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Inside the Matchup
Week 3
9/21/16; Updated: 9/23/16

By: Sal Marcoccio | Jason Katz | Nick Caron | Jake Gordon



HOU @ NE | MIN @ CAR | BAL @ JAX | OAK @ TEN

LAR @ TB | SD @ IND | ATL @ NO | DEN @ CIN

DET @ GB | SF @ SEA | NYJ @ KC | WAS @ NYG

CLE @ MIA | ARI @ BUF | CHI @ DAL | PIT@ CIN


Notes:
- Green highllight indicates plus matchup (top eight)
- Red highlight indicates negative matchup (bottom eight)

Texans @ Patriots - (Katz)

Passing Game Thoughts: The new look Texans are 2-0, but if you’re looking for a reason why, start with the defense. The Texans are functioning as “Denver-lite” with the defense carrying the quarterback. While Brock Osweiler is certainly better than Trevor Siemian, he hasn’t looked like a franchise QB, but rather just a guy filling the spot. With that being said, it’s worked out great for DeAndre Hopkins and rookie sensation Will Fuller. I will admit – I was not on the Fuller bandwagon this off-season. I thought he was just a burner who couldn’t catch. However, he has full control of the No.2 wide receiver job and while the drops are still there, he looks like a legitimate option. Hopkins remains the focal point of this passing game, but through two weeks, there have been enough opportunities for both (Hopkins-19 targets, Fuller-18 targets). However, this is not an easy matchup going into New England and it’s hard to know what to expect given the Patriots QB situation likely altering their game plan. Last year, Belichick erased DHop (3-52-0). There are fears he may do it again.

NE FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.8
NE FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.17
NE FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.4
NE FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.12

Running Game Thoughts: Lamar Miller’s transition from Houston to Miami was a hot topic among fantasy owners during the pre-season. Through two weeks Miller’s increased workload (59 touches) has come with decreased efficiency (3.6 ypc). However, that does not mean Lamar Miller isn’t still an RB1. Far worse players have produced on volume alone. Miller has received 85 percent of the RB carries (53-of-62) in Houston through two weeks. He is an above average NFL talent and still one of the better running backs in the league. He should remain a low end RB1 this week against a Patriots defense sitting in the middle of the pack in FPts Allowed to running backs.

Value Meter:
QB2: Brock Osweiler (mid-range)
RB1: Lamar Miller (low end)
WR1: DeAndre Hopkins (mid-range)
WR3: Will Fuller (high end)

Passing Game Thoughts: Did you know that the Patriots backup quarterback by the end of last week’s game was Julian Edelman? Yeah, things are that bad for the Patriots right now. Bill Belichick has this aura surrounding him that he can win with any warm body under center. That’s about to get legitimately put to the test as third round rookie Jacoby Brissett will make his first career start…on a short week…against the Texans defense. Jimmy Garoppolo (18-27, 234, 3 TD) looked like a top half of the league QB as he picked apart the hapless Dolphins secondary last week. Then he took a hard fall on his right shoulder. Unfortunately, this likely marks the end of the Garoppolo era in New England. He’s apparently been under pressure from the Patriots to get himself ready for Thursday night, but it’s simply not happening. Brissett will start this week and likely next and then the prodigal son returns. So what does this all mean for the next two weeks and Thursday night in particular? When Garoppolo went down, the Patriots led 24-3. The game ended with Tannehill having a shot at a game tying drive. Julian Edelman was catching everything in the first half. That promptly ended once Brissett took over. Basically, the offense stalled. It would certainly help if Rob Gronkowski (hamstring) returned this week, but I’d bet against that. All Patriots must be downgraded.

HOU FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.31
HOU FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.25
HOU FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.24
HOU FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.29

Running Game Thoughts: LeGarrette Blount saw 29 carries last week, which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise given that the majority of them were in the second half, after Garoppolo went down. James White was splitting snaps with D.J. Foster but neither of them has any value, even in PPR leagues. Blount figures to be leaned on heavily again as Belichick’s plan will be to slow down the game as much as possible. Blount hasn’t been efficient (3.8 ypc), but has been effective (2 TDs). He’s a decent bet to push 30 carries on Thursday night.

Value Meter:
RB2: LeGarrette Blount (mid-range)
WR3: Julian Edelman (QB dependent, Pats starting 3rd-string QB)
TE1: Rob Gronkowski (he’ll be fine if he plays, but don’t count on it)
TE2: Martellus Bennett (will suffer from the QB situation)
Bench: James White, Chris Hogan, Danny Amendola, Martellus Bennett (if Gronk plays)

Prediction: Texans 19, Patriots 15 ^ Top

Vikings at Panthers - (Gordon)

Passing Game Thoughts: Stefon Diggs is red hot with back-to-back 100 yard games and has solidified his role as the team’s top receiving option. He will continue to be a highly targeted fantasy option but he’ll be drawing more attention from Carolina this week. The Panthers have allowed the second fewest fantasy points to receivers in 2016 and without Adrian Peterson you can bet the Panthers will be giving Diggs plenty of attention. It’s tough to sit a guy that has had this strong of a start but if you got Diggs as a mid-to-late rounder you probably have better options this week. Kyle Rudolph has rekindled his fantasy value and should be a steady performer this week. The Norte Dame alum has two touchdowns in three career games versus Carolina and the Vikings he ranks second on the team in targets. Sam Bradford proved that he keep this offense afloat but he only through 31 passes in Week 2 and could see even fewer opportunities on Sunday so keep him benched.

CAR FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.18
CAR FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.6
CAR FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.31
CAR FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.10

Running Game Thoughts: Adrian Peterson’s meniscus injury is a devastating blow to the Vikings offense but Jerick McKinnon has had success filling in for AP in the past. Those who were smart enough to stash him or claim him this week should have a capable RB2 most weeks. Of course playing the reigning NFC Conference Champions is one of the exceptions. Quite frankly, we don’t fully know whether or not the coaching staff will mix in Matt Asiata or give him a 50-percent stake in the team’s rushing attempts. Ronnie Hillman, signed this week, will probably steal a few carries too making this RBBC a headache for Week 3. McKinnon’s receiving skills give him enough of a boost to be a solid RB3 this week in PPR leagues, but he’s a shaky flex option in standard leagues. Asiata and Hillman should be owned in deep leagues but I wouldn’t want to plug either into my starting lineup.

Value Meter:
WR3: Stefon Diggs
FLEX: Jerick McKinnon (PPR only)
TE1: Kyle Rudolph
Bench: Sam Bradford, Matt Asiata, Ronnie Hillman, Charles Johnson, Laquon Treadwell

Passing Game Thoughts: Kelvin Benjamin and Cam Newton look unstoppable. Newton has looked for “13” on just over 28 percent of his passing attempts through two weeks. With the ground game losing Jonathan Stewart that number could grow in Week 3. Nevertheless, Minnesota’s pass rush is for real. Cam isn’t the easiest guy to bring down but the guys in purple will be plenty disruptive-especially if the running game doesn’t get the job done. Greg Olsen is coming off his first 100-yard performance and remains a fixture in fantasy lineups. At some point Carolina will be forced to lean more heavily on their secondary receivers but the match up isn’t great this week. Ted Guinn, Jr. (3 receptions on 5 targets) and Devin Funchess (3 receptions on 8 targets) are looking like fantasy bench warmers until the bye weeks roll around.

MIN FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.11
MIN FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.24
MIN FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.26
MIN FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.22

Running Game Thoughts: Jonathan Stewart was hurt at the end of last season and still dealt with injuries during the preseason. However, Carolina didn’t do anything to bring in depth at the position and now will need to rely on lesser talents to keep the Panthers winning ways going in Week 3. Minnesota is one of only three teams that have yet to allow 100 rushing yards on the season and the Panthers will be relying on a three-headed RBBC to get the hob done at home. Fozzy Whittaker finished with 16 carries in relief of Stewy last week but he won’t be asked to carry the load. With a full week to prepare, expect Cameron Artis-Payne to open the game as the starter and be used in a more classic early down role. Whittaker figures to see more touches than he typically would but I’m not sold on him reaching double-digit carries unless his backfield mates are truly ineffective. Mike Tolbert will probably draw the short straw in this game with the team keeping him in more of a fullback role. Deep leaguers might gamble on Artis-Payne in standard leagues while Whitaker is in flex limbo for PPR owners. Considering Cam Newton has 44 career rushing touchdowns and Artis-Payne has 45 career carries none of Carolina’s running backs offers the upside you want out of a flex starter.

