So far I have enjoyed the challenge of putting out a weekly start/sit article. A lot of these are foreshadowed in my weekly rankings (13th in accuracy for FantasyPros last week)! But also, writing this column has helped me take a closer look at my rankings the day after I publish them and it makes me notice that what I put out on Wednesday is far from a finished product. If you use my rankings, be sure to check back on Sunday because they will look a lot different. I love gambling on football. I’ve been doing it for years and I still have a roof over my head so I guess it’s not going too bad. I do a lot of digging from Thursday-Saturday when looking at game lines and totals and it helps find the errors in my ways from a fantasy aspect earlier in the week. If you’d like a second opinion on my start and sit options, be sure to check out Rudy’s projections each week! Now would be as good as a time as any to use that 7-day free trial. Let’s get to the plays for week 3.
Start
It has been a slow start for Stafford, but Sunday should be his coming out party. Kenny Golladay is expected to play, Marvin Jones Jr. plays better when he isn’t the center of attention, and T.J. Hockenson is already off to a great start. Arizona is 8th in the NFL in passing yards given up, but so far they have faced Dwayne Haskins and Jimmy Garappolo. Stafford has started slow, but he did throw a couple of touchdown passes against the Packers. Arizona shouldn’t struggle to score against Detroit, so Stafford will have a lot of work to do to keep up.
In week 1, Kelley shocked some people (not us at Razzball) with 12 carries for 60 yards. In week 2, the Chargers doubled down by giving him 23 carries and he gained a modest 64 yards, BUT he also caught two passes for 49 yards. The Panthers is a smash matchup for any running back, but it could be huge for the Chargers who have liked to keep the ball on the ground through the first 2 weeks. Carolina is 19th in rushing yards allowed and have already given up 5 touchdowns to running backs.
Raheem Mostert shouldn’t miss too much time, but McKinnon and Jeffrey Wilson will be handling the backfield duties in week 3. Jeffrey Wilson could end up taking a bulk of the carries, but McKinnon will likely be the beneficiary of catches out of the backfield while also taking handoffs. In week 1, Benny Snell ran all over the Giants and in week 2 David Montgomery found the end zone as well. The Giants have given up 138 yards per game on the ground so far and the talent they have played against at RB isn’t elite by any means. McKinnon is an easy plug and play.
The Seahawks have been extremely bad against the pass so far in 2020 and CeeDee Lamb has picked up being an NFL WR rather quickly. Through 2 games, Lamb has caught 14 out of 15 of his targets and already had his first 100 yard game in week 2. Amari Cooper is still the big draw for opposing secondaries so there should be plenty of room for CeeDee to continue his hot start.
Julian Edelman is still it in New England even without Tom Brady. Edelman is averaging 9 targets per game and is coming off an 8 catch for 179 yard performance. Las Vegas isn’t a whole lot better against the pass than Seattle was last week so we can expect Belichick to expose the holes in the defense to try and get New England back on the right track. Cam Newton should have a monster week this week and that leaves no choice but for Edelman to follow suit.
The Mike Gesicki hype is real and he had his true break out week on Sunday against the Bills. Jacksonville is 30th against tight ends this season and Gesicki is coming in averaging 8 targets per game. My week 1 Gesicki recommendation didn’t exactly go according to plan, but I’m pretty confident that he has a big game tonight.
Sit
The Saints have historically been slow starters over the past 7 years, but there could definitely be more to it with Drew Brees. He is missing a lot of easy throws, maybe he is actually starting to show his age. I’m not even sure that it changes things if Michael Thomas is somehow able to play on Sunday night. Green Bay is in the top half of passing defenses through two weeks. Nothing points to me being encouraged by Brees this week.
I know that there is a shortage of dependable running backs after 3 really good starters went down in week 2, but you should really consider other options for week 3 if you were considering starting DJ. The Steelers have given up 66.5 rushing yards per game so far this season and haven’t given up a rushing touchdown. Johnson had a somewhat strong week 1 showing but really struggled week 2 against Baltimore and I expect the struggles to continue in week 3 from Houston’s offense as a whole.
I know it’s tempting to want to start T.Y. Hilton against the Jets, but I really would like to see it before putting him in lineups. His stats through 2 weeks aren’t even sniffing playable and that includes a matchup against a very bad Minnesota secondary. Hilton had a bad touchdown drop against Minnesota and there is also more competition for targets in Indy than in years past. Also, Rivers’ historic love of tight ends is still proving true with his new team.
I had Jared Cook as a start last week and I feel like if he was going to have a break out week without Michael Thomas in the lineup, it would have been against the Raiders. He did have a touchdown grab, but the volume seemed to favor Alvin Kamara and Tre’Quan Smith. This is equally a fade of Drew Brees who I already mentioned, so it goes hand in hand.
Hello!! My WR have been terrible, injured, or terribly injured so far.
Right now starting: Kupp, D. Parker and Shenault (AJ Brien still hurt would be in there)
My RBs are Chubb, drake, Montgomery and Gibson
I’m 0-2, need some wins. Would you move Gibson for AJ green to solidify the receivers?
