Passing Game Thoughts: Ryan Tannehill is posting good fantasy statistics
through the first three weeks (892-5-4; 54-1) but his “real
life” performance could lead to new Head Coach Adam Gase
looking elsewhere for a field general next season. Tannehill put
up most of those stats in the second half of a loss to the Patriots
who were protecting a big lead and in an overtime win against
the lowly Browns, with both teams fielding their third string
quarterbacks at the time. This week he heads into a tough matchup
on paper, before the Bengals allowed Trevor Siemian - making his
first road start - to have the best game of his brief career (23-35,
312-4-0). The Bengals are allowing 247 passing yards per game
and have allowed the second most passing touchdowns in the league
(9). The Dolphins do feature a productive trio at the wide receiver
position in Jarvis Landry, DeVante Parker and Kenny Stills who
all feature distinct skill sets which could pose major problems
to a beat up Bengals secondary. Landry has seen double digit targets
in each game this season and in 23 of his last 27 games. When
the Dolphins fall behind, that streak should continue.
CIN FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.5
CIN FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.20
CIN FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.8
CIN FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.11
Running Game Thoughts: With Arian Foster expected to miss another
weak, the Dolphins will likely once again trot out an uninspiring
four-man RBBC on a short week. Kenyan Drake (11), Jay Ajayi (7),
Isaiah Pead (5) and Damian Williams (4) all saw touches last week
with Ajayi and Williams both finding the endzone. Obviously this
does not create a good situation for fantasy owners even when
the team is facing the 18th ranked rushing defense. Further muddying
the situation is the fact that the Bengals have not allowed a
rushing touchdown on the season and in addition get star linebacker
Vontaze Burfict back from suspension this week which will only
help the run defense. Not surprisingly, this will be a situation
to avoid for all but those in the deepest of leagues.
Passing
Game Thoughts: The Bengals passing game will look to get
back on track after getting swallowed up by the Broncos at home
last week. Andy Dalton has struggled to find a connection with
any of his weapons outside of A.J. Green, and seems to miss Marvin
Jones, Mohamed Sanu and the injured Tyler Eifert. The team has
only two passing touchdowns on the season through three weeks
as it looks for Brandon LaFell, Tyler Boyd or Tyler Kroft to step
up as an alternative to Green. This week’s matchup should
help. The Dolphins are allowing 267 passing yards per game and
have yielded 4 touchdowns through the air, with only 1 interception,
making them a favorable matchup for quarterbacks and most wide
receivers. Additionally, Terrelle Pryor (8-144) ate up cornerback
Byron Maxwell last week which bodes well for A.J. Green.
MIA FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.21
MIA FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.16
MIA FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.7
MIA FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.10
Running Game Thoughts: The Bengals finally got their running
game going last week. Jeremy Hill had 17 carries gaining 97 yards
and found the endzone twice. The Bengals have faced three tough
run defenses so far (NYJ, PIT, DEN) but the sledding gets much
easier this week against a Miami team that is allowing 147.3 yards
per game on the ground, the second highest total in the NFL. In
a game where the Bengals should be controlling the clock, it sets
up well for Hill to have a repeat performance. Giovani Bernard
is two spots ahead of Hill in the RB rankings to date thanks to
his 100-yd receiving effort in Week 2, but has been out-touced
by Hill 40-31.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Quarterback Derek Carr has taken that next
step everyone was expecting and has worked his way into the weekly
QB1 conversation. He’s passed for 867 yards with 5 touchdowns
against only 1 interception and has played well on the road during
his brief career. This week he will head into Baltimore to face
a team that is allowing only 168.3 passing yards per game and
have been tough on quarterbacks dating back to last season. None
of Tyrod Taylor, Josh McCown nor Blake Bortles returned better
than QB15 value facing the Raiders during the first three weeks,
so Carr owners may want to explore other options. Amari Cooper
has yet to find the endzone this season and has dropped a few
balls as well, but went over 100 yards and scored a touchdown
last year against Baltimore and could be ready for a breakout
week.
BAL FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.28
BAL FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.25
BAL FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.23
BAL FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.24
Running Game Thoughts: Latavius Murray has not seen heavy volume
this season (40 touches) but has been efficient with his carries
averaging 4.8 yards per carry and finding the endzone in all three
games so far this season. The team has worked rookies DeAndre
Washington (20 touches) and Jalen Richard (20 touches) into the
mix and each have shown flashes of big play ability. The Raiders
looked to find competition for Murray this off-season, so it seems
clear that they feel more comfortable limiting his touches. Fantasy
owners should plan accordingly as his touchdown rate is likely
to be unsustainable.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Joe Flacco is what he is, as far as fantasy
goes. He’s a high floor QB2 who lacks any real upside despite
the Ravens high volume passing offense. The real issue for Flacco
is the team is limited by solid but unspectacular weapons in the
passing game. The fact that Steve Smith, in his age 37 season,
is the team’s leading wide receiver tells you all you need
to know. Mike Wallace has shown that he still has the deep speed
to make big plays, but doesn’t have the all-around game
to command heavy targets. Tight end Dennis Pitta should continue
to see heavy targets but is limited after the catch. The Oakland
pass defense stepped up last week against an underwhelming Tennessee
passing attack but was lit up in Weeks 1 and 2 by Drew Brees and
Matt Ryan. It wouldn’t be all that surprising to see a big
week from Flacco at home against a defense allowing a league worst
340 passing yards per game, so for those of you who own Aaron
Rodgers or are steaming quarterbacks you may want to take a look.
OAK FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.3
OAK FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.6
OAK FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.1
OAK FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.9
Running Game Thoughts: Baltimore’s two-man RBBC has been
nothing short of a fantasy wasteland. Both Justin Forsett and
Terrance West rank near the bottom of fantasy RBs that have seen
significant touches. Proactive owners may want to grab Kenneth
Dixon off the waiver wires, as he should be able to work his way
into a significant role once healthy. Surprisingly Oakland has
performed poorly against the run despite a talented front seven,
allowing 136 yards per game allowing big games to the RB duo in
Atlanta and DeMarco Murray from Tennessee. With that said, you
don’t want to start any part of the Ravens backfield right
now.