Value Meter:
QB1: Cam Newton
WR1: Kelvin Benjamin
FLEX: Cameron Artis-Payne (deep leagues only)
TE1: Greg Olsen
Bench: Fozzy Whittaker, Mike Tolbert, Devin Funchess, Ted Ginn Jr.

Prediction: Panthers 26, Vikings 17 ^ Top

Ravens at Jaguars - (Gordon)

Passing Game Thoughts: Mike Wallace has three scores in two games making him a must own player in all formats. Former Raven Torrey Smith notched eleven touchdowns in his last season in Baltimore; however that was before Marc Trestman took over as the OC. The jury is still out on whether Wallace can be a weekly fixture in your lineup, but he remains a solid starting option as a WR3 or Flex going up against a defense that has already allowed five touchdown passes through the air. Under that same context, Joe Flacco is a borderline starter this week as well. The Ravens’ signal caller is never a sexy choice but he threw for over 300 yards and three scores against the Jags last season and has just enough talent around him to repeat that success. Dennis Pitta made a statement a week ago by going over the century mark on twelve targets. He has showed plenty of promise when healthy and could shape up to be a fringe starter/match up TE2. However, I’d suggest waiting another week to see if his usage in the offense remains consistent enough before plugging him into the lineup. The only other receiver to garner more than two targets in a game has been Breshad Perriman. He has only played in about 30-percent of Baltimore’s offensive snaps and shouldn’t see an increase this week.

JAC FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.6
JAC FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.23
JAC FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.5
JAC FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.21

Running Game Thoughts: This backfield situation is currently at about a 50-50 split between Justin Forsett and Terrance West so theoretically there is a chance that somebody will have fantasy appeal this week. However, the Jags’ run defense continues to be solid after allowing a total of 210 yards and a lone rushing touchdown through two weeks of action. The Ravens struggle to run the ball (under 90 total rushing yards in both games this season) washes away any hope for Forsett or West being a productive fantasy back in Week 3. Considering this RBBC may become a bloated four-man amoeba if Javorius Allen is given a shot and Kenneth Dixon remains on schedule in his rehab from a sprained MCL, you may want to consider abandoning ship sooner than later.

Value Meter:
QB1: Joe Flacco
WR2: Mike Wallace
FLEX: Steve Smith
TE2: Dennis Pitta
Bench: Justin Forsett, Terrance West, Breshad Perriman

Passing Game Thoughts: Add Allen Robinson’s name to the potential bust list after two weeks of play although I wouldn’t worry too much about Robinson considering the offense hasn’t really offered much of a threat in the rushing game to keep defenses honest. The Jags’ top man on the outside has still posted one game with a whopping 15 targets (vs. GB) and another with his typical high-end YPC (18.0 at SD). Baltimore is a challenging opponent but QB Blake Bortles was able to find Robinson for a touchdown last season when these two teams met so he remains a must start. Allen Hurns hasn’t been the one capitalizing on Allen Robinson’s slow start. In fact, since Week 10 of last season, Hurns has more games with single digit fantasy points (6) in standard scoring leagues than he does with double-digit scoring weeks (3). The team isn’t going to throw as often this season if it can get the running game on track and Julius Thomas is the preferred option in the red zone. Thomas is off to a promising start averaging six receptions and 67.5 receiving yards in two games. He probably rounds out the top ten tight ends this week as a player that may need a touchdown to prop up his final tally against the Ravens. Marquis Lee’s final stat line included seven targets. He looks like the next best receiving option on this team and is a player with upside if an injury were to occur.

BAL FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.30
BAL FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.13
BAL FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.27
BAL FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.25

Running Game Thoughts: T.J. Yeldon’s performance over the first two weeks has only proved the Jags brass correct in their assessment of the running attack following the 2015 campaign. Yeldon’s 2.4 YPC through two weeks just isn’t equipped to provide this team with enough punch to keep the offense out of third and long situations. Furthermore, the team is coming off a game against the Chargers where its quarterback led the team in rushing yards. Boasting a career 4.6 YPC, Chris Ivory has returned to practice this week and is on track to give this offense a true between the tackles bruiser. Baltimore has been strong against the run thus far but not impenetrable. If Ivory is healthy enough to play he should approach 15 carries and has considerable touchdown upside if the team gets in close. If things go according to plan, fantasy owners should be able to expect both Yeldon and Ivory to be flex options in any given week. Ivory’s return would push Denard Robinson back down the depth chart and off the fantasy map.

Value Meter:
QB2: Blake Bortles
WR2: Allen Robinson
FLEX: Chris Ivory, T.J. Yeldon, Allen Hurns
TE1: Julius Thomas
Bench: Denard Robinson, Marcedes Lewis, Marqise Lee, Rashad Greene

Prediction: Jaguars 21, Ravens 20 ^ Top

Raiders at Titans - (Gordon)

Passing Game Thoughts: As long as the Raiders defense is unable to prevent other teams from scoring the Oakland passing attack will continue to post relatively nice fantasy values each week. Derek Carr has had a strong start to the year, but after seeing two cupcake defenses he’ll get his first taste of a worthy opponent going up against the Titans. I don’t expect a horrible performance considering the success this team has had throwing the ball but I suspect both teams will want to establish the running attack early. This could shorten the game and lead to fewer passing attempts. The last time Amari Cooper stopped in Tennessee he lit up the Titans to the tune of seven receptions and 115 yards. This time around expect Cooper to add that missing touchdown to his final stat line. He’s been targeted 20 times thus far and should once again flirt with double-digit targets making him one of the best upside plays this week. Michael Crabtree has yet to produce like a top receiver in 2016 but that might change this weekend. Clive Walford delivered his first worthwhile fantasy week after finding the end zone against the Falcons. Until he proves to be a more consistent contributor in this offense, he should be viewed as a match up play for fantasy purposes. Unfortunately, a date against the Titan’s defense and blitzing schemes is not ideal for Walford.

TEN FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.26
TEN FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.32
TEN FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.20
TEN FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.18

Running Game Thoughts: Unlike some RBBC situations, Oakland’s lead rusher has been a solid fantasy performer over the first two weeks of the season. While some fantasy owners are being scared off by the emergence of DeAndre Washington, Jalen Richard and Jamize Olawale as complementary pieces, Murray is a reliable source for 15 touches and goal line carries in an offense that has scored 35 points in each of its first two games. Rookie DeAndre Washington and the rest of Oakland’s running backs are not a threat to Murray’s role so keep plugging him in as a quality RB2. Washington has yet to garner more than seven touches in a game and can be kept on your bench in all formats. Jalen Richard may have already had his best fantasy outing of the season and it would be surprising to see him get more than a handful of carries.

Value Meter:
QB1: Derek Carr (low end)
RB2: Latavius Murray
WR1: Amari Cooper
FLEX: Michael Crabtree
Bench: Clive Walford, DeAndre Washington, Jalen Richard

Passing Game Thoughts: Marcus Mariota was showing signs of a knee injury but he practiced all week and shouldn’t be limited against Oakland this weekend. After facing the Lions and the Vikings, the second year quarterback gets to take aim at the most friendly defense for opposing quarterbacks. Expect the Titans passing game to keep up the momentum from last week and test this defense with the play action ball down the sidelines. Tajae Sharpe leads the team in targets (18) and should start finding his way into starting lineups this week. Tight end Delanie Walker is the most well rounded fantasy asset in of the Titans’ pass catchers and will likely be the second tight end to register a touchdown against the Raiders this season. Rishard Mathews has started the season slow but figures to start seeing more chances as this passing attack evolves each week.

