It could seem to be the third Sunday of the NFL season was all in regards to the thrilling, fourth-quarter, blocked discipline objective makes an attempt, however there was a lot extra that occurred. We noticed a barely rostered participant main all fantasy scorers with three touchdowns, the determined re-emergence of the dormant Philadelphia Eagles’ passing offense, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs gained a recreation, the Inexperienced Bay Packers misplaced a recreation and, as all the time (after all) there was a big, season-ending damage to a longtime related working again.
Every Monday, earlier than the present NFL week ends, we are going to determine gamers accessible in not less than 50% of ESPN normal leagues worthy of your consideration, from normal codecs to deeper choices. The NFL is a weekly league, and participant valuation and roles seldom stay stagnant. It doesn’t matter the way you purchase gamers to your fantasy rosters, simply that you just get them.
Quarterback
Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders (rostered in 10% of ESPN leagues): Via Sunday’s video games, Smith was the third-highest QB scorer for the week (behind solely Caleb Williams and Jalen Hurts), tossing three TD passes as his crew was getting shredded by the Washington Commanders. OK, so rubbish time soccer issues, too. Smith rebounded after throwing three interceptions in Week 2. The Raiders proceed to have hassle working the soccer — and defending — so there could also be extra video games that Smith should throw actually because his crew trails. That works in fantasy!
Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks (7.8%): Darnold took benefit of a stable residence matchup with the New Orleans Saints to finish 10-of-11 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns … within the first half alone. It was 38-6 on the half, so Darnold did not must throw far more, ending up with solely 16.72 factors. He had been inconsistent over the crew’s first two video games, and fantasy managers have not been satisfied that final season’s model (when Darnold completed because the No. 9 QB scorer) is coming again. Maybe not, however Darnold’s subsequent two opponents (Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) make him price including if you’re lacking Jayden Daniels or Justin Fields.
Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas
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Backup passers Marcus Mariota, Mac Jones, Tyrod Taylor and Carson Wentz all began for his or her groups in Week 3. Mariota fared the perfect for fantasy, scoring 20.28 factors, thanks partially to a dashing landing. For now, there is no such thing as a telling if any of those fellows might want to begin in Week 4, so it’s harmful so as to add them in ESPN normal codecs. Week 4 not solely is the finale for September, additionally it is the ultimate week earlier than byes start in Week 5 (Falcons, Bears, Packers, Steelers). In case your quarterback is off in Week 5, it is sensible to organize this week. Matthew Stafford, Tua Tagovailoa, Aaron Rodgers and Trevor Lawrence stay available.
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Atlanta Falcons starter (for now) Michael Penix Jr. scored 3.78 factors within the beautiful shutout loss to the Carolina Panthers and veteran Kirk Cousins changed him within the fourth quarter. It might be fairly beautiful if the Falcons eliminated a wholesome Penix because the starter anytime quickly, however these in deeper codecs might wish to stash the confirmed Cousins, simply in case elevated taking part in time all of the sudden seems, both for the Falcons or for one more franchise by way of commerce. Cousins struggled final season, his first after restoration from a torn Achilles, however he was productive as not too long ago as 2022.
Working again
Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals (54.8%): OK, so we’re dishonest a bit with the 50% rule, however dependable James Conner (ankle), a top-50 possibility in ESPN ADP who is not going to be attaining 1,000 dashing yards for the third consecutive season, is out for the season. Benson takes over beginning duties. He did not precisely shine in aid Sunday, turning his 13 touches into simply 51 yards and eight.1 PPR factors, however the 2024 third-round choose will get a giant alternative transferring ahead. He ought to inherit Conner’s typical RB2/flex designation.
Ollie Gordon II, Miami Dolphins (23.3%): Probably the most-dropped gamers after Week 2 burned his former traders by opening the scoring within the Week 3 Thursday night time affair with a brief landing. Uh-oh! Gordon ended up with 9 touches (all runs) and 9.8 PPR factors. Starter De’Von Achane earned 19 touches, scoring 16.1 PPR factors. Achane traders have been warned in regards to the greater Gordon doubtlessly stealing quick touchdowns, however he could also be greater than that, too. Bear in mind, this offense supported two related working backs (Achane, Raheem Mostert) in 2023. It could accomplish that once more.
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Why Quinshon Judkins is a flex consideration for Matt Bowen in Week 4
Matt Bowen breaks down why Quinshon Judkins is a superb match within the Browns’ offense.
Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas
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Fantasy managers love Commanders rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt (84.3%), however even with Austin Ekeler (Achilles) out for the season, the backfield sharing continues. Croskey-Merritt earned solely 9 touches on Sunday, although he scored on a late, 1-yard TD run to salvage his fantasy afternoon with 10.1 PPR factors. Jeremy McNichols (3.1%) and Chris Rodriguez Jr. (1.6%) have been clearly concerned. McNichols, a journeyman together with his sixth franchise and in his second season in Washington, broke off a 60-yard landing within the simple win over the Raiders, his 13.8 PPR factors approaching 4 touches. Rodriguez led with 11 touches, however he did little with them. Maybe subsequent week it should really be the Croskey-Merritt present, but it surely might simply as simply be a three-headed monster. Add Rodriguez over McNichols. He might even see extra early-down work.
