Bi-Weekly Fantasy Football Recap - Saturday 9/30
TLDR:
Don’t have time to read the entire newsletter? Check out the bullet points below for a quick recap of everything going on this week.
Player News:
Team News:
Rams Will Activate WR Cooper Kupp From IR So He Can Practice Next Week
Jets’ Head Coach Is At Risk Of Losing Locker Room Over His Loyalty To QB Zach Wilson
Chargers’ Head Coach Explains Why WR Quentin Johnston Hasn’t Played Much
Rams’ Sean McVay Said They Need To Get Other RBs Involved Moving Forward
Reddit Recap:
Injury Report:
*Read the full breakdown of everything below!
Player News:
RB Jonathan Taylor Still Doesn’t Want To Play For The Colts
According to reports, the Colts’ RB Jonathan Taylor still doesn’t want to play for them and the Colts still don’t want to give him a long-term contract. Taylor (who is currently on the PUP List) is eligible to return in week 5. It is still not decided what he plans on doing once he returns, but regardless people are concerned that Taylor and the Colts are still on different pages. Many people believe he is either going to play in a few games and then voluntarily sit out, or he will get traded. It’s starting to seem unlikely that he will come back and play the full season for the Colts without having a long-term contract in place. It will be interesting to see what happens with Taylor. In the meantime, his backup RB Zack Moss has been killing it lately and looking very good while Taylor is out. If Taylor and the Colts continue to have issues or part ways in the future, Moss’ stock will only go further up.
WR Jameson Williams Reinstated Early As NFL Reduces Suspension
Lions WR Jameson Williams is now eligible to return in Week 5. He was previously suspended six games for betting on non-NFL sports while in the workplace/while working. The NFL announced Friday that they will be reducing his suspension and since they are reinstating Williams a week early he will now be eligible to play next week. Many people are expecting him to be worked back into their offense slowly, however getting that started two weeks sooner is awesome news for fantasy managers. If your team is hurting for a WR, he is worth adding considering the Lions' have needed a WR2 to support St. Brown.
Rams RB Kyren Williams Gets All Of Rams’ Snaps In Week 3
In week 3, Rams’ RB Kyren Williams was in for 55 of their offensive snaps and the rest of their RBs were in for 0 of them. He completely dominated their backfield and took every snap for them. Williams also led their team in checkdown passes. On top of that, Williams played in kick returns as well, so they are really getting their money out of him. Seeing how much the Rams trust him is encouraging for Williams owners for the rest of the season.
RB David Montgomery Dominates The Detroit Backfield
After sitting out week 3, RB David Montgomery came back this week and completely dominated the Lions’ backfield. He had 32 carries for 121 rushing yards and 2 receptions for 20 receiving yards. On top of that, he also had 3 rushing TDs Thursday night. Out of those 121 yards, 113 of them came after contact which is the most he's ever gained in a single game in his career. The Lions want to play smash mouth, run it down your throat football, and that’s what Montgomery brings. He is also excellent at falling forward. Montgomery has an elite ability to not get stood up, pushed backwards, or even tackled sideways. He seemed to always get that extra 1–3 yards by falling forward.
A lot of people were surprised to see the Lions’ use him that much, especially considering he is coming off an injury. It was also interesting because even late in the game when the Lions had secured the win, they stuck with Montgomery running down the clock instead of giving him a break and giving Gibbs more touches. It’s starting to look like Montgomery is the Lion’s main back this year, and that he has the potential to be a RB1 this season. Considering how low he was drafted in the majority of fantasy drafts, Montgomery could be the steal of the year.
Team News:
Rams Will Activate WR Cooper Kupp From IR So He Can Practice Next Week
Rams' head coach Sean McVay announced Friday that WR Cooper Kupp (hamstring) will practice next week. The Rams will activate him from IR to open a 21-day practice window. This is great news for Kupp owners as many have started the year slow due to his absence. Once he returns, it will be interesting to see how the Rams use WR Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell moving forward. Many fantasy managers have relied on those two receivers while Kupp has been out so hopefully they can both continue to produce solid stats.
