The Week Three slate is underway. Game on! The Giants played
a great all-around game on Thursday night, taking it to the Redskins. OBJ
looked good. Reuben Randle had the game of his life. And Washington was
handled. Their offense was stuck in the mud. Now we head into the weekend slate
of games. All teams still playing this week for the last time until Week 12.
So here we are again. Meeting here is becoming commonplace
these days. I don’t mind. Always happy to talk about Fantasy and give you my
thoughts about players and their situations. Who do I like this week? Who do I
not like? What defense am I interested in? What quarterbacks can be streamed
this week? Well let me tell you what I think.
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| Image Source: nflspinzone.com |
Start
John Brown, WR, Arizona
Get used to Brown being on this list. He is a great player
in a great situation. As long as Carson Palmer, the offensive line, and Brown
stay healthy, he’s pretty much a weekly starter in this offense. Brown has had
decent stats so far, and a monster is coming. On top of his nine catches for 91
yards and a score, Brown has drawn two pass interference calls. This week the
Cardinals play a 49ers defense that was lit up by the Steelers last week. Still
reeling, I don’t believe the 49ers are the team from Week One, and are actually
the leaky boat that played Week Two. A big game is in the works for John Brown.
Don’t let him have it from your bench.
Jimmy Graham, TE, Seattle
Graham was missing in action last week in Green Bay. One
catch on two targets and one leak that he is pissed. This week the lowly Chicago
Bears come to town to face an 0-2 Seahawks squad that will be looking to make a
statement to the league. Chicago is weak on both offense and defense. The
walking wounded roster of the Bears is likely to be missing Jay Cutler and Alshon
Jeffery. The defense for the Bears is not in much better shape. This is the
reset season. Ctrl+alt+delete on the whole team. The defense is a 4-3 squad
being made to play in a 3-4 scheme. This preseason I saw Jared Allen dropping
into coverage. Not something I would want to see from my team. This leads me to
want to play Graham this week. I expect Seattle to score at will. And if they
get in close, expect them to try to feed Graham, pissed or not.
Latavius Murray, RB, Oakland
Murray faces a Browns team this week that was dead last in
run defense last season. Even with additions this year, they still aren’t a
good unit. In their first game of the season the Browns allowed Chris Ivory to
run for 91 yards and two scores. Last week they allowed Dexter McCluster to run
for 98 yards. Murray had 65 yards on the ground last week and a score. I expect
to see him run a lot this week. I have him inserted in my starting lineups
where I have him, and so should you.
Frank Gore, RB, Indianapolis
Gore has some of the Fantasy world concerned. Not this guy.
I had no desire to have any shares of Gore this season, yet ended up with him
on multiple squads. At some point a value is too good to pass up. At this point
I have absolutely no idea what to think of Gore. The first two weeks of the
season were against some very good defensive units. The Buffalo Bills and the
New York Jets were 11th and fifth against the run last season. The
schedule gets a bit better for the next two weeks, and if you have Gore and are
ever going to play him, this is the week. Don’t let his good matchups go to
waste and fire him up this week.
CJ Anderson, RB, Denver
Anderson was a very early draft pick, and he has not met
expectations. A toe injury and some very bad offensive line play have hampered
the efforts of Anderson so far this season. Normally I wouldn’t be telling you
that a matchup with the Lions is just what the doctor ordered. The Lions were
the top ranked run defense last season. But this year is different. Suh is
gone. Levy is out. And the Lions are letting you run. I am a staunch supporter
of Anderson, in fact completing a trade for him in a league today, and writing
an article in support of trading for him you can read here.
With 10 days off, Anderson has had time to heal and has been a full participant
in practice so far this week. Get him in your lineup this week.