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Panthers backup Rico Dowdle (5.5%) earned his touches and scored his landing later in his crew’s blowout win over the Falcons, with the outcome not doubtful. Starter Chuba Hubbard earned 19 touches, scoring solely 9.6 PPR factors. That is Hubbard’s backfield, and Dowdle is subsequent in line. We have written in latest weeks about Pittsburgh Steelers beginner Kenneth Gainwell (27.1%), Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Bhayshul Tuten (48.1%) and New York Jets sophomore Braelon Allen (28.9%) — different, higher backups pushing for extra possibilities. No one needs to see a serious damage just like what occurred to Arizona’s Conner, however stuff does occur.
Extensive receiver
Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans (21.1%): We mentioned this Stanford rookie on this area final week, and he was among the many most-added gamers of the week. The Titans stay fairly the work in progress with uncooked QB Cam Ward, however Ayomanor has TD receptions in consecutive video games, whereas veteran Calvin Ridley continues to sputter alongside. Ridley, an eighth-round choose in ESPN ADP, has eight receptions in three video games. Do not drop Ridley (nonetheless), however Ayomanor continues to impress.
Tre Tucker, Raiders (2.0%): Tucker was the beneficiary of Geno Smith’s late-game work, hauling in eight catches for 145 yards and all three touchdowns (two coming within the remaining quarter). The 40.9 PPR factors simply represented a profession finest. Tucker caught 5 passes over the primary two weeks. We should not assume he steals many targets from prime Raiders choices TE Brock Bowers and WR Jakobi Meyers, however there’s additionally little indication this offense appears intent in getting rookies Dont’e Thornton Jr. or Jack Bech extra concerned. Tucker is not precisely outdated. He is 24, in his third season, and he caught 47 passes final season. Nonetheless, he might not rating 40.9 factors over the following month, both.
Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas
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Somebody should catch the throws from Patrick Mahomes — we are saying this each week — and towards the New York Giants on Sunday night time, it was former Patriot Tyquan Thornton (18.1 PPR factors). This saga might alter weekly, particularly when Xavier Worthy (shoulder) and finally Rashee Rice (suspension) return, however Thornton is intriguing for Week 4 towards the Baltimore Ravens.
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Jaxon Smith-Njigba is definitely the highest possibility for the Seahawks, however rookie Tory Horton (1.1%) appears worthy of an uptick in quantity. Horton has touchdowns in consecutive weeks (three in all, due to a punt return rating), although little quantity. Keep tuned.
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Chicago Bears rookie Luther Burden III (9.3%) scored 19.8 PPR factors towards the Dallas Cowboys, primarily as a consequence of his first-quarter, 65-yard TD reception. Nonetheless, he noticed solely two different targets, so including him feels untimely. Rome Odunze and DJ Moore stay the highest fellows for the rising Caleb Williams.
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Buccaneers veteran Mike Evans left Sunday’s recreation as a consequence of a hamstring damage, and he might miss time. Chris Godwin Jr. is a risk to make his 2025 debut in Week 4, however rookie Emeka Egbuka might share targets with 32-year-old Sterling Shepard (0.9%). You understand Baker Mayfield will probably be throwing.
Tight finish
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (48.9%): Henry was among the many most-dropped tight ends coming into Week 3, as managers seemed towards Juwan Johnson, Zach Ertz and Jake Ferguson. Henry might have as a lot upside as any of these fellows, after registering 66 receptions for 674 yards a season in the past. We recall Henry scoring 9 touchdowns throughout his first season with the Patriots in 2021. May that happen once more? Henry scored twice on Sunday, offering a position-leading 29.0 PPR factors.
Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas
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Jacksonville Jaguars starter Brenton Unusual (21.3%) was a well-liked preseason sleeper who fantasy traders uninterested in coming into Week 3, however he scored 12.1 PPR factors towards the Houston Texans, snaring six of seven targets for 61 yards. It appears unlikely that Unusual is on his technique to attaining what former TE Evan Engram did for the 2023 Jaguars (catching 114 passes), however maybe Unusual can contribute for the deeper leagues.
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Many fantasy managers anticipated Tennessee Titans starter Chig Okonkwo (15.1%) to interrupt out in prior seasons, so maybe they do not imagine his 11.6 PPR factors from Sunday means a lot. Rookie QB Ward has been erratic up to now, however he most likely will not be all season.
Protection
Indianapolis Colts (48.4%): Most fantasy traders selected Inexperienced Bay for Week 3, which made sense, and the Packers scored 9.0 factors towards the Cleveland Browns (they usually misplaced!). The Colts scored 16.0 factors towards the Titans, the unit’s second top-5 fantasy efficiency in three weeks. The Colts play on the Los Angeles Rams in Week 4, which isn’t a good matchup, but it surely feels effectively previous the time to safe the Colts for the whole thing of the total season.
Washington Commanders (13.4%): This isn’t a D/ST we’d usually suggest, however the crew faces the Falcons this week, and stated Falcons failed to attain versus the lowly Panthers in Week 3.
Los Angeles Chargers (12.4%): Equally, the Chargers D/ST stays available as a result of it was not anticipated to be nice this season. The Chargers have already reached double-digit fantasy factors as soon as up to now, due to attending to face the beleaguered Raiders, and should duplicate the feat in Week 4 towards a equally sputtering Giants crew.