Before jumping into the weekly team-by-team rundown of Sunday's games, two things:
(1) My "DFS 50/50 Lineup of the Week" hit big despite Kelvin Benjamin's early-game injury, James White's scant usage, and Eric Ebron's abysmal efficiency (two receptions for nine yards on seven targets). The little-used Brandin Cooks proved to be the difference maker, showing once again that a great player's previous performance has no bearing on his next one.
(2) My Week 3 bargains/busts podcast hit more than 50% with one or two players going tonight. Remember, these are contrarian positions that most would have advised against:
https://soundcloud.com/user-780565013/ff4w-2017-09-23
---
And with that, here's the weekly breakdown of each Sunday team's most notable fantasy impact:
Ravens -- Baltimore might be the NFL's worst 2-1 team. In the fantasy realm, though, some of you were shocked to see Buck Allen's disappearing act. 28 yards on 13 touches? This is why I'm constantly banging the "sell high" drum. That doesn't mean try to fleece your opponent. It does mean capitalizing on an opponent's desperation to get a 52-48 win on a trade that you might not be able to make a week later. In this case, Allen's value has plummeted at the expense of Terrance West and former Seahawk Alex Collins. Everything in fantasy--*everything*--is about timing.
Jaguars -- Who would've thought the first time Blake Bortles would be pulled this year would be in a blowout win? My most aggressive preseason contrarian QB prediction was always expected to be a risky call. But Bortles played some very good football, and it's something he might be able to build on. While this is only one game, at the very least he needs to be viewed as a capable streaming option next week against the Jets.
Broncos -- As great as C.J. Anderson played in Week 2, Jamaal Charles isn't going anywhere. Charles has earned 10 touches in each of his three contests this season, and yesterday he found the end zone for the first time. It's a perpetual warning for those leaning on Anderson as an RB1 or even a weekly RB2: a healthy Charles isn't going anywhere.
Bills -- Zay Jones is rostered in over 90% of ESPN leagues. Admittedly, I was high on him this preseason. It should now be clear that he's droppable in all leagues.
Steelers -- Since the start of the 2014 seasons, Big Ben has a pedestrian 25 TDs and 23 interceptions on the road, vs. a phenomenal 61/16 split at home. For a variety of reasons--including that one--he'll sit on my bench in next week's tilt in Baltimore.
Bears -- Jordan Howard returns with a vengeance. Earlier in the day, the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport stated that Chicago's lead back has been playing through a sprained AC joint. During his early-season struggles, there was nothing to be done but wait it out. Those who didn't panic have reaped--and will continue to reap--the rewards. Tarik Cohen is exceptional as a complementary back. But Howard is the only RB in that backfield with the size and skill-set to be a bell-cow.
Falcons -- Matt Ryan has looked downright ordinary thru three games. Many predicted last season's breakout would not be replicated. I actually see him as a fantastic buy-low candidate.
Lions -- While Ameer Abdullah isn't running exceptionally well, he's unequivocally Detroit's lead running back, picking up 17+ touches per game. His respectable passing game role (two games with three receptions each) will keep him in the weekly RB2 conversation.
Browns -- For more than a year I've conveyed public dismay at Duke Johnson's under-utilization. He netted his first TD of the year yesterday and would be a candidate for 10+ if he earned the touches he deserves.
Colts -- I've been consistent about Jacoby Brissett since Indy acquired him: brilliant trade and impressive upside. If you listened to my 4:44 podcast over the weekend, you heard why Brissett and T.Y. Hilton were massively undervalued in Week 3. Cleveland's D had something to do with this tandem going off. But that's kind of the point, at least in Brissett's case: buckets of points are available every week if you look in the right places.
Buccaneers -- Dozens of you asked sit/start questions this past week that revolved around Jacquizz Rodgers. Each time I urged you to bench him. He's a sub-par RB who was facing an elite D. Rodgers has one more chance to be relevant. Doug Martin should earn a majority of the backfield touches when he returns.
