Week 3 NFL Fantasy Cheat Sheet

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Running Backs

Top Picks – guys you HAVE to start if you have them

1. Alvin Kamara vs. Atlanta – The Falcons defense is not looking top notch, and this figures to be a great game to give Kamara a mix of runs and passes as the scoring figures to be high.
2. Todd Gurley vs. Los Angeles Chargers – Another game that figures to be high-scoring.  The Chargers are giving up a ton of points to running backs in terms of both rushing and catching as the linebackers aren’t stellar.
3. Ezekiel Elliott vs. Seattle – This is more about the fact that the Dallas defense has played well, and a close game figures to involve a lot of running attempts for Zek and lots of opportunities to do so.

Players to watch – players worth picking up if you didn’t already

1. Dalvin Cook vs. Buffalo  – The Bills are horrible.  Anyone playing the Bills has to be looked at as a start in most leagues.  With that said if the Vikings get up big Cook could be pulled.  More on that later.
2. Phillip Lindsay vs. Baltimore – The rookie has looked really good in both games so far.  His workload seems to be increasing, so if he’s still hanging around he might be worth a waiver pickup.
3. Leonard Fournette vs. Tennessee – The word right now is he won’t play, but even if he does expect his touches to be very limited.  It’s worth watching how he does to see how viable he will be for next week if he’s on your roster.

Players to avoid – I’d rather not start these guys if I can avoid it

1. Dion Lewis vs. Jacksonville – Jacksonville has a great run defense, I’d avoid starting most backs against it.
2. Jay Ajayi vs. Indiana – Another guy who has an injury and may not play.  Even if he plays it’s more about how the Eagles like to spread the ball around with multiple backs that would keep him from being a starter.
3. LeSean McCoy vs. Minnesota – McCoy is banged up and may not play.  Assuming he was fully health the Vikings have a good run defense and are going to force Allen to throw to win.

Draft King Bargains – decent matchups you can pick up on the cheap

1. Tevin Coleman vs. New Orleans – With injuries still plaguing Freeman, Coleman looks to get most of the work this week.
2. Chris Thompson vs. Green Bay – Peterson is up and down like a pogo stick.  The team seems to be leaning towards Thompson as he is the more consistent back.
3. Latavius Murray vs. Buffalo – Like I said, if the Vikings get up big expect a ton of running and it won’t be Cook carrying the ball.

Wide Receivers

Top Picks – guys you HAVE to start if you have them

1. Stefon Diggs vs. Buffalo – Anyone against Buffalo is a solid start.
2. Michael Thomas vs. Atlanta – Thomas is crushing it and the Falcons don’t have a great secondary.
3. Julio Jones vs. New Orleans – The Saints haven’t looked good defensively and Jones is putting up fantastic numbers.

Players to watch – players worth picking up if you didn’t already

1. Brice Butler vs. Seattle – The Cowboys just resigned him, but he played in Dallas last year and was productive. If he comes out as the number 1 option he’d be a steal.  Dak likes this guy.
2. Marvin Jones vs. New England – The Lions figure to be down and that means more passing. The Pats don’t have a great secondary, so this could get interesting.

Players to avoid – I’d rather not start these guys if I can avoid it

1. Brandon Marshall vs. Dallas – The Cowboys held Odell Beckham in check and that’s with Saquon Barkley garnering attention and solid WR’s opposite him.  Marshall has nothing like that.
2. Antonio Brown vs. Tampa Bay – He’s missing time and I’m not 100% convinced that he’ll play, and if he does could Ben throw shade by not throwing to him?  The sad thing is if you drafted him you’re sort of stuck starting him because he could go off.

Draft King Bargains – decent matchups you can pick up on the cheap

1. T.Y. Hilton vs. Philadelphia – The Eagles have a suspect secondary and Andrew Luck seems to be getting back into things and improving each week.
2. Zay Jones vs. Minnesota – The Bills figure to be down and that means a lot of passing and Jones has appeared to be a constant target.
3. Tyler Boyd vs. Carolina – Boyd has emerged as solid WR2 opposite AJ Green, and the Panthers don’t have the best secondary.

 

Quarter Backs

Top Picks – guys you HAVE to start if you have them

1. Patrick Mahomes vs. Pittsburgh – This kid is on fire and looks unstoppable.  At some point teams will figure him out, but for the time being he’s gold.
2. Kirk Cousins vs. Buffalo – The only worry here is if the Vikings get up so much that Cousins comes out early in the second half.
3. Tom Brady vs. Detroit – Brady is due for a bounce back game, and even with how well Patricia knows Brady I don’t see the Lions having the staff to pull it off.

