Welcome to Week 3! And what a week we have on tap! It feels like the NFL front-loaded the schedule with awesome matchups this season, and while we're running into some inevitable snoozers starting in Week 3, there are still some potentially awesome showdowns in store for us. The game that I'm the most excited for is Minnesota vs. Houston. Demeco Ryans and Bobby Slowik lead the undefeated Texans into a tough road test against Kevin O'Connell, Brian Flores, and the undefeated Vikes. Justin Jefferson vs. Derek Stingley, C.J. Stroud vs. Minnesota's blitz packages and disguised coverages, and a "revenge game" for both Stefon Diggs and Cam Akers. This game has a little bit of everything, and still, it might not be my *favorite* matchup of the week.

Another matchup between tow undefeated is brewing.

Jim Harbaugh vs. Mike Tomlin is a matchup sent straight from the football gods. It's possible that we don't see a single pass attempt in this game. And I am here for it!

We haven't even hit on what might be the game of the week! Jalen Hurts and the Eagles will look to get back on track after dropping a Monday night matchup against Atlanta against another NFC South opponent as they take flight to take on the 2-0 New Orleans Saints. No team has caught the eye of NFL fans more than the Saints and their high-scoring Kliff Kubiak-engineered offense. Does regression hit for Derek Carr in Week 3, or is this Saints team for real?

Of course, to longtime FFT newsletter reader, the Saints offense is old news. The truly sick among us have our eyes set on more important things, such as a potential Week 3 breakout for our preseason darlings.

Let's talk about Jacob Cowing and expectations for the 49ers for a moment. Brock Purdy only has 13 career pass attempts (playoffs or regular season) with both Deebo Samuel and George Kittle off the field. When one has missed, the other has usually been healthy. Kittle, in particular, has not missed much time at all during the Purdy era. This is uncharted territory for Purdy. Who might step up?

Key third down receptions by Jauan Jennings is a staple of San Francisco football during the 2020's, but we have never seen him produce significant yardage at the NFL level.

Here are his best career statistical performances. He's only topped 70 receiving yards once and has never finished with 100+ receiving yards in a game. Rookie Jacob Cowing has the ability to put up 70+ yards on one catch. He was wildly productive at the collegiate level and could torch a Rams defense that has had a clear issue with speedy receivers in 2024.

The above excerpt is from an August newsletter publication titled "Unheralded rookies to know." After hitting on Puka Nacua, Tank Dell, and Jayden Reed in that space the year prior, I went even deeper into the obscurity of the 2024 class. Several of the players who were featured in that space are already getting early-season opportunities.

Here's the full list:

Luke McCaffrey
Carson Steele
Sione Vaki
Jacob Cowing
Jordan Whittington
Erick All
Kimani Vidal
Dylan Laube
Malik Washington
Jaheim Bell

Not even one month into the season, we already see several of those players elevated to potential starters. Let that serve as a simple reminder that no man is safe. Injuries can strike at any time in the NFL. Nothing is guaranteed. This is a long season. Last week's headliner photo was Isiah Pacheco. Just seven short days later, and we are hearing that Pacheco may miss the entire remainder of the 2024 season. Absolutely brutal stuff. But we keep pressing onward.

Welcome back to Sunday! Welcome back to chaos.

The DFS Helper should help point you in the right direction, but feel free to reach out to me on Twitter if you have any further questions! I try to respond to tweets throughout the week; I also have a weekly Twitter Q&A each Sunday morning to answer any lineup setting questions you have. Good luck this weekend everybody!

Tier 1 -- Cash Game Considerations
Kyler Murray ($6,900)

Tier 2 -- Preferred Tournament Options
Geno Smith ($5,600), Jalen Hurts ($7,300), Andy Dalton ($4,800), Jared Goff ($6,500 - this is an awesome spot to stack the Lions if the rostered rates end up being low as expected), Derek Carr ($5,800), C.J. Stroud ($7,100 - I'll only be playing him in a mega-stack involving both Nico Collins and Tank Dell)

Tier 1 -- Cash Game Locks
None

Tier 2 -- Cash Game Consideration
De'Von Achane ($7,000), Jordan Mason ($6,200), Zach Charbonnet ($6,000), Cam Akers ($4,700)

