Last week, I solicited suggestions from my followers on Twitter about players who have disappointed or surprised so far, and turned it into my Week 3 Tuesday Talking Points column. Now that we’re basically a quarter through the fantasy regular season, I thought I’d give my quick opinion on how each team is playing and how I’m handling those teams from a fantasy perspective, with thoughts on every relevant fantasy player.
I plan on revisiting this format for Talking Points every few weeks to see if anything has changed.
For the purposes of this article, consider that I am basing my analysis on a basic 12-team PPR league that starts 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 WRT FLEX. I am assuming that the league is a simple redraft league, so no keepers (i.e. you can drop young players who aren’t contributing now).
Arizona Cardinals
Passing Percentage: 55.61% (20th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 71.3 (t-5th)
The Cards have taken the next step in 2020, with QB Kyler Murray benefitting from the trade for WR DeAndre Hopkins, who is tied for the NFL lead with 37 targets. I’m beginning to think we just overthought this one — Hopkins earns the trust of every QB he’s ever played for, perhaps to a fault. Murray still throws too many picks, but his rushing potential has exceeded our expectations. Unfortunately, his performance around the goal line and his propensity to target Hopkins on even short routes has robbed RB Kenyan Drake of some upside — Drakes 59 touches through three games is tied for 7th in the NFL, but he’s just the RB29 in total fantasy scoring. The most disappointing thing for Drake is that he has only 5 targets. It’s just really hard to bench someone who’s touching the ball 20 times a game.
Weekly Starters: QB Kyler Murray, RB Kenyan Drake, WR DeAndre Hopkins
Lineup Decisions: None of note
Bench Stashes: RB Chase Edmonds, WR Christian Kirk, WR Andy Isabella
Drop ‘Em: WR Larry Fitzgerald
Atlanta Falcons
Passing Percentage: 62.62% (8th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 71.3 (t-5th)
We projected the Falcons to lead the NFL in pass attempts this year because we knew the defense would suck, but hell, we couldn’t have expected this, with two major collapses in the first three games. It’s made their passing game one of the most attractive in the entire NFL, with three WRs and a TE all viable fantasy options for QB Matt Ryan. It seems like this is the year the dinged-up Julio Jones (hamstring) finally gets passed in fantasy points by a teammate (Calvin Ridley), while the Falcons’ run game — led by Todd Gurley — continues to be an afterthought, though it has been more effective than I anticipated. The Falcons appear content rotating Gurley with Brian Hill, which could keep Gurley fresh.
Weekly Starters: QB Matt Ryan, WR Calvin Ridley, WR Julio Jones, RB Todd Gurley
Lineup Decisions: WR Russell Gage, TE Hayden Hurst
Bench Stashes: RB Brian Hill
Drop ‘Em: RB Ito Smith
Baltimore Ravens
Passing Percentage: 50% (29th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 58.7 (t-5th)
The addition of JK Dobbins (who has only 15 touches in three games) to the mix really threw a wrench into the Ravens’ backfield — last year, this was one of the simplest fantasy teams to figure out. You started Lamar Jackson, Mark Ingram, Mark Andrews, and Hollywood Brown every week. But Baltimore’s backfield rotation, combined with a great defense and a low volume of plays run, has turned this backfield into a nightmare. Meanwhile, Lamar hasn’t thrown the ball particularly well in two of three games this year, which has hurt the production of Brown and Andrews (Andrews has had some drops, of course). Lamar leads the team in rushing, but he doesn’t have a TD so far, and has been a disappointing QB12 through three games.
Weekly Starters: QB Lamar Jackson, TE Mark Andrews
Lineup Decisions: RB Mark Ingram, WR Marquise Brown
Bench Stashes: RB JK Dobbins, RB Gus Edwards
Drop ‘Em: None of note.
Buffalo Bills
Passing Percentage: 61.62% (9th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 66.0 (14th)
Bill QB Josh Allen certainly benefited from a couple of juicy early-season matchups, but his performance against the Rams in Week 3 is certainly lending some level of credence to his early MVP campaign. The most shocking thing I’ve seen so far is how much Bill OC Brian Daboll is letting Allen throw the ball — Buffalo was a bottom-10 team in pass percentage a season ago. For fantasy purposes, I’d actually like that number to shrink, but Allen is making big plays with his arm and opportunistic plays with his legs. The addition of WR Stefon Diggs has worked out far better than most could have anticipated.