Jets’ Head Coach Is At Risk Of Losing Locker Room Over His Loyalty To QB Zach Wilson
There is a report that Jets' coach Robert Saleh is at "risk of losing the locker room'' over his loyalty to QB Zach Wilson. Their defense in particular is "not happy" and tensions are on the rise and "ready to implode." Some defensive players view Saleh as a 'Zach Wilson apologist' and the report says this has been a hot topic among the players in the locker room. Their defense knows that if any other player was performing the way Wilson is, that player would be benched. Although the defense is not happy with Wilson, the Jets unfortunately don’t have a better option at QB. However, they did sign QB Trevor Siemian this Tuesday, but it is unlikely he can save their team.
The Colts Are Asking Too Much For RB Jonathan Taylor
As trade talks continue for the star RB, the Colts asking price for Jonathan Taylor is “roughly” a high second round pick -- no team has come close to that yet. According to recent reports, the following teams have reached out to the Colts about acquiring their star RB: Dolphins, Packers, Steelers, Rams, Chiefs, Bills, and Commanders. The Colts are still listening to calls for Taylor and will be open to a trade if their asking price is met (which is high). It seems like Taylor will stay a Colt unless Indianapolis lowers their asking price a little. Many people believe a high 2nd round pick for Taylor is a pretty fair price. It seems like teams are avoiding trading for him not because of the 2nd round pick but more because they'll have to pay him millions more than they want to. If it was just a 2nd round pick needed, he would have been moved already. Taylor also wants a large long-term contract and that willingness to give him one is stopping teams from making a move at the Colts current asking price.
Chiefs’ Andy Reid Speaks Highly Of WR Rashee Rice
Chiefs' head coach Andy Reid said this about WR Rashee Rice "he's growing. . . it looks like he's getting more on the same page with Pat (Mahomes). He's got the right attitude. He wants to be good. It's consistency. He had a nice game, now when presented can you take another step this week?" Through 3 games Rice has posted 10 receptions for 108 yards on 14 Targets and 1 TD. At first glance this may not seem like anything crazy but once you dive a little deeper he is looking like a solid pickup.
To start, Rashee Rice had the second highest PFF grade for all rookie WR's (behind Puca) in Week 2. In Week 3 he was stopped at the 1 yard line TWICE. His 14 targets leads the Chiefs WR room (3 RZ targets) and he also leads the WR room in YAC, receptions and first downs. In his last game against the Bears he finished with 7 targets.
It should also be noted that the Chiefs' other WRs Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney have yet to finish with 7 targets themselves. A lot of Chiefs fans are also talking about how Rice needs more snaps and it's clear his role is growing every week. They like his ability to find the soft spots in coverage and get open.
Rice is only 50% rostered in fantasy leagues right now, there is a good chance you can grab him off most waivers. Is it possible he ends up being another dud Chiefs WR? Yes. Is there a decent chance he breakout as the bonafide WR1 on the Chiefs? Also yes. The Chiefs schedule looks very easy after week 4, so watch out for Rice.
Chargers’ Head Coach Explains Why WR Quentin Johnston Hasn’t Played Much
Chargers' head coach Brandon Staley says the main reason WR Quentin Johnston hasn't played much is more because of the talent they have in the wide receiver room and not necessarily that he wasn't ready. With WR Mike Williams now out for the season, many fantasy managers were racing to pick up Johnston off waivers this week. However, after hearing from their coach, it seems like WR Joshua Palmer might be the better Charger to pick up. Palmer is the better pickup if you need an immediate starter, and Johnston would be a better pick up if you can wait a few weeks and keep him on your bench.
Rams’ Sean McVay Said They Need To Get Other RBs Involved Moving Forward
In the last two weeks since Cam Akers departed from the Rams, RB Kyren Williams has barely come off the field for Los Angeles. He’s played 131 of a possible 135 snaps since Week 2, and he’s already played the most snaps of any running back in the NFL. This pace isn’t sustainable and the Rams know that. However, the Rams love Williams’ versatility so it’s been hard to take him off the field.