Vikings -- Stefon Diggs enjoyed a monumental performance. I recommended him and Adam Thielen a couple of times this week, but admittedly didn't view either of them as more than WR3s. Minnesota somehow has two WR1s despite Case Keenum starting two of three games. It's a bizarre enough turn of events to make one abandon all earthly possessions and head for a nearby mountain.
Texans -- Last weekend Deshaun Watson showed poise. Yesterday he showed brilliance. To make your second NFL start in New England and almost pull off the upset . . . remarkable. Although there will be ups and downs, Houston has to feel good about its prospects not only next season, but this season.
Patriots -- I took some heat for advising readers to buy low on Brandin Cooks, to roster him in DFS, and to generally accept the premise that he's "too good to be shut down for long." It doesn't matter how many weapons Tom Brady has. Cooks has the highest ceiling of any Brady target since 2007's Randy Moss.
Giants -- It took over three quarters, but Eli Manning and his offense finally started clicking Sunday. I remain as convinced as I was this summer that OBJ, Brandon Marshall, Sterling Shepard, and Evan Engram can lead Eli to consistent fantasy startability. We'll know in a couple weeks whether Week 3 was a fluke or a turning point.
Eagles -- My view last week that LeGarrette Blount was droppable clearly was way off. Blount and Wendell Smallwood went toe-to-toe after Darren Sproles left early with a broken arm. My money remains on Smallwood; I don't trust Blount. But hats off to those who didn't give up on him.
Dolphins -- There was so much talk entering Sunday that Jay Ajayi would go off against the lowly Jets. Yet another fantasy surprise in a season full of 'em. I remain skeptical about Ajayi's RB1 prospects, for all the reasons I've mentioned these past few months.
Jets -- Bilal Powell led the backfield in carries and rushing yards and also found the end zone. But it was not a promising showing. While Elijah McGuire's fumble might give Powell and Matt Forte a little breathing room, the writing has been on the wall since August.
Saints -- The backfield remains muddled. It's hard to start Mark Ingram, AP, or Alvin Kamara. The odds are good that one will be traded or sidelined during this season. In the meantime, it's a weekly coin flip, with Mark Ingram offering the highest floor.
Panthers -- Cam Newton doesn't look well. And Kelvin Benjamin's hurt. That's a ton of fantasy implications wrapped up in the fates of Carolina's two highest impact offensive players.
Seahawks -- I warned fantasy managers last week to hold tight on Russell Wilson. At some point, the team would turn things around. FF4W commenter Robbie Lange even presented stats to readers showing how great Wilson in the second half of seasons. I just didn't think the turnaround would happen so quickly.
Titans -- I also warned readers that a healthy DeMarco Murray wasn't going anywhere. If you sold very high on Derrick Henry (some of you did), congratulations. Now he's back to being fantasy's #1 handcuff, while Murray resumes his 1A backfield role.
Bengals -- Cincinnati had to figure things out after a horrific start to the season. Too bad it came against the Packers; they would have beaten most teams yesterday. The big story was Joe Mixon earning 21 touches. This will be the new norm, and it will reward all those who--whether on your own or with persistent prodding by me and others on this page--waited patiently for the rookie to assume his rightful place atop the depth chart.
Packers -- Is Geronimo Allison that good? Well, it's concerning if you have Randall Cobb, who might not be back for Week 4. Allison has little stand-alone value at the moment, but is worth a speculative add if you can afford to stash him a couple weeks to see if he can carve out a WR3/4 role.
Chiefs -- Is there anything Kareem Hunt can't do? No, no there isn't. He and fellow rookie Dalvin Cook are arguably the top two RBs in fantasy.
Chargers -- Blame Kansas City's D on Philip Rivers' atrocious outing. The bigger story is Travis Benjamin, who's making a claim as Rivers' #2 target--not bad for a guy barely drafted this summer.
Raiders -- I went against the grain big-time on this blog and in my podcast, warning against the overvalued Derek Carr playing in Washington. The Redskins have an underrated D, and Carr & company looked lost. This is yet another reason why we shouldn't start someone simply because they were good last week.
Redskins -- Samaje Perine fumbled and Chris Thompson dominated. That's all you need to know. Perine can be dropped in many leagues (see Exhibit A: Matt Jones), while Thompson is making me look like an idiot--and is making some of you look like geniuses.
