Week Three is here, and hopefully you aren’t 0-2. Don’t worry, it’s still not panic time…but it very well could be time to shake some things up. As always, let’s recap last week’s predictions before looking ahead.
Because we at MSF try our best to get you our Start Em, Sit Em picks before everyone else, we have to take a few chances. One of the downsides to coming out with these picks on Tuesday is that we won’t know all of the injury updates that come out later in the week. We answer your questions and update our predictions accordingly as more information comes out.
However, a few predictions didn’t pan out this week because of injuries (either during the game, or because guys with nagging injuries didn’t end up suiting up on Sunday)…so out of fairness to me, we are going to throw out Michael Vick, Felix Jones, and Dez Bryant.
So besides those guys who caught the injury bug, I went 29 out of 46 overall…a little under 65%. I improved from week one…and that’s exactly what you should try to do from week to week in fantasy.
If you missed the $250 MSF Week 1 Freeroll Challenge at FanDuel, shame on you. But the good news is that we’ll be doing another one in Week 3! Details to come soon.
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Fantasy Football Week Three
Also, don’t miss Andy Bottoms’ Week 3 waiver wire advice!
Week Two Recap
Best Player Predictions: 2 for 3
Picks: Ray Rice, Megatron, and Jermaine Gresham (Michael Vick)
Calvin Johnson had two TDs, and Rice still put up 15 fantasy points in a horrible week for Baltimore. Gresham, however, was a complete no-show. Unfortunately for him, AJ Green announced himself to the world this week, and Gresham didn’t get a lot of targets.
Start Em Predictions: 2.5 for 4
Picks: Tony Romo, Shonn Greene, Jabar Gaffney, and Dallas Clark
Romo was an absolute “hit” of a pick…and he didn’t even play the whole game. However, Greene, Gaffney, and Clark were all lukewarm. None of them killed you if you started them, but none of them really went out and crushed it either. Greene and Clark both got TDs to salvage their days, and Gaffney had a solid amount of yards with no TDs. I’m giving myself 1/2 points for all three of them.
Other Guys I Liked Predictions: 13 for 17
Hits: Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Phillip Rivers, Matthew Stafford, Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Darren Sproles, LeSean McCoy, Hakeem Nicks, Miles Austin, Jason Witten, Dustin Keller, and Aaron Hernandez
Misses: Kerry Collins, Devin Hester, Jacoby Jones, and Ed Dickson
Worst Player Predictions: 3 for 4
Picks: Cam Newton, DeAngelo Williams, Mike Thomas, and Brandon Pettigrew
Completely missed on the Auburn alum…and completely nailed the other three. I still find it hard to believe that Cam Newton is going to be doing this all year, but he is definitely worth a look right now, especially if you need a solid backup. Also, since I live in Charleston, SC, and am forced to have every single second of every Panther game shown to me on tv, I have to say I’ve loved the young guy’s attitude in both losses this year.
Sit Em Predictions: 0.5 for 4
Picks: Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Santonio Holmes, and Scott Chandler
Holmes scored a TD to salvage an otherwise mediocre day, so I’m giving myself a half point on that one. Other than that, Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and Chandler were all misses.
Other Guys I Didn’t Like Predictions: 8 for 14
Hits: Donovan McNabb, Sam Bradford, Colts’ RBs, LaDainian Tomlinson, Mark Ingram, Mike Thomas, Ben Watson, Greg Olsen, Todd Heap
Misses: Matt Hasselbeck, Sam Bradford, LeGarrette Blount, AJ Green, Steve Smith 1.0, and Dwyane Bowe.
On to Week Three!
Just a little clarification… “Top Performer” predictions can be anybody…I can put Tom Brady in there every single week if I want to (and by the looks of it, I may just have to do that). However, “Start Em” guys will be QBs/TEs outside of the Top 12 and RBs/WRs outside of the Top 25 at their position (unless, for some reason, a lot of people are predicting them to have a terrible week and I disagree). “Sit Em” guys will be QBs/TEs that are in the Top 12 and RBs/WRs that are in the Top 25 at their position.
Again, the goal of this article is to help you with the FRINGE guys…any idiot could sit down and predict, with great accuracy, that the top 10 fantasy QBs will have good weeks. At MSF, we try to help you with the difficult choices.
Fantasy Football Week 3 Start Em, Sit Em Projections: Quarterbacks
Projected Best Performer: Tom Brady
What? You were expecting someone else? It’s possible it will be incredibly windy in Buffalo this weekend…unfortunately, that is the Bills’ only hope at slowing down Justin Bieber on Sunday.
