September 20, 2012

Fantasy Football Report: Week 3

By - Tim Swift

Alright all you fantasy football fanatics, here's the lowdown for Week 3.

1. Be done with CJ0K.

Photo by: Getty Images
I know all you Chris Johnson owners are ticked off after his awful performances the first 2 weeks, so it's time to sell low. Very low. The Titans offense is in shambles right now, and until they get it together, Johnson can't be put in your lineup. Do whatever it takes to get a new back, whether you have to go to the waiver wire or make a trade for a starter who is going to get some carries. However, if you do this, you might have to make a sacrifice to get him off of your roster. If you can't trade him, don't bother playing him again until you see some kind of production. At this point, you can't do any worse by putting almost anyone else in your lineup.

2. Don't panic on Aaron Rodgers.

Through the first 2 games Rodgers has looked pretty average, with only 3 touchdowns, 2 interceptions and 522 yards. Something to note with Green Bay, in the first two weeks the Packers have faced two of the best defenses in the NFC, and next Monday night they should see another solid D in Seattle on the road. Also, there has been more of a commitment to the run game with Cedric Benson. That being said, the defenses that the Packers will face the majority of the year will be weaker, so don't be surprised if Rodgers gets back to big time QB 1 numbers.

3. New England could be sending a message to Wes Welker.

The 9-year veteran has led the NFL in receptions 3 times since joining the Patriots, but after missing 25 plays in Week 1, he was benched to start their Week 2 loss to Arizona. Welker ended up with 95 yards on 5 catches anyway, but it doesn't make a lot of sense to bench your best wideout for no real reason, unless you are upset about his contract issues. The bottom line is, he wants a new deal like his running mates Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski, but the problem is -- Welker is now 31 and has a torn knee ligament on his resume. So watch closely the number of plays he gets on the field over the next few weeks. If this latest trend continues, a trade out of New England may very well be in the works.

4. Unless you have the 49ers defense, study the matchups.

What has been proven over the first 2 weeks of the season is that most defenses look way better than they really are against a suspect quarterback, so watch the matchups. For example, if you can find a defense that's facing the likes of Cleveland, Jacksonville, or Tennessee, you can get big points out of them for the week, then move on and find another D with a good matchup. In most leagues, there will be at least 15 defenses on the waiver wire at any given time. The days of playing one defense for 16 weeks is an old strategy, so find the best overall matchup and exploit it.

5. Target focus.

Not all 100-yard days for WRs are created equal when setting your lineup. See who is getting the most targets on a week-to-week basis, and after a few weeks, you'll be able to see who a quarterback trusts. For example, if two receivers are averaging 75 yards a game and one of them is getting 5 targets while the other is getting 10, it doesn't take a genius to figure out which one to start. Of course, there are other factors when considering a wide receiver, but targets can be one of the key ones.

Solid Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups:

Danny Amendola WR (STL), Andre Brown RB (NYG), Donnie Avery WR (IND), Brandon LaFell WR (CAR), Scott Chandler TE (BUF), Dennis Pitta TE (BAL), Arizona D/ST, Detroit D/ST

The Underrated 15 For Week 3:

Quarterbacks:

1. Andy Dalton (CIN)
2. Andrew Luck (IND)
3. Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)

Running Backs:

1. Michael Bush (CHI)
2. Andre Brown (NYG)
3. Cedric Benson (GB)

Wide Receivers:

1. Vincent Jackson (TB)
2. Dwayne Bowe (KC)
3. Malcolm Floyd (SD)

Tight Ends:

1. Brent Celek (PHI)
2. Dennis Pitta (BAL)
3. Kyle Rudolph (MIN)

Defense/Special Teams:

1. Arizona
2. Detroit
3. Indianapolis

*Catch me on Fantasy Football Live every Sunday morning from 8:00-9:00, and on the Thom Abraham Show every Wednesday afternoon starting at 3:40 for even more Fantasy Football talk on Sports Radio 560 WNSR Nashville.

1 comment:

  1. Of course if everyone sits Johnson he'll rush for 200 Sunday

    ReplyDelete