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| Tuesday, September 21, 2021 |
| If you want an example of why you shouldn't overreact to Week 1, the Packers and Lions both gave us a great one Monday night. The Packers offense, the source of much consternation last week, exploded for 35 points in the easy win, including four touchdowns for Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Jones -- two of Week 1's biggest disappointments. DaVante Adams didn't find the end zone himself, but his eight-catch, 121-yard performance was vintage otherwise. |
| On the Lions side ... well, T.J. Hockenson was good in both games, so they've got that going for them. The RB duo of Jamaal Williams and D'Andre Swift combined for just 115 yards on 22 touches between them Monday -- Swift and Williams each had at least 104 yards on their own in Week 1. It was especially troubling for Williams, who played just 35% of the snaps in Week 1 and then followed it up 37 total yards and 6.7 Fantasy points. Woof. |
| With Week 2 in the books, officially, it's time to turn our attention to Week 3, starting with the rankings and the waiver wire. You can find Jamey Eisenberg's top priorities on the wire as well as the first look at my rankings for Week 3 in today's newsletter, but first, here's a very quick rundown on the news you need to know from Monday: |
- Josh Jacobs (toe, ankle) is "very questionable" for Week 3.
- The Rams hope Darrell Henderson (rib) will be able to play in Week 3, but they likely won't know until Friday.
- JaMycal Hasty has a high-ankle sprain and will miss at least Week 3. The 49ers don't yet know the status of Elijah Mitchell (shoulder) or Trey Sermon (concussion) for Week 3.
- Carson Wentz sprained both of his ankles in Week 2. His status for Week 3 is very much up in the air.
- Andy Dalton has a bone bruise in his knee and his timeline is not yet known.
- Tua Tagovailoa is day to day with bruised ribs.
- Tyrod Taylor (hamstring) is expected to miss multiple weeks.
- Diontae Johnson avoided a major long-term injury. His status for Week 3 is not yet known.
- Amari Cooper is dealing with bruised ribs. We expect an update on his status Wednesday.
- The Jaguars expect Laviska Shenault (shoulder) to play in Week 3.
- Zach Ertz was placed on the COVID-19 list. He is vaccinated however and could be cleared to play in Week 3.
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| And here's what we've got on tap in today's newsletter: |
- ➕Top Week 2 Waiver Wire Targets
- 📈Week 2 Rankings📉
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| ➕Top Week 2 Waiver Wire Targets |
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Week 3 may not have that obvious must-add running back, but it might have even more potential difference makers on the waiver-wire than last week. So, you need to know how to best allocate your resources tonight. Jamey Eisenberg's Waiver Wire column is up and ready for you to get all the help you need. Here are the top targets for this week's run: |
| Jamey Eisenberg's top targets |
- Sterling Shepard (55% rostered) -- Shepard isn't just playing Julian Edelman dink-and-dunk role since moving to the slot for the Giants -- his average depth of target is actually up from 2020 while he's seeing a ton more targets. And it might be sustainable: Kenny Golladay might be the best wide receiver in this offense, but he's never going to be a huge target hot because he does so much of his work down the field. Shepard could remain a start-able option moving forward -- he's a top-24 WR for me in Week 3.
- Rondale Moore (65%) -- I don't have Moore ranked as high as Shepard in Week 3, but if I could only add one, I would go with Moore, because I love his upside. He's been the No. 4 WR in terms of routes and snaps for the Cardinals so far, but he actually leads the team in targets -- ahead of DeAndre Hopkins, yep -- and is making it awfully hard to keep him off the field. Everything the Cardinals have done since the preseason tells us they love what he brings to the table, and Moore could emerge as the star of this rookie class for Fantasy.
- J.D. McKissic (58%) -- Washington was in their two-minute offense a bunch in Week 2, and McKissic had a good game as a result. That's how this thing is probably going to work; they'll scheme up ways to get Antonio Gibson involved during their normal game plan, but when push comes to shove and they have to move the ball downfield in a hurry, McKissic is going to eat. As nine-point underdogs in Week 3 against the Bills, we could see plenty of McKissic.