OAK FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.1
OAK FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.12
OAK FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.1
OAK FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.4

Running Game Thoughts: DeMarco Murray continues to lead this team’s rushing attack with 25 rushing attempts compared to Derrick Henry’s 14. However it his work in the passing game that has his fantasy stock on the rise coming into Week 3. He has already racked up 12 receptions and two receiving touchdowns on the year. Boasting dual threat fantasy potential against a weak Raiders defense offers RB1 upside. The Raiders gave up 139 yards and 1 TD to Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman on the ground last week. Tennessee did lose one of its starting guards this week when Chance Warmack decided to have surgery to repair a tendon in his finger. The Titans have enough depth to patch this hole but wouldn’t be so lucky if they lost another starter for any length of time.

Value Meter:
QB2: Marcus Mariota
RB1: DeMarco Murray
FLEX: Derrick Henry, Tajae Sharpe
TE1: Delanie Walker
Bench: Rishard Matthews, Andre Johnson

Prediction: Titans 20, Raiders 17 ^ Top

Rams at Buccaneers - (Gordon)

Passing Game Thoughts: It’s tough to expect much from a passing attack that has yet to throw a passing touchdown on the year but the Bucs have yielded five such touchdowns to open 2016. Making matters worse is the fact that Case Keenum has little upside to his game and has not been effective at keeping defenses from keying on Todd Gurley. Then again, somebody has to catch the ball in Los Angeles. Kenny Britt and Tavon Austin are the best of an uninspiring group. Figuring out which player will get the majority of the looks is a crapshoot with Austin seeing more in Week 1 (12 targets) and Britt coming through in Week 2 (10 targets). Britt’s size has helped him rack up two-game average YAC of 16.1 and could afford him more red zone looks than Austin so consider him the better receiving option for Week 3. TE Lance Kendricks is lumped into this inconsistent attack as well. He posted a worthy line a week ago (4-61) but can’t be recommended until this offense proves it can support more than one player in the passing game.

TB FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.5
TB FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.7
TB FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.6
TB FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.23

Running Game Thoughts: Anyone looking to buy into Todd Gurley for a discount should have been sending trade offers out all week. The Rams’ big running back is still the focal point of this offense but they will struggle against stacked boxes until the passing game improves. Nevertheless, very few running backs are closing in on 20 touches each week so Gurley remains a pivotal player in every fantasy league. On paper, Gurley finally gets to square off against an opponent who is vulnerable against the run (TB has given up the seventh most fantasy points to running backs). However, this is a bit misleading considering most of the damage came via receiving yardage. In actuality, the Bucs rank tenth in rushing yards allowed. Better days are ahead for Gurley but don’t expect RB1 numbers from him this week.

Value Meter:
RB2: Todd Gurley
FLEX: Kenny Britt
Bench: Case Keenum, Tavon Austin, Pharoh Cooper

Passing Game Thoughts: Just when it appeared that Jameis Winston had turned the corner, he turns the ball over multiple times and leaves fantasy owners hung out to dry. Winston will try to be the first quarterback to throw for a touchdown on the Rams this season. The one area where the Rams did have trouble in the passing game last week was with Tyler Lockett. Look for Tampa Bay to lean on Mike Evans early and often in this game as they try to loosen up the front seven. The 2014 first rounder out of Texas is coming off his fourth game with 17 or more targets and a fifth may be in store on Sunday. Vincent Jackson saw nine targets last week but continues to be plagued by a poor catch rate making him an unreliable fantasy asset. Adam Humphries is trying to seize an opportunity in this offense. He will continue to see time working from the slot but needs to string together a few nice outings before landing on the weekly fantasy radar. The tight end position has been slow to emerge in 2016. Austin Sefarian Jenkins has failed to unseat Cameron Brate and was picked up for DUI this morning. He’s off the fantasy radar.

LAR FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.27
LAR FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.11
LAR FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.29
LAR FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.15

Running Game Thoughts: Doug Martin’s injury seemed to completely derail this offense a week ago but they will be better prepared when they take the field against the Rams this weekend. Charles Sims is fully healthy and finally gets a crack at receiving the bulk of the rushing load against a Rams defense that successfully held Seattle’s running game in check. Any time you can get a player with a three-down role into your lineup you should do so and hope he breaks one or finds the end zone. The team brought in Jacquizz Rodgers to provide some semblance of depth while Doug Martin is on the mend. He will be used primarily as a backup, only seeing the field when Sims needs a breather. There is certainly more than a little upside for the third-year runner out of West Virginia to pull off his best Spencer Ware impression and be a borderline RB1 over the next few weeks.

Value Meter:
QB2: Jameis Winston
RB2: Charles Sims
WR2: Mike Evans
Bench: Adam Humphries, Cameron Brate, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Vincent Jackson, Jacquizz Rodgers

Prediction: Buccaneers 17, Rams 6 ^ Top

Chargers at Colts - (Gordon)

Passing Game Thoughts: It’s the Travis Benjamin show in San Diego and his owners should ride the wave into Week 3 against an injury depleted Colts secondary. Benjamin’s YPC jumped from 4.3 to 19.2 in the team’s first outing without Keenan Allen. He won’t need to be heavily targeted to post solid WR2 numbers this week. Meanwhile, Tyrell Williams was an effective deep threat in his first game as a starter and presents a tough match up for Indy. Williams and Antonio Gates (hamstring) are less likely to deliver much yardage this week, but each player presents a mismatch that Rivers can exploit. Insert Hunter Henry if Gates is inactive. The loss of Danny Woodhead for the season will certainly be felt in the short passing game. San Diego will turn to Dontrelle Inman and Dexter McCluster to fill in those gaps but neither can be trusted this week.

IND FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.16
IND FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.1
IND FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.25
IND FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.14

Running Game Thoughts: Melvin Gordon has officially put 2015 in the rearview mirror and erased any lingering question marks about his ability to get the ball into the end zone after registering three scores over the season’s first two weeks. Adding to the rise of Gordon’s fantasy value this week is the loss of Danny Woodhead for the year. He’ll get the majority of the snaps this week with Kenneth Farrow and Andre Williams backing him up. Indianapolis just happens to be the most fantasy friendly defense to opposing running backs yielding a combined five touchdowns so plug Gordon in with confidence this week. He will be highly owned in DFS cash games this week.

Value Meter:
QB1: Philip Rivers
RB1: Melvin Gordon
WR2: Travis Benjamin
FLEX: Tyrell Williams
TE1: Antonio Gates
Bench: Dontrelle Inman, Dexter McCluster, Kenneth Farrow, Andre Williams

Passing Game Thoughts: Andrew Luck draws the Chargers this week after delivering one of the worst performances of his career. The Colts quarterback failed to reach 200 passing yards for the first time since his rookie season and he will be without Donte Moncrief for the next month. Phillip Dorsett is in line to post his second career game with over six targets and his big play potential down the field will be paramount to Indy’s chances at winning. San Diego has given up plenty of fantasy points to quarterbacks and tight ends but they are one of the best ball hawking teams in the league (3 INTs is tied for second most in NFL). T.Y. Hilton is on pace to receive 184 targets this season. That total would have been good enough to place fourth amongst receivers in 2015 so it is only a matter of time before he breaks out for his owners. Jack Doyle has more receptions and touchdowns than Dwayne Allen through two weeks. If there is such a thing as a tight end vulture, Doyle is it so be careful before trusting Allen in your starting lineup this week.

SD FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.2
SD FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.10
SD FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.17
SD FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.5

Running Game Thoughts: Consistently mediocre is the best way to sum up the Colts’ rushing attack. Frank Gore has been as good as expected but Indy isn’t likely to increase his 14-18 touches per game workload. Surprisingly, Chargers’ opponents have tallied more receptions than rushing attempts. Gore frequently chips in with a few receptions each game but if he is unable to find much room on the ground his owners should be able to count on him padding his stats through the air. Robert Turbin found the end zone last week but fantasy owners shouldn’t worry about this becoming a vulture situation. For his part, Turbin appears to have established himself as the next man up should something happen to the 33-year old Gore.

