Tony Cutillo
Week 3 is in the books and the injuries are still mounting. Surprise performances and head-scratching totals are what makes every year interesting. This week showed us that the fantasy gods continue to be unpredictable and that matchups will continue to prevail when making our lineup decisions. There a few must-starts on every roster, but picking out the others based on pure statistics is what separates the winners from the donors. Let’s take a look at the recap below:
Standout Stars
QB
- Siemian.…312 yds 4 TD
- Winston……405 yds 3 TD/1 INT
- Rodgers……205 yds 4 TD
RB
- Freeman….152 yds…5 rec, 55 yds, 1 TD
- Coleman……..42 yds…3 TD…..3 rec, 47 yds
- McCoy…..110 yds…2 TD…3 rec, 6 yds
WR/TE
- M. Jones…..6 rec, 205 yds, 2 TD
- E. Sanders.…..9 rec, 117 yds 2 TD
- T. Pryor…..8 rec, 144 yds, 1 TD
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Substandard Stiffs
QB
- Fitzpatrick.….188 yds, 6 INT
- Gabbert…..119 yds, 1 INT
- Palmer….. 287 yds, 4 INT
RB
- Langford…..31 yds…2 rec, 15 yds (Injury)
- Anderson……37 yds…1 rec, 4 yds
- Yeldon…..17 yds….2 rec, 11 yds
WR/TE
- Benjamin…..ZERO
- Cooks…..2 rec, 13 yds
- J. Jones……1 rec, 16 yds
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Surprise Performers (Sleepers)
Tevin Coleman – Coleman rushed for only 42 yards compared to his counterpart who rushed for 152. The difference is Coleman scored three touchdowns. Will this happen every week? Probably not. However, this running back situation in Atlanta has all the making of a revamped ‘Thunder and Lightning Show’ from 10 years ago. You can start both guys with confidence going forward.
Marvin Jones – When Calvin Johnson retired everyone wondered who would take the role of the #1 receiver in Detroit. During the preseason it looked to be Marvin Jones, Jr. and now it looks to be concrete. Jones put on a clinic against the Packers with 205 yards and two touchdowns, but some of those stats were with the Lions playing from behind. He still has racked up 29 targets, 18 receptions, 408 yards and two touchdowns in three weeks. Those are #1 receiver numbers and will make a lot of fantasy owners really happy.
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Statistical Busts
Kelvin Benjamin – After racking up 21 targets, 13 catches, 199 yards and three touchdowns in two weeks, Mr. Benjamin pulled the ultimate Houdini act and disappeared in Week 3. The Viking’s defense had Cam Newton running for his life all day, but to hit your top target with only one target is a little upsetting. Benjamin still holds WR1 value, but more performances like this will bring back that Dan Connor from Roseanne comparison faster than you can blink.
Brandin Cooks – The milk carton “Have You Seen Him?” award this week goes to Brandin Cooks. Sure, he actually caught a pass unlike the guy above, but two catches for 13 yards in a game where the Saints compiled 491 yards of offense is unacceptable. He will be another guy who bounces back, but still one who still leaves your stomach feeling like a pop rocks explosion.
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Week 3 Thoughts and Theories
Trevor Siemian and Carson Wentz entered the world of fantasy relevance in Week 3
Like I said in the previous week, these guys have true Win/Loss value, but a fantasy starter they are not. Contrary to my remarks, both these young talents proved fantasy gold in Week 3. Wentz continued to look like a 10 year vet as he threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns, while Siemian did his impression also by racking up 312 yards and four TDs. Will these guys be surefire starters from week to week? No. However, if they continue to throw for multiple TDs on a weekly basis with no turnovers, they will definitely be considered.
Carson Palmer is looking old
The Arizona Cardinals sit at 1-2 and are coming off a game where Carson Palmer threw four interceptions. Four! That’s a lot of picks. Sure they have David Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald, who makes the late Dick Clark’s aging secret look like its alive, but something still seems off. The long ball has been underthrown and the offense has sputtered too frequently. This may not end well for Carson.
Fantasy RBs are starting to have new life
Coming into 2016, all the talk was about the WR position and the Zero RB theory. It looks as though the running backs heard all the talk because they are starting to perform like it’s 2009. This week was the best week for RBs in a long time; eight running backs scored multiple times. With the return of Le’Veon Bell and the rise of Carlos Hyde and Christine Michael, the RB position looks to be reborn once again.
Jimmy Graham does still play in the NFL
When the Seattle Seahawks traded for Jimmy Graham, they thought they were getting the NFL’s version of the human highlight reel. Instead, it was as if they received an overgrown athlete who was still trying to figure out if he should cut left or right. For all my numbers junkies out there, Big G compiled 4,400 yards and 46 touchdowns between the years 2011-2014. He was as steady as they come.
After a gruesome knee injury and rigorous rehab, Graham has been back on the field and gave a glimpse of what he could still contribute in Week 3. If he could be half the player he was before, the Seattle offense could become explosive once again. For now, he still is a quality backup, but with a few more quality performances he could be weekly start material once again.
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My Skinny Post for Week 3:
I am convinced that the New England Patriots can now win with anyone at QB. Al Michaels, Webster, or even Small Wonder could throw a few hot reads … We learned that Tom Brady likes to tan in the buff. Well, that’s one way to prove your innocence … Chip Kelly will be back in college quicker than Dorothy can click her heels and say, “There’s no place like home” three times … Speaking of Dorothy, maybe she can lead Ryan Fitzpatrick down the yellow brick road to see the Wizard and ask for his 6 INTs back … Don’t look now, but Cleveland may have an offense. Kessler, Barnidge, Pryor and Gordon could be a force in a few years. Well, that is if Josh can stop rolling blunts in the locker room … DeMarco Murray looks to be reborn in Tennessee. Hey Chip, that’s how you use an All-Pro RB … We had a Brian Hoyer sighting in Week 3. I could of sworn he was still driving for Greyhound. Now onto Week 4.
As always, you can stop by my Facebook page (Fantasy Sports Addiction) or tweet me (@TCutillo23) for questions or some nice fantasy debates. I can also be heard weekly via the internet stream live at WENG RADIO every Monday at 4:00 P.M. ET for a weekend sports wrap. But most importantly, you can catch me here at Pi!
For fantasy purposes, all my articles are predicated upon a PPR-based system.