The Fantasy Fallout Going Into Week 3 of the NFL Season

We’re heading into Week 3 of the NFL season, and we’re starting to get a clearer a picture of what is and what should never be. Adjust accordingly. Here’s the fallout….

 

Giants – 29 @ Washington – 30

 

• Sterling Shepard(9 rec, 94 yards) is the no.1 in NYC and needs to be owned in more than 57% of leagues he’s currently owned in. 

 

• Most of the other NYG WRs seem displeased with QB Daniel Jones, and rightfully so. Though he got 8 targets on the day, Kenny Golladay only caught 3 balls – most were uncatchable, and rookie Kadarius Toney didn’t touch the ball. Maybe the squeaky wheels get greased this week against an ATL team that can’t seem to stop anyone defensively. I actually like Darius Slayton(3 rec, 54 yards, 1 TD) in this one, as he seems to be Jones favorite deep target. 

 

• QB Daniel Jones’ throwing woes aside, he’s running like a madman with 122 rushing over 2 weeks. He’s no.6 in fantasy points for QBs so far and gets a sweet matchup with ATL this week. 

 

• People are freaking out over Jd Mckissic‘s big game(93 yards, 1 TD) after getting just one touch in Week 1, asking if they should unload Antonio Gibson and utter nonsense like that. One, McKissic led NFL RBs in receptions last year, so it’s not like this was unexpected, and two, Gibson still out-touched him 15-9. Just pick up Mckissic if he was dropped after Week 1, and by all means hold onto Gibson!

 

• WR Adam Humphries didn’t put up many yards(44), but he did get 8 targets and 7 catches which puts him on the radar in deeper PPR formats. I imagine he’ll see quite a few targets against a BUF defense that will be difficult to throw deep against. 

 

Broncos – 23 @ Jaguars – 13

 

• WR Courtland Sutton is the undisputed no.1 in Denver with Jerry Jeudy sidelined, but Tim Patrick is picking up steam as a viable fantasy asset behind him(3 rec, 37 yards, 1 TD). He scored for the second straight week and has a team high 8 TDs  since 2020. 

 

• QB Teddy Bridgewater is throwing the ball more often and farther than he ever has in his new home of Denver, and he’s scored over 20 fantasy points in both games this season. He’s on the streaming radar in pus matchups. 

 

• Marvin Jones is developing into QB Trevor Lawrence‘s favorite end-zone target, scoring in Weeks 1 and 2. He led the team in receiving(6 rec, 55 yards) in Week 2, as well. He’s still available in about 40% of leagues, so go get him if you can. 

 

• WR Lavishka Shenault is still getting targeted(7), but he’s being used as a gadget player out of the backfield so the yardage isn’t there. He injured his shoulder, but he should be good to go and could be in for a surge this week against a Cardinals team that scores at will but is soft against the pass. 

 

• TE James O’Shaughnessy is out 3-4 weeks with a high ankle sprain. This might leave some more targets for Shenault underneath. (Keep an eye on Shenault’s own injury status, though). 

 

Rams – 27 @ Colts – 24

 

• RB Sony Michel wasn’t implemented in the Rams’ game plan until the 4th quarter when RB Darrel Henderson went out with a rib injury. Even if Henderson can go this week, the Rams may have realized that he may not be able to hold up as a 3-down back. Michel needs to be added where you can stash him. 

 

• QB Carson Wentz sprained both ankles in Week 2 and is in danger of missing Week 3 and beyond. QB Jacob Eason will relieve him in that case, and all Colts players will suffer fantasy wise. The Titans will be a strong DEF streamer this week if Wentz sits. 

 

• If Wentz manages to suit up, Zach Pascal is a welcome addition to fantasy squads, as he’s scored thrice in two weeks and is only 15% owned. 

 

Texans – 21 @ Browns – 31

 

• QB Tyrod Taylor injured his hamstring on a TD run Sunday, so QB Davis Mills relieved him after halftime. Mills looked pretty lost on the field, but he’ll start this Thursday against the Panthers. CAR makes for a solid DEF play this week. 

 

• The Texans run game is a committee, but for the second straight week, Mark Ingram had double-digit touches(15) and neither David Johnson(8) or Phillip Lindsay(6) came close to his usage. Expect Ingram to get plenty more where that came from this Thursday with Mills under center. Ingram is still unowned in about 40% of leagues.  

 

• Not much to take away from the Browns, even in a win, besides the fact that RBs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt comprised the bulk of the Browns’ offense in Week 2. Oh, and the whole David Njoku explosion from Week 1 was likely an anomaly(2 rec, 18 yards). TE Austin Hooper led in receiving(5 tgts, 5 rec, 40 yards) for what that’s worth. 

 

• WR Jarvis Landry did injure his MCL, and is week to week. Donovan Peoples-Jones played the slot in his absence and could be in line for more work if Landry sits this week and if Odell Beckham continues to sit. 