Passing
Game Thoughts: The Steelers are giving up 332 passing yards
per game, but have actually covered wide receivers fairly well,
since half of those yards are coming from the tight end and running
back positions. The Steelers have been picked apart by the short
passing game with opposing players gaining yards after the catch.
If ever there was a quarterback whose eyes would light up after
reading that statistic, it would be Alex Smith. Smith makes his
living taking what the defense gives him and dumping off to his
running backs and tight end. Travis Kelce has been a large beneficiary
of Smith’s tendencies and has accounted for 197 of Smith’s
786 yards passing this season. Even with Jamaal Charles out once
again the Chiefs still have adept pass catchers at the running
back position. It’s almost as if the Chiefs’ offense
was built to play against the Steelers.
PIT FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.16
PIT FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.4
PIT FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.25
PIT FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.16
Running Game Thoughts: Surprisingly
the Chiefs have not really missed Charles all that much as Spencer
Ware and Charcandrick West have stepped in, much like they did
last season, and played extremely well. Despite only 41 carries
on the season, Ware leads all running backs in runs gaining more
than 10 yards with nine. Ware has slowly gained a larger and larger
share of the backfield snaps after splitting the time evenly with
West in Week 1. Expect Ware to see the bulk of touches in this
game as West (ankle) has missed practice this week. The Steelers
have been one of the league’s stingiest teams against the
run allowing only 75.3 yards per game and 3 rushing touchdowns
on the season so fantasy owners will need to hope that Ware can
contribute in the passing game in order to see big production.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Big Ben Roethlisberger has thrown 18 touchdown
passes in his last seven home games and should come into this
contest highly motivated after his team was shellacked by the
Eagles last week. The Steelers’ offense was held to a mere
field goal in that game. The Chiefs have one of the best secondaries
in the league and are coming off a game where they picked off
Ryan Fitzpatrick six times. Antonio Brown caught 12 balls last
week and while he’ll likely be matched up with Marcus Peters,
fantasy owners can take solace in the fact that Brown had six
catches for 124 yards last season in Kansas City and that was
with Landry Jones under center. Obviously Ben and Brown should
be safe starts, but with Eli Rogers (toe) likely sidelined, there
isn’t all that much else in this passing game that should
draw interest.
KC FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.29
KC FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.11
KC FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.24
KC FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.30
Running Game Thoughts: For those worried about the Steelers easing
in Le’Veon Bell, coach Mike Tomlin has said to expect a
lot of Bell this week. Remember that Bell played 60 out of 63
snaps for the team last season his first week back from suspension.
DeAngelo Williams’ owners should equally bear in mind that
Williams saw only five snaps in that game. Bell’s knee was
healthy enough for him to play in preseason games so that shouldn’t
be an issue. Bell totaled 137 yards last year against the Chiefs
and that seems like a good over/under number for this week.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Matthew Stafford and Marvin Jones led a
furious near comeback against Green Bay last week at Lambeau Field,
and get a soft matchup this week as they head into Soldier Field.
Jones has been dominant this season, compiling 408 yards through
three weeks accounting for more than 40 percent of the Lions’
passing yardage. Golden Tate’s fantasy owners likely thought
he’d see a nice bump with Megatron’s retirement but
his role in the offense has actually decreased accounting for
less than 10% of the team’s passing yards while averaging
7 targets per game. The Bears have allowed only four passing touchdowns
and 214.3 passing yards per game so on the surface this looks
like a poor matchup, but those numbers likely reflect the Bears
inability to stop the run and score points on offense rather than
the talent level of the defense.
CHI FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.19
CHI FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.8
CHI FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.18
CHI FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.18
Running Game Thoughts: Theo Riddick saw an increase in carries
with Ameer Abdullah’s injury but failed to capitalize gaining
only 9 yards on his 10 carries. Riddick could be forced back into
his role as a third-down back in favor of rookie Dwayne Washington
who gained 38 yards on the same number of carries. This week should
help get the Detroit running game going as the Bears are allowing
142.7 rushing yards per game and have yielded 5 rushing scores.
Both Riddick and Washington should see an increase in volume this
week against a team that has faced the most rushing attempts against
this season - especially if they get out to an early lead.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Jay Cutler will be out again due to a thumb
injury that cost him last week’s game, which means journeyman
Brian Hoyer gets another start. That will likely only have a negligible
effect on the passing game, however. Interestingly, Kevin White
(27) has seen more targets than Alshon Jeffrey (20) on the season,
but has been far less efficient with those targets – 132
yards for White versus 271 for Jeffrey. Fourteen of White’s
targets came last week with Hoyer under center and Jeffrey banged
up with a knee injury so it will be interesting to see if this
discrepancy corrects itself going forward. Detroit presents a
soft matchup in the passing game allowing 264.3 passing yards
per contest and a league leading 10 touchdown passes on the season
so there is some potential, but the Bears’ passing game
has been so unsuccessful this season it’s tough for fantasy
owners to trust any part of it with the possible exception of
tight end Zach Miller. He could be peppered with targets as the
Bears try and play catch up. Detroit has allowed 5 touchdowns
to the tight end position already this season season.
DET FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.2
DET FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.26
DET FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.11
DET FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.1
Running Game Thoughts: Chicago ranks last in rushing attempts
and is 30th in rushing yards with only 210 on the season. The
Bears offensive line is in shambles leaving their running backs
with little room to run. Starting back Jeremy Langford will miss
4-6 weeks with a high ankle sprain and with Ka’Deem Carey
nursing a sore hamstring the Bears will turn to rookie Jordan
Howard to carry the load. While Detroit is allowing 114.7 rushing
yards per game at 5.1 yards per carry, it’s hard to imagine
the straight ahead power runner finding much running room with
the state of the o-line. The game flow will also likely not provide
much opportunity for the Bears to establish a running game as
they try to keep up with the high powered Lions’ passing
game.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Eli Manning has not finished as a QB1 (in
12 team leagues) yet this season, and expecting that to change
this week would be foolish. The Giants travel to Minnesota to
face a defense that just destroyed Cam Newton and the Carolina
Panthers. The Vikings have only allowed 3 passing touchdowns on
the season and held Kelvin Benjamin to a goose egg in Week 3 so
it would be hard to strongly recommend any member of this passing
attack. Of course anyone that drafted Odell Beckham Jr. in the
early first round will have a tough time benching him, but he
has yet to find the endzone and will be the focal point of a defense
that has only allowed one wide receiver to score this season.