Weekly Starters: QB Josh Allen, WR Stefon Diggs
Lineup Decisions: RB Devin Singletary, WR John Brown
Bench Stashes: RB Zack Moss, WR Cole Beasley, WR Gabriel Davis
Drop ‘Em: TE Dawson Knox
Carolina Panthers
Passing Percentage: 59.89% (12th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 62.3 (25th)
The Panthers are throwing about as much as I anticipated, and maybe even a little less. I’m surprised how few plays they’ve run overall given how bad this defense is, but so far this season, QB Teddy Bridgewater has done a solid job caretaking this offense and installing the plan of OC Joe Brady. RB Mike Davis did a great Christian McCaffrey (high ankle) impression in Week 3, while I’ve been really impressed with the performance of Robby Anderson so far, though I anticipate DJ Moore will outproduce him when all is said and done. Anderson’s catch rate of 83.3% is impossibly high, while I think Moore’s is artificially low (53.8%). Moore has the higher aDOT so far, though, which surprises me.
Weekly Starters: RB Christian McCaffrey, RB Mike Davis (while CMC is out), WR DJ Moore
Lineup Decisions: WR Robby Anderson
Bench Stashes: RB Mike Davis (when CMC is back), WR Curtis Samuel
Drop ‘Em: QB Teddy Bridgewater, TE Ian Thomas
Chicago Bears
Passing Percentage: 58.94% (20th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 69.0 (9th)
Look, it’s no secret that the reason I invested in Allen Robinson as much as I did this off-season was because I expected that the Bears would make the move to Nick Foles at some point, and that time is now. Foles always wears out his welcome wherever he goes, but the fact of the matter is he’s a much better player than the awful Mitchell Trubisky. I’ve been overall impressed by how RB David Montgomery has looked through three games, and his role is going to increase with Tarik Cohen (ACL) on IR. With Foles in there, keep an eye on TE Jimmy Graham and slot WR Anthony Miller. Graham has been impressive through three games, while Miller played a season-high 57% of snaps in Week 3. Foles has always favored the TE and slot receivers.
Weekly Starters: WR Allen Robinson, RB David Montgomery
Lineup Decisions: TE Jimmy Graham
Bench Stashes: WR Anthony Miller, WR/RB Cordarrelle Patterson, WR Darnell Mooney
Drop ‘Em: QB Nick Foles, RB Tarik Cohen
Cincinnati Bengals
Passing Percentage: 68.89% (2nd in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 75.0 (2nd)
The Bengals have a bad defense, so they have to score a lot of points and run a lot of plays to stay in games. It’s why Joe Burrow (141 pass attempts) is second in the league in pass attempts, and why Tyler Boyd has been such a stud (26 targets, 12th in the NFL). But WR AJ Green has looked like a shell of himself, and the Bengals gave rookie WR Tee Higgins a start over 2017 bust John Ross against Philly in Week 3. I’m burying the lede here, though — everybody wants to know what to do with Joe Mixon, who is tied for 8th in the NFL with 59 touches but is just the RB36 for fantasy. It looks eerily similar to the beginning of last year, when Mixon couldn’t find room to run behind an abysmal offensive line and wasn’t used in the passing game enough to make up for it. I’m relatively optimistic for a Mixon rebound (much like he did in 2019), because I think Burrow raises the ceiling of this Cincinnati offense overall. However, I just wish Gio Bernard would go away.
Weekly Starters: WR Tyler Boyd
Lineup Decisions: RB Joe Mixon, WR AJ Green, QB Joe Burrow
Bench Stashes: WR Tee Higgins, RB Gio Bernard
Drop ‘Em: WR John Ross, WR Auden Tate, TE Drew Sample
Cleveland Browns
Passing Percentage: 47.34% (31st in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 62.7 (t-21st)
A team that throws the ball at a near league-low rate that runs plays at a near bottom-10 pace is very, very bad for WRs, especially volume WRs like Jarvis Landry. Star WR Odell Beckham has already admitted that he doesn’t expect to put up big numbers this year, and everything we’ve seen from the last season and a quarter would be in line with that. The guys who really run the show here are RBs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt — Chubb is the best bet in a game the Browns are favored to win or in a projected close game. Hunt is the better bet when the Browns are projected to play from behind.