Tier 3 -- Preferred Tournament Options
Derrick Henry ($6,500), Jahmyr Gibbs ($6,800), De'Von Achane ($7,000), Jordan Mason ($6,200), James Conner ($6,600), Zach Charbonnet ($6,000), Rachaad White ($6,100), Zamir White ($5,500)

Tier 1 -- Cash Game Locks
None

Tier 2 -- Cash Game Consideration
Chris Godwin ($6,500), Brandon Aiyuk ($6,200), Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($5,400), Nico Collins ($7,300), Chris Olave ($6,300), DK Metcalf ($6,300), Amon-Ra St. Brown ($8,200)

Tier 3 -- Preferred Tournament Options
Chris Olave ($6,300), Brandon Aiyuk ($6,200), Tank Dell ($5,200), Justin Jefferson ($8,600), Jameson Williams ($5,800), Nico Collins ($7,300), Davante Adams ($7,600), Rashid Shaheed ($5,300), Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($5,400), D.J. Moore ($6,700), CeeDee Lamb ($8,800), DK Metcalf ($6,300), Jacob Cowing ($3,000), Diontae Johnson ($4,900), DeVonta Smith ($6,900), Jordan Whittington ($4,200), Courtland Sutton ($5,400)

Tier 1 -- Cash Game Consideration
George Kittle ($5,700) (Q)

Trey McBride ($6,200), Brock Bowers ($5,400)

Tier 2 -- Preferred Tournament Options
Trey McBride ($6,200), Foster Moreau ($2,600)

Tier 1 -- Cash Game Considerations
Kyler Murray ($8,300), Andy Dalton ($6,000)

Tier 2 -- Preferred Tournament Options
Jalen Hurts ($8,500), Jared Goff ($7,500), Andy Dalton ($6,000), Geno Smith ($7,600)

Tier 1 -- Cash Game Locks
Cam Akers ($4,000)

Tier 2 -- Cash Game Consideration
De'Von Achane ($7,700), Zach Charbonnet ($6,700), Jordan Mason ($8,300), Carson Steele ($5,200)

Tier 3 -- Preferred Tournament Options
Carson Steele ($5,200), Jahmyr Gibbs ($7,900), Derrick Henry ($7,800), De'Von Achane ($7,700), Cam Akers ($4,000), Kyren Williams ($7,500), Jordan Mason ($8,300), James Conner ($7,400), Zach Charbonnet ($6,700), Zamir White ($6,000)

Tier 1 -- Cash Game Locks
None

Tier 2 -- Cash Game Consideration
Brandon Aiyuk ($6,500), Chris Godwin ($6,600), Nico Collins ($7,600), Rashee Rice ($7,300), Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($6,100), Chris Olave ($6,700)

Tier 3 -- Preferred Tournament Options
Chris Olave ($6,700), Davante Adams ($7,800), Justin Jefferson ($9,200), Nico Collins ($7,600), Brandon Aiyuk ($6,500), Tank Dell ($6,200), CeeDee Lamb ($9,300), D.J. Moore ($6,500), Jameson Williams ($6,300), Amon-Ra St. Brown ($9,100), Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($6,100), DK Metcalf ($7,200), Jacob Cowing ($4,000), Rashid Shaheed ($6,300), Courtland Sutton ($5,300), Marvin Harrison Jr. ($7,500), Diontae Johnson ($5,300)

Tier 1 -- Cash Game Consideration
Trey McBride ($6,800)

Tier 2 -- Preferred Tournament Options
Trey McBride ($6,800), Noah Fant ($4,900)

QB -- Kyler Murray
RB -- De'Von Achane
RB -- Cam Akers
WR -- Chris Godwin
WR -- Brandon Aiyuk
WR -- Jaxon Smith-Njigba
TE -- Trey McBride
FLEX -- Amon-Ra St. Brown
D/ST -- Browns

Designed for large-field tournaments

QB -- Jalen Hurts
RB -- Derrick Henry
RB -- Kyren Williams
WR -- CeeDee Lamb
WR -- Chris Olave
WR -- Jacob Cowing
TE -- Brock Bowers
FLEX -- Carson Steele
D/ST -- Chiefs