(1) My "DFS 50/50 Lineup of the Week" hit big despite Kelvin Benjamin's early-game injury, James White's scant usage, and Eric Ebron's abysmal efficiency (two receptions for nine yards on seven targets). The little-used Brandin Cooks proved to be the difference maker, showing once again that a great player's previous performance has no bearing on his next one.
(2) My Week 3 bargains/busts podcast hit more than 50% with one or two players going tonight. Remember, these are contrarian positions that most would have advised against:
https://soundcloud.com/user-780565013/ff4w-2017-09-23
---
And with that, here's the weekly breakdown of each Sunday team's most notable fantasy impact:
Ravens -- Baltimore might be the NFL's worst 2-1 team. In the fantasy realm, though, some of you were shocked to see Buck Allen's disappearing act. 28 yards on 13 touches? This is why I'm constantly banging the "sell high" drum. That doesn't mean try to fleece your opponent. It does mean capitalizing on an opponent's desperation to get a 52-48 win on a trade that you might not be able to make a week later. In this case, Allen's value has plummeted at the expense of Terrance West and former Seahawk Alex Collins. Everything in fantasy--*everything*--is about timing.
Jaguars -- Who would've thought the first time Blake Bortles would be pulled this year would be in a blowout win? My most aggressive preseason contrarian QB prediction was always expected to be a risky call. But Bortles played some very good football, and it's something he might be able to build on. While this is only one game, at the very least he needs to be viewed as a capable streaming option next week against the Jets.
Broncos -- As great as C.J. Anderson played in Week 2, Jamaal Charles isn't going anywhere. Charles has earned 10 touches in each of his three contests this season, and yesterday he found the end zone for the first time. It's a perpetual warning for those leaning on Anderson as an RB1 or even a weekly RB2: a healthy Charles isn't going anywhere.
Bills -- Zay Jones is rostered in over 90% of ESPN leagues. Admittedly, I was high on him this preseason. It should now be clear that he's droppable in all leagues.
Steelers -- Since the start of the 2014 seasons, Big Ben has a pedestrian 25 TDs and 23 interceptions on the road, vs. a phenomenal 61/16 split at home. For a variety of reasons--including that one--he'll sit on my bench in next week's tilt in Baltimore.
Bears -- Jordan Howard returns with a vengeance. Earlier in the day, the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport stated that Chicago's lead back has been playing through a sprained AC joint. During his early-season struggles, there was nothing to be done but wait it out. Those who didn't panic have reaped--and will continue to reap--the rewards. Tarik Cohen is exceptional as a complementary back. But Howard is the only RB in that backfield with the size and skill-set to be a bell-cow.
Falcons -- Matt Ryan has looked downright ordinary thru three games. Many predicted last season's breakout would not be replicated. I actually see him as a fantastic buy-low candidate.
Lions -- While Ameer Abdullah isn't running exceptionally well, he's unequivocally Detroit's lead running back, picking up 17+ touches per game. His respectable passing game role (two games with three receptions each) will keep him in the weekly RB2 conversation.
Browns -- For more than a year I've conveyed public dismay at Duke Johnson's under-utilization. He netted his first TD of the year yesterday and would be a candidate for 10+ if he earned the touches he deserves.
Colts -- I've been consistent about Jacoby Brissett since Indy acquired him: brilliant trade and impressive upside. If you listened to my 4:44 podcast over the weekend, you heard why Brissett and T.Y. Hilton were massively undervalued in Week 3. Cleveland's D had something to do with this tandem going off. But that's kind of the point, at least in Brissett's case: buckets of points are available every week if you look in the right places.
Buccaneers -- Dozens of you asked sit/start questions this past week that revolved around Jacquizz Rodgers. Each time I urged you to bench him. He's a sub-par RB who was facing an elite D. Rodgers has one more chance to be relevant. Doug Martin should earn a majority of the backfield touches when he returns.
Vikings -- Stefon Diggs enjoyed a monumental performance. I recommended him and Adam Thielen a couple of times this week, but admittedly didn't view either of them as more than WR3s. Minnesota somehow has two WR1s despite Case Keenum starting two of three games. It's a bizarre enough turn of events to make one abandon all earthly possessions and head for a nearby mountain.