Tom Brady fantasy football Week 3 projection – 390 yards; 4 TDs, 1 INT
Projected Worst Performer: Matt Cassel
He’s been awful so far this year…and now he will be playing without his best offensive weapon against a team that will be trying to exact revenge after making so many dumb mistakes against the Pats last week.
Matt Cassel fantasy football Week Three projection – 195 yards; 1 TD, 3 INTs
Start Em QB: Rex Grossman
This is a combination of two things: I actually really like what Grossman has done so far this year; and the Cowboys’ secondary is terrible. The possibility exists that Washington will be in for a tough game on the road in Dallas, but I don’t think it will affect Grossman’s numbers very much on Monday Night.
Rex Grossman fantasy football Week 3 projection – 330 yards; 3 TDs, 1 INT
Other Start ’em QBs for Week 3:
- Philip Rivers – Always.
- Matt Stafford – As long as he’s healthy.
- Cam Newton – Home against Jacksonville…he should have a very solid day again.
- Matt Ryan – Big game against Tampa Bay.
Sit Em QB: Ryan Fitzpatrick
This might not sound like a huge leap of faith, but Fitzpatrick is currently the fifth overall ranked fantasy QB, and New England’s pass defense isn’t exactly spectacular. Nevertheless, I really don’t like Fitzpatrick this week.
If the Bills end up trailing by 14 or more early on (I think they will), Fitzpatrick won’t have the time to sit back in the pocket like he did against Oakland this week. NE will get him uncomfortable, and force him into a few more mistakes than normal.
Ryan Fitzpatrick fantasy football Week Three projection – 230 yards; 1 TD, 2 INTs
Other Sit ’em QBs for Week 3:
- Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler – (Relatively to what they will normally do)…I think the GB/CHI game will be a lot uglier than what people will be expecting.
- Donovan McNabb – Against Suh…yikes!
- Kerry Collins – Maybe the last game of his career.
Fantasy Football Week 3 Start Em, Sit em Projections: Running Backs
Projected Best Performer: Maurice Jones-Drew
Mo-Joe should get lots of carries if and when Blaine Gabbert starts on Sunday, and he will probably be fantastic until he dies in week 5 due to being unbelievably over-worked for the past twenty years.
Maurice Jones-Drew fantasy football Week 3 projection – 140 Rushing Yards, 1 TD; 85 Receiving Yards, 1 TD
Projected Worst Performer: Colts’ RBs
They are awful…and they will be playing Pittsburgh. There’s just nothing to like about the Colts’ offense this week.
Joseph Addai and Delone Carter fantasy football Week Three projection – 28 Rushing Yards TOTAL
Start Em RB: Rashard Mendenhall
I’m really down on Mendenhall this year, but against the Colts on Sunday Night, he will haul a lot people back onto his bandwagon.
Rashard Mendenhall fantasy football Week 3 projection – 115 Rushing Yards; 45 Receiving Yards, 1 TD
Other Start ’em RBs for Week 3:
- LeSean McCoy – Maybe no Vick…maybe tons of stats for the RB.
- Fred Jackson – Gets a surprising amount of yardage on the ground against NE.
- Ray Rice – Could be the overall top performer against St. Louis.
- Shonn Greene – The second of like six or seven straight great weeks for him.
Sit Em RB: Jahvid Best
I think the Lions will do pretty well against Minnesota this week, but I don’t necessarily love the matchup for Best. The Vikings’ D-Line is still solid, but more importantly, they have shown to be vulnerable in the air. Megatron and his friends will be targeted early and often…and for good reason.
Jahvid Best fantasy football Week Three projection – 45 Rushing Yards; 45 Receiving Yards
Other Sit ’em RBs for Week 3:
- Adrian Peterson – Ndomakong Suh (you’re still starting him of course, but temper expectations)
- Darren McFadden – Not against the Jets. He may break one big reception, but otherwise, he will be bottled up.
- Packers Running Backs – The platoon is killing both of them…and neither will run well in Chicago.
Fantasy Football Week 3 Start Em, Sit em Projections: Wide Receivers
Projected Best Performer: Brandon Marshall
Marshall will most likely be playing in an ugly game at Cleveland. Both teams will try to run the ball quite a bit in order to control the clock, and the passing games will be left out a little bit. That won’t be a problem for Marshall though. He will create matchup problems for the undersized Cleveland secondary all day, and while the Dolphins may lose, Marshall should have a big day.