Tier 1 -- Locked-in

QB1 - Josh Allen
QB2 - Lamar Jackson
QB3 - Jalen Hurts
QB4 - Kyler Murray

Tier 2 -- Upside to finish as the top scorer in Fantasy, but there's risk

QB5 - Jayden Daniels
QB9 - Anthony Richardson
QB17 - Justin Fields

Tier 3 -- Betting on touchdowns with pocket passers

QB6 - Joe Burrow
QB7 - Patrick Mahomes
QB8 - C.J. Stroud
QB10 - Jared Goff
QB11 - Baker Mayfield
QB12 - Derek Carr
QB13 - Brock Purdy
QB14 - Dak Prescott
QB15 - Geno Smith

Tier 4 -- Fine to start if needed, I would not want to use these players

QB16 - Deshaun Watson
QB18 - Garnder Minshew
QB19 - Caleb Williams
QB20 - Sam Darnold
QB21 - Trevor Lawrence
QB22 - Kirk Cousins
QB23 - Aaron Rodgers
QB24 - Matthew Stafford
QB25 - Daniel Jones
QB26 - Malik Willis
QB27 - Will Levis
QB28 - Andy Dalton
QB29 - Justin Herbert
QB30 - Bo Nix
QB31 - Skylar Thompson
QB32 - Jacoby Brissett

Tier 1 -- Locked-in

RB1 - Bijan Robinson
RB2 - Breece Hall
RB3 - Jordan Mason
RB4 - De'Von Achane
RB5 - Alvin Kamara
RB6 - Jahmyr Gibbs
RB7 - Saquon Barkley
RB9 - Zach Charbonnet
RB10 - James Conner
RB12 - James Cook
RB14 - Zack Moss
RB16 - David Montgomery
RB17 - Cam Akers

Tier 2 -- Role checks out, but can we trust the offensive environment?

RB8 - Derrick Henry
RB11 - Jonathan Taylor
RB13 - Josh Jacobs
RB15 - Kyren Williams
RB18 - Rachaad White
RB19 - Rhamondre Stevenson
RB20 - Tony Pollard
RB21 - Travis Etienne
RB25 - Brian Robinson Jr. (Commanders are massive road dogs)

Tier 5 -- I have several concerns

RB24 - J.K. Dobbins (matchup + no real change in role from Week 1 to Week 2 + Chargers only implied for 17.5 points)
RB27 - D'Andre Swift (it's been so rough, but Travis Homer sitting may open up even more opportunities and the matchup is good)
RB28 - Devin Singletary (Daniel Jones + Browns D)
RB29 - Javonte Williams (Bo Nix + slow start)
RB30 - Aaron Jones (brutal matchup + splitting carries)
RB31 - Chuba Hubbard (Maxx Crosby + slow start)
RB34 - Jerome Ford (Dexter Lawrence + splitting carries)

Tier 6 -- I also like to live dangerously

RB20 - Zamir White
RB23 - Carson Steele
RB32 - Jaylen Warren
RB33 - Bucky Irving

Tier 7 -- Desperation plays

RB26 - Najee Harris (It sure does not feel good to start Najee Harris! Surely, he'll score a TD at some point)
RB35 - Austin Ekeler
RB36 - Samaje Perine
RB37 - Ezekiel Elliott
RB38 - Ty Chandler
RB39 - Justice Hill
RB40 - Tyjae Spears
RB41 - Jaleel McLaughlin
RB42 - Gus Edwards
RB43 - Chase Brown
RB44 - Rico Dowdle
RB45 - D'Onta Foreman

Tier 1 -- Locked-in

WR1 - CeeDee Lamb
WR2 - Amon-Ra St. Brown
WR3 - Justin Jefferson
WR4 - Ja'Marr Chase
WR5 - Nico Collins
WR7 - Rashee Rice
WR8 - Davante Adams
WR11 - Chris Godwin
WR12 - DeVonta Smith