Weekly Starters: RB Nick Chubb
Lineup Decisions: RB Kareem Hunt, WR Odell Beckham
Bench Stashes: QB Baker Mayfield, WR Jarvis Landry
Drop ‘Em: TE Austin Hooper
Dallas Cowboys
Passing Percentage: 65.65% (4th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 76.7 (1st)
The Cowboys are one of the easiest teams to suss out for fantasy. Start ‘em! Their defense is abominable, and their offense is loaded with weapons. It’s a perfect recipe for a fantasy bonanza. QB Dak Prescott didn’t even play one of his better games in a Week 3 loss to the Seahawks and still threw for 472 yards. I will say that RB Ezekiel Elliott looks way more like a grinder than a true dynamic back at this point, but he’s still getting enough touches that he’s a slam-dunk weekly start.
Weekly Starters: QB Dak Prescott, RB Ezekiel Elliott, WR Amari Cooper, WR Michael Gallup
Lineup Decisions: WR CeeDee Lamb, TE Dalton Schultz
Bench Stashes: RB Tony Pollard, WR Cedrick Wilson
Drop ‘Em: None of note.
Denver Broncos
Passing Percentage: 65.26% (5th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 63.3 (20th)
Whew, things have taken a turn for the worse here, haven’t they? Immediately as I started writing this blurb, the Broncos announced that Brett Rypien (nephew of Mark) will start their Thursday night showdown with the Jets. Get ready baby! We’ll see what kind of juice Rypien has, but for now, the entire floor has fallen out from this fantasy roster. RB Phillip Lindsay (toe) could be back this week to muddy things up in the backfield, as well. I’d like to say I’m playing the season’s overall TE3, Noah Fant, every week, but the QB situation is problematic right now.
Weekly Starters: None of note.
Lineup Decisions: RB Melvin Gordon, WR Jerry Jeudy, TE Noah Fant
Bench Stashes: RB Phillip Lindsay, WR KJ Hamler
Drop ‘Em: Any Broncos QB
Detroit Lions
Passing Percentage: 59.90% (11th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 64.0 (t-17th)
As I’ve said multiple times in multiple forums, the problem with Adrian Peterson for fantasy is that he’s still good, and coaches love him. Peterson played a season-high 60% of the offensive snaps against the Cards in Week 3, and the Lions got their first win. However, Peterson still didn’t post 10.0 FP in a PPR. He remains a touchdown-dependent option who is taking snaps away from DeAndre Swift, who has much more fantasy upside. He’s also part of the reason the Lions are throwing it at such a middling rate, though perhaps that goes up now that Kenny Golladay (hamstring) is back.
Weekly Starters: WR Kenny Golladay
Lineup Decisions: QB Matthew Stafford, TE TJ Hockenson, RB Adrian Peterson
Bench Stashes: RB DeAndre Swift, WR Marvin Jones
Drop ‘Em: RB Kerryon Johnson, WR Danny Amendola
Green Bay Packers
Passing Percentage: 53.73% (25th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 67.0 (t-12th)
The Packers are running it about as much as I expected, which is why I was down on this offense overall. But I probably shouldn’t have doubted QB Aaron Rodgers as much as I did. He’s one of the top three MVP candidates of the 2020 season so far, along with Russell Wilson and Josh Allen. The way he played in Week 3 against the Saints without WR Davante Adams was staggering, and his chemistry with Allen Lazard is reaching special levels. We’re watching vintage Rodgers right now, and those moments have only been fleeting the last couple years.
Weekly Starters: RB Aaron Jones, QB Aaron Rodgers, WR Davante Adams
Lineup Decisions: WR Allen Lazard
Bench Stashes: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, RB Jamaal Williams, TE Robert Tonyan
Drop ‘Em: RB AJ Dillon, TE Jace Sternberger
Houston Texans
Passing Percentage: 66.67% (3rd in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 54.0 (31st)
Houston’s been an overall pretty miserable fantasy team so far, and look no further than the pathetic number of plays run to see why. But Deshaun Watson and company also opened with the most brutal scheduling run in the NFL, with games against the Chiefs, Ravens, and Steelers. Nobody has been good for fantasy for this team (though Will Fuller has had two good games with a goose egg in between), but I wonder how much of that has to do with how brutal the schedule has been. I’m taking a “wait and see” approach with much of this team — including RB David Johnson. I thought DJ was cooked last year and his last two games seem to lend plenty of credence to that, but I want to see him in more neutral matchups.