 

• Don’t read too much into the Demetric Felton line(2 rec, 51 yards, 1 TD) outside of dynasty formats. Most of his action came on one play. 

 

Saints – 7 @ Panthers – 26

 

• The entire Saints offense was pitiful against the Panthers’ dominant front 7 in Week 2. RB Alvin Kamara is the only advised play going into a Week 3 tilt with the Pats. 

 

• The Panthers’ passing game was pretty mediocre outside of RB Christian McCaffrey and WR DJ Moore in Week 2, but they’ll have a get right game Thursday with the Texans, so keep WR Robby Anderson in the lineup. WR Terrace Marshall(3 rec, 17 yards) split snaps with WR Brandon Zylstra( 3 rec, 44 yards, 1 TD), so let’s pump the breaks on the rookie a bit. 

 

49ers – 17 @ Eagles – 11

 

• Both RB Trey Sermon(concussion) and RB JaMycal Hasty(ankle) went out on consecutive plays on Sunday, leaving RB Elijah Mitchell and RB Trenton Cannon to shoulder the load in SF. Surprisingly, Mitchell is still unowned in 15% of leagues and Cannon in almost 100%. 

 

• WR Brandon Aiyuk did little to nothing in Week 2(2 tgt, 1 rec, 6 yards), but he was on the field 38 snaps to Trent Sherfield‘s 24 snaps. He’ll get the Packers this week, and if he can’t get going we may need to reconsider his status for fantasy purposes. 

 

• WR Quez Watkins(2 tgt, 2 rec, 117 yards) was responsible for almost half of the Eagles’ yards in this one. He only had 2 targets on the day, so I’m only interested in him in dynasty formats for now. 

 

Raiders – 26 @ Steelers – 17

 

• QB Derek Carr is fantasy’s no.9 QB through 2 weeks. He’s letting his WRs work, and he’s producing against top tier defenses(BAL and PIT). He’ll face another formidable MIA front this week. 

 

• WR Henry Ruggs finally lived up to his billing in Week 2 with 5 rec for 113 yards and a TD. He’s worth adding in all formats with the LV offense humming. 

 

• WR Hunter Renfrow was tied for the lead in targets(7) this week with Ruggs and TE Darren Waller. He’s showing up in box scores and needs to be owned in PPR formats. 

 

• RB Peyton Barber led the Raiders’ rushing attack to little effect(13 car, 32 yards). RB Kenyan Drake was more effective with 46 yards receiving on the day. Drake makes for the more attractive play this week against MIA, if RB Josh Jacobs can’t return. 

 

• Everybody who needs to be owned from the Steelers is already owned, except for maybe TE Pat Freiermuth(4 tgt, 4 rec, 36 yards) who has seemingly passed Eric Ebron on the depth chart. He should only be owned in TE premium leagues though. 

 

• WR Diontae Johnson‘s knee was injured on the last play of the game, but it seems like he’s avoided a major injury. If he can’t go for some reason, James Washington might be worth adding this week. 

 

Bengals – 17 @ Bears – 20

 

• All 3 starting WRs in CIN are getting enough targets to maintain fantasy relevance. QB Joe Burrow is throwing too many INTs to say the same about though. 

 

• Rookie QB Justin Fields took over for QB Andy Dalton Sunday, following a bone bruise to Dalton’s knee. Fields threw for 60 yards and an INT and ran for 31 yards in relief, and needs to be added in all formats while we wait and see if Dalton can play this week. Fields would be an immediate streamer against CLE if Dalton can’t go. 

 

• WR Darnell Mooney led the Bears in receiving(8 tgt, 6 rec, 66 yards) against CIN in Week 2. He’ll have plenty of good weeks as teams try in earnest to stymie WR Allen Robsinson on the other side of the field. 

 

Patriots – 25 @ Jets – 6

 

• RB Damien Harris maintained his starting role after a horrible fumble in Week 1, so it’s good to know that he’s safe even after making mistakes, a luxury that eluded Belichick RBs in the past. RB James White added 11 touches for 65 yards and a TD, and he needs to be added in most formats. He’s currently available in 58% of leagues. 

 

• A week after leading the Jets backfield in touches, RB Tevin Coleman only garnered 5 touches for 24 yards in Week 2. Ty Johnson led the backfield with 12 touches for 50 yards, with rookie Michael Carter right behind him for 11 carries plus 2 catches for 88 all-purpose yards . The Jets may be going with the hot hand at this point, but it’s hard to say. I like Carter the most of the 3 for his versatility and explosiveness. 

 

• WR Braxton Berrios led the Jets in receiving(11 tgt, 7 rec, 73 yards) this week after getting 7 targets last week. As the slot man in for Jamison Crowder, Berrios is putting himself on the PPR radar as long as Crowder is out. 

