Picking on the Jets: DeVante Parker, Jarvis
Landry and Jay Ajayi will be popular plays in Week 3.
Grab a Helmet
DeVante
Parker, MIA – When I’m analyzing WR production before
my season-long drafts, the first thing I do is look at is the quarterback
who’ll be getting him the ball, then determine the skill set and
system and determine if it’s a good marriage. Because of this, I
was wary of drafting Parker, who’ll usually draw the best opposing
CB and I was skeptical of Cutler’s abilities. That being said, this
week is a fine spot to endorse Parker, as Cutler projects to be
a Top 15 QB and the Jets defense is ranked in the bottom five against
the pass. Parker is healthy, ready to build upon his Week 2 performance
of 4-85-0 (on 9 targets), and haul in his first TD catch of 2017.
The Jets don’t have a DB who can handle him.
Ted
Ginn Jr. @ CAR – Here’s our chance to take a quick stroll
down narrative street, where a matchup with Ginn’s old team could
prove to be a favorable one. Drew Brees has a bevy of receivers
at his disposal, and while it’s tricky to pick the right one, my
guess is that Ginn gets loose for deep score. The return of Willie
Snead isn’t for another week, and there should be plenty of attention
on Michel Thomas to allow Ginn some deep shots. The Panthers defense
is a tough group, but I picture the scoring to get into the high
40s or low 50s (O/U opened at 49), which bodes well for a 4-60-1
baseline for Ginn.
Cooper
Kupp @ SF – Kupp is exactly the receiver that Jared Goff
needed – a guy with refined route-running skills, especially for
a rookie. He’s also the type of receiver that could pose problems
for the 49ers and their banged-up defense. Now missing strong safety
Eric Reid for multiple weeks and Reuben Foster for at least Week
3, this game looks like it’ll be a lot of Todd Gurley and 8-10 targets
for Kupp. Kupp has already posted 7-109-1 over his two first games
in the league working primarily from the slot – a vicinity that
could pose problems to a defense missing its starting WLB and SS.
I could see Kupp having his highest target volume of the season
so far and easily returning serviceable WR3/flex numbers for 12-team
leagues.
Grab Some Wood
Emmanuel
Sanders @ BUF – Sanders is a sneaky good receiver who
rarely disappoints, even without Peyton Manning or a star QB throwing
him the rock. He’s a solid Top 25 fantasy WR who rarely drops
the ball. In fact, @PFF
tweeted in May that Sanders dropped just one catchable target
in 2016, a hard-to-believe but verifiable (and true) stat. So,
what’s not to like? For one, the Bills have an excellent secondary,
and a few defensive weaknesses in the front seven that the Broncos
are more likely to attack with their stable of talented running
backs. It’s going to be very difficult to sit Sanders if you don’t
have an obvious replacement, but in 10-team leagues there are
probably a few matchups that might yield better results like Devin
Funchess @ NO or J.J. Nelson vs. DAL.
T.Y.
Hilton v. CLE – A little further down the consensus
rankings we’ll find Hilton, who is anxiously awaiting the return
of Andrew Luck. I know that some fantasy owners looked at his
relentless consistency in the past few years, but 2017 is a different
animal, and the fantasy football gods have been stingy to several
perennial performers. The key to this game is adapting to trends
and accepting that certain personnel pairings just aren’t making
hay, and while it’s not outside the realm of possibility that
Hilton makes for decent WR2 this week, I’m not counting on it.
I’m steering clear of the Colts receivers until Luck is back and
heaving it to Hilton.
DeSean
Jackson @ MIN – Most of what I said about Winston’s
Week 3 prospects could be reprinted here, and while Jackson could
see a bunch of targets and haul in a few of them, Mike Evans is
still the guy Winston leans on. I see myself peppering a lot of
lineups with Jackson during the second half of the season if he’s
healthy (and making some offers to his frustrated owners) after
Jackson has had a few weeks to gel with his QB, but for now I’m
staying away until I see he’s not a disgruntled employee
in his current work environment. There’s some upside here
if you want to stretch your imagination, but I’d rather
play it safe with guys like Kupp or shoot even higher with Ginn
– both of whom are further down the FFToday and consensus
rankings.