Weekly Starters: QB Deshaun Watson
Lineup Decisions: RB David Johnson, WR Will Fuller
Bench Stashes: WR Brandin Cooks, WR Randall Cobb, RB Duke Johnson
Drop ‘Em: Any Texan TE
Indianapolis Colts
Passing Percentage: 51.56% (27th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 64.0 (t-17th)
The Colts have suffered a bunch of injuries thus far, most notably to RB Marlon Mack (Achilles) and WR Parris Campbell (knee), in addition to rookie WR Michael Pittman (compartment syndrome). It’s made them a very “narrow” fantasy team with few players to consider for the average league. At the forefront is rookie RB Jonathan Taylor, who benefits from the way the Colts are built and play the game, from a run-game perspective.
Weekly Starters: RB Jonathan Taylor
Lineup Decisions: WR TY Hilton
Bench Stashes: RB Nyheim Hines, WR Zach Pascal, TE Mo Alie-Cox
Drop ‘Em: QB Philip Rivers, WR Michael Pittman, WR Parris Campbell, TE Jack Doyle
Jacksonville Jaguars
Passing Percentage: 63.59% (7th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 61.3 (26th)
Let James Robinson eat. The UDFA out of Illinois State has been one of the revelations of fantasy football this season, ranking as the overall RB5 through three weeks. His dominance has kind of ended the hopes for Devine Ozigbo (hamstring) and Ryquell Armstead (COVID) to carve out a role once healthy. The rest of the Jags have been somewhat of a mess, with only Keelan Cole ranking in the top 40 at WR (WR22). That, of course, could change once DJ Chark (chest) returns to the lineup — it’s expected to be soon. The Jag defense is not good, and that’s going to keep QB Gardner Minshew (QB15) in the high-end backup discussion all year.
Weekly Starters: RB James Robinson
Lineup Decisions: QB Gardner Minshew, WR DJ Chark, WR Keelan Cole
Bench Stashes: WR Laviska Shenault
Drop ‘Em: RB Chris Thompson, RB Devine Ozigbo, RB Ryquell Armstead, WR Dede Westbrook, TE Tyler Eifert
Kansas City Chiefs
Passing Percentage: 58.57% (16th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 70 (t-7th)
I love the Chiefs. We all love the Chiefs! They have four guys you start every week, and a handful of others you keep on your bench in the event of needing a desperation play in one of the NFL’s best offenses. I’m surprised that they’re pissing off the nerds so much by running it as much as they are, but their offense still looks as well-designed and dangerous as it did a year ago.
Weekly Starters: QB Patrick Mahomes, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, WR Tyreek Hill, TE Travis Kelce
Lineup Decisions: WR Mecole Hardman, WR Sammy Watkins
Bench Stashes: WR Demarcus Robinson, RB Darrel Williams
Drop ‘Em: RB Darwin Thompson
Las Vegas Raiders
Passing Percentage: 54.40% (22nd in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 64.3 (t-15th)
The Raiders have taken an utter beating at the WR position this year. We know Tyrell Williams (shoulder) is out for the year, but this week coach Jon Gruden said he’s “concerned” about the injuries to both rookie WRs Henry Ruggs (hamstring) and Bryan Edwards (ankle). We’ll get more of an update on how concerned Gruden is, but neither is good news for QB Derek Carr, who already has star TE Darren Waller (hip) dinged up.
Weekly Starters: RB Josh Jacobs, TE Darren Waller
Lineup Decisions: WR Hunter Renfrow (especially if Ruggs and/or Edwards miss time)
Bench Stashes: WR Henry Ruggs
Drop ‘Em: QB Derek Carr, WR Bryan Edwards, RB Jalen Richard
Los Angeles Chargers
Passing Percentage: 52.68% (20th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 74.7 (3rd)
I have to admit I’ve been shocked by how comfortable rookie QB Justin Herbert has looked as a passer, and it’s raised the ceiling of this entire offense (I flat out faded Keenan Allen because I expected Tyrod Taylor to start a bunch of games here). Herbert is simply a more aggressive passer than Taylor, and he offers the athletic upside to be useful in the run game as well. I’ll continue to be pessimistic on this offense if coach Anthony Lynn hands Taylor his job back — I understand Lynn’s thinking given how fluky Taylor’s lung injury is, but this team is simply better with Herbert at QB.