Value Meter:
QB1: Andrew Luck
RB3: Frank Gore
WR1: T.Y. Hilton
WR2: Phillip Dorsett
Bench: Dwayne Allen, Jack Doyle, Quan Bray

Prediction: Chargers 28, Colts 20 ^ Top

Falcons at Saints - (Gordon)

Passing Game Thoughts: Matt Ryan’s resurgence rolls into New Orleans boasting a completion percentage over 72-percent and two consecutive games with over 300 passing yards and multiple touchdown passes. That being said, New Orleans’ pass defense has been giving up yardage but they have only given up one touchdown through the air. That is pretty impressive considering the Saints’ played fantasy studs Odell Beckham Jr. and Amari Cooper. You are not going to bench Julio Jones but he might not be quite the fantasy beast you are expecting given the match up. Mohamed Sanu looks like a nice complementary receiver in this offense but he will struggle to find consistency given the potent touchdown-makers on this team. In his lone career game at New Orleans he was only able to muster up 23 receiving yards on three receptions.

NO FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.22
NO FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.3
NO FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.8
NO FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.28

Running Game Thoughts: Don’t let last week’s score fool you, the Saints defense was plenty porous against the Giants giving up 22 first downs and over 400 yards of total offense. Atlanta will need to win this game on the ground where Tevin Coleman isn’t going away despite being the non-starter. He is one of the tougher players to trust in standard scoring lineups despite finding a way to post productive fantasy outings with limited touches. Devonta Freeman is the best bet to lead the team in rushing attempts for a third straight game and is the optimal choice inside the ten-yard line but his usage in the passing game has dried up. This is a real concern considering that Freeman ended up with a reception touchdown in each of his team’s two meetings against the Saints in 2015. I think there is enough offense for both runners to be worth flexing this week, but Coleman’s upside may be greater due to his role in the passing game.

Value Meter:
QB1: Matt Ryan
WR1: Julio Jones
FLEX: Mohamed Sanu
TE1: Jacob Tamme
Bench: Justin Hardy

Passing Game Thoughts: Drew Brees should be a fine play against an Atlanta defense that has allowed Jameis Winston to throw four touchdowns and Derek Carr three to open the year. Playing in a Monday Night Football game in the Superdome is typically a good situation if you own anyone in the Saints’ passing game. It’s extra special when their opponent is allowing the third most fantasy points to QBs through two weeks. The long time Saints quarterback has thrown for over 300 passing yards in 14-of-21 career games against divisional rival Atlanta, including his last four outings. Although Brandin Cooks was unable to find much room against the Falcons last season (11 targets in two contests) he leads the team in targets and remains a must start fantasy play. Willie Snead has played his way into the conversation of every week starter as well. The Ball State alum has seen only one fewer target than Cooks and has already found the end zone twice after only scoring three times in 2015. Despite being a clear part of the Week 2 game plan and receiving eight targets, Coby Fleener failed to make an impact in the passing game for the second week in a row. This was one of the reason’s why the team struggled on third downs (3 for 13) and he may have lost some trust with his quarterback. If he isn’t able to right the ship against the Falcons fantasy owners will need to drop him down into TE2 purgatory.

ATL FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.3
ATL FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.5
ATL FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.12
ATL FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.2

Running Game Thoughts: It almost seems like Mark Ingram hasn’t even played given the lack of chatter regarding New Orleans’ lead back. Then again, New Orleans has yet to commit to the rush and has two losses to show for it. Ingram has only 21 rushing attempts in two games There isn’t any sign of a health issue and he is being used as the primary back so I wouldn’t worry too much. The juicy match up should spark a return to his RB1 ways this week. The Falcons have allowed three rushing touchdowns and just lost their leading tackler over the past three years, Paul Worrilow, to a groin injury. The release of C.J. Spiller paves the way for Travis Cadet to find his way onto the PPR grid considering this team’s propensity to put up enough points to cover for the team’s shortcomings on defense.

Value Meter:
QB1: Drew Brees
RB1: Mark Ingram
WR1: Brandin Cooks
WR2: Willie Snead
FLEX: Travaris Cadet, Michael Thomas
Bench: Coby Fleener, Tim Hightower

Prediction: New Orleans 35, Atlanta 23 ^ Top

Broncos @ Bengals - (Marcoccio)

Passing Game Thoughts: Andy Dalton leads the NFL in passing yards (732) in large part due to the team’s downfield passing attack. The Bengals have more pass plays over 20 yards than any team in the league. While all of this may be surprising, what is even more surprising is that the Bengals have become a pass first, pass second and pass third offense. More than 85 percent of the team’s offensive production has come from passing yardage. This hasn’t translated into creating new fantasy studs however, as only A.J. Green has been a fantasy asset thus far. Dalton has spread the rest of the targets around to the team’s secondary receivers Brandon LaFell and Tyler Boyd, tight end C.J. Uzomah and running back Giovani Bernard. This week they run into the Denver Broncos who have manhandled opposing wide receivers allowing only 16 receptions to the position in two games. The Broncos are allowing only 173 passing yards per game overall making them a matchup nightmare for quarterbacks and most wide receivers.

CIN FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.13
CIN FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.8
CIN FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.22
CIN FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.11

Running Game Thoughts: The Bengals haven’t emphasized running the ball during the first two weeks of the season, perhaps because they have faced two top run defenses (NYJ, PIT). Jeremy Hill has only 20 carries gaining 53 yards. The sledding surprisingly gets a little easier this week against a Denver team that is allowing 120 yards per game on the ground. However, the Broncos allowed only 91.2 yards per game in 2015 so this year’s higher output could be skewed by having faced teams quarterbacked by Cam Newton and Andrew Luck, two of the game’s best runners at the position. While Dalton is surprisingly mobile, he’s not in the class of Newton and Luck. So while the matchup may still prove to be tough despite the numbers, the Bengals cannot abandon the run since field position and time of possession will be vital in a matchup of two of the league’s best defenses.

Value Meter:
RB2: Jeremy Hill
WR2: A.J. Green
FLEX: Giovani Bernard
Bench: Andy Dalton, Brandon LaFell, Tyler Boyd, C.J. Uzomah

Passing Game Thoughts: It was expected that Trevor Siemian would not be asked by Head Coach Gary Kubiak to be more than a game manager on a team that wants to run the ball and play tough defense. However, the Broncos have moved the ball through the air effectively and have thrown the ball more than some pundits predicted they would. Siemian has shown great poise for a first time starter and has the arm strength to make all the throws. Demaryius Thomas played well last week despite chatter that a hip injury could keep him out of the lineup, so his health should no longer be a concern. However the difficult matchup could be. The Bengals’ pass defense is holding opposing quarterbacks to a league low 52.8 percent as they feature outstanding defensive backs and can get after the quarterback. They have allowed only 219 passing yards per game. We should expect that number to not likely rise much after this week’s game.

DEN FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.20
DEN FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.21
DEN FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.30
DEN FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.16

Running Game Thoughts: C.J. Anderson has been one of the best backs in the league over the first two weeks, and the Broncos seem content on letting him carry the offense on his shoulders. He has 222 total yards and 3 touchdowns on 47 touches, and there’s no reason to keep him out of your lineup when facing a defense that has allowed both Matt Forte and DeAngelo Williams to have big games. Anderson’s volume (72% share of DEN RB touches) gives him a high floor and he’s been pushing his ceiling up as well with his explosive cuts and big play ability.

