Sunday’s fireworks display was a lot of fun, with fantasy teams lighting up scoreboards. It was the sort of NFL Sunday that gets people hooked on fantasy football.
Dolphins RBs De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert combined for eight touchdowns and 375 yards from scrimmage. Justin Herbert threw for 405 yards and three touchdowns. Keenan Allen had 18 catches for 215 yards and added a touchdown pass. Kenneth Walker scored two touchdowns. Justin Jefferson, Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams and Stefon Diggs all went off. Heck, even dusty old Adam Thielen went off.
It was the kind of day that makes fantasy football fun — unless you were buried beneath an avalanche of points.
But now we return to the less glamorous side of fantasy football. It’s time for maintenance and repairs.
If you need to refurbish your roster, you’ve come to the right place. And this is a pretty good week for refurbishing. We have a running back and a wide receiver who figure to draw some big FAAB bids this week. There are other worthwhile targets, too. It’s not an A+ waiver crop, but it’s an above-average one.
Let’s get right to it.
Grade: B+
Rostership percentages are based on Yahoo leagues, Recommended FAAB bids are based on a $100 budget.
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RUNNING BACKS
Written by Bo McBrayer
De’Von Achane (MIA): 41% rostered
- Next Opponents: @BUF, NYG, CAR
- True value: $25
- Desperate need: $44
- Budget-minded: $16
Analysis: The book on Achane entering his rookie season was that his speed and athleticism would fit Mike McDaniel’s offense like a glove. After missing Week 1 with a lingering shoulder injury, Achane was eased into the game plan behind Raheem Mostert against New England in Week 2. It’s safe to say the former Aggie is fully integrated now, after scorching Denver for 230 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns. Make no mistake: Achane is a home run hitter who can also handle a good amount of work between the tackles for his size.
Ezekiel Elliott (NE): 43% rostered
- Next Opponents: @DAL, NO, @LV
- True value: $9
- Desperate need: $16
- Budget-minded: $5
Analysis: Zeke was a popular drop candidate last week when the Patriots limited his workload in order to get him back into game shape. The former Cowboys star toted the rock 17 times on Sunday against the Jets and looked sharp as a tandem back with Rhamondre Stevenson. Elliott and the Pats are headed into Big D in a “revenge game” of sorts in Week 4. The Cardinals ripped through the Cowboys to the tune of more than 200 rushing yards in their Week 3 upset win, so I expect Zeke to return to previous rostership levels this week.
Roschon Johnson (CHI): 48% rostered
- Next Opponents: DEN, @WAS, MIN
- True value: $8
- Desperate need: $13
- Budget-minded: $4
Analysis: The dumpster fire in Chicago thankfully has not tempered my affection for the other rookie RB from Texas. Roschon is easily the best receiver in the room and has versatility that belies his reputation as a power back. With all of the negative attention around the Bears, you might catch a stray rookie with a ton of standalone value going forward.
Matt Breida (NYG): 30% rostered
- Next Opponents: SEA, @MIA, @BUF
- True value: $7
- Desperate need: $11
- Budget-minded: $3
Analysis: Don’t go rushing to the wire to grab any Giants RB. Breida only touched the ball seven times on Thursday against the 49ers, only salvaging fantasy relevance with a fortuitous plunge into the end zone. Saquon Barkley‘s absence is devastating to this offense. Breida and Gary Brightwell don’t have the talent to find much room to operate behind a tattered offensive line.
Kendre Miller (NO): 34% rostered
- Next Opponents: TB, @NE, @HOU
- True value: $6
- Desperate need: $10
- Budget-minded: $2
Analysis: Miller was not affected by Tony Jones or Taysom Hill in the slightest during his NFL debut in Week 3. Ten touches, including one reception, is just fine for a debut. Next week marks Alvin Kamara‘s return, which all but kills the need to use Jones or Hill as RBs. Miller is a well-rounded player with a penchant for making big plays. He and Kamara will make for an important one-two punch in coming weeks, especially if Derek Carr is going to miss game action with a shoulder injury.
Jerick McKinnon (KC): 47% rostered
- Next Opponents: @NYJ, @MIN, DEN
- True value: $5
- Desperate need: $9
- Budget-minded: $3
Analysis: Sadly, our favorite RBs can’t play the Bears every week. Jet McKinnon, however, has a very favorable upcoming schedule. He is a far superior receiver to Isiah Pacheco and is easily better in pass protection than Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. His two touchdowns in Week 3 were awesome, but McKinnon likely won’t be sporting under 50% rostership for the rest of the season.