Weekly Starters: RB Austin Ekeler, WR Keenan Allen, TE Hunter Henry
Lineup Decisions: RB Joshua Kelley
Bench Stashes: QB Justin Herbert, WR Mike Williams
Drop ‘Em: QB Tyrod Taylor, RB Justin Jackson
Los Angeles Rams
Passing Percentage: 45.85% (last in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 68.3 (10th)
Raise your hand if you had the Rams as the league’s run-heaviest team through three weeks. And that’s despite losing Cam Akers (ribs). It speaks volumes about how much Darrell Henderson has improved that he’s sparked the Rams’ offense into being so dominant on the ground. That doesn’t mean their passing game isn’t working, though — they have once again established the play-action pass that made Jared Goff so dangerous in 2017 and 2018. The passing game is easy to figure out for fantasy purposes. On the ground, I’m starting Henderson until he cools off, and stashing Akers and Malcolm Brown in the event he does.
Weekly Starters: WR Cooper Kupp, WR Robert Woods, RB Darrell Henderson, TE Tyler Higbee
Lineup Decisions: QB Jared Goff
Bench Stashes: RB Cam Akers, RB Malcolm Brown
Drop ‘Em: WR Van Jefferson, WR Josh Reynolds, TE Gerald Everett
Miami Dolphins
Passing Percentage: 54.55% (21st in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 62.3 (t-23rd)
The Dolphins have been a bad team for fantasy this year, with the possible exception of TE Mike Gesicki, who has taken advantage of his role as a predominant slot receiver while the Dolphins have struggled with injuries at WR (though DeVante Parker now has a “mini-bye” to try to get ready for Week 5). In the backfield, second-year pro Myles Gaskin has clearly separated himself from Jordan Howard and Matt Breida.
Weekly Starters: None of note.
Lineup Decisions: TE Mike Gesicki, WR DeVante Parker, RB Myles Gaskin
Bench Stashes: WR Preston Williams
Drop ‘Em: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, RB Jordan Howard, RB Matt Breida
Minnesota Vikings
Passing Percentage: 53.80% (24th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 52.7 (last)
It’s really hard for a team to have a consistent fantasy passing attack when it runs the fewest plays in the NFL despite consistently playing from behind (0-3). And on top of that, Minnesota still passes at a bottom-10 rate in the NFL. It’s why, while I’m certainly intrigued by how rookie WR Justin Jefferson played in Week 3, I need to see it again before I decide he’s worthy of my lineup. The lack of passing volume has also taken Adam Thielen from slam-dunk starter to someone I need to make a decision on every week.
Weekly Starters: RB Dalvin Cook
Lineup Decisions: WR Adam Thielen
Bench Stashes: WR Justin Jefferson, RB Alexander Mattison
Drop ‘Em: QB Kirk Cousins, TE Irv Smith, TE Kyle Rudolph
New England Patriots
Passing Percentage: 47.76% (30th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 67.0 (t-12th)
I know that Bill Belichick can surprise us, but it was obvious from the get-go that the Patriots would have one of the most run-heavy teams in the entire NFL once they signed Cam Newton. And through three weeks, Newton has looked like Newton — he’s had a game in which he looked great throwing the ball, two games in which he looked great running the ball, and a game in which he looked great doing neither. I have been overall pleased with his chemistry with WR Julian Edelman, though.
Weekly Starters: None of note.
Lineup Decisions: QB Cam Newton, WR Julian Edelman
Bench Stashes: All Patriot RBs (wait-and-see approach once Damien Harris comes off IR and if/when James White returns from his personal tragedy), WR N’Keal Harry
Drop ‘Em: WR Damiere Byrd, any Patriot TE
New Orleans Saints
Passing Percentage: 59.67% (13th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 60.3 (27th)
The Saints scored a lot of points last year, but the funny part was they didn’t do much for fantasy — there were only a handful of guys worthy of lineup consideration any given week. This year looks like more of the same, except WR Michael Thomas’ (ankle) injury has opened up opportunities for some other pass catchers to make an impact here. No one has really stood out, however, with the exception of RB Alvin Kamara, who figures to be the #1 overall player in fantasy football given everything that’s happened around him.