Players to watch – players worth picking up if you didn’t already

1. Josh Allen vs. Vikings – He is slated to be the starter now, and it’s tough getting the Vikings as an assignment, but if the kid can show growth this week the schedule might get a little easier later on.
2. Carson Wentz vs. Indianapolis – Someone in your league has him, but if he struggles against Indy than someone might be happy to get rid of him.

Players to avoid – I’d rather not start these guys if I can avoid it

1. Philip Rivers vs. Los Angeles Rams – The Rams are doing an amazing job and shutting down receivers and keeping QB’s to short passes.
2. Josh Allen vs. Vikings – The Vikings are too good and this kid is too green.

Draft King Bargains – decent matchups you can pick up on the cheap

1. Jared Goff vs. Los Angeles Chargers – The Chargers aren’t great on the back end and I suspect they will focus on Gurley, which might open up passing on the outside.
2. Cam Newton vs. Cincinnati – It’s going to be a mixed bag, but Cam is still good for some rushing yards and is a 50/50 option for TD’s in the red-zone.
3. Blake Bortles vs. Tennessee – He had a crazy game last week, and maybe he can keep it going.  He’s pretty cheap and might be worth a pickup.

Tight Ends

Top Picks – guys you HAVE to start if you have them

1. Rob Gronkowski vs. Detroit – If Gordon is in or out Gronk is still the primary target for Tom Brady.
2. Travis Kelce vs. San Francisco – The 49ers haven’t shown they can cover the middle of the field and Kelce figures to reap the rewards of that.
3. Zack Ertz vs. Indianapolis – With Wentz in his first game back expect more checkdowns than long bombs.

Players to watch – players worth picking up if you didn’t already

1. Jake Butt vs. Baltimore – The Ravens are solid at corner, so it figures that Keenum might have to check the ball down to larger targets more than he has in the past.  Plus the name is priceless.
2. Charles Clay vs. Minnesota – This is simply about how much time Allen has to throw, and how far down the Bills are.  Clay could figure to get a large workload.  Given a good week he might be worth picking up if you need a TE2

Players to avoid – I’d rather not start these guys if I can avoid it

1. Antonio Gates vs. Los Angeles Rams – Gates has not looked great in his return, plus the Rams defense is insane.
2. Everyone playing for the Cowboys vs. Seahawks – Until someone steps up as the guy I’d avoid any TE playing for the Cowboys.  I’ve seen too many targets to too many different guys, and none of them doing anything with it.  Prescott hasn’t helped them much though.

Draft King Bargains – decent matchups you can pick up on the cheap

1. Evan Engram vs. Houston – In a game where Engram can be the forgotten man and where the Giants might be trailing Engram is worth a start.
2. George Kittle vs. Kansas City – The 49ers are going to need to score to keep pace with the Chiefs and Kittle could factor into the mix heavily as the KC secondary is the weak part of the team.

 

Defenses

Top Picks – teams you HAVE to start if you have them

1. Minnesota vs. Buffalo – I’d basically start any defense against Buffalo at any time until they prove to me this isn’t a good idea.
2. Jacksonville vs. Tennessee – The Jags gave the Patriots fits.  I’m pretty sure they will destroy Blaine Gabbert or a dinged up Marcus Mariota.
3. Chicago vs. Arizona – The Bears got sneaky good on defense (ok, adding Mack wasn’t sneaky, but it made them a LOT better), and the Cardinals have looked dreadful.

Teams to watch – teams worth picking up if you didn’t already

1. Miami vs. Oakland – Another situation where the Dolphins are better than anyone assumed, and the Raiders are worse than most would have expected.
2. Dallas vs. Seattle – Dallas has held teams to 16 and 13 points respectfully and done so through a lot of sacks and pressure.  Seattle lacks dynamic playmakers like those that the Giants and Panthers have.

Teams to avoid – I’d rather not start these guys if I can avoid it

1. Pittsburgh vs. Tampa Bay – Tampa is putting up insane totals and the Steelers have fallen off a cliff, especially in the secondary.  I dropped the Steelers in my league.
2. Atlanta vs. New Orleans – The Falcons defense hasn’t looked great at all this season and they get matched up with an offensive juggernaut.

Draft King Bargains – decent matchups you can pick up on the cheap

1. Philadelphia vs. Indianapolis – While Luck is getting better the Eagles are super cheap this week and figure to at least get some sacks.
2. Dallas vs. Seattle – As per the above the Cowboys should match up well with the Seahawks and hopefully they can get some turnovers to help out too.