In PPR leagues rookie Sterling Sheppard and his 16 receptions
could be a decent play as the Vikings focus their attention on
OBJ.
MIN FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.12
MIN FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.24
MIN FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.28
MIN FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.17
Running Game Thoughts: Shane Vereen (triceps) was placed on IR
and Rashad Jennings is expected to miss at least one more game
with his thumb injury, which gives the backfield to Orleans Darkwa
and veteran journeyman Bobby Rainey. Darkwa had some success filling
in last season but is a limited runner facing a defense giving
up only 84 rushing yards per game. Rainey could have some PPR
value, but could also lose snaps to rookie Paul Perkins. With
the tough matchup and uncertainties it is probably best to avoid
the situation if possible.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Sam Bradford has played well for the Vikings,
but like the quarterback he replaced, Teddy Bridgewater, his fantasy
value is likely to be low in a conservative offense that is only
looking to not turn the ball over. Bradford’s volume is
among the lowest in the league and his value will be touchdown
dependant. Kyle Rudolph and Stefon Diggs have been Bradford’s
go-to-guys but with such a small pie from which to take slices,
they both have low weekly floors. Diggs’ explosiveness gives
him a high ceiling however, and his owners will likely want to
keep him active most weeks. The Giants spent a lot of money on
their defense this offseason, but so far it has mostly helped
boost their run defense. Against the pass they have merely been
average allowing 262.3 yards per game through the air, but they
have only allowed 3 passing scores.
NYG FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.26
NYG FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.31
NYG FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.15
NYG FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.19
Running Game Thoughts: The Vikings have rushed for a league worst
51 yards per game. Ideally their philosophy would be to run the
ball and rely on their elite defense, but their offensive line
has not cooperated. Adrian Peterson was dreadful, so on the surface
it would appear his loss would have little impact, but in reality
the opposing defenses are likely breathing a sigh of relief. Last
week Jerick McKinnon out-snapped Matt Asiata 36-to-19 and out-touched
him 17-to-7 so it’s clear the team would like McKinnon to
be the lead back. Asiata has looked much better in pass protection
however, so that could change as the season moves on, if McKinnon
doesn’t show improvement. The Giants have been a top 5 rush
defense this year, allowing only 77.3 yards per game and only
1 rushing touchdown. McKinnon should see enough volume to earn
some lineup consideration, but keep in mind this isn’t last
year’s Giants’ run defense.
Passing
Game Thoughts: In the two seasons preceding 2015 the Colts
dominated the Jaguars going 4-0 with an average margin of victory
of 25 points. I bring it up because those teams had a healthy
Andrew Luck at the helm of an offense that didn’t need to
throw the ball as much to get the W. As a result, Luck has averaged
less than two touchdown passes in six career games against the
Jags. This game feels more like a lopsided victory waiting to
happen than a favorable shootout for fantasy owners. Jacksonville’s
pass defense is improving but they are still amongst the ten most
favorable match ups for quarterbacks and receivers as we enter
Week 4. T.Y. Hilton (knee) has been able to practice this week
and should continue to be Andrew Luck’s preferred target
in the passing game. He racked up 11 targets in the team’s
first outing without Donte Moncrief. Meanwhile Phillip Dorsett
is starting to look more like a boom or bust play that will produce
inconsistent fantasy results. The more things change, the more
they stay the same with the production from the tight end position
being split between two players. This situation limits the upside
of both players and makes Jack Doyle and Dwayne Allen TE2s this
week.
JAC FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.8
JAC FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.27
JAC FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.10
JAC FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.22
Running Game Thoughts: Frank Gore hasn’t found the end
zone against Jacksonville since 2013 so owners hoping for a repeat
of his Week 3 performance (82 yards and a TD on 21 carries) may
want to temper expectations. He’ll remain a steady source
of 16-18 touches so he stays on the RB3 map. Robert Turbin and
Josh Ferguson have been productive in backup roles albeit on limited
touches. Turbin’s past two games with a touchdown still
feel more like coincidence than the emergence of a touchdown vulture
but it is worth monitoring in the next few weeks as this could
cut into Gore’s season long value.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Blake Bortles doesn’t look anything
like the guy who threw three touchdowns against the Colts in December
last year. The passing game has been hampered by Bortles’
six interceptions, limiting the team’s scoring opportunities
in the process. The Colts have allowed opposing offenses to complete
over 71 percent of their passes which opens the door for the Jacksonville
passing attack to get into rhythm Week 4. Allen Robinson got back
on track in Week 3 against a stingy Baltimore defense with two
touchdowns. He squares off against an opponent that limited him
to five catches on 16 targets in two games last season. Nevertheless,
the talent and targets are among the very best at his position
and Indy just gave up over 300 passing yards to the Chargers so
keep the faith and plug him into the lineup this week. Marqise
Lee has made a case to become this team’s second best fantasy
wideout. He isn’t putting up blistering numbers yet but
with back-to-back games with seven targets he could sneak up on
a defense that overplays Allen Robinson.
IND FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.20
IND FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.3
IND FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.27
IND FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.13
Running Game Thoughts: Jacksonville desperately wants to get
the running game going to take the pressure off Bortles but Chris
Ivory’s injury issues (knee, ankle) continue to torment
the prospects of this unit. Ivory’s running style is not
conducive to playing hurt and T.J. Yeldon has seen his YPC drop
from 4.1 as a rookie to 2.5. Ivory practiced in full on Thursday
and all signs point to him leading the rushing game in carries
for Jacksonville Sunday. Yeldon is stuck in a rut playing second
fiddle as a rusher and seeing his passing stats suffer due to
Bortles’ poor decision making. The silver lining to tease
anyone owning one of these guys is that Indy has allowed the second
most fantasy points to running backs after three weeks. I’m
not sure that matters much since the Jaguars have only rushed
for 168 yards all season and 53 of those have come from Bortles.