Tyjae Spears (TEN): 24% rostered
- Next Opponents: CIN, @IND, BAL
- True value: $4
- Desperate need: $8
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: For the second-consecutive game, the rookie from Tulane logged a higher snap share than Derrick Henry. King Henry is dealing with a nagging toe injury that has severely hampered the beastly back’s explosiveness. Spears has at least looked the part in the receiving game. He pulled in all four of his targets in Week 3 versus the Browns, albeit for only three yards against that stellar Cleveland defense. The upcoming schedule is also brutal, but I hold Spears at a value slightly above a mere stash play.
Stash Candidates:
The Jaguars have faced more negative game scripts through three games than anyone could have guessed. Travis Etienne is far and away the lead back, but his shortcomings on the goal line have been mopped up by Tank Bigsby multiple times already. Stash Tank in case of an Etienne injury, but also in anticipation for increased work when the Jags are leading in games.
Rico Dowdle‘s first two seasons in the NFL were largely washed away by injuries. His form alongside Tony Pollard in the Dallas backfield has been very strong, even flashing some receiving chops that weren’t necessarily part of his scouting report out of college. Dowdle had four rushing attempts and three receptions in Week 3 versus Arizona, compiling 46 scrimmage yards and a receiving touchdown for 13.6 PPR points. I’m stashing him wherever I can find a space.
We all love Christian McCaffrey, but his usage through three games is alarmingly high. Kyle Shanahan’s track record of running every single RB into the ground should worry us with how hard he has leaned on CMC. Elijah Mitchell is an ultra-premium handcuff and should be stashed on deeper benches.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Written by Derek Brown
Tank Dell (HOU): 31% rostered
- Next Opponents: PIT, @ATL, NO
- True value: $12
- Desperate need: $20
- Budget-minded: $8
Analysis: Dell is the truth. The rookie has led the Texans in targets in each of his first two starts, providing juicy stat lines in each outing. Dell has a 22.0% target share and 3.05 yards per route run (YPRR) across his last two games. The talent is real. Toss out your predraft notions. Forget about his size or draft capital. Dell has produced in back-to-back games with legitimate receivers flanking him. Rookies don’t earn targets at this type of clip unless they are the real deal. Dell is a strong WR3 for the rest of the season with still-untapped upside in an offense that’s moving at a swift pace with a ravishing neutral passing rate.
Adam Thielen (CAR): 47% rostered
- Next Opponents: MIN, @DET, @MIA
- True value: $6
- Desperate need: $10
- Budget-minded: $4
Analysis: Thielen blew up with a monster performance in Week 3. He snagged 11 of his 14 targets with 145 receiving yards and a score. Over the last two games, Thielen has a 25.2% target share and 1.70 YPRR (per PFF). I don’t know how long the veteran receiver can keep this up, but it’s time to ride the wave. Next up, he has a revenge game against his former team, the Vikings, followed by a game against the Lions. Minnesota and Detroit entered Week 3 having allowed the 11th and 13th-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Fire up Thielen as a strong flex play over at least the next two weeks.
Quentin Johnston (LAC): 32% rostered
- Next Opponents: LV, BYE, DAL
- True value: $5
- Desperate need: $7
- Budget-minded: $3
Analysis: Johnston only played 16 snaps while running only 13 routes in Week 3, and I would still rather roster him than Joshua Palmer in fantasy. With Mike Williams going down, Johnston can assume a full-time role in this offense as the season moves along and become the WR2 in this offense opposite Keenan Allen. While the per-route production for Johnston hasn’t been there in his small sample of playing time, there is one silver lining. Johnston currently has a 21% TPRR, which is a reflection of his ability to draw targets when he’s on the field. Entering Week 3, a 21% TPRR would have placed him immediately ahead of Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton in the rankings (minimum eight targets). Invest in Johnston now and enjoy watching him flourish in the coming weeks in one of the best offenses in the NFL.
Romeo Doubs (GB): 41% rostered
- Next Opponents: DET, @LV, BYE
- True value: $4
- Desperate need: $6
- Budget-minded: $2
Analysis: Doubs had 98% route participation this week, as he led all Packer wideouts in snaps, routes and targets (per PFF). He has a 19.7% target share and 1.53 YPRR this season. These numbers are strong, but they aren’t overwhelming. Doubs will take a hit once Christian Watson is back in the fold, and his Week 3 outburst doesn’t change the fact that the Packers have a run-first offense. Doubs is a flex-worthy player moving forward, but expecting much more than that is setting the bar a bit too high.