Texans -- Last weekend Deshaun Watson showed poise. Yesterday he showed brilliance. To make your second NFL start in New England and almost pull off the upset . . . remarkable. Although there will be ups and downs, Houston has to feel good about its prospects not only next season, but this season.
Patriots -- I took some heat for advising readers to buy low on Brandin Cooks, to roster him in DFS, and to generally accept the premise that he's "too good to be shut down for long." It doesn't matter how many weapons Tom Brady has. Cooks has the highest ceiling of any Brady target since 2007's Randy Moss.
Giants -- It took over three quarters, but Eli Manning and his offense finally started clicking Sunday. I remain as convinced as I was this summer that OBJ, Brandon Marshall, Sterling Shepard, and Evan Engram can lead Eli to consistent fantasy startability. We'll know in a couple weeks whether Week 3 was a fluke or a turning point.
Eagles -- My view last week that LeGarrette Blount was droppable clearly was way off. Blount and Wendell Smallwood went toe-to-toe after Darren Sproles left early with a broken arm. My money remains on Smallwood; I don't trust Blount. But hats off to those who didn't give up on him.
Dolphins -- There was so much talk entering Sunday that Jay Ajayi would go off against the lowly Jets. Yet another fantasy surprise in a season full of 'em. I remain skeptical about Ajayi's RB1 prospects, for all the reasons I've mentioned these past few months.
Jets -- Bilal Powell led the backfield in carries and rushing yards and also found the end zone. But it was not a promising showing. While Elijah McGuire's fumble might give Powell and Matt Forte a little breathing room, the writing has been on the wall since August.
Saints -- The backfield remains muddled. It's hard to start Mark Ingram, AP, or Alvin Kamara. The odds are good that one will be traded or sidelined during this season. In the meantime, it's a weekly coin flip, with Mark Ingram offering the highest floor.
Panthers -- Cam Newton doesn't look well. And Kelvin Benjamin's hurt. That's a ton of fantasy implications wrapped up in the fates of Carolina's two highest impact offensive players.
Seahawks -- I warned fantasy managers last week to hold tight on Russell Wilson. At some point, the team would turn things around. FF4W commenter Robbie Lange even presented stats to readers showing how great Wilson in the second half of seasons. I just didn't think the turnaround would happen so quickly.
Titans -- I also warned readers that a healthy DeMarco Murray wasn't going anywhere. If you sold very high on Derrick Henry (some of you did), congratulations. Now he's back to being fantasy's #1 handcuff, while Murray resumes his 1A backfield role.
Bengals -- Cincinnati had to figure things out after a horrific start to the season. Too bad it came against the Packers; they would have beaten most teams yesterday. The big story was Joe Mixon earning 21 touches. This will be the new norm, and it will reward all those who--whether on your own or with persistent prodding by me and others on this page--waited patiently for the rookie to assume his rightful place atop the depth chart.
Packers -- Is Geronimo Allison that good? Well, it's concerning if you have Randall Cobb, who might not be back for Week 4. Allison has little stand-alone value at the moment, but is worth a speculative add if you can afford to stash him a couple weeks to see if he can carve out a WR3/4 role.
Chiefs -- Is there anything Kareem Hunt can't do? No, no there isn't. He and fellow rookie Dalvin Cook are arguably the top two RBs in fantasy.
Chargers -- Blame Kansas City's D on Philip Rivers' atrocious outing. The bigger story is Travis Benjamin, who's making a claim as Rivers' #2 target--not bad for a guy barely drafted this summer.
Raiders -- I went against the grain big-time on this blog and in my podcast, warning against the overvalued Derek Carr playing in Washington. The Redskins have an underrated D, and Carr & company looked lost. This is yet another reason why we shouldn't start someone simply because they were good last week.
Redskins -- Samaje Perine fumbled and Chris Thompson dominated. That's all you need to know. Perine can be dropped in many leagues (see Exhibit A: Matt Jones), while Thompson is making me look like an idiot--and is making some of you look like geniuses.