Passing
Game Thoughts: The Titans are averaging 35 passing attempts
per game paired with a 6.8 yards per catch rating. That’s
not what you want to see if you own any part of this passing game.
Marcus Mariota comes into this game with four passing touchdowns
to his name against four interceptions and the Texans have allowed
the fourth fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. I thought
this team would utilize the short passing game more efficiently
considering their shifty receivers but that has yet to materialize.
Delanie Walker (hamstring) missed practice on Wednesday and was
limited on Thursday. He could be playing at less than full health
and doesn’t have the best match up so Walker owners should
look into alternatives for Week 4. Tajae Sharpe (hamstring) was
limited this week in practice but the expectation is that he will
suit up. Rishard Mathews saw a season-high eight targets with
Walker out of the lineup last week and figures to see a good chunk
of the targets in this game.
HOU FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.30
HOU FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.15
HOU FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.29
HOU FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.29
Running Game Thoughts: Tennessee has to be pleased with the direction
its running game as the calendar flips to October but there are
a few areas they need to improve to have success against teams
like Houston. The Titans are one of only four teams averaging
over 5.0 YPC but have only one rushing touchdown to show for their
work. DeMarco Murray has only gotten better each week and has
cemented his place atop the depth chart despite the presence of
rookie Derrick Henry. Murray is second only to David Johnson among
fantasy running backs thanks to his work in the passing game (17-132-2).
Playing on the road against the Texans isn’t ideal but there
isn’t any reason to bench Murray.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Those figuring that Brock Osweiler couldn’t
be any worse than the quarterback committee that was used in Houston
last season may want to re-evaluate their position. The passing
attack has struggled when defenses force Osweiler to beat them
through the air and the Titans will attempt to follow the same
script in this game. DeAndre Hopkins’ fantasy value has
taken a hit with his quarterback’s rocky start but his uncanny
ability to make athletic catches in coverage make him the perfect
target for a QB struggling to find consistency. Will Fuller added
another drop to his total last week and continues to struggle
in pressure situations. Despite the drops he continues to see
enough involvement to make him a solid flex play most weeks. Braxton
Miller (hamstring) has not been able to practice this week and
has been ruled out. Jaelen Strong will operate out of the slot
for the second straight game but hasn’t been able to capitalize
on the opportunity so fantasy owners should steer clear. Ryan
Griffin’s 10 target game at TE last week was the result
of New England allowing him to get the ball underneath coverage
rather than a breakout performance.
TEN FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.27
TEN FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.28
TEN FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.19
TEN FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.21
Running Game Thoughts: Lamar Miller continues to get the touches
of an elite fantasy footballer (averaging 28 per game) but has
yet to carry the pigskin over the goal line in 74 carries. Head
coach Bill O’Brien is taking over play-calling duties this
week so perhaps we see more of an emphasis on the pass game? We’ll
see. Making matters worse for Miller’s owners in Week 4
is the fact that Tennessee has allowed only one rushing touchdown.
Houston hasn’t had a run over 20 yards yet this season and
Tennessee has only allowed 13 rushing first downs, good for third
fewest in the NFL. Look for the Titans to attack the gaps on early
downs to plug the running lanes. Miller is in for a tough outing
but his floor remains high due to the aforementioned volume of
touches. With Jonathan Grimes (fibula) out, Alfred Blue will handle
the reserve duties but won’t get enough touches to be a
reliable fantasy option this week.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Cam Newton was sore and there was worry
that a turned ankle last week could affect his Week 4 playing
status but he hasn’t been slowed in practice so keep him
green-lighted. He should be licking his chops to get back on the
field for Carolina’s first divisional test of the season
against an Atlanta defense that has yielded the most passing touchdowns
and fifth most passing yards to quarterbacks to date. The singe
of a zero-catch outing from Kelvin Benjamin may be fresh in your
minds, but the Falcons defense is far less capable than the guys
from Minnesota. Following Benjamin’s goose egg, OC Mike
Shula put the blame on himself so expect the offense to place
a clear emphasis on getting Benjamin going early in this game.
Despite the match up, there isn’t much consistency amongst
the other pass catchers not named Greg Olsen.
ATL FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.1
ATL FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.5
ATL FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.12
ATL FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.2
Running Game Thoughts: Jonathan Stewart (hamstring) is another
week or two away from returning so expect Cameron Artis-Payne
to get another start this weekend. He wasn’t spectacular
against the Vikings (12 carries for 47 yards) but he did enough
to remain the lead fantasy option in this RBBC. If the game remains
close Cappy should deliver more RB3-level production this week
but I’m not forcing him into any lineup due to his limited
touchdown potential. However, those feeling that Matt Ryan will
keep up his high level of play may want to consider Fozzy Whittaker
as a plug and play option. The Panthers prefer Whittaker in the
hurry up offense and Atlanta has given up 28 receptions and two
touchdowns to opposing running backs in only three games.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Matty Ice is back but how much of his success
can be based on the lackluster defenses he has faced to open the
year? We should gain a little more insight into the answer to
that question in this ball game but I’d rather find out
with him in my lineup unless you have another elite option with
a better match up. Like most weeks, Jacob Tamme is a replacement
level fantasy tight end going up against the Panthers. I warned
of a Julio Jones pitfall last week but I wasn’t expecting
a complete dud (1 catch for 8 yards). He’s too good of a
player to be ignored in big games that could decide the fate of
the division so expect him to pick up where he left off against
Carolina in Weeks 14 and 16 last year. In those two games the
‘Bama alum compiled 266 yards on 16 receptions with one
touchdown. Ryan did an excellent job at spreading the ball around
last week. Though the scheme was effective at moving the team
down the field for increased scoring opportunities, game plans
like this make it very tough to trust Mohamed Sanu, Justin Hardy
or Aldrick Robinson.