Sit
Lamar Miller, RB, Miami
Miller has been pretty much a disappointment so far this
season. Miller left last week with an ankle injury. What he did before that
wasn’t very impressive. Only rushing for a total of 67 yards in the first two
weeks, and catching six passes for 50 yards is not a good start. Miller has
returned to practice on Thursday, but his matchup leaves a lot to be desired. The
Buffalo Bills travel to take on the Dolphins this week. The Bills had a stout
run defense last year and shut down the Colts in Week One. Week Two the Patriots
solved the riddle to an extent, but Dion Lewis only had 40 yards rushing. I can’t
see a banged up Miller doing a lot on the ground for the Dolphins, and if you
have another option get him on your bench.
Matt Forte, RB, Chicago
Forte might be the only healthy guy on the Bears offense. Don’t
think that this fact will escape the 0-2 Seahawks. The box will likely be
stacked against Forte until likely starter Jimmy Clausen makes them back off.
Forte is going to have a long day, with Jay Cutler and Alshon Jeffery highly
likely to be out this week. I would sit Forte if you have a capable replacement
on your bench.
DeMarco Murray, RB, Philadelphia
Murray has been bad. It’s not all his fault. The offensive
line play has been atrocious. The quarterback play has been worse. And the
offense is a giant pile of smoldering garbage. Expect it to erupt into flames
on Sunday this week. In addition to the issues the Eagles have been having,
Murray left practice on Wednesday with a hamstring injury. This sit recommendation
might be moot by Sunday if Murray cannot go. And we haven’t even considered the
matchup. Say hello to the Jets. Yeah, the ones who shut down the Colts high
powered offense last week. If Murray plays, I would be expecting the status quo
of the season. Sit your Murray shares this week.
Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans
Brees and the Saints offense have not played well so far.
And now Brees has a shoulder injury that might affect his throwing and
distance. Weakness in the shoulder is a side effect of a rotator cuff
contusion. This does not make me feel confident in an offense that has
struggled in scoring so far this season. And the Saints draw the Carolina
Panthers and their stout defensive line and secondary. With a loss of identity
apparent, a tough matchup in front of him, and an injury to his throwing
shoulder, I have to suggest benching Brees this week.
Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay
Martin has had some favorable matchups in the first two
weeks of the season. Sadly he hasn’t done a lot with them. On 32 carries so far
this season, Martin has had only 130 yards. Three catches for 22 yards are not
much of a boost. And these numbers came against the Titans and the Saints. This
week the Bucs face the 10th ranked run defense from last season in
the Houston Texans. The front seven for the Texans is a very strong unit. I
fail to see how a bad matchup against a good defense is going to be the
breakout that Martin owners are looking for. Sit Martin this week.
Defenses to stream
New England Patriots
The Pats play the Jaguars this week. Last season a streaming
strategy was to get who the Jags were playing. I have not seen a reason to
change this yet.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons face a Cowboys squad that is reeling after
losing their top wide receiver and their quarterback in the first two weeks of
the season. Despite a stout line their running game has not been impressive. I
want to play the defense that plays the Cowboys until either Romo returns or
they prove me wrong.
Quarterbacks to Stream
Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee
Mariota had a great debut in Week One. And then he came back
down to earth last week. But Mariota is accurate, and accuracy is not something
everyone has. This week facing the Colts, I could see Mariota having a good
game. Consider him as a streaming option this week.
Ryan Fitzpartick, QB, New York Jets
Fitzy has been solid so far this season. He isn’t a huge
fantasy scorer, but he won’t kill you either. Averaging 15.75 points per game
is a good fill in for your quarterback. This week against the Eagles I would
love to be playing Fitzpatrick in as many leagues as I can. Hopefully Eric
Decker can get back on the field this week to give Fitzpatrick some extra help.
I love Fitzy this season as a good option to stream.
So this ends the start sit article for Week Three. I hope
that it has been helpful in making your decisions a little more educated. Make
sure to check out my injury report articles using thislink. You can follow me on twitter, and
sign up to receive notices when I post a new article at the top of this page.
Thank you for your time and reading what I have to say. Good luck in your
leagues this week.