Value Meter:
RB1: C.J. Anderson
WR3: Demaryius Thomas
FLEX: Emmanuel Sanders
Bench: Trevor Siemian, Virgil Green,Devontae Booker

Prediction: Broncos 17, Bengals 16 ^ Top

Lions @ Packers - (Marcoccio)

Passing Game Thoughts: After the loss of Calvin Johnson, Matthew Stafford has led a more balanced passing attack this season. New comer Marvin Jones has led the team in targets (22) through two games with and there’s no reason to expect that to change this week. Surprisingly, Golden Tate has not benefited at all from the loss of Johnson, seeing the same percentage of throws he did in 2015 so far. Fantasy owners likely thought he’d see a bump in targets with Megatron’s retirement but those available targets have instead gone to Jones, as well as Anquan Boldin and tight end Eric Ebron. This should be a good matchup for the Detroit passing game, as Jacksonville and Minnesota have each managed to move the ball through the air against this defense. The Packers have allowed a touchdown to their opponent’s tight ends in each of the first two games so Eric Ebron should get strong consideration for your line-up.

GB FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.17
GB FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.31
GB FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.15
GB FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.3

Running Game Thoughts: With Ameer Abdullah having been placed on IR, the three-headed committee likely becomes a two-man operation going forward. That will make things a little easier for fantasy owners who did not own Abdullah. Rookie Dwayne Washington beat out Zach Zenner (a healthy scratch the first two weeks) for the “big back” role and he should benefit the most from Abdullah’s absence. He combines good size and speed and is the superior inside runner versus Riddick. Riddick should continue to be used as a third-down back and will likely see an increase in carries as well. Unfortunately for those that own a piece of this backfield, the Packers have been the league’s best defense against the run allowing only 78 yards total in two games (JAX & MIN). Those low totals, may have been dictated by their opponent’s game plans and the Adrian Peterson injury however, since the team did allow over 100 yards per game in 2015. If you don’t believe in small sample sizes, either Detroit back could be an interesting flex play.

Value Meter:
QB1: Matthew Stafford
WR3: Marvin Jones
FLEX: Theo Riddick, Dwayne Washington
TE1: Eric Ebron
Bench: Golden Tate, Anquan Boldin

Passing Game Thoughts: Maybe the allure of playing at home will help Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay passing game get back on track. Rodgers struggled for most of 2015, and the offense has yet to look in-synch through the first two games. Jordy Nelson should improve, as his gets his legs back after sitting out all of 2015 with an ACL tear. Nelson has scored in 12 out of his past 18 games dating back to 2014, so he’s a tough “sit” even if the Lions do feature an elite cornerback like Darius Slay. However, Randall Cobb has continued to struggle as he did last season and just doesn’t look quite as explosive as he did earlier in his career. He no longer is a “plug and play” receiver. Meanwhile, Davante Adams should be looking over his shoulder with the way he’s been playing and with some young talent on the depth chart behind him. The Lions’ pass defense has allowed 296 yards per game and 6 touchdowns through the air during the first two weeks so perhaps it will be the cure for what’s ailing the Pack passing attack. If Rodgers, Cobb and Adams continue to underperform this week, it may be time to panic a bit, but until then we should all R-E-L-A-X.

DET FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.4
DET FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.22
DET FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.18
DET FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.1

Running Game Thoughts: Eddie Lacy hasn’t been as involved in the passing game as he was earlier in his career (1 rec, 17 yds) and while he’s been effective running the ball the volume just hasn’t been there either leaving his fantasy owners feeling less than satisfied. Lacy is averaging an effective 4.6 yards per carry, but he’s only seen 26 carries and has not found the endzone. Detroit hasn’t been particularly tough against the run allowing 110 rushing yards per game, but held Lacy in check last season. Veteran James Starks did not see much action in Week 1, but was on the field a lot more in Week 2 when the Packers were trailing. He seems to be the preferred option in the passing game further limiting Lacy’s value. It isn’t time to panic yet, but moving Lacy to the bench could be an option for those that have depth at the position.

Value Meter:
QB1: Aaron Rodgers
RB3: Eddie Lacy
WR1: Jordy Nelson
WR3: Randall Cobb
Bench: Davante Adams, Jared Cook, Richard Rodgers, James Starks

Prediction: Packers 27, Lions 20 ^ Top

49ers @ Seahawks - (Caron)

Passing Game Thoughts: The 49ers’ passing game continues to be mediocre for fantasy purposes and that doesn’t seem likely to change here as the team heads to Seattle to play against one of the league’s most smothering secondaries. Seattle is one of only two teams (Philadelphia) who has not yet conceded a passing touchdown this season and they’ve had a pretty good history of keeping the 49ers’ passing game in check over the past few seasons. In fact, the 49ers have not scored more than 20 points in a game against the Seahawks since 2011. The upside just is not here to justify trusting Blaine Gabbert or really any of the San Francisco passing weapons, but if you have to roll someone out, make it wide receiver Torrey Smith who was targeted 10 times in Week 2. Smith is a deep threat who has struggled to find much of a connection with Gabbert, but at least has the potential to get the ball into the end zone if he does get his hands on it.

SEA FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.29
SEA FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.30
SEA FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.32
SEA FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.26

Running Game Thoughts: Carlos Hyde continues to be a Week 1 wonder for fantasy owners as just like he did in 2015, he had a monster night the opening game of the 2016 season and then fell flat on his face the next week. Hyde’s 14 carries for 34 yards can be somewhat forgiven due to Carolina having a great front seven and the game flow simply not allowing for the 49ers to run the ball as they tried to crawl out of a deficit, but it still goes to show that Hyde simply cannot be relied upon as an every week starter. He’ll get the bulk of the workload in this game, but has not had great success against the Seahawks in the past. Hyde has compiled a total of just 114 rushing yards in three career games against Seattle. Still, given the tremendous amount of uncertainty throughout the league at the running back position right now, Hyde probably slots in as a low-end RB2 or Flex play in most formats. Shaun Draughn (19 touches) continues to be more of a drain on Hyde’s value than a source of fantasy production himself, but he does seem to be one of the most obvious handcuff players in all of fantasy football.

Value Meter:
RB2: Carlos Hyde
FLEX: Torrey Smith
Bench: Blaine Gabbert, Shaun Draughn, Jeremy Kerley, Vance McDonald, Quinton Patton

Passing Game Thoughts: Off to another disappointing start, Russell Wilson failed to throw a single touchdown pass in a game for the first time since Week 17 of the 2014 NFL season – a shocking disappointment for fantasy owners who had hoped that he would be able to crush the Rams defense like the 49ers did in Week 1. But there are some serious problems in this Seattle passing game right now, most notably the nagging injuries to top receivers Doug Baldwin (knee) and Tyler Lockett (knee). Both players are expected to play this weekend, but may play fewer snaps than usual, making them much lower-end options than they normally are. One player who may see increased work in this game is tight end Jimmy Graham who himself has continued to be a huge disappointment, but does have a bit of upside in this matchup. He played 80 percent of offensive snaps in Week 2 and that number could go up this week given the health of the other players in this offense. The 49ers have struggled against large-bodied pass catchers so far this season, particularly in the red zone, so it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see Graham get into the end zone here.

SF FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.15
SF FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.29
SF FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.14
SF FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.8

Running Game Thoughts: The hype surrounding Seattle running back Thomas Rawls is quickly fading as the second-year back continues to struggle and disappoint fantasy owners. The frustration reached a peak this past week when Rawls carried the ball just seven times for an astonishing negative-seven yards rushing. He did add three receptions for 15 yards which kept him above the dreaded “negative points” threshold but fantasy owners are certainly expecting more from their back who was selected in the third or fourth round of most drafts. Instead, the previously written off Christine Michael has been doing most of the damage on the ground, including 60-plus yards rushing in each of his first two games. With Rawls missing practice time this week due to a nagging leg injury, it would not be surprising to again see Michael get the majority of touches out of the backfield, especially if Rawls ends up not playing. The matchup here isn’t particularly great as the 49ers have held opposing running backs to just over 3.8 yards per carry over the first two games of the season, but Michael could be an interesting and sneaky option given the high number of injuries to running backs throughout the league.