- Cordarrelle Patterson (9%) -- Mike Davis is clearly the lead back for the Falcons, but Patterson is clearly an important part of what they want to do as well. Patterson has 21 touches through two games to Davis' 34, and if they keep using him that way, he could be Fantasy relevant moving forward.
- Tim Patrick (60%) -- Patrick is by far the least hyped member of the Broncos offense, but all he does when called on is produce, scoring a touchdown in each of the first two games this season. He'll need to do better than four targets per game moving forward, but you have to like what you've seen so far.
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| One (more) target for each position |
- QB: Justin Fields (77%) -- Fields isn't all that widely available in CBS Fantasy leagues -- and there are a handful of streamers I prefer for Week 3 -- but if he gets the chance to start, you'll want to make sure he's on your bench if you have a spot for him. Just in case.
- RB: Ty Johnson (8%) -- Johnson is going to get overlooked, but he led the Jets in snaps at RB in Week 1 and matched Michael Carter for the lead in Week 2. It hasn't led to much production, and Carter seems like the future of the position, but Johnson could help you out in a pinch in the coming weeks.
- WR: Michael Pittman (66%) -- If not for Wentz's injuries, Pittman might be near the top of the list after his eight-catch, 123-yard performance in Week 2 against the Rams -- the Rams! He should be close to universally rostered after that kind of performance.
- TE: David Njoku (15%) -- There aren't a ton of options at tight end who matter, and maybe Njoku doesn't. But he has a 16% target share through two games and some big-play ability, so with the Browns WR injury issues, don't overlook him if you want to take a shot on a streamer.
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| 📈Week 3 Rankings📉 |
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Well, now we've got two weeks to overreact to. Some players moved back up after a brief tumble in Week 1; some moved in the opposite direction. Here's where things stand for me in my first run through of the Week 3 rankings for PPR leagues. You can find Jamey, Dave, and Heath's rankings right here: |
| Quarterbacks |
So, there's some movement here, for sure. Jalen Hurts' rushing ability has helped him continue to climb, while Kirk Cousins' hot start has him in the top 10 for a matchup against the Seahawks. But it gets real interesting once you get outside of the top 12: Teddy Bridgewater, Daniel Jones, Derek Carr, and Sam Darnold have all moved into the top 17 for this week. There's some matchup-based stuff there, for sure, but it's also a testament to how shockingly well that group is playing right now. You can see my full thoughts on the position here. |
- Patrick Mahomes
- Lamar Jackson
- Kyler Murray
- Russell Wilson
- Josh Allen
- Tom Brady
- Jalen Hurts
- Justin Herbert
- Dak Prescott
- Kirk Cousins
- Matthew Stafford
- Aaron Rodgers
- Teddy Bridgewater
- Ryan Tannehill
- Daniel Jones
- Derek Carr
- Sam Darnold
- Justin Fields
- Joe Burrow
- Jimmy Garoppolo
- Ben Roethlisberger
- Matt Ryan
- Taylor Heinicke
- Mac Jones
- Jacoby Brissett
- Trevor Lawrence
- Baker Mayfield
- Jameis Winston
- Jared Goff
- Zach Wilson
- Jacob Eason
- Davis Mills
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| Running backs |