CAR FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.25
CAR FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.18
CAR FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.31
CAR FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.7
Running Game Thoughts: Jake Mathews is a big reason why the Falcons
were able to run effectively against the Saints on MNF. If the
third-year tackle from Texas A&M continues to be a force in
the running game Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman will benefit
in a big way for fantasy owners with both players seeing weekly
starter status. If we are not there already, we are close. I’d
still refrain from using Coleman against solid pass defense teams
like the Panthers. They typically have solid linebackers, like
Luke Kuechly, to negate some of the receiving abilities that Coleman
offers fantasy owners. Freeman isn’t going to single handedly
win you a fantasy title as long as Coleman is around but he will
certainly provide you with borderline RB1 stats in this offense.
Atlanta is averaging 136 rushing yards per game in 2016 (up from
100.4 in 2015).
Passing
Game Thoughts: Tampa Bay has already allowed six passing
plays of 40 or more yards so expect Denver to take a few shots
down the field. Demaryius Thomas would be the preferred choice
to exploit that match up. Thomas’ stat line last week included
a 100-yard performance and a score but it wasn’t as pretty
as it may seem because the team leaned heavily on Emmanuel Sanders
(13 targets last week). Tight end Virgil Green was unable to make
it back to the practice field this week so backups Jeff Heuerman
and John Phillips will share the workload on Sunday afternoon.
Trevor Siemian has passed the eye test thus far-especially after
throwing for four TDs on the road against the Bengals. He has
shown plenty of command and toughness for a rookie but remains
a fringe fantasy asset as a match up based starter.
TB FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.9
TB FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.7
TB FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.3
TB FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.25
Running Game Thoughts: C.J. Anderson was bottle-necked for the
first time in 2016 last week. His 37 yards on 14 carries crushed
fantasy owners but any thought of Devontae Booker taking over
was erased with the youngster receiving a paltry five touches.
The rookie fourth rounder may eventually carve out a more substantial
role in this offense but remains a bench warmer this week. Anderson’s
outlook this week is much brighter than it was a week ago as the
team is set to face the seventh friendliest defense to running
backs. Look for Anderson to be fed the ball throughout this game
as the team looks to get their running game going.
Passing
Game Thoughts: The Broncos continued to wreak havoc on
opposing quarterbacks last week. Denver’s defense has now
allowed an average of 178.3 passing yards per game while producing
21 hurries. Jameis Winston will face the fury this weekend. He
is coming off back-to-back games with 50 passing attempts but
shouldn’t come close to that amount in Week 4. Mike Evans
has been on the receiving end of 37 of Winston’s passes
and has a three game touchdown streak coming into this week’s
action. The combination of Winston and Evans are certainly a formidable
foe for the defense and I wouldn’t dare sit the guy who
has posted the sixth most receiving yards in the league until
NFL defenses figure out a way to stop him. Adam Humphries has
benefited from the pass happy ways of the Bucs offense by hauling
in 9-of-12 passes for his first career 100-yard performance. I
wouldn’t want to rely on him in this match up but there
is a chance that he steps up if Denver goes all out to stop Evans.
Cameron Brate takes over as the team’s full time TE atop
the depth chart following the release of Austin Sefarian Jenkins
(DUI). Brate could have sneaky value in deep leagues but doesn’t
figure to be a consistent impact player in this passing attack.
DEN FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.23
DEN FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.13
DEN FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.30
DEN FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.20
Running Game Thoughts: Charles Sims (13-55-1, 6-69) played well
in his first start of the season. Denver’s defense has been
so stringy in the passing game that teams have had to turn to
the running game to avoid the loss of yards and potential turnovers
spawned by the pass rush. As a result, the Broncos defense has
given up the 13th most fantasy points to running backs. If Sims
wants to push Doug Martin for playing time when he returns he
will need to have a strong performance in this game. Sims saw
76 percent (compared to Jacquizz Rodgers’ 26 percent) of
the offensive snaps as the lead back and that number could actually
go up so deploy him as a RB2 this week.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Because the NFL makes no sense, the Bills,
coming off what looked to be a season crippling loss to the Jets,
absolutely steamrolled the Cardinals last week in a game they
not only led wire to wire, but was never in doubt. Operating without
Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods dominated targets (8) while the Bills
threw as little as possible in a successful effort to allow the
running game to control the offense. Tyrod Taylor is averaging
a paltry 175.7 passing yards per game, but at 37.3 rushing yards
per game, he always has that QB1 potential. The problem, it seems,
is that it’s very difficult to predict when Taylor will
show up with a big performance, making him a very risky weekly
option. With Watkins unlikely to go again, there is no one in
this passing offense I’d feel comfortable starting.
NE FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.17
NE FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.21
NE FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.14
NE FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.15
Running Game Thoughts: LeSean McCoy is averaging a hair under
twenty touches per game and is now more than ever the focal point
of the Bills’ offense. Last week, Shady averaged 6.5 yards
per carry and scored twice against what is supposed to be a strong
Cardinals run defense. The Patriots contained Lamar Miller last
week, but McCoy is a more talented back and should see volume
similar to that of Miller. Even in a bad matchup based on projected
game script, the Patriots allow 4.4 yards per carry to opposing
rushers and McCoy will be asked to do all he can in an offense
devoid of weapons.
Passing
Game Thoughts: In the final game before Tom Brady returns,
the Patriots are simply looking to get by at the quarterback position.
Both Jimmy Garoppolo (sprained AC joint in right shoulder) and
Jacoby Brissett (sprained thumb) are going to do all they can
to get ready for Sunday’s game. My guess is they are both
active and Garoppolo starts. How effective he will be at less
than 100% remains to be seen, but even 70% of Garoppolo might
be worth consideration. I wouldn’t worry too much about
him repeating Carson Palmer’s four interception performance
last week against these Bills. Remember, the Bills got lit up
by Ryan Fitzpatrick two weeks ago. A somewhat healthy Garoppolo
would be a boon for Julian Edelman’s (4-38 last week) value
as well. The bigger question for this week is to what extent Rob
Gronkowski plays. Gronk was active last week for the first time
all season, but played just 14 snaps and didn’t catch a
pass in a game that was never competitive. I worry that the Patriots
may pull ahead early in this one as well, but with an extra ten
days to rest up, I expect Gronk to be far more involved between
the twenties. I know last week’s goose egg has left many
with a sour taste in their mouths, but the fact remains, if Gronk
plays, you are starting him.