Value Meter:
QB1: Russell Wilson (low-end)
RB2: Christine Michael (high-end RB2 if Rawls doesn’t play)
WR2: Doug Baldwin
FLEX: Tyler Lockett
TE1: Jimmy Graham
Bench: Thomas Rawls, Jermaine Kearse

Prediction: Seahawks 24, 49ers 16 ^ Top

Jets @ Chiefs - (Caron)

Passing Game Thoughts: The magic continued this past week for Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Jets as they beat the Bills on Thursday night. Now after the long week, they’ll have a chance to head to Kansas City and knock off a potential playoff contender. Top target Brandon Marshall is dealing with a lower-leg injury which has kept him out of practice this week and is now beginning to cause concerns from even the Jets coaching staff that he will not be able to suit up. If Marshall can’t suit up, look for increased targets to come the way of Quincy Enunwa, who currently sits just a few targets behind Marshall and Eric Decker on the season, including a team-leading 13 receptions. Enunwa plays quite a few snaps as it is so he’s a decent flex option even if Marshall does play, but the Jets will likely continue to sling the rock around the field quite a bit no matter who’s catching passes on Sunday. Decker’s usage would also increase a bit if Marshall cannot play, but he might also see more attention from the Chiefs’ top cornerback, Marcus Peters, if Marshall isn’t on the field. This could limit his upside a bit, although he continues to be remarkably consistent (TD in each game). The Chiefs defense continues to play great against the pass, just as they did in 2015, and this won’t be an easy day for Fitzpatrick and the Jets’ passing game, but these top three targets make things much easier to predict who’s going to see the ball come their way.

KC FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.25
KC FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.4
KC FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.16
KC FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.27

Running Game Thoughts: The Bears have to be kicking themselves after seeing what Matt Forte was able to do in his second game in a Jets uniform as he rushed for 100 yards and an impressive three touchdowns against the Bills in Week 2. One of the knocks on Forte throughout his career has been that he is not a particularly great runner at the goal line, but he could become an every week RB1 if he continues to get the opportunities that he’s seen over the first two weeks of the season. Forte has touched the ball 59 times to Bilal Powell’s eight, which certainly puts concerns of a split workload as a thing of the past. Forte is this team’s workhorse, near-every down back and that gives him a great floor even in difficult matchups. In Week 3, he’ll face a Kansas City defense that has allowed opposing running backs to amass over 100 yards on the ground in each of their two games, including three total touchdowns to the position. Given Forte’s high usage, it would not be at all surprising to see him crack 100 total yards for the third straight game and have a good chance of reaching the end zone.

Value Meter:
QB2: Ryan Fitzpatrick
RB1: Matt Forte
WR2: Eric Decker
WR2: Brandon Marshall
FLEX: Quincy Enunwa
Bench: Bilal Powell

Passing Game Thoughts: After being one of the top fantasy quarterbacks in Week 1, Alex Smith came crashing back to earth with a horrific performance against the Texans in Week 2. Those who’ve seen Smith throughout his career know that it’s rare for him to be on either spectrum of the high-end or the low-end of quarterbacks, so it’s been a weird start to the year for both him and the Kansas City passing game as a whole. Top target Jeremy Maclin continues to produce solid numbers, but he’s the only receiver on this roster who has any fantasy value, and even that is largely due to his high volume for PPR formats. Tight end Travis Kelce is also fantasy relevant, but after finishing as the TE7 in Week 1 was held in check against Houston. With Darrelle Revis likely to be lined up on Maclin, there will be some who view this as a plus-matchup. Although Revis has struggled so far this season, it’d be wise to pump the breaks on targeting matchups against a potential Hall of Fame cornerback. Revis might have lost a step, but he’s been one of the best defensive players in football for years now and it would not be at all surprising to see him completely blanket Maclin this Sunday. Feel free to roll Maclin out as usual, but keep your expectations in check.

NYJ FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.7
NYJ FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.26
NYJ FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.2
NYJ FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.24

Running Game Thoughts: The Kansas City backfield continues to be a mystery as we head into Week 3. Jamaal Charles reportedly wants to get on the field, but the training and coaching staff does not seem to be sharing those same sentiments. As long as Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West continue to put up decent numbers in his absence, there’s really no reason for the Chiefs to rush Charles back onto the field. The duo has compiled a whopping 390 total yards on the ground and through the air in the Chiefs’ first two games, so another week on the bench might not be out of the question. In fact, with their bye week coming in Week 5, Kansas City just might opt to shut down their star tailback until Week 6 before deploying him fully. In the meantime, Ware is the player to own in this backfield as he played nearly 60% of the Chiefs’ Week 2 snaps as opposed to West’s 40%, and he’s a better receiver out of the backfield. West still does have some deep flex appeal, provided that Charles is inactive. Be warned, the Jets have done a great job of shutting down opposing running games so far this season as neither the Bengals nor Bills were able to reach 60 yards total on the ground. The upside could be limited in this matchup and Ware could see the field more than usual if the game turns into a pass-heavy approach.

Value Meter:
RB2: Spencer Ware
WR2: Jeremy Maclin
TE1: Travis Kelce
FLEX: Charcandrick West
Bench: Chris Conley

Prediction: Chiefs 24, Jets 21 ^ Top

Redskins @ Giants - (Katz)

Passing Game Thoughts: Kirk Cousins either had a solid game or an awful game last week depending upon your perspective. From a football standpoint, it was another poor performance from the incredibly overrated and overpaid quarterback. From a fantasy standpoint, Cousins actually performed quite well throwing for 364 yards and a touchdown finishing as the QB12 for the week (QB21 in Week 1). Somehow, Jameson Crowder led the team in targets and has more targets (18) than Pierre Garcon (13) after two weeks. I don’t like the matchup this week against (and it really, really pains me to say this), a totally legit Giants defense that’s only allowed one passing touchdown on the season and under 250 yards on average. DeSean Jackson loves to troll the Giants and he probably will if he plays (knee/ankle), but expectations are not high for the Redskins offense as a whole.

NYG FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.28
NYG FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.28
NYG FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.23
NYG FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.19

Running Game Thoughts: Matt Jones wasn’t terrible last week. He and Chris Thompson were the only two backs to see the field, splitting the snaps 58%-42%. Thompson will always have the higher floor because of his consistency in the passing game, but Jones remains the better bet to score as he did against Dallas. Game script will always dictate how significant Thompson’s usage is and I think this week shapes up better for Jones…well…except for the part where the Giants completely shut down Ezekiel Elliott (2.6 ypc) and Mark Ingram (3.3 ypc) the first two weeks of the season. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I wouldn’t feel confident starting any running back against the Giants these days.

Value Meter:
QB2: Kirk Cousins (mid-range based on volume potential)
WR2: DeSean Jackson (death, taxes, DJax vs the Giants, just make sure he’s active)
FLEX: Matt Jones
TE1: Jordan Reed (the only guy unaffected by this matchup)
Bench: Pierre Garcon, Josh Doctson, Jamison Crowder, Chris Thompson

Passing Game Thoughts: Contrary to what the final score may indicate, Eli Manning did, in fact, light up the Saints last week with 368 yards and a 78 percent completion rate but the Giants just couldn’t find the end zone. Victor Cruz fumbled away a big gain and Odell Beckham flat out dropped one of the easiest long touchdowns he’ll ever have. Manning easily could’ve had two scores and we’d be talking about the monster game he had. Beckham looked fine as well. He led the Giants in targets (11) and the touchdowns will come. The Giants leader in receiving yards last week was Sterling Shepard (117). But more telling than his yardage total was his catch percentage. Shepard caught a sterling (yep – I’m still doing it) 100% of his targets and rapidly approaching the circle of trust. As for Victor Cruz, I still don’t know if the Giants can support three WRs, but he can no longer be ignored. I ultimately think he’ll be a better real life than a fantasy asset, but it appears rumors of his demise were greatly exaggerated.

