If you watched the first two weeks of the NFL season and then tuned out of the NFL for the week and looked at the scoring leaders from this week you probably wouldn’t believe what you saw. If the Panthers scoring 36 points doesn’t tell you how bizarre of a week it was, perhaps Jauan Jennings leading all scorers with 46.5 points will do it for you.
After a wild week, it’s time to stop our heads from spinning and take a look at the dynasty risers and fallers of Week 3.
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Dynasty Fantasy Football Risers
Diontae Johnson (WR – CAR)
Much like Stringer Bell, Diontae Johnson wants to get the word out. He’s back up. A week after I listed the entire Panthers offense in the fallers list thanks to the quarterback play, head coach Dave Canales opted to start Andy Dalton over Bryce Young, and things took a turn. Although I was optimistic for a Johnson revival, he exceeded all expectations, erupting for eight grabs, 122 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets. Adam Thielen left the game late in the first half, but Johnson’s 38% target share is fantastic news for his dynasty value, with or without Thielen. We can’t expect Dalton to throw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns every week, but he clearly raises the ceiling of the offense.
Rome Odunze (WR – CHI)
Rome Odunze was the last of the “big three” receivers taken in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He was the last to the breakout party, but he’s arrived. With Keenan Allen sidelined for the second consecutive week, Odunze was a mainstay in 2-WR sets and cashed in his opportunity with six catches and 112 yards and one trip to the end zone. His 11 targets on Sunday were two more than he recorded across the first two weeks combined. Allen’s timeline to return is undetermined, but Odunze has proven himself and his connection with Caleb Williams. In a struggling offense, the Bears may look to rely on Odunze more going forward.
Quentin Johnston (WR – LAC)
Admittedly, I’ve been reluctant to label Quentin Johnston as a riser due to Joshua Palmer‘s absence, his limited target volume and his role in a run-first offense, not to mention the disaster we witnessed last season. That said, Johnston continues to deliver performances worthy of a boost in his stock. On Sunday, Johnston was targeted just twice but he caught both for 44 yards and a score. After five grabs for 51 yards and two touchdowns last week, the second-year receiver has visited the end zone more than he did all of last season. Keep your expectations in check, but there’s no doubt Johnston’s dynasty value is alive and well.
Tyler Badie (RB – DEN)
The Broncos have been shaking the couch cushions, looking anywhere and everywhere for a running game. Bo Nix was the team’s leading rusher in the first two weeks and was on pace to do so again in Week 3, but Tyler Badie had other plans. The third-year back toted the rock nine times for 70 yards, by far the best game from a Broncos running back this season. It’s worth noting that a good chunk came on a 42-yard scamper and that Badie saw most of his playing time late in the game with a lead. This came after Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin were mostly ineffective, however, and Sean Payton faced many questions as to why Badie wasn’t more involved after flashing in Week 2. The way the running game has gone thus far, it felt like a matter of time until Audric Estime could return from injured reserve (IR) to provide a boost, but it’s difficult to imagine Badie won’t see added opportunities after this performance.
Tyler Badie is an interesting name worth a deep dynasty stash.
Javonte Williams timeline is uncertain, but the Broncos only added Samaje Perine and Tony Jones Jr. Sean Payton loves versatile weapons and has almost always deployed a Darren Sproles or CJ Spiller type…(1/2)
— Chad Workman (@tweetsbychad) May 6, 2023
Braelon Allen (RB – NYJ)
I get it. Braelon Allen plays behind Breece Hall. I’m in no way suggesting Allen will take over the job, or even turn this into a committee, but his performance cannot be ignored. He led the Jets in rushing on Thursday, carrying the ball 11 times for 55 yards and proved to be a difficult tackle for the Patriots. At 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, Allen punishes defenders but does not lack explosiveness, which is why the Jets have been giving him opportunities. It almost feels unfair this guy shares a backfield with Hall, but he’s worth more than a typical handcuff.
Sam Darnold (QB – MIN)
After finishing as the QB14 in Week 1, Sam Darnold has now landed at QB4 and QB6 in Week 2 and Week 3, respectively. He threw for just 181 yards on Sunday but tossed four touchdowns en route to 23.24 fantasy points. Darnold offers very little in the rushing department, but he looks confident in Kevin O’Connell’s system and has been highly efficient. His eight touchdown passes leads the league thus far and he has the playmakers around him to continue having success. We’ve done this song and dance with Darnold before, but it feels different in this system.
Rashee Rice (WR – KC)
Having avoided suspension — for now — Rashee Rice is picking up where he left off last season, as the Chiefs’ No. 1 WR. After snagging 12 of his 14 targets for 110 yards and a score on Sunday night, Rice’s 288 receiving yards are the second-most on the season. He’s been targeted third-most with 29 passes coming his way. Rice is eating up a lot of targets that typically go Travis Kelce‘s way and it looks like Rice is becoming Patrick Mahomes‘ top option.
Jauan Jennings (WR – SF)
Simply because the man who posted 46.5 fantasy points deserves a shout out. With Deebo Samuel on the shelf and George Kittle out, Jauan Jennings has boosted his short-term stock.
Dynasty Fantasy Football Fallers
D’Andre Swift (RB – CHI)
I’ve written more words about D’Andre Swift being overvalued than any other player (unverified), so this is rinse and repeat for me. In a dream matchup, Swift mustered up 20 rushing yards on 13 carries, adding two receptions for 22 yards. Roschon Johnson, active for the first time this season, led the team in rushing with 30 yards on eight carries. Johnson or Travis Homer, whomever is active, seems to operate as the pass-catching back while Khalil Herbert gets the goal-line work. This leaves little for a very inefficient Swift in a struggling offense, which has become a theme wherever he goes.
Zamir White (RB – LV)
Zamir White finished third on the Raiders in snaps, falling behind both Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah. He carried the ball just 10 times for 34 yards and did not record a reception. Much of the issue on Sunday was how often the Raiders were playing from behind, as the silver and black prefer Mattison and Abdullah in passing situations. Even so, Mattison is taking some of the goal-line work and this isn’t an ideal offense to rely on game script for an early-down running back. White is averaging just 3.2 yards per carry, has not received more than 13 carries in a game this season and has yet to score a touchdown. For those keeping score at home, that does not equal many fantasy points.
Rhamondre Stevenson (RB – NE)
I don’t want to overreact to Rhamondre Stevenson’s six carries for 23 yards in a blowout loss on Thursday night, especially after he rushed for 201 yards and two touchdowns in the first two weeks combined. We are likely to get many more strong games from Stevenson this season, but Thursday highlighted the risk of a negative Patriots game script and how volatile Stevenson’s fantasy prospects are. It appears the Patriots are willing to be patient with Drake Maye. Even when he’s inserted into the lineup, there have been no signs this offense will be playing in many positive game scripts.
Brandin Cooks (WR – DAL)
With Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb getting the bag this offseason, it looks like the Cowboys may not have done enough to spread the wealth around. They have no running game whatsoever and have yet to see a receiver top 100 yards in a game this season. Lamb and Jake Ferguson are the focal points of the passing attack, while Brandin Cooks has been left behind with just 75 yards receiving on the season. He caught just two of his six targets for 16 yards on Sunday, running fewer routes than Jalen Tolbert. It looks more and more like Cooks is one of the other guys in this offense rather than one of the main guys.
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