Letdowns and surprises have been the theme over the first two weeks of the season, but that’s just because it has only been two weeks. Now is when we see who the real fantasy stars are as outlier 33-point games from Chad Henne are brought back down to earth.
The Chiefs team as a whole gets a lot of attention this week due mainly to the injury of Jamaal Charles, which opens up some opportunities for other guys on that squad.
The game itself is changing with the way teams throw the ball. Yes running backs are still important but QBs and WRs are becoming the high scorers week in and week out. Don’t be late to the party.
Fantasy Football Week 3 Stock Up
QB Colt McCoy
No, Colt is not the caliber of player as Matt Schaub or Tom Brady, but in terms of fantasy value, the Dolphins defense offers a lot of opportunity for the 2nd year vet.
Two things jump out at me when you look at him this week. First, the Browns throw the ball a lot in that West Coast system; and second, Miami’s best corner Vonte Davis is out with a hamstring injury. Couldn’t get a much more favorable matchup than this.
QB Kevin Kolb
The Cards go up against a defense that is slightly underrated. Be that as it may, the Seattle offense is so inept that 3 and outs have become the norm and the defense is forced to stay on the field. The defense is averaging over 35 minutes on the field, which is going to create many opportunities for Kolb this week.
RB Jahvid Best
Forget all the talk about the Detroit defense, this offense is putting up some serious numbers. It seems as if the NFL these days is a pass-first, run-second league, but running backs are still putting up numbers. The best thing about Best is his versatility and ability to score points from catching passes out of the backfield as he has been targeted 13 times so far this year.
Chargers RBs
If you are looking for the KC defense to rebound after two straight weeks of getting burned for 40 points, this isn’t the week. San Diego really knows how to spread the wealth around when it comes to their skill players. On the year, Mike Tolbert and Ryan Mathews are ranked 8th and 11th for fantasy RBs and average 20 plus touches each week.
WR David Nelson
This is going to be the week in which we find out if the Bills and their 4 wide receiver offense are for real. It might sound crazy but against the Patriots, (who aren’t exactly ball hawking this year so far) another 30-point shootout could be in the works.
WR Nate Burleson
Almost put Santana Moss in this spot, but you already know about him, so enough about Moss and more about the man opposite of “Megatron” in Detroit. Here is an equation to love: fantasy star Matthew Stafford + Minnesota run defense = Nate Burleson big day. It is looking like a 10-point day for the former Viking and a lot better option than Roy Williams, but more on that later.
TE Rob Gronkowski
While we were saying avoid him last week, and wrongly so, this week is the exact opposite. No Aaron Hernandez means no more competition for targets amongst TEs and more love from Tom Brady. Now who wouldn’t like that?
TE Fred Davis
After a few years of not living up to his potential, Davis looks like he has overtaken Chris Cooley as the number one fantasy option at tight end on the Redskins. Everyone seems to be expecting the Cowboys defense to have a big game with the rival skins coming to town but as Lee Corso would say, not so fast my friend! Fred Davis is looking to have a big day.
Fantasy Football Week 3 Stagnant Stock
Kansas City Backfield
It isn’t normal to do this, but of all the suggestions this could be the most honest one. Given the obvious, Jamaal Charles is done for the year and the Chiefs just don’t have the receiving options to sling the ball 45 times a game, so here is the deal: Dexter McCluster is small and can’t carry the ball 20 times a game; neither can Thomas Jones because he is a 33 year old RB in the NFL when the life expectancy is around four years; and the third option is Le’Ron McClain, who had a big year in Baltimore when he was one of the feature backs. Any of these guys could step up and be leaned upon in KC, so its vital to stay up to date with what is going on with that trio.
Fantasy Football Week 3 Stock Down
QB Sam Bradford
Maybe you have him starting on your team, then again maybe you shouldn’t. If Steven Jackson plays, the Ravens will have the choice of who they want to limit on Sunday. With the skill of their run defense, chances are Bradford is going to have the cavalry thrown at him by way of the blitz.
QB Matt Cassel
I don’t know if LOL is appropriate for formal writing, but that is what I must say to the play of the 70% owned Cassel. The Chiefs have scored 10 points this year and Cassel has put up 3 points himself. Is it bad that he put up 6 of those points in week 1?
RB Shonn Greene
The experts and football heads all around the world can predict big things for anybody, but until they step up, it is best to leave them alone. The Raiders’ run defense is not as bad as it seems and with a more formal run game, the Jets don’t have the type of offense that gets guys in space like Buffalo does.
RB Joseph Addai
What is worse than a rookie taking away your carries? A visit from the run stopping Pittsburgh Steelers. You tend to feel a little bad for this guy, as his skills were fitting well with Peyton Manning. Check downs, protection changes, and change of pace run plays really let Addai do his thing. Now he is being leaned upon as the go-to guy in this offense and he just isn’t cut out for that.
WR Early Doucet
It was easy for fantasy owners to get excited about the 16 point game in week 1 against the Panthers but that is in the past. Why couldn’t he duplicate that performance against the Redskins? Why is water wet? All kidding aside, this NFC west matchup could go any way it wants to. Just don’t count on a double digit game until Kevin Kolb is truly comfortable with this offense.
WR DeSean Jackson
Fantasy Blasphemy! I just get the feeling that Tom Coughlin will do everything he can to make his day difficult.
TE Kellen Winslow
He’s projected as questionable for Sunday’s game vs Atlanta. Tampa Bay hasn’t seen the big numbers expected out of Winslow so far in 2011 but its only week 3. No need to panic about his production. Just give it some time before you expect the double digit games.
Bills D/ST
That 13 point outing in week 1 was against the hopeless Chiefs. Did you see what Jason Campbell did against this defense with a slew of his top receivers out? Oh yea, and add to the fact that New England will hang 59 points on a team if they feel like it, a negative
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