BUF FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.22
BUF FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.10
BUF FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.6
BUF FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.31
Running Game Thoughts: Unsurprisingly, the Patriots leaned heavily
on LeGarrette Blount last week (24-105-2). Blount is averaging
a respectable four yards per carry and has more touchdowns (four)
than games played (three). Look for more of the same this week.
Blount’s value will dip once Brady comes back, but for at
least one more week, Blount is a virtual lock for 20-plus carries.
He is a bruiser that wears defenders down and looks to run through
people. The Bills have allowed just 3.4 yards per carry to opposing
rushers, but Blount can do plenty of damage at 3.4 yards per carry
given the volume he should receive.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Through three weeks, Russell Wilson is not
even a top 25 fantasy quarterback. He has not looked good either.
That may be due in large part to his high ankle sprain and now
a MCL sprain, but the fact remains that Russell Wilson is nowhere
near the circle of trust. His rushing stats are down (33 yards
through three games) and he only has two passing touchdowns. His
top target Doug Baldwin bounced back from a down Week 2 to put
up a monster Week 3 (8-164-1) and even if the Seahawks were forced
to start Trevone Boykin, Baldwin would not suffer much. It won’t
come to that as Wilson refuses to miss a game. He’s going
to play. The main takeaway from last week’s game is the
return of Jimmy Graham. His offensive involvement has increased
each week of the season. He played on 67% of the snaps last week
and saw nine targets, hauling in six of them for an even 100 yards
and a score. The Jets are not the best matchup, but Graham is
locked in as a steady TE1 with a virtually limitless ceiling.
NYJ FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.13
NYJ FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.29
NYJ FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.9
NYJ FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.12
Running Game Thoughts: After three weeks, we finally have some
clarity on the running back situation. It will be the Christine
Michael show for the foreseeable future. Ultimately, I do think
when Thomas Rawls comes back he retakes this job, but that won’t
be until at least November (as it turns out his shin contusion
was actually a hairline fracture of his fibula). Taking full advantage
of the opportunity, Michael is averaging 5.1 yards per carry in
Rawls’ absence. He’s even chipped in with a couple
of receptions in each game this season. This week will be his
toughest test of the season as he faces the perennially strong
Jets run defense, currently ranked third in yards per carry allowed
at 3.3. The good news is Michael should see around 20 carries
and possibly even more if Wilson is limited.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Last week, a man came out of hiding. It
was a man we hadn’t seen in a long time. That man’s
name is Ryan Pickspatrick. It had been a long time since Ryan
Fitzpatrick morphed into his alter ego, but his bad side was on
full display in 2016’s worst performance by a quarterback.
Although he was victimized by a couple tip drills, Fitzpatrick
threw the ball to the wrong team a whopping six times last week.
Unsurprisingly, his performance rendered all three of his fantasy
relevant receivers essentially useless. Brandon Marshall, Eric
Decker, and Quincy Enunwa saw a combined 27 targets. They caught
just eight of them and Decker’s streak of 80 yards or a
touchdown ended at 18 games. If there is any positive takeaway,
it’s that Marshall played in all but two if the Jets offensive
snaps. If he was limited by his knee injury, hopefully back to
back full days of practice this week put those concerns to rest
going forward. Given the track record of this entire offense,
I’m willing to give everyone a mulligan due to Fitzpatrick’s
anomalous performance. A home date with the Seahawks isn’t
necessarily the cure, but Seattle is a different team on the road.
It certainly doesn’t help the cause that the Jets will likely
be without Decker (shoulder – severity unknown), but the
Jets should bounce back in this one simply because it’s
impossible to be worse. No Decker gives Enunwa a bump.
SEA FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.32
SEA FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.23
SEA FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.32
SEA FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.26
Running Game Thoughts: Matt Forte had his worst game of the season
(15-65) last week, also due in large part to his quarterback.
Fitzpatrick puts the Jets in a hole early, which forced them to
abandon the run game and it’s also exceedingly difficult
to produce offensively in any capacity when your team never has
the ball. There is no reason to express concern over Forte. He
is averaging a respectable 3.9 yards per carry on the season,
but as we know, he makes his money on volume. This week’s
game should be much more competitive, allowing Forte to remain
involved in the ground throughout. The Seahawks gave up 103 yards
and two scores on the ground to Carlos Hyde last week. At this
point in his career Forte is not the runner Hyde is, but Hyde’s
performance shows that the Seahawks can be beaten. Forte is savvy
enough to produce as long as the score doesn’t take him
out of the game. No need to worry here.
Passing
Game Thoughts: The Browns, down two quarterbacks already,
have resorted to tomfoolery to score points. And it’s working!
Cody Kessler is nothing more than a warm body under center, but
he really should be 1-0 in his career as a starter. Hue Jackson
is like Inspector Gadget on the sidelines and before last week’s
game, apparently yelled, “Go Go Gadget Pryor.” Terrelle
Pryor was used as a quarterback, pseudo-running back taking wildcat
snaps, and as a receiver. Pryor (8-144 in the air, 4-21-1 on the
ground, and 3/5 for 35 yards passing) did it all. Jackson’s
primary objective was clearly to get the ball in Pryor’s
hands however possible. He was used heavily all over the field
and was the main red zone option. Despite the presumed faceoff
with Josh Norman this week, Pryor is a must start as few players
have a higher touchdown probability. His usage out of the backfield
and as a passer raises his floor considerably.
Note: As you all know by now, Josh Gordon has entered himself
into rehab and will not be rejoining the Browns next week. Hopefully
he can make a full recovery and get himself back in the NFL, but
for now – for fantasy purposes – he can be safely
dropped.
