DEZELSKE: Fantasy Football 2014-15: Week 3

Written by Brian Dezelske

Fantasy football owners are scrambling to put together the right lineup this week, after the injury bug bit a handful of the NFL’s top stars such as Robert Griffin III, Jamaal Charles and AJ Green. Hopefully fantasy owners will be rewarded in Week 3 by making some of the moves listed below.

 

Starts

 

Kirk Cousins vs. Philadelphia Eagles
 

Cousins came into the game and delivered an impressive 18-point fantasy performance, after Robert Griffin III left due to injury (ankle). It was just another one of his great relief appearances out of the bullpen. Cousins should be a hot commodity on waivers this week. Any owner that gets Cousins should start him against the NFC East rival that has allowed five passing touchdowns through two weeks, and 17.0 points per game to the quarterback position.

Philip Rivers vs. Buffalo Bills

Last week I had Philip Rivers as a sit, and for what I thought was a good reason; he was facing the Seattle Seahawks. But after watching him torch the defending Super Bowl champs for 284 yards, three touchdowns and a 75.6 completion percentage, he’s worked himself into the every-week starter conversation. Fantasy owners should not fear the Buffalo Bills defense that’s giving up 14.5 points per game to opposing quarterbacks.

Bobby Rainey vs. Atlanta Falcons (Thurs.)

Although it looks like Doug Martin will be ready to go this Thursday—even with the short week—chances are Bobby Rainey will carry the load against Atlanta.  And there’s no guarantee Martin even gets his job back upon his return. As for this week’s matchup, Rainey takes on a Falcon’s defense that has given up the most points per game (35.5) to opposing running backs so far this season, and has also given up the second-most red-zone touches to opposing backs. It could be, and should be, a big day for Rainey owners.

Zac Stacy vs. Dallas Cowboys

Zac Stacy owners were able to breathe a sigh of relief this past Sunday, after he seemed to turn things around following a slow start in Week 1. He finished with 71 yards and also found his way into the end zone. But what’s more important are the 19 touches he got, which was seven more than the previous week—meaning Jeff Fischer still sees Stacy as his main option in the backfield. That’s good because the Rams will host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, who are giving up almost 5.0 yards per carry on the ground this season.

 

CJ Spiller vs. San Diego Chargers
 

I know it’s a tough call deciding whether or not play CJ Spiller each week. But if there was a time to roll the dice on him it would be here in Week 3, especially if you’re in a PPR league. Spiller is a fantastic pass-catcher out of the backfield, and will face a Chargers defense that has allowed the most receptions to opposing running backs through two weeks (17), and has already given up three receiving touchdowns to running backs this season.

 

Pierre Garcon vs. Philadelphia Eagles
 

Pierre Garcon was one of Week 2’s biggest disappointments. He falls from 10 receptions in Week 1 to one catch last week, and was only targeted four times. But owners should not worry about any sort of slump, because this was the first time that he was held to under five catches since Week 17 of 2012. He also dipped under double-digit targets just twice in 2013. He should bounce back with a solid WR2 showing, even against the Eagles 11th-ranked pass defense.

 

Mike Wallace vs. Kansas City Chiefs

There’s an obvious increase in comfort level between Wallace and his signal-caller Ryan Tannehill, and it’s shown with two touchdowns in the first two games. It is hard to score a touchdown in three-straight games, but Wallace has the matchup to do it. Kansas City currently gives up the seventh-most fantasy points per game (23) to opposing wide receivers, and the two touchdowns that the Chiefs have allowed to wide receivers have been from the opposing team’s No. 1 option.

 

Sits

 

Andy Dalton vs. Tennessee Titans
 

Dalton is having a nice little start to the season thus far, averaging 16 fantasy points per game, and currently ranks ninth in fantasy points among quarterbacks. However, Week 3 could provide a bit of a bump in the road. The Bengals host the Tennessee Titans who rank No. 1 in the league against the pass, and give up the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Oh, and AJ Green is a game time decision and not likely to play.

 

Ben Roethlisberger vs. Carolina Panthers
 

Big Ben is off to a mediocre start through two weeks, and things don’t look like they’ll get any better this week. The Carolina Panthers are only giving up 208 yards per game through the air, and are the second-highest scoring defense in football. That’s not a good mix for a guy who has more interceptions than touchdowns so far this year.

 

Matt Forte vs. New York Jets (Mon.)
 

Forte had a rough Week 2 against San Francisco, managing just 36 total yards on 17 touches. Jay Cutler and the Bears were forced to take to the air after being down 13 points to start the fourth quarter, and it sort of left Forte out of the plans. Owners are going to expect him to bounce back on Monday night, but that’s not likely to happen. The New York Jets are only allowing 52.5 yards per game and have yet to allow a rushing touchdown. Chicago may focus on attacking a Jets secondary that has allowed five passing touchdowns through two weeks, rather than pound away on the ground. PPR owners can feel a bit better about starting him, but standard leaguers will want to temper expectations.

 

Terrence West vs. Baltimore Ravens
 

Terrence West and the Cleveland Browns will have a tall order trying to crack the front seven of the Baltimore Ravens. The AFC North rival give up the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs, and managed to keep LeVeon Bell and Giovanni Bernard out of the end zone this year.

 

Michael Crabtree vs. Arizona Cardinals
 

Michael Crabtree found the end zone for the first time this past Sunday night, and finished with 82 yards on seven receptions and nine targets. Fantasy owners will look for him to build on that in Week 3, but that might be a bit much to hope for. Arizona does allow 17.0 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers, but there’s a good chance that any substantial receiver production will come from other 49er receivers. All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson will likely shadow Crabtree most of the game, leaving Anquan Boldin and Stevie Johnson as the beneficiaries.

 

James Jones vs. New England Patriots
 

Hauling in touchdowns in consecutive weeks to open up a season will get most fantasy owners to take notice. And, sure, James Jones is worthy of being on fantasy rosters, but this is not the week to play him. Jones is the one good thing Oakland has going on offense right now. And what’s New England Head Coach Bill Belichick better at doing than any other coach in the league? It’s simple. He’s the best there is at taking away what the opposing team does best on offense. Darrelle Revis is also likely to shadow Jones most of the afternoon.