WAS FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.9
WAS FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.2
WAS FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.7
WAS FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.20

Running Game Thoughts: Rashad Jennings couldn’t find anywhere to go against one of the worst run defenses in the league. Perhaps it’s because he’s old. Perhaps it’s because he’s not very good. Either way, this is an opportunity for Shane Vereen to finally get the break he’s deserved Vereen saw a career high 14 carries and while he didn’t have that great of a game either on the ground (3.0 ypc) or through the air (3-24), the more important takeaway is the decision by Ben McAdoo to roll almost exclusively with Vereen after Jennings left with what appears to be a minor hand injury. Orleans Darkwa or Paul Perkins would certainly be involved if Jennings were to miss time, but it very much looks like the Vereen show will be the main attraction.

Value Meter:
QB1: Eli Manning (I like him more than Aaron Rodgers going forward)
RB2: Rashad Jennings (low end if he plays)
RB2: Shane Vereen (if Jennings sits)
WR1: Odell Beckham Jr. (high end)
WR3: Sterling Shepard (high end)
FLEX: Shane Vereen (if Jennings plays), Victor Cruz

Prediction: Giants 24, Redskins 17 ^ Top

Browns @ Dolphins - (Katz)

Passing Game Thoughts: Oh dear. Poor Cleveland. It appears as if the sporting gods messed up in allowing the Cavs to win an NBA title and are now attempting to correct their mistake by unleashing their wrath on the poor, helpless Browns. The Browns will be playing their third game this week with their third different starting QB. Josh McCown took over for Robert Griffin, but now has suffered a serious shoulder injury. Something called a Cody Kessler is now responsible for throwing the ball to what’s left of the Browns offense. The electric Corey Coleman is gone until November with a broken hand he suffered in practice, leaving the inefficient Terrelle Pryor (to be fair, it’s probably not entirely his fault that he only caught three of his ten targets last week) as the top receiver. The Browns offense actually looked like it was beginning to hit its stride last week. McCown was involving Gary Barnidge after a catchless Week 1 and Coleman showed flashes of what made him the first wide receiver drafted in April. However, Kessler dampens any excitement there was in this offense and unfortunately, much of the excitement of Josh Gordon’s return in three weeks. I wouldn’t be surprised if Charlie Whitehurst was under center Week 4.

MIA FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.10
MIA FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.15
MIA FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.7
MIA FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.11

Running Game Thoughts: Isaiah Crowell was close to getting released after an Instagram mishap during the offseason. Now he’s ripping off huge runs, dominating backfield touches, and averaging 6.5 yards per carry. Crowell is an RB2 until further notice. On the other hand, Duke Johnson, the poor man’s Gio Bernard, is more like the cheap knockoff version you bought from that street vendor at three in the morning. Johnson is still the passing down back, but I don’t know how much value that has now with Cody Kessler running the show. Crowell might see 25-plus carries this week.

Value Meter:
RB2: Isaiah Crowell (mid-range)
TE1: Gary Barnidge (low end)
FLEX: Duke Johnson (PPR only)
Bench: Corey Coleman (hand), Terrelle Pryor, Josh Gordon (still suspended)
Never in a million years: Cody Kessler

Passing Game Thoughts: Ryan Tannehill’s big game last week (389-2, 35 rush yds) had a lot to do with the score and little to do with Tannehill. The Patriots were up 24-3 at the half, but then lost Garoppolo, which cost them their ability to control possession. This opened the door for Miami to attempt a comeback, which they almost completed. To do this, Tannehill had to throw…a lot. Both Jarvis Landry and a returning DeVante Parker topped 100 yards receiving. I would not expect a repeat performance in a game the Dolphins should win handily although the Browns have given up decent passing performances to Carson Wentz (278-2) and Joe Flacco (302-2).

CLE FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.14
CLE FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.18
CLE FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.9
CLE FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.9

Running Game Thoughts: Arian Foster looked to be “done” well before he succumbed to yet another injury (shocking, I know!). Jay Ajayi is the next man up, but that won’t last long as Ajayi has averaged 2.8 yards per carry this season and the coaching staff has shown no confidence in him. This will likely open the door for Kenyan Drake. Drake is not your prototypical plodding Alabama back. He is shifty and explosive, which are both good things, but he’s also not built to be a feature back. He could work in a bind, but if he’s receiving 20-plus touches a game, he will break down. Drake is worth a speculative add, but stay far away from the Dolphins running game for now.

Value Meter:
QB2: Ryan Tannehill (mid-range)
WR2: Jarvis Landry (one of the highest floors in the game)
TE2: Jordan Cameron
FLEX: DeVante Parker
Bench: Kenny Stills, Arian Foster (injured), Jay Ajayi, Kenyan Drake (not yet)

Prediction: Dolphins 22, Browns 6 ^ Top

Cardinals @ Bills - (Katz)

Passing Game Thoughts: Carson Palmer (308-3) unleashed hell on the Bucs last week. After all the concerns about his age and declining skills, he’s opened the season with two multi-TD performances and has not thrown an interception. Speaking of older gentlemen believed to be in the twilight of their careers – Larry Fitzgerald isn’t quite done yet. There’s something to be said about a receiver who catches anything he gets his hands on. He’s seen double digit targets in each of the first two games and clearly remains the top option in this passing game. Next up is Michael Floyd, who is respectable in his own right and will have a few big games sprinkled in. The name to ignore going forward is John Brown. I expected him to be the odd man out because he’s not as talented as Floyd and Fitz was never going to be the odd man out. I believe he can be safely dropped across the board. Jaron Brown is being worked into the mix this season. Floyd and Fitz both reached 80% of snaps played, while the Browns split snaps 44%-42% in favor of Jaron. The Bills got carved up by Ryan Fitzpatrick last week and the Jets produced three fantasy relevant performances (Quincy Enunwa was eight yards short of making it three 100 yard receivers). Expect the Cardinals big two WRs to do their thing this week.

BUF FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.19
BUF FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.9
BUF FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.3
BUF FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.30

Running Game Thoughts: David Johnson is the best all-around running back in the NFL right now. He is certainly the best in fantasy. The guy really hasn’t done much this year, but has two RB1 performances. His floor is incredibly high. He already has 275 rushing + receiving yards on 35 touches. DJ got game-scripted out of last week’s demolition of the Bucs (40-7) and was the victim of some harsh words from Bruce Arians for running the wrong route on two plays and almost getting Palmer picked. Don’t worry, that’s not going to impact his usage. The younger Johnson will look to emulate Matt Forte’s performance against the Bills from last week (30-103-3), albeit with more efficiency. Johnson is the top RB play this week and I think we’re finally going to get that monster performance we’ve been waiting for.

Value Meter:
QB1: Carson Palmer (high end)
RB1: David Johnson (THE RB1)
WR1: Larry Fitzgerald (low end)
WR3: Michael Floyd (high end)
Bench: John Brown, Jaron Brown

Passing Game Thoughts: The Bills are a mess. The organization essentially went behind Rex Ryan’s back to force him to fire offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Roman’s play calling left a lot to be desired, but are we really putting last week’s 37-31 loss on him? In steps new OC Anthony Lynn who’s challenged with getting the passing game on track in Buffalo. Tyrod Taylor is a dual threat quarterback in an offense that doesn’t design plays to take advantage of his skill set. He had a fantastic game passing last week thanks to a couple deep bombs, but he should be even better as a player if only his team would let him. Sammy Watkins is an elite receiver, but he is clearly far less than 100% and will likely be shut down once the Bills are out of it (an 0-4 start seems likely). I know the Bills have stated they want to get him more involved, but I really think this is a lost season for Watkins who has 6 catches for 63 yards in two games.

ARI FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.24
ARI FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.27
ARI FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.11
ARI FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.31

Running Game Thoughts: LeSean McCoy is still one of the best running backs in the league, but his ceiling is forever limited by the cataclysm that is the Buffalo Bills organization. He did what he could last week (15-59) and is still involved in the passing game (4-31 on five targets), but the Bills just can’t sustain drives and get close enough for him to punch it in. Their three offensive touchdowns came on two big passing plays and the third a garbage time dump off and run to Mike Gillislee. The Cardinals are a high end defense so McCoy will need to get lucky to find the end zone this week. His floor is so high that you never consider benching him, but he’s more RB2 than RB1 going forward.

