smith in his matchup against the New Orleans Saints. The expectation was that the Saints' defense would focus heavily on A.J. Brown, leaving Smith open for a high target share and a huge fantasy day. This prediction was one of the week's most successful calls.
- Tony Pollard (RB, Titans): Despite a new team and a perceived decline, Pollard was listed as a "Boom" candidate. Facing a soft run defense, Pollard was expected to see significant volume, and he capitalized by posting one of his strongest performances of the early 2024 season.
- Rashid Shaheed (WR, Saints): A classic "Sleeper" pick, Shaheed was projected to have a breakout game. His deep-threat ability was seen as a perfect counter to the Eagles' aggressive defense, leading to a high-yardage, big-play performance that paid off handsomely for those who started him.
- Bucky Irving (RB, Buccaneers): As a rookie, Irving was a risky "Love" pick, but his high-volume potential against a weaker defensive front made him an intriguing option. Analysts banked on his usage to overcome any matchup concerns.
- Zay Flowers (WR, Ravens): Flowers was a popular "Love" based on the expected game script and his role as the Ravens' primary receiving threat. His consistent target volume made him a high-floor play, even in a potentially tough divisional matchup.
- Derek Carr (QB, Saints): Listed as an "Honorable Mention" love, Carr’s matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles was seen as a potential shootout. The volume and need to pass to keep up with the Eagles' offense made him a surprisingly strong streaming option.
- The Colts' Offense: The team as a whole was a major "Love" narrative early in the season, with analysts praising their surprising hot start. This positive sentiment translated into high fantasy projections for their key skill players heading into Week 3.
The "Hate" List: 5 Major Busts and Sit Candidates from 2024 Week 3
The "Hate" list, also known as the "Bust" or "Sit 'Em" list, is often the most controversial because it involves recommending benching popular or high-draft-capital players. These are the calls that test the nerve of a fantasy manager, and the 2024 Week 3 list had several high-profile warnings that proved prescient.
- DK Metcalf (WR, Seahawks): Metcalf was a prominent "Hate" pick due to a difficult cornerback matchup and a projected low-scoring game environment. The analysis suggested his boom-or-bust nature would lean heavily toward "bust" in Week 3, a prediction that unfortunately materialized for his owners.
- Travis Kelce (TE, Chiefs): While Kelce is rarely a true "Hate" candidate, the concerns revolved around his health, age, and a surprisingly stout defense he was facing. Analysts warned of a lower ceiling than usual, prompting some managers to look for safer options, a rare but necessary warning.
- A Major Projected RB1: One specific running back, projected as the RB16 (12.8 PPR points) by the Sleeper model, was flagged as a "major bust candidate." The reasoning was simple: he was facing a formidable Houston Texans defense that had been shutting down opposing running backs, holding them to minimal yardage. This volume-killing matchup was the ultimate "Hate" factor.
- Caleb Williams (QB, Bears): The rookie quarterback was a popular pick, but his "Hate" designation stemmed from the unpredictability of the Bears' offense and a challenging road game. Analysts cautioned that his ceiling was limited, making him a risky start despite his high-profile status.
- The Jets' Offense (vs. Patriots): The Thursday Night Football matchup between the Patriots and the Jets was heavily featured in the "Hate" discussions. The expectation was a low-scoring, defensive battle with minimal fantasy production, making nearly all skill players from both teams—outside of the true elite—risky "Sit 'Em" candidates.
The Topical Authority of Week 3: Why It’s the Fantasy Pivot Point
The intensity surrounding the "Week 3 Love/Hate" discourse is not accidental; it is a critical juncture in the fantasy football season. This week serves as the definitive point of data consolidation.
The first two weeks are often dismissed as "small sample size theater," making Week 3 the first time fantasy managers can truly trust the usage and performance metrics.
By Week 3, the Expected Points Model (EPM) used by analysts like Hayden Winks at Underdog Network has enough data to make meaningful updates to over 200 players, providing a more accurate picture of a player's true role and opportunity.
This is when the *real* winners and losers of the early season are identified, and the unpredictability of the NFL—which saw upset wins from teams like the Panthers in 2024—forces a complete recalibration of rankings and expectations.
The "Love/Hate" lists, therefore, are not just recommendations; they are a reflection of the first trustworthy data set of the year. They help identify true breakout candidates, or "Sleepers," who are finally seeing consistent volume, and expose the "Busts" whose early-season struggles are a sign of a deeper problem, such as poor offensive line play or a change in coaching philosophy.
The shift from pre-season hype to in-season reality is brutal, and Week 3 is where the fantasy community must confront the cold, hard data. Whether you "Loved" a player like Devonta Smith or "Hated" a popular name like DK Metcalf, the results of the 2024 Week 3 predictions continue to inform fantasy strategy for seasons to come, proving that the most volatile week is often the most important.
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