Zay Jones (JAX): 37% rostered
- Next Opponents: ATL, @BUF, IND
- True value: $3
- Desperate need: $5
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Jones missed Week 3, as he is dealing with a knee issue. He didn’t practice at all last week, so it’s possible he could miss Week 4 as well. Jones has an 11.5% target share and a 20.7% air yard share as the Jaguars’ WR2/3. Jones’ peripheral metrics aren’t glittering despite his strong Week 1 performance. Among 89 qualifying wide receivers, he ranks 69th in receiving grade and 77th in YPRR (per PFF). Once Jones returns, he’s a WR4 who can pop off for WR2/3 numbers in the right matchup.
Jayden Reed (GB): 21% rostered
- Next Opponents: DET, @LV, BYE
- True value: $3
- Desperate need: $5
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Reed has been impressive on a per-route basis. Among 89 qualifying receivers, he entered Week 3 ranked 21st and 24th in receiving grade and YPRR, respectively (per PFF). The problem for Reed isn’t talent, but rather his role and spot in the Packers’ passing pecking order. In Week 3, he had 84% route participation and a 15.9% target share, but he was still ranked third on the team in routes and targets. Once Christian Watson is back, Reed gets bumped from second or third in line to possibly as low as fourth. In a run-first offense, that makes him tough to count on weekly. Reed is best seen as a stash player with the possibility of flex upside in Week 4 if Christian Watson remains out.
Josh Downs (IND): 2% rostered
- Next Opponents: LAR, TEN, @JAX
- True value: $2
- Desperate need: $3
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Downs could become a potential PPR flex if he continues to flourish, but it is difficult to see his value surpassing that. He has a 20.6% target share while running about 89% of his routes from the slot. The volume isn’t the problem, but when you marry that with his 4.3 average depth of target (entering Week 3), it becomes more difficult to see a high-upside scenario for Downs. The Colts aren’t likely to morph into a pass-first offense in 2023, which is a problem for Downs. Receivers who are confined to low aDOT roles need heavy volume or gawd-like YAC skills to emerge as weekly dynamos. Downs hasn’t seen the volume, nor has he flashed the elite-level YAC skills to overcome the volume concerns.
Joshua Palmer (LAC): 2% rostered
- Next Opponents: LV, BYE, DAL
- True value: $2
- Desperate need: $3
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Palmer is a desperation pickup only, even when factoring in a season-ending injury to Mike Williams. At this juncture, we know who Palmer is. He’s a better NFL receiver than a fantasy threat. Palmer finished with 66 receiving yards and a score this week, but if we look at his target volume and previous production this season, it helps to illuminate his skill level and fantasy outlook. Palmer saw a 14.8% target share in Week 3, which isn’t exactly noteworthy. Entering Week 3, among 89 qualifying wide receivers, Palmer had the fourth-lowest receiving grade and the lowest YPRR of the group (per PFF). Palmer could be a low-end flex play in Week 4, but his next two matchups are problematic.
Stash Candidates: None.
QUARTERBACKS
Written by Bo McBrayer
C.J. Stroud (HOU): 20% rostered
- Next Opponents: PIT, @ATL, NO
- True value: $8
- Desperate need: $13
- Budget-minded: $3
Analysis: After a brutal debut against a tough Ravens defense, Houston’s No. 1 pick has looked polished and poised en route to consecutive 20-point fantasy performances. WRs Nico Collins and Tank Dell have stepped up as legitimate weapons while the running game has started slowly for the Texans. Stroud is in full command of his offense early on, already entrusted with a high-volume passing attack.
Sam Howell (WAS): 21% rostered
- Next Opponents: @PHI, CHI, @ATL
- True value: $6
- Desperate need: $9
- Budget-minded: $3
Analysis: Howell wasn’t a great streaming option in Week 3 against a brutally tough Buffalo defense, but he was still extremely disappointing. He took nine sacks and was intercepted four times in the blowout loss. I’m going right back to the watering hole to stream Howell against the Eagles, who looked very porous on the back end in Week 2 against the Vikings. Then come the cuddly Chicago Bears. Howell is still a high-upside streaming option.