Najee Harris at No. 7 may be the first surprise in my RB rankings, but I doubt he'll be the last. At least for now, I suspect I'll be higher than the consensus this week on Harris, David Montgomery, and Saquon Barkley, at least. But the thing that really stands out for me at running back is how steep of a drop-off there is mid-way through the RB2 range -- RB18 through 29 or so look pretty interchangeable to me right now. That is, also, the range that started the RB Dead Zone in drafts, coincidentally. You can read my full thoughts on the position here. |
- Christian McCaffrey
- Alvin Kamara
- Dalvin Cook
- Derrick Henry
- Joe Mixon
- Austin Ekeler
- Najee Harris
- Aaron Jones
- David Montgomery
- Chris Carson
- Nick Chubb
- Saquon Barkley
- Jonathan Taylor
- D'Andre Swift
- Antonio Gibson
- Ezekiel Elliott
- Miles Sanders
- Mike Davis
- Kareem Hunt
- Chase Edmonds
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire
- James Robinson
- Myles Gaskin
- Kenyan Drake
- Melvin Gordon
- Javonte Williams
- Devin Singletary
- Damien Harris
- Ty'Son Williams
- Jamaal Williams
- Leonard Fournette
- James White
- Sony Michel
- Elijah Mitchell
- Tony Pollard
- Nyheim Hines
- David Johnson
- Mark Ingram
- Peyton Barber
- J.D. McKissic
- Michael Carter
- Cordarrelle Patterson
- Latavius Murray
- Ronald Jones
- Kenneth Gainwell
- Ty Johnson
- James Conner
- Trey Sermon
- Salvon Ahmed
- Giovani Bernard
- Phillip Lindsay
- Carlos Hyde
- AJ Dillon
- Tony Jones
- Jeremy McNichols
- Larry Rountree
- Jake Funk
- Zack Moss
- Darrel Williams
- Damien Williams
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| Wide receivers |
I'm keeping the faith in A.J. Brown. In fact, I'm doubling down, moving him all the way up to No. 4 at the position this week. I think he and Julio Jones are going to have their first big game together. You can read my full thoughts on the WR position here. |
- Davante Adams
- Tyreek Hill
- Stefon Diggs
- A.J. Brown
- Tyler Lockett
- DeAndre Hopkins
- Justin Jefferson
- Amari Cooper
- CeeDee Lamb
- Keenan Allen
- D.K. Metcalf
- Cooper Kupp
- D.J. Moore
- Calvin Ridley
- Julio Jones
- Allen Robinson
- Courtland Sutton
- Mike Williams
- Deebo Samuel
- Chris Godwin
- Robert Woods
- Mike Evans
- Terry McLaurin
- Sterling Shepard
- Adam Thielen
- JuJu Smith-Schuster
- Chase Claypool
- Tee Higgins
- DeVonta Smith
- Ja'Marr Chase
- Brandin Cooks
- Tyler Boyd
- Kenny Golladay
- Rondale Moore
- Marquise Brown
- Robby Anderson
- Michael Pittman
- Marvin Jones
- Cole Beasley
- Mecole Hardman
- Corey Davis
- Antonio Brown
- Jakobi Meyers
- Tim Patrick
- Emmanuel Sanders
- Sammy Watkins
- AJ Green
- DJ Chark
- Jaylen Waddle
- Laviska Shenault
- Jalen Reagor
- Will Fuller
- K.J. Osborn
- Darnell Mooney
- Henry Ruggs
- Darius Slayton
- Terrace Marshall
- Devante Parker
- Bryan Edwards
- Brandon Aiyuk
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| Tight ends |
Last week, I said the biggest question here was whether T.J Hockenson was ready to join the top tier at the position. I think he is -- sort of. Travis Kelce and Darren Waller have separated themselves from the pack, again, but Hockenson is right there with George Kittle, in my eyes. There are actually 10 tight ends I feel pretty good about starting this week. You can read my full thoughts here. |
- Travis Kelce
- Darren Waller
- George Kittle
- T.J. Hockenson
- Mark Andrews
- Kyle Pitts
- Noah Fant
- Tyler Higbee
- Rob Gronkowski
- Logan Thomas
- Jonnu Smith
- Austin Hooper
- Dallas Goedert
- David Njoku
- Jared Cook
- Hunter Henry
- Robert Tonyan
- Blake Jarwin
- Dalton Schultz
- Kyle Rudolph
- Juwan Johnson
- Adam Trautman
- Tyler Conklin
- Zach Ertz
- Jack Doyle
- Mike Gesicki
- Dan Arnold
- Cole Kmet
- Tyler Kroft
- Eric Ebron
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| Top-150 Flex RankingsChristian McCaffrey |
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