Williams has played a ton of snaps but he isn’t necessarily being handed a huge workload from a touch perspective. He only had 10 carries in Week 3, along with 2 receptions, after receiving 20 touches the week prior. His 47 total touches only rank 19th in the NFL, with his 39 carries ranking 22nd among all players. Williams is also doing kick returns for the Rams so they will probably take him off the return team if they are serious about taking some of the workload off his shoulders. Since he’s on pace to play more snaps than the Rams would like him to, we might see more of their backups Ronnie Rivers, Zach Evans, or Royce Freeman sometime soon.
Reddit Recap:
Each week we read every Reddit post on r/fantasyfootball and all the comments. We then summarize the most important threads and discussions below.
Who Passed And Failed The ‘Eye Test’ Week 3
As you know, stats don’t often tell the full story of how someone played. Sometimes they play great but their statline might not look impressive. Other times their statline was good but they actually looked bad on the field. These are the players who passed and failed the “eye test” in week 3:
Passed:
WR Keenan Allen (Chargers)
WR Tutu Atwell (Rams)
TE Sam LaPorta (Lions)
RB D’Andre Swift (Eagles)
TE Evan Engram (Jaguars)
QB CJ Stroud (Texans)
WR Jakobi Meyers (Raiders)
WR Tank Dell (Texans)
RB Zack Moss (Colts)
RB De’Von Achane (Dolphins)
RB James Cook (Bills)
Failed:
RB Joshua Kelley (Chargers)
RB AJ Dillon (Packers)
QB Justin Fields (Bears)
RB Rhamondre Stevenson (Patriots)
QB Matt Stafford (Rams)
TE Darren Waller (Giants)
Main Takeaways From Each Game Week 3
These are the biggest takeaways that people saw after watching each game in week 3:
Rams vs. Bengals
RB Kyren Williams could break 30+ fantasy points in a game if Stafford could hit him on dump off passes. Stafford missed him at least 5 times
The Bengals’ defensive line is very good
The Bengals’ offense will fully rely on how Joe Burrow does. If he has a good week so will everyone else, if he doesn’t, don’t expect much from the rest of the offense
QB Matt Stafford was missing throws and under-throwing balls more than you’d like to see
WR Tutu Atwell is a speedy / talented receiver
Giants vs. 49ers
The Giants’ offensive line is very bad
The 49ers have a great real life defense but are just ok in terms of fantasy
WR Deebo Samuel is playing very well and looking like his former all-pro self
WR Brandon Aiyuk will probably be hit-or-miss all year since there are too many mouths to feed
QB Daniel Jones is not a good fantasy option
Saints vs. Packers
RB AJ Dillon isn’t worth rostering on your fantasy team
QB Jordan Love looks for WR Romeo Doubs in the red zone more than anyone else
WR Chris Olave is extremely talented and is the real deal
TE Luke Musgrave was playing almost every down and getting a good amount of targets. He seems to be very involved in the Packer’s short passing game
Chargers vs. Vikings
RB Joshua Kelley looked very bad and is not worth rostering
WR Jordan Addison looks legit and is good at beating man coverage
QB Kirk Cousins is passing the ball more than ever and is doing a good job at it
WR Keenan Allen did a great job running routes and is looking like a top 10 WR
Broncos vs. Dolphins
WR Tyrek Hill looks like he is open every play
QB Tua Tagovailoa looked good and his confidence is growing each game
RB De’Von Achane is faster and more agile than RB Raheem Mostert
Denver’s defense is very bad…considering they gave up 70 points
Colts vs. Ravens
WR Michael Pittman Jr is looking like a reliable fantasy WR option once again
RB Zack Moss is doing a great job filling in for Jonathan Taylor and can definitely hold his own
WR Josh Downs had a high target volume and could be a great pickup in full PPR leagues
None of the Raven’s RBs look like they can be reliable for fantasy purposes
QB Lamar Jackson went back to his routes and was rushing the ball more himself
Bills vs. Commanders
RB Brian Robinson Jr looked very good once again which is promising
RB James Cook passes the eye test with flying colors and played great