 

• Rookie WR Elijah Moore was second in targets(8) in Week 2 for 4 catches for 47 yards, even with Keelan Cole in the mix. Rookie QB Zach Wilson threw 4 INTs forcing the ball downfield and is showing his inexperience, but Belichick defenses are wont to expose young QBs. 

 

Falcons – 25 @ Buccaneers – 48

 

• WR/RB Cordarrelle Peterson continues to be heavily involved in the Falcons offense(12 tou, 69 yards, 2 TD. He’s dual designation as a RB/WR on a team that will be playing from behind most weeks makes him an attractive add in all formats. 

 

• Tom Brady and co. slayed again this week, but everyone worth owning on TB is already gone in most leagues. 

 

Vikings – 33 @ Cardinals – 34

 

• Slot WR KJ Osborn continued his run on Sunday with a 6 tgt, 5 rec, 91 yard, 1 TD line. He leads the VIkings in receiving through 2 weeks(167 yards) and needs to be owned in most formats. 

 

• Rookie WR Rondale Moore led the Cardinals in receiving in Week 2(8 tgt, 7 rec, 114 yards, 1 TD). He’s simply electrifying on the field and needs to be owned in all formats. 

 

• WR AJ Green received 6 targets for the second week, and his first score, and though he’s pretty ineffective after the catch, Green can be owned in deeper formats as a streamer and can be flexed this week against JAX 

 

• After playing 80% of snaps last week, TE Maxx Williams went off for a 7 tgt, 7 rec, 94 yard monster on Sunday. He makes for a legit TE streamer with the ARI offense going off on a weekly basis, especially with JAX up this week. 

 

Bills – 35 @ Dolphins – 0 

 

• RB Zack Moss played ahead of RB Matt Breida on Sunday, notching 10 touches for 46 yards but scoring twice. RB Devin Singletary got 5 more touches, but Moss’ use in the red-zone makes him a flex play moving forward. 

 

• QB Tua Tagovailoa went out with a rib injury Sunday, leaving QB Jacoby Brissett to get blanked by the Bills. If Tua can’t go this week, the Raiders DEF makes for a solid streamer against the Dolphins.

 

• No clue on what’s going on with WR Will Fuller and his personal issue, but DeVante Parker needs to be owned in more than 40% of leagues as the Dolphins no.1 WR. 

 

• RB Salvon Ahmed led the MIA backfield with 6 touches on Sunday but managed just 17 yards. He’s not really worth adding much less playing, as most of his and Malcolm Brown‘s action came after the Dolphins’ impending loss was a foregone conclusion.

 

Titans – 33 @ Seahawks – 30

 

• It was all RB Derrick Henry and WR Julio Jones on Sunday, but WR Chester stayed involved in the Titans offensive scheme this week, receiving 5 targets for fourth most behind Henry, Jones, and AJ Brown. He’s best left on benches outside of the deepest of leagues. 

 

• WR Freddie Swain played 43% of snaps for SEA in Week 1 and went off in Week 2 for 5 tgt, 5 rec, 95 yards and a TD. With Rookie WR Dee Eskridge sidelined with injury Swain should continue to stay involved against high-flying MIN this week. 

 

• TE Gerald Everett isn’t getting enough targets(2) to stream in fantasy, even though he scored in Week 1. 

 

Cowboys – 23 @ Chargers – 20

 

• RB Tony Pollard touched the ball 16 times for 140 yards and a TD in a negative gamescript with the Chargers in Week 2. The ‘Boys are more willing to split carries than they have in the past, as they try to keep Zeke Elliott healthy for a playoff run, so Pollard makes for a weekly flex in games where the Cowboys find themselves trailing. 

 

• RBs Justin Jackson and Larry Rountree switched places in Week 2 with Rountree being the odd man out behind Austin Ekeler this time. What we’ve learned so far is that neither RB is a safe start behind Ekeler thus far. 

 

• TE Jared Cook had 5 targets on Sunday, after receiving 8 in Week 1. The yards weren’t there this week, but he’s getting consistent looks compared to a lot of fantasy TEs right now. 

 

Chiefs – 35 @ Ravens – 36

 

• WR Mecole Hardman bounced back to lead the Chiefs in targets(8), though he only managed 55 yards, and both Demarcus Robinson and Byron Pringle scored. This was all mostly due to Tyreek Hill getting extra attention from BAL. Hardman and Hill are the only Chiefs WRs to be owned in all but the deepest of leagues currently. 

 

• Ty’Son Williams led the Ravens backfield with 15 touches to Latavius Murray‘s 9 and Devonta Freeman‘s 2. Murray scored though and retains flex value. 

 

• Sammy Watkins was able to garner 7 targets even with Marquise Brown getting 10 himself. Watkins’ involvement seems to be sapping Mark Andrews‘(5 tgt) value.