Week three ended up a fantasy football mind-bender with players like Calvin Ridley, Jordy Nelson, Josh Allen, Chris Carson, and Dallas Goedert finding themselves in the top ten of most rankings. Jimmy Garoppolo looks done for the season and AJ Green and Evan Engram have joined the fantasy football sidelines with the likes of Joe Mixon and Dalvin Cook. If you’re 3-0, ride high. If you’re 0-3, a mild level of panic is acceptable.
Last week, we advised to be cautious to add the Panthers Jarious Wright, whose part of a stacked wide receiving group. In Week 3, Wright hauled in one pass on one target for 7 yards. This week, be cautious of the Bills Josh Allen. In a breakout performance, Allen didn’t quite get to 200 yards receiving and two of his three touchdowns were rushing touchdowns. The Packers won’t likely let him do as well playing at Lambeau Field.
Don’t add a player to your fantasy football team if you don’t need one.
QUARTERBACKS
1 Jared Goff, Rams
2 Andy Dalton, Bengals
3 Joe Flacco, Ravens
4 Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins
If you lost Jimmy Garoppolo last week, you may be scrambling to fill his roster spot. Jared Goff is still available in some leagues and has thrown over 100 times through three games. While he may not get you a three touchdown performance every week, he’s always capable and should be your top choice if available.
The Bengals Andy Dalton continued to roll, this time for 352 yards and two touchdowns. Thank goodness because he threw for four interceptions. Again, Dalton hasn’t looked pretty but he’s been solid in fantasy football.
While Joe Flacco didn’t throw for multiple touchdowns this week (277 yards, 1 TD) he threw the football 40 times, He now leads the league in pass attempts with 129. As long as this remains the case, Flacco will be a decent option in fantasy football even this week against the Steelers.
Last, Ryan Tannehill is on the fantasy football radar. Tannehill seems more like a desperation pick-up for now. While his 7 touchdowns to date might impress, his 687 yards and 74 pass attempts do not.
RUNNING BACKS
1 Chris Carson, Seahawks
2 Isaiah Crowell, Jets
3 Kerryon Johnson, Lions
4 Giovani Bernard, Bengals
5 Javorius Allen, Ravens
6 Latavius Murray, Vikings
Give these running backs a look if you need help. The running backs with a longer view are ranked higher.
After a bust two weeks, Chris Carson exploded for 102 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries. While Carson may not see another 32 carries in one game the rest of the season, he should still get significant work and he shouldn’t be on fantasy football waiver wires either. Because Chris Carson was dropped, he’s available in about a quarter of leagues.
Except for Week 1, Isaiah Crowell has hardly been posting earth-shattering fantasy football numbers. But, he has scored four rushing touchdowns. This makes him a weekly RB2/3 weekly consideration. He’s still available in some leagues.
A lot like Chris Carson above, Kerryon Johnson has disappointed despite the high preseason fantasy football ranking. In Week 4, Johnson had as many carries as LeGarrette Blount (16 carries, 48 yards) but made the most of them for 101 yards. This is the Kerryon Johnson we expected in fantasy football. He was dropped in some leagues so check your waiver wire.
Giovani Bernardand Latavius Murray are the short term rent-a-running-back until their team starters’ return, possibly as soon as this week. Bernard is ranked higher because he may be starter longer.
One can’t ignore the fact Javorius Allen is being used in a significant way each week, nine to ten touches per week. Allen has scored four touchdowns to date which makes him a viable WT3 or flex option in fantasy football.
WIDE RECEIVERS
1 Calvin Ridley, Falcons
2 Mike Williams, Chargers
3 Tyler Boyd, Bengals
4 Jordy Nelson, Raiders
5 Kenny Golladay, Lions
6 Tyler Lockett, Seahawks
7 Geronimo Allison, Packers
Calvin Ridley rocked the fantasy football world with his Week 3 performance! It was a testament to the faith quarterback Matt Ryan has in him. Since he’s available in a little more than half the fantasy football leagues, he’ll likely be the top add this week.
Not to be outdone, Mike Williams andJordy Nelson made a case to be the week’s top add too. Williams is ranked slightly higher because he looks like more of a weekly factor than Nelson. Both are widely available in many fantasy football leagues.
Tyler Boyd’s time in fantasy football is now. He’s had two good back-to-back weeks and showed he could be an effective player regardless of AJ Green’s presence on the field. This week, with AJ Green (groin) possibly missing the game, Boyd’s arrow is only pointing up. He’s almost universally available in all leagues.
Kenny Golladay, Tyler Lockett, and Geronimo Allison are players who can get you 50 to 80 yards and a score with the potential for a breakout fantasy football game. Each are WR3/4 considerations especially in deeper leagues. They could bust too. Your chances are better of finding Allison on your waiver than the other two, but check first.
TIGHT ENDS
1 Vance McDonald, Steelers
2 Dallas Goedert, Eagles
3 Tyler Eider, Bengals
4 Rhett Ellison, Giants
5 Benjamin Watson, Saints
6 Geoff Swain, Cowboys
Except for Vance McDonald, who seemed to establish himself in the Steelers offense, and Rhett Ellison, who should pick up some of the production of the injured Evan Engram, the above referenced tight ends didn’t play like touchdown dependent tight ends in fantasy football usually do. Each was targeted six to eight times. While it could have been game flow, each reminded they are of value with Dallas Goedart and Tyler Eifert better plays in shallower leagues, and Ben Watson andGeoff Swain decent plays in deeper leagues. McDonald, Goedert, Ellison, and Swain are available in almost every league.
DEFENSES
1 Browns
2 Dolphins
3 Seahawks
The Browns defense has impressed three weeks in a row (with two games against top offenses, Steelers and Saints) holding each to 21 points scoring or less. The Browns are a top five fantasy football unit through three weeks on 9 sacks and 6 defensive fumble recoveries. In two out of three games, they’ve tallied multiple interceptions. This week, they have a winnable game against the Raiders.
The Dolphins continue to play as hyped and yet they are still available in most leagues. In three games now, the defensive unit has 7 interceptions, 6 sacks, and are allowing just 89 yards rushing and 17 points per game. This week, they play the Patriots in Foxborough but the Patriots have been struggling against the good defenses this season.
The Seahawks defense isn’t the hyped-up ‘Legion of Boom’ anymore, but they’re still a good defense widely available in most leagues. This week, they face rookie quarterback Josh Rosen. After a rough week one, the Seahawks defense has back to back games where they have had multiple interceptions (4), multiple sacks (7), and held their opponent to 185 yards passing or less.