TE Dalton Kincaid will be very boom-or-bust since Buffalo has plenty other weapons to work with
QB Sam Howell had a horrible game but his offensive line didn’t help him either
Steelers vs. Raiders
RB Najee Harris disappoints once again
The Steelers’ offensive coordinator is one of the worst in the league
WR Davante Adams is still a top 5 receiver in the league
WR Jakobi Meyers played excellent and will be a reliable WR2/WR3 option
Texans vs. Jaguars
WR Tank Dell looked like a veteran and was extremely comfortable out on the field
QB CJ Stroud looked fantastic and is a great fantasy option if your team is hurting at QB
RB Dameon Pierce looked much better this week and should continue to be on the up and up
TE Evan Engram is getting a good chunk of targets and will make a solid fantasy TE this season
WR Calvin Ridley had another quiet game but the talent is still there so he could be a good buy low candidate
Cowboys vs. Cardinals
TE Zach Ertz ran less routes than usual this game and did more pass blocking
RB James Conner looks like the best player on Arizona and should be a confident fantasy starter each week
The Cowboys defense came back down to earth and couldn’t stop the run
QB Dak Prescott is throwing less deep balls than he used to. He also is having issues in the red zone
Bears vs. Chiefs
QB Justin Fields looked terrible once again
WR Rashee Rice got tackled twice at the 1 yard line, he almost had a big game and looked like one of Mahomes favorite red zone targets
The Chiefs defense looked very good and are doing a great job at preventing opposing teams scoring
No one on the Bears offense is worth starting right now
RB Isiah Pacheco looks like their early down guy while Jerick McKinnon was in on most third downs / red zone work
Eagles vs. Buccaneers
RB D’Andre Swift looks super electric running once again
QB Jalen Hurts isn’t fully performing up to his abilities, however he is getting better each week
WR Chris Godwin still has the talent, but QB Baker Mayfield doesn’t look his way enough
Falcons vs. Lions
TE Sam LaPorta is the tight end savior many teams needed
QB Desmond Ridder is not very good and the Atlanta passing game will always be second to their running game
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown is still Goff’s favorite target and will continue to feast each week
RB Jahmyr Gibbs looked good in the carries he had, however the Lions’ didn’t utilize him much in the passing game
Titans vs. Browns
The Browns’ defense is fantastic against the run
WR Amari Cooper continues to be underrated in fantasy. He has solid chemistry with Watson and gets the most valuable targets on their team
The Titans’ use of RB Derrick Henry in this game was criminally low
The Titans’ WRs are not worth starting for fantasy purposes
Panthers vs. Seahawks
RB Kenneth Walker III looks fantastic like he did last year
The Seattle secondary is all over the place and made QB Andy Dalton look good
WR Adam Thielen is scoring a lot of fantasy points and looked like Carolina’s favorite passing target
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba is getting overlooked by Geno Smith and won’t be a viable fantasy option unless Metcalf or Lockett gets injured
Patriots vs. Jets
RB Breece Hall cannot be trusted right now as a fantasy starter
Christian Gonzalez is a lockdown cornerback, beware of any receiver going up against the Patriots
RB Rhamondre Stevenson looks slower than he did last year
The Jets defense can be dropped in fantasy leagues
The Patriots O-Line looks not so great but a lot of that is due to injuries with their starters
Top 10 Defenses To Start For Just Week 4
Here is a list of defenses to target for just week 4 (bold = team to start). These teams have favorable matchups:
49ers vs. Cardinals: 11.4 points (Projection) - Taken in 99% of leagues
Chiefs vs. Jets: 10.0 points (Projection) - Taken in 74% of leagues
Eagles vs. Commanders: 8.0 points (Projection) - Taken in 82% of leagues
Browns vs. Ravens: 7.0 points (Projection) - Taken in 79% of leagues
Cowboys vs. Patriots: 7.0 points (Projection) - Taken in 97% of leagues