Tier 2 -- Slightly more risk, but probably gonna deliver a big score

WR6 - Brandon Aiyuk
WR9 - Garrett Wilson
WR10 - Chris Olave
WR14 - Marvin Harrison Jr.
WR15 - DJ Moore
WR16 - Mike Evans
WR18 - DK Metcalf
WR19 - George Pickens
WR20 - Zay Flowers
WR21 - Jaxon Smith-Njigba
WR22 - Jameson Williams
WR24 - Rashid Shaheed

Tier 3 -- Offensive environment or matchup concerns keeping them out of Tier 2

WR13 - Tyreek Hill
WR17 - Malik Nabers (the Giants are only implied for 16 points -- for reference, DJ Moore's Bears implied total is 20 points -- and we could see a total implosion from Daniel Jones against this Browns defense)
WR26 - Diontae Johnson (I honestly do expect Carolina's offensive environment to be fine with Dalton at QB)
WR27 - Terry McLaurin
WR28 - Drake London

Tier 4 -- Super solid projections (even if there's not quite as much blow-up game potential)

WR25 - Stefon Diggs
WR35 - Khalil Shakir
WR38 - Michael Pittman
WR40 - Demarcus Robinson
WR46 - Jakobi Meyers
WR48 - Andrei Iosivas
WR49 - Jauan Jennings (this feels like a safe spot for him. If you need security, this is the range of receivers I would consider starting him ahead of. If swinging for more upside, there's lots of players ranked lower who you could start instead)

Tier 5 -- I have no idea what to expect from this group, but it could be fun!

WR23 - Tank Dell
WR29 - Amari Cooper
WR30 - Jaylen Waddle
WR31 - Courtland Sutton
WR32 - Calvin Ridley
WR33 - Christian Kirk
WR34 - Brian Thomas Jr. (the schematic matchup strongly favors Kirk, and BTJ isn't yet playing a full-time role)
WR35 - Xavier Worthy
WR37 - Rome Odunze
WR39 - Jayden Reed
WR41 - Quentin Johnston
WR42 - Ladd McConkey
WR47 - Tee Higgins
WR51 - DeAndre Hopkins
WR53 - Josh Downs

Tier 6 -- Desperation plays

WR43 - Brandin Cooks
WR44 - Tyler Lockett
WR46 - Jerry Jeudy
WR50 - Tyler Johnson
WR52 - Keon Coleman
WR54 - Christian Watson
WR55 - Romeo Doubs
WR56 - Gabe Davis
WR57 - Greg Dortch
WR58 - Darnell Mooney
WR59 - Adam Thielen
WR60 - Jacob Cowing
WR61 - Jordan Whittington
WR62 - Adonai Mitchell
WR63 - Alec Pierce
WR64 - Wan'Dale Robinson
WR65 - Jalen McMillan

Tier 1 -- Locked-in

TE1 - Trey McBride
TE2 - Brock Bowers
TE3 - Sam LaPorta
TE4 - Travis Kelce
TE5 - Mark Andrews
TE6 - Dalton Kincaid
TE7 - Kyle Pitts
TE8 - Hunter Henry

Tier 2 -- Don't love the matchup/game set-up

TE9 - Dallas Goedert
TE10 - Pat Freiermuth
TE13 - Jake Ferguson
TE14 - Isaiah Likely

Tier 3 -- Streamers

TE11 - Mike Gesicki
TE12 - Zach Ertz
TE15 - Noah Fant
TE16 - Dalton Schultz
TE17 - Colby Parkinson
TE18 - Greg Dulcich
TE19 - Jonnu Smith
TE20 - Foster Moreau
TE21 - Brenton Strange
TE22 - Cole Kmet
TE23 - Hayden Hurst
TE24 - Tucker Kraft
TE25 - Tommy Tremble
TE26 - Cade Otton
TE27 - Gerald Everett
TE28 - Chig Okonkwo
TE29 - Juwan Johnson
TE30 - Erick All

I'll be in your inbox every weekday and every Sunday morning for the foreseeable future! NFL is back, baby! I am so grateful and excited to be able to deliver this newsletter to you as we navigate the 2024 season together. Thank you! This is going to be fun!

If you have any feedback on the newsletter, feel free to send them my way. Thank you for reading! And please, do check out Beyond the Boxscore on FFT! Dan and I put a lot of work into that podcast project and aim to make it fun and accessible for any level of NFL fan!