Weekly Starters: RB Alvin Kamara, WR Michael Thomas (once he returns from injury)
Lineup Decisions: QB Drew Brees, WR Emmanuel Sanders, TE Jared Cook
Bench Stashes: RB Latavius Murray, WR Tre’Quan Smith
Drop ‘Em: Whateverheis Taysom Hill (or, at least I wish Sean Payton would)
New York Giants
Passing Percentage: 69.71% (1st in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 58.3 (t-29th)
This team stinks. There’s obviously the injury to Saquon Barkley, but nothing is clicking. The defense is awful, QB Daniel Jones is making bad decisions, and the offensive line is atrocious. The only guy I feel in any way good about is WR Darius Slayton, but he couldn’t come through against the 49ers’ B-team last week. I’ll hold onto Devonta Freeman for a week or two more to see if he gets involved in the passing game, but there’s really nothing else to like here.
Weekly Starters: None of note.
Lineup Decisions: QB Daniel Jones, WR Darius Slayton, TE Evan Engram
Bench Stashes: RB Devonta Freeman, WR Golden Tate
Drop ‘Em: RB Dion Lewis, RB Wayne Gallman, WR Sterling Shepard
New York Jets
Passing Percentage: 58.29% (17th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 58.3 (t-29th)
I’m trying to win a fantasy championship here. I’m failing to see how anyone on the Jets — with the possible exception of WR Jamison Crowder when he comes off his hamstring injury — helps me do that here in Week 3. I’ll stash Le’Veon Bell (hamstring) in the event he comes off IR and dominates touches in this backfield, but this is a dead team walking with a lame-duck coach and perhaps a lame-duck QB. Things can change, but there is not a team in fantasy football with less appeal right now.
Weekly Starters: None of note.
Lineup Decisions: None of note.
Bench Stashes: RB Le’Veon Bell, WR Jamison Crowder
Drop ‘Em: QB Sam Darnold, RB Frank Gore, WR Breshad Perriman, WR Braxton Berrios, TE Chris Herndon
Philadelphia Eagles
Passing Percentage: 64.41% (6th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 74.0 (4th)
There are worse teams than the Eagles, but there are few who seem to have the organizational rot and just old, broken talent that Philly does. QB Carson Wentz is in the midst of the worst three-game stretch of his career and coach Doug Pederson’s scheme looks rigid and boring, while the Eagles have yet again fallen victim to the injury bug, rendering the skill around Wentz looking like one of the three worst groups in the league. GM Howie Roseman is a favorite of the analytical crowd and has done some great things in Philly, but he’s captaining a ship with holes patched with Silly Putty. A team we expected to be great for fantasy has been anything but.
Weekly Starters: RB Miles Sanders, TE Zach Ertz
Lineup Decisions: WR DeSean Jackson
Bench Stashes: QB Carson Wentz, WR Alshon Jeffery, WR Jalen Reagor (presuming IR is an option), WR Greg Ward, TE Dallas Goedert (again, presuming IR is an option)
Drop ‘Em: RB Boston Scott, WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside, injured players if IR isn’t an option
Pittsburgh Steelers
Passing Percentage: 55.88% (19th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 68.0 (11th)
It’s amazing what the return of a competent QB will do for a team. Ben Roethlisberger isn’t competing for the MVP award, but he’s made this offense look very dangerous. A bizarre Week 1 made us think this backfield would be a mess all year, but James Conner has retaken hold of it with two consecutive 100-yard games, while Benny Snell (who ran for 100 yards in Week 1) might not even be the top backup anymore after rookie Anthony McFarland looked explosive in Week 3. The Steelers’ receiving corps is dangerous, as well, so long as Diontae Johnson (concussion) is able to return soon.