Autocorrect- brown*
Yeah that’s a good plan. Wouldn’t panic that’s not a bad first 3
Sorry my autocorrect business may have messed things up there. Just to clarify—you’d do Gibson for AJ green?
Oh I misread! I have no interest in Green, I’d look elsewhere
green or others in that range; but that term and green is hard to merge what exactly is meant. what would other options be?
I like Darius Slayton a lot
Ertz or Higbee ROS half ppr?
Thx.
Should be Ertz but Higbee is good
Would you trade Chubb for Dak straight up?
Current line-up / 12T half-ppr:
QB – Wentz
RB – Kamara, Chubb, Montomery, J Robinson, D Henderson, Akers
WR -McLauren, Kupp, Chark, Diontae
TE – Fant
Was thinking of countering to include a TE to upgrade from Fant (they have Andrews, Ertz and Higbee).
Thx again.
I’d definitely want a TE thrown in
McKinnon @NYG, Robinson vs Mia, Woods @Buf. Pick two 0.5 PPR
Woods and McKinnon
Can you name a few guys you would be targeting in a trade using Leonard Fournette as bait in a PPR league WR or RB’s few of each of you will.
It’s tough because his value is so polarizing on both sides of the coin.
RB: Conner (shoot for the stars), Ingram, Gurley
WR: Lamb, Kupp, Boyd
Standard league. Slight favorite this week over my opponent.
1. Flex Kelley or Montgomery?
2. If Julio can’t go, Lazard, Slayton or AJ Green?
With Chark our tonight is Shenault a better play over C Davis or R Anderson in standard
Yes
his next question who’s the bench out of robby/davis
who would you start as wr3 robby anderson or corey davis?
who would you start at flex devin singletary or darrel henderson?
1/2 ppr thanks!
Robbie and Singletary
cp asked for night pandas anyway
1. Mike Davis over David Johnson this week? I also have Cohen, which could be a mistake altogether.
2. Cohen or the likes of Samuel, hamler
3. Waller or Logan given Raiders tough matchup?
Thanks!!
3. Yeah I’m worried Belichick will take Waller out
1. Yeah, Mike Davis. He’ll be moving up my rankings
2. Hamler
In my 12 team ppr league I am debating whether to start boyd or shenault this week. Who would you rather start? Also do you think my team can be in the playoff mix while I wait for CMC to return? I am currently 1-1. Team is below.
qb matthew stafford
wr chris godwin
wr robert woods
wr tyler boyd
rb james robinson
rb chris carson
te mark andrews
flex kareem hunt
bn j.k. dobbins
bn brandin cooks
bn christian mccaffrey
bn dalton schultz
bn laviska shenault jr
bn gardner minshew
k matt prater
def new england
I don’t think you’re in bad shape. Hopefully CMC is back sooner rather than later
in a ppr league, start boyd or shenault?
Sorry I didn’t get here in time. I had Boyd ranked a nice margin higher
Aaron Jones or Josh Jacobs ROS ??
Jacobs
Hey MB,
Not sure how to maximize these starters now that Edelman is the only target on the pats. The league is 3 WR 2RB and flex half PPR. I already have Kamara and Jonathan Taylor starting at RB. Who should I start below:
Kenny Golladay
Dj Moore
Ceedee lamb
Edelman
Joe mixon
The first 4
I just traded McCafffrey for Julio Jones and James Robinson. But, I have a FLEX question in 1/2 PPR. Would you start McKinnon over Woods (tough cornerback), Marvin Jones, or Edelman? THANKS!!!
McKinnon and edelman
10 team non ppr 10 point bonus @ 100 rushing or receiving yards
If Julio plays would you play him or any of the following?also If he doesn’t which one to start ?
A.Gibson
M.Davis
J.McKinnon
Thanks again
I don’t think he is, McKinnon
Need two WR in a PPR: Woods, T’Quan, AJ G and Hardman?
Josh Kelly or Djax, PPR?
Watson or Rivers?
And thank you!
Woods and T’Quan
Kelley
Watson
Should I start Ty Hilton or Robby Anderson
TY but barely
14m league
1. would you bench hollywood (tough matchup) or julio (hammy) this week and start mike davis
2. is tre’quan droppable after this week? looking for a more ROS WR. is this hamler or cobb?
Never would bench Julio if he’s on the field and I like Brown this week
Hamler > Quan
WR4 in 14 team league..no PPR but bonuses on TD based on length.
Fitz vs Det (No Kirk)
Harry vs LV
Fitz
PPR league
RB2: Kelley or Gurley
Flex: Gage, Kelley, or Gurley
Already was forced to use my usual flex to sub for Chark at WR2.
Thanks
Gurley, Kelley
1. Montgomery or Kelley at flex in standard league, h2h league where I am a five point favorite?
2. If Julio can’t go, Lazard, Slayton, or AJ Green?
Kelley and Slayton
I went Lazard luckily! You never know.
1. David Johnson or mike Davis
2. Waller or Logan Thomas
Does mike Williams interest you at all or is this just another disappointing year w him? I went w hamler instead, but yeah, the QB situation is making me regret
DJ and Waller
Hamler > Williams