Saints vs. Buccaneers: 6.5 points (Projection) - Taken in 87% of leagues
Ravens vs. Browns: 6.0 points (Projection) - Taken in 54% of leagues
Steelers vs. Texans: 5.7 points (Projection) - Taken in 86% of leagues
Bengals vs. Titans: 5.7 points (Projection) - Taken in 26% of leagues
Vikings vs. Panthers: 5.5 points (Projection) - Taken in 2% of leagues
Reddit Makes Their Bold Week 4 Predictions
Redditors share their predictions of what will happen week 4, these are the top predictions:
RB Cam Akers slowly starts taking Alexander Mattison’s role
The Commanders beat the Eagles in a surprising win
WR Drake London finally has a big week
WR Elijah Moore goes for over 100 yards and a TD
TE Dallas Goedert gets over 80 yards and a TD
RB Dameon Pierce finally has a good week and bounces back to his former self
RB Javonte Williams goes off on the Bears and has a huge week
RB Alvin Kamara comes back and has a triumphant return with multiple TDs
TE Sam LaPorta scores the most points as a tight end
WR Jahan Dotson finally has a good week after everyone already dropped him
The Chiefs defense puts up 20+ points against the Jets
Who Are The Worst Pass Defenses In The NFL?
Who are the pass defenses to attack in fantasy? These teams currently rank bottom 10 in pass defense DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) AND adjusted fantasy pts allowed to QBs:
Broncos (32nd, 30th)
Chargers (27th, 32nd)
Giants (30th, 28th)
Seahawks (28th, 25th)
Titans (26th, 24th)
Vikings (23rd, 26th)
Moral of the story, if you have a WR or QB playing one of these teams start them and don’t look back. They should have a good fantasy week for you.
People Are Wondering What’s Going On With RB Josh Jacobs
Now that we are 3 games into the season, many fantasy managers are wondering what is going on with RB Josh Jacobs and are curious as to why he isn't producing like he did last year. In 2022 Jacobs finished as the top overall RB and had 340 carries for 1653 yards and 12 TDs. Through 3 games this year, he has had 45 carries for 108 yards and no TDs. Jacobs has also yet to break 10 fantasy points in a game (0.5 PPR) so far this season. So what’s going on? Here is what people think:
He is coming off a an extremely high volume season and is getting slightly less touches this year
He missed majority of preseason / training camp so is a little rusty to start the year
His offensive line is not very good and isn’t helping him as much as you’d like to see
Raiders’ head coach Josh McDaniels is misusing him / making poor coaching decisions
He has a worse QB this season. Opposing teams don’t fear Jimmy Garoppolo’s deep ball like they did Derek Carr’s so now they are stacking the box more. Jacobs is facing 8 defensive players in the box in 39% of plays compared to just 30% last year.
One thing to remember is that Jacobs started off the season slow last year too and then picked things up in week 4 before finishing as the top back. Maybe he will pick it up this week and start producing big games once again.
Should Achane & Mostert Owners Be Concerned About Jeff Wilson Jr’s Return?
A lot of people are wondering how RB Jeff Wilson Jr’s return will impact the current Miami Dolphins backfield. Both Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane have been playing very well and adding a third RB to their backfield will now change how many touches everyone gets. There is some speculation that once Wilson Jr returns he will take his starting role back and the other two RBs will slide one position down in the depth chart. But nothing is confirmed yet. A lot of people are trying to sell high on Mostert and Achane because their value will never be higher than it is right now. Others are holding them and waiting to see how the Miami backfield plays out. Wilson Jr and Mostert both have a history of injuries so staying healthy will be their top priority this season. If one of them goes down the next man will be ready to step up. Considering how explosive Miami’s offense is, any one of these RBs is capable of having a big game. It all comes down to opportunity.