Weekly Starters: RB James Conner, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
Lineup Decisions: WR Diontae Johnson, QB Ben Roethlisberger, TE Eric Ebron
Bench Stashes: RB Benny Snell, RB Anthony McFarland
Drop ‘Em: WR James Washington, WR Chase Claypool
San Francisco 49ers
Passing Percentage: 53.89% (23rd in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 64.3 (t-15th)
The 49ers have been ravaged by the injury bug, but have managed to weather it pretty well. The question is what this team will look like for fantasy if and when guys like Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle), George Kittle (knee), Raheem Mostert (knee), and Deebo Samuel (foot) return to the fold. It’s hard to have a definitive take about a team that’s so injured right now.
Weekly Starters: TE George Kittle
Lineup Decisions: RB Raheem Mostert, RB Jerick McKinnon, RB Jeff Wilson, WR Brandon Aiyuk
Bench Stashes: WR Deebo Samuel
Drop ‘Em: QB Jimmy Garoppolo, RB Tevin Coleman, TE Jordan Reed
Seattle Seahawks
Passing Percentage: 59.57% (14th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 62.7 (t-21st)
The Seahawks are one of the three best fantasy teams in the NFL in terms of explosiveness and ease of use. Like the Chiefs and Cowboys, you’re basically starting all their hammers every week, and are only adjusting in the event of an injury (like what Chris Carson has right now). There is no reason to even consider benching Russell Wilson and his two elite WRs, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
Weekly Starters: QB Russell Wilson, RB Chris Carson (when healthy), WR DK Metcalf, WR Tyler Lockett
Lineup Decisions: None of note.
Bench Stashes: TE Greg Olsen
Drop ‘Em: RB DeeJay Dallas, TE Will Dissly
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Passing Percentage: 60.96% (10th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 62.3 (t-23rd)
QB Tom Brady has started to throw the ball very well, but unfortunately for him, he hasn’t had time with his full arsenal of weapons to really establish a rapport. He had a banged-up Mike Evans in Week 1, no Chris Godwin (concussion) in Week 2, and will be without Godwin (hamstring) for at least the next couple of weeks. Evans also has had one of the most bizarre starts to a season I can remember from a WR. He’s scored in all three games, but has sandwiched a 100-yard performance between two games in which he totaled 3 catches for 4 yards and 3 TD. Meanwhile, this backfield is still a mess, with neither Ronald Jones nor Leonard Fournette placing a chokehold on things. The Bucs are good, but are a little messier for fantasy than I’d like to see.
Weekly Starters: WR Mike Evans
Lineup Decisions: QB Tom Brady, RB Leonard Fournette, RB Ronald Jones, WR Scotty Miller, TE Rob Gronkowski
Bench Stashes: WR Chris Godwin (injury), TE OJ Howard
Drop ‘Em: RB LeSean McCoy
Tennessee Titans
Passing Percentage: 50.95% (28th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 70.0 (t-7th)
The Titans have gotten some good production out of WRs Corey Davis and Adam Humphries, as well as TE Jonnu Smith, which is great because they might not have WR AJ Brown (bone bruise) for a while here. I’ve been most impressed with Smith and his chemistry with QB Ryan Tannehill — only Travis Kelce has scored more fantasy points than Smith through three games. Obviously, this offense still runs through Derrick Henry, the NFL’s touch leader (87). A big game with 2 TD like Henry had in Week 3 was inevitable given he’s touching the ball nearly 30 times a game.
Weekly Starters: RB Derrick Henry, TE Jonnu Smith
Lineup Decisions: QB Ryan Tannehill, WR Corey Davis, WR Adam Humphries
Bench Stashes: WR AJ Brown, RB Darrynton Evans (if you have Henry)
Drop ‘Em: RB Darrynton Evans (if you don’t have Henry)
Washington Football Team
Passing Percentage: 57.81% (18th in NFL); Plays Run Per Game: 64.9 (t-17th)
Washington is a team that’s dragged down by poor QB play — according to SportsInfoSolutions, Dwayne Haskins has been the least accurate passer in the NFL so far in terms of on-target throws being made. Haskins also doesn’t have a great offensive line in front of him, which isn’t great for a guy who is a pure pocket passer. At least Haskins has Terry McLaurin to throw to and the talented Antonio Gibson coming out of the backfield, but this is a bad fantasy team.
Weekly Starters: WR Terry McLaurin
Lineup Decisions: RB Antonio Gibson, TE Logan Thomas
Bench Stashes: RB JD McKissic
Drop ‘Em: WR Steven Sims, QB Dwayne Haskins, RB Bryce Love