WAS FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.11
WAS FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.2
WAS FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.4
WAS FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.23
Running Game Thoughts: Both Isaiah Crowell (10-79) and Duke Johnson
(10-69) had very productive days on the ground last week. Somehow,
Johnson caught five balls but only managed twelve yards. His involvement
in the passing game keeps his floor high, but he’s very
unlikely to score on a weekly basis given that he’s behind
Crowell, Terrelle Pryor the receiver, and Terrelle Pryor the wildcat
quarterback in the red zone. The Redskins allowed DeAngelo Williams
to rush for 143 yards in Week 1, the Cowboys backfield led by
Ezekiel Elliott to rush for over 100 yards in Week 2, and the
combination of Shane Vereen and Orleans Darkwa to rush for 120
yards in Week 3. Look for the Browns backfield duo to continue
that trend this week.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Kirk Cousins had his best game of the young
season last week, completing 60 percent of his passes for 296
yards, 2 touchdowns, and most importantly, no turnovers. He outplayed
Eli Manning and is the reason his team won. He did so by feeding
his top receiver, DeSean Jackson, with eight targets, connecting
on five for 96 yards and a touchdown. Everybody got to eat in
this one as Jamison Crowder, Pierre Garcon, and Jordan Reed all
saw seven targets and topped 50 yards. Reed’s numbers have
appeared pedestrian, but he’s actually been on par with
what he’s done last year - he just hasn’t scored.
Touchdowns are fluky and they will come… perhaps this week.
The Browns just let Ryan Tannehill throw for over 300 yards and
gave up big games Jarvis Landry, Kenny Stills, and DeVante Parker.
This is a week that DJax, Reed, and Crowder could all have strong
games.
CLE FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.7
CLE FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.14
CLE FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.2
CLE FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.14
Running Game Thoughts: Matt Jones saw his biggest workload last
week with 17 carries but only managed 65 yards. He remains inefficient
and ineffective. Nevertheless, he’s not going anywhere as
the Redskins have even worse options behind him and Chris Thompson
is more receiver than running back. The Redskins rank third in
pass-run percentage (68%-32%) capping Jones’ ceiling at
an RB2 level. The Browns are allowing 109.3 rushing yards per
game, but I don’t think the Redskins are capable of exploiting
it.
Passing
Game Thoughts: It took them two games, but eventually the
Rams offense was going to score a touchdown. They finally got
it done in Week 3, including two passing scores from Case Keenum
against the Buccaneers. The overall production from this Los Angeles
passing game is still quite mediocre and we’re still waiting
for a receiver to break out. The two best options seem to be Tavon
Austin (30) and Kenny Britt (22) who are the only LA wide receivers
who have been targeted more than eight times through the first
three weeks of the season. In reality, Austin is the only player
in the fantasy discussion for deep PPR leagues as a flex option.
This passing game will be in for another tough matchup this week
as they go up against an Arizona secondary that is one of the
most talented in the league. Austin will likely see a lot of attention
from Tyrann Mathieu and Patrick Peterson who have both been playing
very well this season and have the speed and agility to keep up
with his shiftiness. Don’t expect much this week from the
Rams passing game. In fact, the Cardinals defense is a premiere
play here in Week 4.
ARI FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.24
ARI FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.17
ARI FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.21
ARI FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.28
Running Game Thoughts: Fantasy owners of Todd Gurley were relieved
to see their star running back show up in Week 3. The back rushed
for a season-high 85 yards and a pair of touchdowns, his first
of the year. Overall, the concern is still there that this Los
Angeles offense is just not good enough to keep up with the best
offenses in the league. That could lead to some multiple score
losses, as many are predicting here in Week 4. If the Rams do
fall behind early another weak game from Gurley isn’t out
of the question. With limited usage in the passing game, Gurley
is a player who doesn’t typically succeed when his team
is forced into a negative game script. It’d be extremely
difficult to imagine a scenario where a fantasy owner would be
sitting Gurley this early in the season, but understand that this
could be a very tough game for Gurley against an Arizona defense
that has been excellent against the run at home so far this year.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Carson Palmer threw a whopping four interceptions
with no touchdowns in Week 3, barely cracking positive points
for his fantasy owners. It’s always tough to forget a game
like the one Palmer had in Week 3, but fantasy football is all
about looking toward the future and not dwelling on the past.
The Rams defense was exploited for 405 yards and three touchdowns
by Jameis Winston last week and this seems to be the kind of game
that Palmer will bounce back in, leading to huge potential from
each of his top three targets, Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd
and John Brown. All three were involved in the passing game in
Week 3, with Fitzgerald (12 targets) receiving the most attention.
The veteran is an excellent play in this matchup, while Floyd
and Brown could slot in as high upside flex options for those
in need.
LAR FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.15
LAR FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.12
LAR FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.22
LAR FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.8
Running Game Thoughts: There have been quite a few disappointments
from the first round of fantasy drafts so far this season, but
one of the players who has lived up to expectations has been Arizona
running back David Johnson. Johnson’s usage in the passing
game (10-169) has helped to make him a stud fantasy player even
in weeks where his team is being blown out – something that
many other top backs struggle to do. Johnson has gone well over
100 total yards in each of his three games, including three total
touchdowns, and now faces a struggling Los Angeles team that has
already conceded four touchdowns to opposing running backs this
season. With the Cardinals passing game struggling this past week,
it would not be surprising to see head coach Bruce Arians lean
on his young running back, especially late in the game if they
get out to a lead. Johnson is one of the top plays in all of fantasy
football this week and should be in every lineup.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Dak Prescott threw his first NFL passing
touchdown this past week as he connected with star wide receiver
Dez Bryant. That budding duo appeared to be well on its way to
producing nice fantasy numbers, but a hairline fracture to Bryant’s
knee now puts the receiver’s Week 4 in jeopardy. In fact,
sources within the Cowboys organization have said that the team
is preparing to play without Bryant for Sunday’s game as
well as multiple games going forward. This is a brutal hit to
the fantasy value of the young quarterback, but it does leave
open new opportunities for other receivers in the Cowboys offense,
namely Terrance Williams. Williams did not fare well in 2015 when
Bryant went down, but the quarterback situation was awful in Dallas.
Prescott appears to have much better control, but the overall
prospects don’t look particularly good. One thing that doesn’t
change, is Prescott’s ability to run. He’s already
scored twice on runs and appears to be a threat to do so at any
time. Cole Beasley and Jason Witten remain interesting PPR and
daily options but their lack of presence in the red zone has made
them tough to trust in standard formats.