What Are People Doing With RB Jahmyr Gibbs?
Fantasy managers who own RB Jahmyr Gibbs are wondering what to do with him now that Montgomery seems to be taking over the Lions’ backfield. Even though Montgomery has played one less game than Gibbs, he has out touched him 69 carries to 39. Jahmyr Gibbs was taken in the first round of the NFL draft this year and had a lot of hype going into the season. Many fantasy managers even drafted him in the first couple rounds of their drafts so they are disappointed with their investment so far.
Through 4 games, Gibbs has yet to break 10 fantasy points (0.5 PPR) and seems like a backup more than a fantasy starter. After seeing Thursday’s game, most Gibbs owners are now putting him on their bench and are considering him to be a handcuff until he proves otherwise. Many people consider players like Gibbs to be the worst kind of fantasy players – he’s too talented to drop but he also doesn’t get enough opportunity to reliably start. So for now, he should ride your bench.
Injury Updates:
RB Austin Ekeler Gives Update On His Injury
During a podcast clip from this week, Chargers’ RB Austin Ekeler said “I’m doing everything I can to get back, and be healthy, and not have any major setbacks”. It sounds like Ekeler will miss their game against the Raiders this week, but return after the bye week when the Chargers host the Cowboys on Monday Night Football. Fantasy managers are eagerly waiting for his return since Chargers’ backup Joshua Kelley has not lived up to the hype and has played quite poorly in the games he’s started.
QB Anthony Richardson Back At Practice This Week
After missing last week’s game due to a concussion, rookie QB Anthony Richardson is back at practice this week and was a full participant. This is good news for the rookie QB as well as fantasy managers. When Richardson is on the field, he makes the entire Colts’ offense better.
WR Jaylen Waddle Cleared From Concussion Protocol
Dolphins’ WR Jaylen Waddle was officially cleared from concussion protocol this week and is returning to practice. Waddle missed last week's game but it’s now looking like he is likely to return against the Bills this week. Last season, Jaylen Waddle had 4 receptions for 102 yards & 3 receptions for 114 yards and 1 TD when they played the Bills twice. Hopefully he suits up this weekend and has another big game against Buffalo.
RB Miles Sanders Is Now Questionable For Sunday’s Game
Panthers RB Miles Sanders didn't practice this Friday due to a groin injury and is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game vs the Vikings. If Sanders can't play, backup RB Chuba Hubbard would be the likely starter for the Panthers in Week 4. Hubbard, who is rostered in just 17% of ESPN leagues, has already been productive in two games playing behind Sanders. In Week 1 at Atlanta, Hubbard had 9 carries for 60 yards and 2 catches for 9 yards. And in Week 2 against New Orleans, Hubbard caught 5 passes for 34 yards. He's yet to play in more than 37% of the snaps because of Sanders, however we might see how he does with a full workload if Sanders sits out this week.
Ravens Rule Out WRs Odell Beckham Jr and Rashod Bateman Ahead Of Sunday’s Game
The Ravens have officially ruled out WRs Odell Beckham Jr and Rashod Bateman for Sunday’s game at Cleveland. With those two out, rookie WR Zay Flowers and TE Mark Andrews should see an increase in targets. But keep in mind that the Cleveland Browns have given up the fewest fantasy points to the WR & TE positions so far this year so it could be a tough matchup for them both.
The Bears’ Secondary Is Almost Completely Injured This Week
The Bears injury report came out Friday and it’s all bad news. Defensive backs Eddie Jackson, Jaylon Johnson, and Josh Blackwell are all OUT for Sunday’s game vs. the Broncos. The Bears defense is already terrible and now they’re missing their 3 best DBs. We should see Russell Wilson and the Broncos' offense lean heavily into their passing game this Sunday. If that's the case, we might see WRs Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, or Marvin Mims Jr have a big week. Then again, the Broncos also stink this year so anything could happen.
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