Week 3 Fantasy Recap
Week 3 Fantasy Recap: High Scoring Affairs
In Week 3 we saw a total of 773 points scored. The total average scored by a team in Week 3 was 24 points. Due to there being so many points scored this week, we were treated to a very exciting week of football. Injuries still plagued a few big name players, which means many fantasy teams took hits this week but don’t worry about it there are plenty of players out there to fill in.
Quarterbacks
Week 3 saw a lot of quarterbacks put up good numbers. We got to see Aaron Rodgers embarrass the Chiefs defense while watching Andy Dalton play one of the best games of his career. This week also featured younger quarterbacks showcasing their skills to try and solidify their jobs as the franchise quarterback. The younger quarterbacks that really stood out were Carr, Bortles, Taylor, Mariota, and Dalton. Those 5 really have been playing well so far this year and we can only hope to see continued success from them all year. But the highlight was Aaron Rodgers throwing for 5 Touchdowns and 300+ Yards against a fairly good defense.
Running Backs
Week 3 we were treated to some very good performances by some underrated players. We witnessed a running back duel with Freeman and Randle battling it out all day for the upper hand. Freeman ending up prevailing, because he finished with more fantasy points and his team came away with the win. The league also got to see Le’Veon Bell back in action and he did not disappoint. With Roethlisberger down for a few weeks, look for Bell to be leaned on a lot. Latavius Murray also played well showing he has potential to be the feature back in an up and coming Raiders offense. The one note to take away from this week would be Karlos Williams taking carries from LeSean McCoy and making the most of them. McCoy has been bothered by a nagging hamstring injury and Williams is taking advantage of every chance he gets.
Wide Receivers
This week we were able to experience some very good receiver play. We saw Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Smith Sr. turn back the clock with extraordinary games. Both receivers have been playing well and connecting with their quarterbacks. A.J. Green hushed all his doubters and haters this week by scoring the most points of any receiver in the league. Green received a contract extension before the season and is showing Cincinnati why he is worth the money. Julio Jones continues his dominance as arguably the best receiver in the league with 34 Receptions and 440 Receiving Yards which are both best in the league for receivers. Cobb and James Jones put in solid weeks behind Aaron Rodgers’ stellar game. Davante Adams left the game after the Packers first drive and did not return due to a reinjured high ankle sprain. Look for an increased workload for James Jones, Jeff Janis, and Ty Montgomery.
Tight Ends
Week 3 saw some decent games from a few tight ends. Greg Olsen finished number 1 amongst tight ends in fantasy scoring. Garg Barnidge finished second (Yes, your read that correctly Gary Barnidge) in scoring with Jimmy Graham not too far behind for third. Olsen played very well and continued to be Cam Newton’s favorite target since Kelvin Benjamin went down. Barnidge played very well considering he has never really done much in the NFL up to this point. Graham finally had a good game and his fantasy owners are thanking him. Graham was reported to be unhappy with his role in the offense, so who knows whether that had anything to do with his big game. Week 3 also saw consistent numbers from Travis Kelce and Jordan Reed while Charles Clay had his best game of the year.
Kickers
Week 3 saw 4 Kickers reach double digits and others have decent games. Gostkowski did the usual finishing top the fantasy leaderboard for Kickers. Also Hauschka, Carpenter, and Josh Brown were the other three that finished with double digits. We also saw Cody Parkey go down with a groin injury and could miss the entire season with multiple tears. Caleb Sturgis signed in Philadelphia and hopes to keep the job after losing his job in Miami too Andrew Franks.
Defenses
Week 3 was a good week for defenses especially the Cardinals. The Cardinals defense had back to back pick 6s and had another 2 interceptions against Kaepernick. If having 4 interceptions isn’t already enough they added 2 sacks, a safety, and a forced fumble while only giving up 7 points. The Seahawks also had an impressive day they didn’t let the Bears score a single point. The Eagles, Vikings, Broncos, and Bills also finished the day with impressive outings and look to continue their success the rest of this year.
Who to pick up?
Quarterbacks
If you were an owner of Ben Roethlisberger you might be on the lookout for a new staring QB. If you are looking for a replacement then I would definitely consider these players in this order:
1. Derek Carr
2. Tyrod Taylor
3. Andy Dalton
4. Marcus Mariota
5. Blake Bortles
Running Backs
With Joseph Randle and Devonta Freeman having huge games expect to see them picked up this week if they weren’t already on somebody else’s team. Look to add these backs in this order:
1. Devonta Freeman
2. Karlos Williams
3. LeGarrette Blount
4. Antonio Andrews
5. Ryan Mathews
Wide Receivers
This week saw Julio Jones continue his potential record breaking season. Jones is on pace to break Marvin Harrison’s single season reception record by a lot. But since we all can’t have Julio Jones look for these guys to help out all year:
1. James Jones
2. Marvin Jones
3. Rishard Matthews
4. Rueben Randle
5. Kendall Wright
Tight Ends
A good tight end is hard to come by, so if you are fortunate enough to have Gronkowski, Olsen, Kelce, or Graham then this section doesn’t really concern you. But if you are in need of assistance at this position then take a look at these guys:
1. Jordan Reed
2. Charles Clay
3. Eric Ebron
4. Gary Barnidge
5. Julius Thomas (If he didn’t get drafted in your league then pick him up now before it’s too late because his injury is ending soon.)
Kickers
Kickers are undervalued and underappreciated so having a good one can really help your team. Maybe you can get lucky and pick up Gostkowski if someone drops him for his bye this week but don’t get your hopes up. But definitely look at these kickers if you need one:
1. Dan Carpenter
2. Chandler Catanzaro
3. Graham Gano
4. Josh Brown
5. Sebastian Janikowski
Defenses
The Seahawks and Broncos are arguably the best defenses in the league so unless you drafted them then you might be looking for a defense. Here are some to definitely consider for the rest of the year:
1. Minnesota Vikings
2. New York Jets
3. Green Bay Packers
4. Cincinnati Bengals
5. Kansas City Chiefs
