Back with another edition of “Bargains and Bust” -- the Week 3 edition. First off is this week’s consensus (based on 82 experts compiled by Fantasy Pros) 22nd-ranked QB Ryan Tannehill in a home game against Oakland. The Raiders have recorded only two sacks while yielding 26.5 points per game. Rarely can we say an 0-2 team is “reeling,” but Gruden’s Raiders will throw the kitchen sink at Miami Sunday, and Tannehill has the tools to thrown it right back. I also like Jared Goff (16th) as a QB1 at home against the Chargers, while Russell Wilson (14th) is ridiculously undervalued in a home contest against Dallas; Wilson is an easy top-10 option. Finally, Derek Carr will throw the kitchen sink at Miami, making his #24 ranking way too low.
On the flip side, I’m wary of Drew Brees (4th) in a huge game in Atlanta. I believe the Falcons will limit him to no better than a 225/2/1 line, making Brees a borderline QB1 at best.
At running back, Latavius Murray is obviously a bargain at his #31 RB ranking, so it wouldn’t be fair to count him this week, because many experts ranked him before Dalvin Cook was declared “out” for Week 3. The same goes for Corey Clement (24th), who yesterday was declared the starter with Jay Ajayi officially sidelined.
So we need to look deeper, starting with Theo Riddick (36th), in a game where Matthew Stafford could be throwing 40+ times. I also like Tarik Cohen (40th) getting more involved in a very winnable game against a reeling Cardinals franchise. And Chris Carson is bizarrely undervalued as the 42nd-ranked Week 3 RB. Sure he struggled against the Bears. But he’ll get more run versus Dallas.
On the flip side, I’m putting the brakes on the seemingly unstoppable Melvin Gordon (4th); he won’t be an RB1 against the Rams. And while Giovani Bernard earns his first start with Joe Mixon shelved, his #11 ranking is way too optimistic. He won’t finish inside the top 18.
At wideout, D.J. Moore (69th) is a shocking flyer with the expectation the first-round rookie will get more involved in the offense. Out in Oakland, something has to give, and I believe Jordy Nelson (56th) will be force-fed enough balls to make him a streamer. Dante Pettis (54th) will rebound from last week’s letdown regardless of whether Marquise Goodwin starts. And Tyler Lockett is a steal at his #38 ranking.
On the flip side, Devante Adams (12th) concerns me with Aaron Rodgers still hobbled, and facing an underrated Washington D. And Demaryius Thomas (25th) won’t get enough traction to warrant his low-end WR2 ranking versus a tough Baltimore pass D.
At tight end, I don’t understand why Virgil Green (35th) is ranked worse than teammate Antonio Gates. Green has top-25 appeal and gives desperate managers a shot at a cheap TD. My best fantasy friend Austin Hooper is once again getting zero love with a #17 ranking; you know what to do.
On the flip side, as talented as George Kittle is, his #4 ranking is insane, even against the beatable Chiefs defense. Kittle will be no better than a back-end TE1 this week. And the less-dependable-than-he-seems Evan Engram (8th) will fall outside the TE1 universe for the second time in three games.
On the flip side, I’m wary of Drew Brees (4th) in a huge game in Atlanta. I believe the Falcons will limit him to no better than a 225/2/1 line, making Brees a borderline QB1 at best.
At running back, Latavius Murray is obviously a bargain at his #31 RB ranking, so it wouldn’t be fair to count him this week, because many experts ranked him before Dalvin Cook was declared “out” for Week 3. The same goes for Corey Clement (24th), who yesterday was declared the starter with Jay Ajayi officially sidelined.
So we need to look deeper, starting with Theo Riddick (36th), in a game where Matthew Stafford could be throwing 40+ times. I also like Tarik Cohen (40th) getting more involved in a very winnable game against a reeling Cardinals franchise. And Chris Carson is bizarrely undervalued as the 42nd-ranked Week 3 RB. Sure he struggled against the Bears. But he’ll get more run versus Dallas.
On the flip side, I’m putting the brakes on the seemingly unstoppable Melvin Gordon (4th); he won’t be an RB1 against the Rams. And while Giovani Bernard earns his first start with Joe Mixon shelved, his #11 ranking is way too optimistic. He won’t finish inside the top 18.
At wideout, D.J. Moore (69th) is a shocking flyer with the expectation the first-round rookie will get more involved in the offense. Out in Oakland, something has to give, and I believe Jordy Nelson (56th) will be force-fed enough balls to make him a streamer. Dante Pettis (54th) will rebound from last week’s letdown regardless of whether Marquise Goodwin starts. And Tyler Lockett is a steal at his #38 ranking.
On the flip side, Devante Adams (12th) concerns me with Aaron Rodgers still hobbled, and facing an underrated Washington D. And Demaryius Thomas (25th) won’t get enough traction to warrant his low-end WR2 ranking versus a tough Baltimore pass D.
At tight end, I don’t understand why Virgil Green (35th) is ranked worse than teammate Antonio Gates. Green has top-25 appeal and gives desperate managers a shot at a cheap TD. My best fantasy friend Austin Hooper is once again getting zero love with a #17 ranking; you know what to do.
On the flip side, as talented as George Kittle is, his #4 ranking is insane, even against the beatable Chiefs defense. Kittle will be no better than a back-end TE1 this week. And the less-dependable-than-he-seems Evan Engram (8th) will fall outside the TE1 universe for the second time in three games.