SF FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.6
SF FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.14
SF FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.19
SF FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.16
Running Game Thoughts: Rookie Ezekiel Elliott has continued to
look better every single week and his fantasy owners have to be
extremely pleased after what they saw in Week 3 when he rushed
for 140 yards on 30 carries. Elliott has already touched the ball
76 times this season – an astonishing number for a rookie
back at this day in age, but the Cowboys appear to be set on letting
the offense go through their talented young runner. Elliott remains
an RB1 against almost any opponent right now due to his high usage,
but he’s a particularly good option against a 49ers defense
that has conceded 264 rushing yards to mediocre backfields in
Carolina and Seattle over the past two weeks. With Dallas and
San Francisco both likely to be playing the field position game,
look for Elliott to touch the ball in excess of 25 times again
this week, making him a rock solid RB1.
Passing
Game Thoughts: There aren’t many passing games in
the NFL that are less exciting than the one in San Francisco right
now. Blaine Gabbert, while efficient at times, just does not seem
to be capable of putting up big fantasy points. It’s true
that the 49ers have played against some difficult defenses to
start the season (LAR, CAR, SEA), but it would be nice for someone
to have stepped up and given fantasy owners something to be excited
about as the 49ers host a much less intimidating Dallas defense
in Week 4. The Cowboys have already conceded six touchdown passes
and two 300-yard days to opposing quarterbacks while forcing just
two interceptions, but don’t look for Gabbert to become
a QB1 in this matchup. He’s an acceptable bye week fill-in
for those in desperate need, but that’s about it. Meanwhile
the team’s top-scoring fantasy receiver, tight end Vance
McDonald, has caught just five passes this season (two for touchdowns)
and is listed as questionable with a hip injury. Torrey Smith
and Jeremy Kerley are the team’s top two options at wide
receiver, but neither player has done much with the opportunities
they’ve been given, so it’d be extremely difficult
to consider either of them an option for fantasy purposes at this
time.
DAL FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.10
DAL FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.22
DAL FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.20
DAL FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.3
Running Game Thoughts: If the 49ers are going to win this game,
it’s likely going to have to come by riding on the back
of Carlos Hyde. Hyde has sandwiched an awful game in Week 2 with
two excellent performances in Weeks 1 and 2, but most intriguing
is his continued usage even in games where the 49ers fall behind
early. The 49ers were getting absolutely walloped by the Seahawks
in Week 3, but Hyde still managed to get 21 carries, which he
took for 103 yards and a pair of touchdowns. With Dez Bryant likely
out, the Cowboys are unlikely to light up the scoreboard which
should lead to a healthy day of carries for Hyde. He remains a
very minimal part of the San Francisco passing game so his value
is a bit weakened in PPR formats, but Hyde is still a rock solid
RB2.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Another week, another dominant fantasy day
for Drew Brees who is currently the No. 1 fantasy quarterback
in standard scoring formats. Brees has made a career of putting
up ridiculous numbers when the Saints play at home while struggling
at times to even crack QB1 numbers on the road. That may be the
case again for Brees as he and the Saints head to San Diego to
face the Chargers. The Chargers haven’t been good against
the pass this season, but they haven’t played against a
dynamic offense like the Saints. Wide receiver Willie Snead (toe)
is still questionable to play this Sunday after missing this past
Monday night’s game. That should have led to more production
from Brandin Cooks, but he had one of the worst games of his career,
catching just two passes for 13 yards in the loss to Atlanta.
Cooks was still targeted eight times, so don’t put him on
your bench yet. Rookie wide receiver Michael Thomas continues
to be involved in the offense and makes for an interesting flex
play in PPR formats this week. Coby Fleener is finally back in
the TE1 conversation as his high number of targets finally translated
into fantasy success in Week 3 when he caught seven passes for
109 yards and a touchdown. The New Orleans offense is one of the
best in football and the only real concern here is Brees’
history on the road. Still, this is a good enough matchup that
it’s going to be tough to bench any Saints.
NO FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.18
NO FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.1
NO FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.13
NO FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.27
Running Game Thoughts: It’s been a disappointing start
to the season for Mark Ingram, but the bruising tailback finally
got into the end zone this past week, surprisingly via the pass.
Ingram’s usage in the passing game remains fairly high for
a back of his stature even as the team continues to mix in Travaris
Cadet in passing situations. Ingrma has now caught 10 passes on
the season. His rushing numbers haven’t been great so far,
but he hasn’t been getting his usual workload either. San
Diego hasn’t given up a 100-yard rusher, but they have been
particularly giving to opposing running backs in the passing game
as they’ve already conceded 27 receptions to the position,
second-most in the league. Ingram is a mid-level RB1 in this matchup
with high upside.
Passing
Game Thoughts: It’s not often that a quarterback
throws for 300-plus yards and doesn’t get into the end zone,
but that’s what happened to Philip Rivers in Week 3. Still,
there’s a lot to be excited about for the San Diego passing
game in this week’s matchup. Rivers himself has been absolutely
tearing up the field. He hasn’t thrown an interception yet
and has made the likes of Travis Benjamin and Tyrell Williams
into viable fantasy options. The New Orleans defense has been
absolutely awful and there’s little reason to believe that
it won’t continue this week against Rivers and the Chargers.
One intriguing option who might not be on fantasy radars at the
moment is rookie tight end Hunter Henry, who is likely to fill
in again this week for the injured Antonio Gates. Henry caught
five passes for 72 yards in Week 3 and should see enough targets
come his way to be a low-end TE1 against the Saints.
SD FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.4
SD FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.9
SD FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.17
SD FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.6
Running Game Thoughts: One of the most pleasant surprises of
the young 2016 season, second-year running back Melvin Gordon
has truly been excellent for fantasy owners. He was terrible from
a yards per carry standpoint against the Colts in Week 3, but
he added some decent receiving numbers and a rushing touchdown
to save his fantasy day. Gordon now gets another great matchup
against the Saints who have conceded the most fantasy points to
opposing running backs so far this season. Opposing teams’
running backs have averaged over 200 total yards per game and
scored seven total touchdowns against the Saints. Gordon is an
excellent bet to put up high-end RB1 numbers and could get into
the end zone multiple times in this contest. Deploy him in your
lineups with confidence.