Jameis Winston (NO): 0% rostered
- Next Opponents: TB, @NE, @HOU
- True value: $5
- Desperate need: $7
- Budget-minded: $2
Analysis: Derek Carr‘s shoulder injury means the Saints will have to hand the reins to the only 30 TD/30 INT quarterback in NFL history. Winston was QB4 that season (2019) and had no issues pushing the ball down the field and into the end zone – something Carr has struggled with for years. Week 4 is a reunion with Jameis’ former team. Tampa Bay has a pass-funnel defense and will have trouble covering all of the talented Saints receiving weapons.
Andy Dalton (CAR): 2% rostered
- Next Opponents: MIN, @DET, @MIA
- True value: $3
- Desperate need: $6
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: What a pleasant surprise. The Red Rifle stepped in for the injured Bryce Young and gashed the Seahawks for more than 25 fantasy points in Week 3. My only apprehension with spending FAAB on Dalton is that Young’s injury might not force him out of any more games. If Carolina decides to keep their top overall pick on the shelf longer, their upcoming schedule is very favorable and conducive to more big numbers from the journeyman from TCU.
Stash Candidates: None.
- Bench spots are a precious commodity and should be reserved for skill players only. QBs are a “stream-not-stash” position.
TIGHT ENDS
Written by Derek Brown
Luke Musgrave (GB): 18% rostered
- Next Opponents: DET, @LV, BYE
- True value: $5
- Desperate need: $10
- Budget-minded: $3
Analysis: Musgrave has been checking the boxes for playing time that we look for in tight ends. The on-field production hasn’t been there, though. His 18.1% target share and 49 receiving yards in Week 3 might not look like it, but it’s an extremely good sign. Against New Orleans, those are sparkling numbers. The Saints have been a dreadful matchup for tight ends for a few seasons. Musgrave will have peaks and valleys in his production as with most rookies, but the usage remains for Musgrave to grow into a weekly TE1.
Jake Ferguson (DAL): 41% rostered
- Next Opponents: NE, @SF, @LAC
- True value: $2
- Desperate Need: $4
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Brace yourself. It’s a tough scene on the waiver wire if you’re looking for tight end help. Ferguson is among the best available options this week. He played 69% of the Cowboys’ offensive snaps in Week 3, with a 61% route participation mark. His 17.5% target share was nice, but Ferguson’s playing time will make it difficult to trust him week to- week. Entering Week 3, Ferguson was leading the NFL in red zone targets. If we’re just touchdown-hunting by picking him up, at least we can feel pretty good that Ferguson is a decent bet to make at the TE position.
Julian Hill (MIA): 0% rostered
- Next Opponents: @BUF, NYG, CAR
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: If you just had to google Julian Hill‘s name, don’t be ashamed. After looking at Week 3 player usage, I had to research who Hill was as well. With that said, let’s all learn about Mr. Hill together. Hill is a rookie UDFA from Campbell University. In his final collegiate season for the Fighting Camels, he ran from the slot on 45% of his snaps with 1.35 YPRR (per PFF). Hill checks the athleticism boxes with a 4.7 time in the 40-yard dash and a 71st percentile burst score (per Playerprofiler.com). Hill only drew one target in Week 3, but he ran only one fewer route than Tyreek Hill and played every snap except one. In his first NFL game, Hill shoved Durham Smythe to the bench. The Dolphins’ target tree gets thin quickly receiving options after Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Miami’s backs. Hill could be a zero, but he could also carve out a role in one of the best offenses in the NFL. He’s worth taking a shot on now.
Stash Candidates: None.
DEFENSES
Written by Pat Fitzmaurice
Denver Broncos: 38% rostered
- Next Opponents: @CHI, NYJ, @KC
- True value: $2
- Desperate need: $3
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: “Those fools at FantasyPros are telling me to pick up a defense that just gave up 70 points to the Dolphins?” Well, yes. Hear us out. The Denver defense has issues, no question, but it also has fabulous matchups the next two weeks with the Bears and Jets. The Bears’ offense is a disheveled mess, with QB Justin Fields already having taken 13 sacks and thrown four interceptions. The Jets have scored 10 points in each of QB Zach Wilson‘s first two starts following the season-ending injury to Aaron Rodgers, with Wilson throwing three interceptions and absorbing six sacks the last two weeks. Spending FAAB money on the Broncos will feel icky, but highly favorable matchups make the Denver defense a sensible play the next two weeks.
Seattle Seahawks: 45% rostered
- Next Opponents: @NYG, BYE, @CIN
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Seattle’s pass defense has been alarmingly flammable so far this season, but the Seahawks get an appealing Week 4 matchup against the Giants and their wayward offense. After having the lowest interception rate among all qualifying QBs a year ago, Daniel Jones has reverted to his turnover-prone ways, throwing four interceptions in his first three games. He’s also been sacked 14 times, with the Giants’ shaky offensive line failing to afford him adequate protection. You’ll only be able to keep the Seattle defense for a week since the Seahawks go on bye in Week 5, but this is a good streaming option for Week 4.