Brandon Marshall fantasy football Week 3 projection – 8 Catches for 165 Yards and 1 TD.
Projected Worst Performer: Denarius Moore
Revis Island. Moving on.
Denarius Moore fantasy football Week Three projection – 1 Catch for 9 Yards
Start Em WR: Santana Moss
Moss is quietly having a very solid fantasy season once again. At this point, he is the 27th ranked WR, and he only has one TD meaning his value hasn’t been super inflated. He should have a great game against the soft Dallas secondary, and if the game turns into a high-scoring affair, Moss will get a lot of targets. Surprisingly, he’s still Washington’s big-play guy at this point in his career, and I expect him to break a couple on Monday Night.
Santana Moss fantasy football Week 3 projection – 9 Catches for 140 Yards and 1 TD.
Other Start ’em WRs for Week 3:
- Reggie Wayne – The only Colt player that will have a good week.
- Larry Fitzgerald – He is becoming more comfortable with Kolb…look out.
- AJ Green – I think he’s one of the top 5 talented WRs in the league already…and I’m not kidding. Just watch this. Plus, it looks like Andy Dalton knows that now as well.
- Steve Smith 1.0 – If Cam has a big day, Steve will have a big day.
Sit Em WR: Dwayne Bowe
Just a bad day to be a Chiefs fan. Cassel will most likely struggle, and San Diego will concentrate on shutting Bowe and the running game down. Last year against San Diego, Bowe combined for 2 catches and 16 yards…that’s the TOTAL for both games. Be very careful before Tasting the Dwayne Bowe this weekend.
Dwayne Bowe fantasy football Week Three projection – 3 Catches for 30 Yards.
Other Sit ’em WRs for Week 3:
- Julio Jones – I still don’t think he’s that good. He may break out in week 8, but he’s way too inconsistent to be looked at this early in his career. Just click on this article for proof.
- Jeremy Maclin – He and DeSean Jackson are just too inconsistent…but I think it’s Jackson’s turn this week to have a big week and Maclin will be left out.
- Santonio Holmes – Keller and Plaxico are options 1 and 2 in the red zone for the Jets right now. And Greene is probably #3.
Fantasy Football Week 3 Start em, Sit em Projections: Tight Ends
Projected Best Performer: Rob Gronkowski
This is a no-brainer. Hernandez is banged up and will miss a few games. Gronkowski may go for 400 yards in this offense right now.
Rob Gronkowski fantasy football Week 3 projection – 9 Catches for 145 Yards and 2 TDs.
Projected Worst Performer: Todd Heap
There is a reason that Baltimore let him go so easily…and you should let him go as well.
Todd Heap fantasy football Week Three projection – 0 Catches
Start Em TE: Brent Celek
If Vick is banged up and can’t go, or even if he is healthy but playing a little more conservatively, Celek should have a big game. Currently, he sits 30th overall in the TE rankings, but Celek owners should look forward to this Sunday.
Brent Celek fantasy football Week 3 projection – 8 Catches for 85 Yards and 1 TD.
Other Start ’em TEs for Week 3:
- Dustin Keller – Quickly becoming the Sanchize’s favorite target.
- Tony Gonzalez – He’s still got a little left in the tank…I was wrong.
- Jermaine Gresham
- Owen Daniels – High scoring affair against New Orleans…Schaub will look to him often to beat the Saints’ blitz.
Sit Em TE: Dallas Clark
I just hate the matchup. Polomalu will be ranging all over the middle of the field, and Collins will be on his back for much of the game. Clark may be needed to pass block more than normal, and he just won’t be able to get into the game at all.
Dallas Clark fantasy football Week 3 projection – 5 Catches for 40 Yards and 1 Fumble
Other Sit ‘Em TEs for Week 3:
- Scott Chandler – Don’t chase Touchdowns! They will end up disappointing you.
- Jimmy Graham – One of those weeks that Brees finds everybody but him.
- Ben Watson – The classic “I scored a TD early and I look better than I really am” guy. Take it out, and you have a guy with 6 catches for 61 yards. Not terrible…but not a starter in a league with less than 25 teams.
Good Luck in Week Three! As always, feel free to ask questions in the comment section, or on my twitter (@The_Dr_Twitch) or to our MSF Fantasy Twitter account (@FantasyMSF).
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