Value Meter:
QB2: Tyrod Taylor (low end)
RB1: LeSean McCoy (low end)
Bench: Charles Clay, Sammy Watkins

Prediction: Cardinals 20, Bills 18 ^ Top

Bears @ Cowboys - (Katz)

Passing Game Thoughts: The Bears are taking a trip to Jerry World on a short week to play in the national spotlight on Sunday night with Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley as their top two quarterbacks. Hoyer’s dismal appearance in a first round playoff loss to the Chiefs still lingers as he takes over Jake Cutler (thumb) in Week 3. Whenever a new QB takes over for a team, you have to throw season stats and targets out the window. The best indicator we have for how this affects Alshon Jeffery is Hoyer’s affinity for his top target last season. Working with Hoyer for most of 2015, DeAndre Hopkins saw 192 targets. This bodes well for Jeffery this Sunday assuming a recently revealed knee injury isn’t anything worrisome (Jeffery did not practice on Thursday). Other than Jeffery, this passing game is best avoided.

DAL FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.12
DAL FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.19
DAL FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.13
DAL FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.6

Running Game Thoughts: The end is near for Jeremy Langford. John Fox called him out for his performance after the Bears’ Week 1 loss and Langford responded by performing even worse. He’s averaging barely over 3.0 yards per carry and has yet to top 100 total yards in the season. He also is a complete zero in the passing game. Meanwhile, rookie Jordan Howard, in his first career NFL action, looked impressive on his three carries (22 yards) and two receptions (9 yards). Howard is by no means a can’t miss prospect and I don’t think he’s the long term solution for the Bears. What I can say for sure is that he is exponentially better than Langford. It’s only a matter of time before this situation becomes a timeshare and then a little more time before the balance starts to tip in Howard’s favor. Dallas has given up their fair share of fantasy points to the running backs of the Giants and Redskins so there is some flex appeal for Langford and Howard.

Value Meter:
WR2: Alshon Jeffery (mid-range)
FLEX: Jeremy Langford, Jordan Howard
Bench: Brian Hoyer, Kevin White

Passing Game Thoughts: In Week 1, Dez Bryant caught 1 of 5 targets for 8 yards. The Cowboys lost. In week 2, Dez Bryant caught 7 of 12 targets for 102 yards. Terrance Williams did not see a single target (next step: let’s start Brice Butler over him…please). The Cowboys won. This is huge for Bryant going forward as maybe the Cowboys will continue to realize the correlation between Dez Bryant and winning football games. Dak Prescott has looked poised and in control of the offense. Most importantly, he has yet to turn the ball over. He’s a rookie and he’s inexperienced so the turnovers are bound to come eventually, but Prescott has the Cowboys looking the best they’ve ever looked without Romo. The Bears didn’t allow much in the way of passing to Carson Wentz last week (21-34, 190-1), but that had more to do with game script than the Bears actually stepping up defensively. Additionally, they lost linebacker Lamarr Houston to a torn ACL. I think there’s a real chance for the Cowboys offense to break out with its first truly prolific day. It’s about time for Dez to throw up an X and get Dak his first career touchdown pass.

CHI FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.23
CHI FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.16
CHI FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.19
CHI FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.13

Running Game Thoughts: Ezekiel Elliott is struggling. I fear he may not be the blue chip prospect he was touted as. It’s only been two games, but he doesn’t look explosive and hasn’t really done anything other than get what’s blocked for him. The volume isn’t going anywhere (he’s seen 20 carries in both games), but he did find himself on the bench for the final portion of last week’s win over Washington after he fumbled for a second time (even though the Cowboys recovered it). Alfred Morris is a very capable backup and if Elliott’s struggles continue - he may very well lose the power of that machine. Ultimately, Jerry Jones wants to win and while he is as stubborn as they come, if he actually sees the Cowboys running the ball more effectively with Morris, we could see Morris’ workload increase. The Bears held Darren Sproles and Ryan Mathews to under 3.5 yards per carry combined last week. They’ve quietly been pretty good against the run. I think expectations need to be lowered a bit for Zeke given his performance thus far, but no need to panic right now.

Value Meter:
QB2: Dak Prescott (mid-range)
RB2: Ezekiel Elliott (mid-range)
WR2: Dez Bryant (high end)
TE1: Jason Witten (low end)
FLEX: Cole Beasley (PPR only)
Bench: Terrance Williams

Prediction: Cowboys 27, Bears 19 ^ Top

Steelers @ Eagles - (Katz)

Passing Game Thoughts: Last week, the Steelers played the Bengals in poor weather and Antonio Brown (4-39) had his worst game with Ben Roethlisberger since 2012. To put things simply, I expect a vastly different tune this week. The best receiver in football saw eleven targets last week, but was only able to corral four of them. Expect a far more efficient performance this week on another double digit target afternoon. Roethlisberger will look to take advantage of an Eagles defense that has given up the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks but has yet to be challenged (Robert Griffin Wk 1 and Jay Cutler Wk 2). They allowed Alshon Jeffery to just barely miss 100 yards receiving (96 last week). I think there’s a legitimate chance AB doubles that number.

PHI FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.32
PHI FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.20
PHI FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.28
PHI FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.32

Running Game Thoughts: Le’Veon Bell is really talented and is going to take back full control of the starting job next week but DeAngelo Williams, at the ripe young age of 33, has been the top fantasy scorer at the running back position over the first two weeks. And it’s not just the offense – he actually looks good. He’s reinforced his status as the most valuable handcuff in fantasy football. We’ve got one more week of DWill and his owners should enjoy it while they can. With 68 touches in two games, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and continuing to be proficient in the passing game, he’s locked in as an elite option for one more week.

Value Meter:
QB1: Ben Roethlisberger (mid-range)
WR1: Antonio Brown (THE WR1)
RB1: DeAngelo Williams (high end)
TE1: Jesse James (low end)
FLEX: Eli Rogers, Markus Wheaton (returning from injury, so tread lightly)
Bench: Sammie Coates, Le’Veon Bell (final game of suspension)

Passing Game Thoughts: Carson Wentz (21-34, 190-1-0) didn’t have to do a whole lot to beat the Bears last week. He’s looked like a solid professional quarterback through two weeks but again, he hasn’t really been challenged. The Steelers will be his first real test and as he’ll likely have to keep up offensively with Ben and AB. To do that, he will continue to pepper his top receiver, Jordan Matthews, with a ton of targets. JMatt caught six of his nine targets last week, but had a particularly brutal drop at the end of the first half on a perfectly thrown ball that would’ve resulted in a touchdown. Regardless, the targets are not going to stop given the lack of alternatives. Matthews has one of the highest floors at the position and a breakout might be imminent. Zach Ertz will miss this game meaning TE Trey Burton is a streaming option.

PIT FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.21
PIT FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.14
PIT FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.21
PIT FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.17

Running Game Thoughts: The Eagles starting running back is Darren Sproles and it wasn’t just a symbolic start – he dominated snaps. Sproles was on the field for 57% of the Eagles offensive plays compared to just 29% for presumed starter, Ryan Mathews. Mathews had the better fantasy day because the Eagles found themselves inside the ten yard line frequently and Mathews punched in two short scores, but if he’s playing less than a third of the snaps, he can’t be trusted. As for Sproles, he wasn’t very efficient, but he touched the ball 14 times. That sort of volume will give him RB3 value more often than not. The Steelers haven’t given up more than 24 rushing yards to any running back but did allow Giovani Bernard 100 yards receiving last week. As a result, I like Sproles a lot more than Mathews, especially considering the Eagles will have to air it out to keep up with the Steelers offense.

Value Meter:
RB3: Darren Sproles
WR2: Jordan Matthews (mid-range)
TE2: Trey Burton (Zach Ertz out)
Bench: Carson Wentz, Nelson Agholor, Dorial Green-Beckham, Ryan Mathews

Prediction: Steelers 30, Eagles 23 ^ Top