Cincinnati Bengals: 37% rostered
- Next Opponents: @TEN, @ARI, SEA
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: The Bengals’ offense has serious problems, and Cincinnati’s defense hasn’t been great either. But the Bengals have nice matchups the next two weeks. In Week 4 they’ll visit the Titans, who have one of the worst offensive lines in the league. QB Ryan Tannehill has looked bad, throwing three interceptions and taking 13 sacks, and Titans RB Derrick Henry hasn’t been his typically dominant self, averaging just 3.2 yards per carry. Then, the Bengals face the plucky but talent-thin Cardinals in Week 5 — another attractive matchup.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4% rostered
- Next Opponents: @NO, BYE, DET
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: With a bye ahead in Week 5, the Buccaneers are a one-week-only play, but they’re not a bad one. The Bucs have a solid, veteran-laden defense, and in Week 4 they’re likely to be facing Saints backup QB Jameis Winston, as starter Derek Carr is dealing with a shoulder injury. Since 2019, Winston has been intercepted on 4.2% of his throws — an outlandishly high rate — and he takes his fair share of sacks.
Atlanta Falcons: 4% rostered
- Next Opponents: @JAX, HOU, WSH
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: The Falcons’ defense has been adequate, and Atlanta has a decent Week 4 matchup against a Jacksonville offense that has struggled the last two weeks. If that sounds like a tepid endorsement, it is. This isn’t a great week for streaming defenses, and the Falcons are merely an any-port-in-a-storm type of option.
Stash Candidates:
- Cleveland Browns
It’s rare that we recommend a defense as a stash this early in the season, but the Browns are the walking definition of a defensive stash candidate. The Cleveland defense has been terrific, allowing just one offensive touchdown over its first three games. The Browns’ run defense is much improved, they have some talented cover men in their secondary, and their pass rush is fierce, led by the unblockable Myles Garrett. But Cleveland’s matchup with Baltimore this week isn’t very appealing. Then the Browns have a Week 5 bye before a bad Week 6 matchup against the 49ers. If the Browns are available and you can afford to carry a second defense for several weeks, grab them now and reap the benefits later.
KICKERS
Written by Pat Fitzmaurice
Riley Patterson (DET): 38% rostered
- Next Opponents: @GB, CAR, @TB
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: The Lions have scored at least 20 points in each of their first three games. Patterson is thus far a perfect 3-of-3 on field goals and 9-of-9 on extra points. He’s a solid kicker option with playable matchups on tap for the next three weeks.
Brandon Aubrey (DAL): 46% rostered
- Next Opponents: NE, @SF, @LAC
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $2
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Their embarrassing Week 3 toe-stubbing against the Cardinals notwithstanding, the Cowboys are a powerful team with an offense that can put up points and a defense that can quickly get opposing offenses off the field. Aubrey has already made 10 field goals this season.
Jason Myers (SEA): 43% rostered
- Next Opponents: @NYG, BYE, @CIN
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: The Seattle offense is clicking, having put up 37 points in each of its last two games. Myers was only 3-of-6 on field goals going into Week 3, but he was a perfect 5-of-5 against the Panthers on Sunday. The Seahawks should be able to put up points against a flawed Giants defense, making Myers a top-10 kicker option this week.
Matt Gay (IND): 9% rostered
- Next Opponents: LAR, TEN, @JAX
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: The Colts are playing at a breakneck offensive pace under new head coach Shane Steichen and have managed to put at least 21 points on the board in each of their first three games. Gay was 5-of-5 on field goals Sunday in the Colts’ win over the Ravens, clinching the win with a 53-yarder in overtime. Four of his field goals in that game were longer than 50 yards. Gay has decent matchups in each of the next three weeks.
Greg Joseph (MIN): 12% rostered
- Next Opponents: @CAR, KC, @CHI
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: The Vikings have a potent offense, and they get a favorable Week 4 matchup against the Panthers, who are giving up 27 points a game. Joseph is only 2-of-2 on field goals this year, but he’s 9-of-9 on PATs.
Stash Candidates: None.
FOOL’S GOLD
D.J. Chark had 4-86-1 on 11 targets against the Seahawks, but those numbers should be viewed with suspicion in light of how flammable the Seattle secondary has been. Although he was targeted often on Sunday. Chark has been playing mostly in three-receiver sets, logging fewer snaps than Adam Thielen and rookie Jonathan Mingo, who are the fixtures in two-receiver sets.
Over his last two games, Broncos rookie Marvin Mims has five receptions for 186 yards and a touchdown. But he’s played only 31 snaps over that span and has run only 17 routes. It’s impressive that Mims is doing so much on minimal usage, but until he gets more playing time, he’s not worth a spot on your roster.
DROP RECOMMENDATIONS
Droppable
Rashod Bateman was on the “droppable with a chance of regret” list last week, but now he’s a full-fledged droppable. In Week 3, Bateman drew only three targets in a game that Odell Beckham Jr. missed. Bateman had only a 6-yard catch, and he played fewer snaps than both Zay Flowers and Nelson Agholor.
Ty Chandler hasn’t been getting many snaps behind Vikings RB Alexander Mattison, and the arrival of Cam Akers in a trade this week casts Chandler’s role further into doubt.
Uh-oh. Antonio Gibson lost another fumble on Sunday, and we know what happens when Gibson fumbles: He gets thrown into fumble jail by Commanders head coach Ron Rivera. Without secure playing time, Gibson isn’t worth rostering.
Rashaad Penny is a fourth wheel in a multi-pronged Eagles backfield, clearly behind D’Andre Swift, Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott on the depth chart. It appears that it would take multiple injuries for Penny to become fantasy-viable.
We knew the Broncos were going to use multiple running backs early in the season, but we thought it would be a two-man timeshare with Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine. It’s turned into a three-man backfield, with rookie Jaleel McLaughlin joining the two veterans. Perine played 19 of Denver’s 62 offensive snaps on Sunday and had three carries and two catches. With Williams likely to get more work as the season goes on and he gets further removed from the surgery he had to repair his torn ACL, Perine will be further marginalized.
Droppable with a chance of regret
Tyler Boyd is only rosterable with a healthy Joe Burrow quarterbacking the Bengals. Burrow isn’t healthy. Even when Burrow is completely fit, Boyd is only startable in the deepest of leagues when Bengals WRs Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are both healthy. There’s not much point in rostering Boyd until the Bengals’ offense starts roaring again.
Damien Harris isn’t even backing up James Cook by himself; he’s splitting the backup duty with Latavius Murray. Remember when Harris scored 15 touchdowns in 2021? Yeah, that was great. An injury to one of the other members of this backfield could boost the fantasy value of Harris, but his value is basically nil at the moment.
Through three games, Juwan Johnson has 7-61-0 on 12 targets. Johnson’s value has always been somewhat TD-dependent, and that’s especially true with Michael Thomas healthy and forming a strong WR trio along with Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. Alvin Kamara will be back from suspension in Week 4 to steal some of Johnson’s targets.
At age 22, JuJu Smith-Schuster had 111 catches for 1,426 yards. At age 26, JuJu is averaging 6.4 yards per catch and 3.8 yards per target. To paraphrase Yogi Berra, it gets late early in the NFL.
Don’t drop yet
The Titans’ dysfunctional passing game might not be healthy enough to prop up the fantasy value of both DeAndre Hopkins and Treylon Burks. Hopkins is the alpha, of course, and Burks isn’t startable at the moment. Still, hang onto the talented second-year receiver a bit longer to see if circumstances change.
Jahan Dotson seemed ready for a breakout season after giving us some tantalizing flashes as a rookie in 2022. But Dotson hasn’t topped 40 yards in any of his first three games this season and is still looking for his first TD. Hold tight. Dotson’s talent may yet prevail.
Justin Fields has been undeniably bad this season, but the Bears’ season has been such an unmitigated disaster that it’s hard to tell how much of it is Fields himself and how much of it is poor coaching. It’s wild that we’re even talking about cutting last season’s QB6 in fantasy scoring, but here we are. The Bears have an extremely soft schedule the rest of the way, so don’t get rid of Fields yet, but you might have to carry a second quarterback if you don’t have one already.
Rashid Shaheed was targeted only twice and was held without a catch Sunday in Green Bay after rolling up 9-152-1 in his first three games. Don’t panic-drop him.
Jaxson Smith Njigba is off to a sluggish start, with 9-57-0 on 14 targets. He’s a third wheel behind D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, but JSN is too talented to cast aside. An injury to one of Seattle’s veteran receivers would spike Smith-Njigba’s value.
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