The Fanatics Sit/Start Advice for Week 3
Welcome to week three of the NFL season. Hopefully, you are 2 and 0 or at least 1 and 1. Don’t worry too much if you are not there is still plenty of season left. But you can’t afford to many more mistakes. So before you set your lineup check out my sit start for this week and if the player you are considering is not here feel free to hit me up on facebook or twitter. You can find me on Facebook group Dynasty League Problems or on twitter @MikeKelleyDLP Good luck this week.
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Quarterback
The Fanatics Starts of the Week
Ryan Fitzpatrick
(TB) vs PIT
We all know Ftizmagic is mostly smoke and mirrors, but why he is fooling people might as well keep throwing him out there. I think Fitz knows he is running out of time to start in the NFL so he is going out there and having as much fun as possible and just chucking the ball all over the place. I mean why not? He has possibly the best wide receiver core in the NFL right now. You have Mike Evans who is a stud at the receiver position, DeSean Jackson who is electric with the ball in his hands, and Chris Godwin who is coming into his own in his second year in the league. Don’t forget Fitz has the matchup nightmare at tight end in O.J. Howard. I think Fitz starts at least two more games heading into the Bucs bye week, and possibly after the bye, so for the next couple of weeks ride the hot hand and keep on running him out as long as he starts. Not sure we get another 400 plus yard performance, but 300 plus with two or more touchdowns is not out of the question.
Other Starts
- Kirk Cousins (MIN) vs BUF
- Jimmy Garoppolo (SF) vs KC
The Fanatics Sits of the Week
Russell Wilson (SEA) vs DAL
I am typing this on my tear soaked keyboard. I love Russell Wilson. Not only one of my favorite quarterbacks, but one of my favorite players. Something is very wrong with Seattle’s offense right now and I am not sure it gets fixed anytime soon. Given the state of the offensive line and the lack of threating wide receivers teams are free to come after Willson at will. This week Wilson faces the Cowboys, who are not a very good team but can get after the quarterback, which means unless the Seahawks go to quicker passing plays Wilson could be spending more time on his back then he would like. Wilson likes to try to extend plays and this year it is hurting him. He has already fumbled it four times, fortunately only losing one, but also has thrown three interceptions. I still think Wilson produces a little this week, but with the quarterback position as deep as it is if you have high QB2 available with a good matchup it might be worth pulling the trigger. If you don’t have a second quarterback are have no choice but to roll with Wilson don’t expect much more than 225 yards and maybe a touchdown, but do expect some turnovers.
Other Sits
- Philip Rivers (LAC) vs LAR
- Joe Flacco (BAL) vs DEN
Running Back
The Fanatics Starts of the Week
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Giovani Bernard (CIN) @ CAR
I am not a fan of the idea of a handcuff, but there are a few players in the NFL that have some value as a backup and get a spike in value if the starter goes down. Gio is one of those guys. With Joe Mixon out, Gio goes from a deep flex play to legit RB2. Last year Mixon missed weeks 14 and 15 and was eased back in during week 16. In those weeks Gio scored 19, 13.3 and 29.8. Gio can carry the load while Mixon is out and owners should have no issues running him out there this week and any other week Mixon misses. I also really like the Bengals new-look offense this year, as they have scored 34 points in each of their first two games. One was against division rival Baltimore Ravens. So with the high powered offense and Mixon missing at least this week look for Gio to get over 70 yards rushing and another 40 receiving with a good shot at finding the end zone too.
Other Starts
- Tevin Coleman (ATL) vs NO
- Lamar Miller (HOU) vs NYG
The Fanatics Sits of the Week
Marshawn Lynch
(OAK) @ MIA
Over the first two weeks, Lynch has averaged 14.5 carries 53 yards and one touchdown. Add in two receptions and 5.5 yards and you get almost 14 points a game. Not bad right? If not for the touchdown each week he would be looking at eight points per game. It is unlikely the Lynch scores a touchdown every week and that is why I am passing on Lynch. If he does not find the end zone this week his performance against a pretty solid Dolphins defense could be pretty low. Even if he sticks to his average in yards and receptions you are looking at 14 carries for 53 yards and two receptions for 5 yards and that will hurt you more than help in most leagues I am sure. There will be games this year that I think you can roll with beast mode, but I am not sure this is one of those weeks.
Other Sits
- Derrick Henry (TEN) @ JAX
- Jay Ajayi (PHI) vs IND
Wide Receiver
The Fanatics Starts of the Week
Keelan Cole (JAX) vs TEN
I had a hard time deciding which wide receiver I want to write about this week because I love both Keelan Cole and Kenny Golladay. I went with Cole because Golladay has not had back to back 20 point weeks and in the top ten among wide receivers. So on to Cole. What a game the Jaguars played against the Patriots last week. The score was only 31 to 20 but it felt like the Jags won by so much more. The offense was moving the ball and the leading receiver in catches and yards was Cole with seven receptions and 116 yards. He also made a trip to the end zone. This week the Jags face a better defense in the Titans, but I still expect the Jags to pass often as the secondary is weaker part of the Titans defense. Last week the Titans were beat often deep and Cole is the best deep threat the Jags have. Look for Cole to be targeted at least eight times with catching six for 95 yards and another trip to the end zone.
Other Starts
- Kenny Golladay (DET) vs NE
- Amari Cooper (OAK) @ MIA
The Fanatics Sits of the Week
Robby Anderson (NYJ) @ CLE
Sam Darnold clearly has a favorite wide receiver and his name is Quincy Enunwa and his second favorite receiver is named Terrelle Pryor. So where does that leave Anderson who was a top twenty wide receiver last year? It leaves him third. Things may level out and Anderson could move back up to the second favorite, but I think clearly Enunwa is Darnold’s go-to guy as he almost has twice the amount of targets as anyone else. So, for now, Anderson will be a high reward high-risk start as I don’t see him catching more than four balls most weeks and if he can’t break one for a long touchdown I am not sure he puts up enough points to be considered a WR2 or even a flex in most leagues. This week against Cleveland could easily be one of those games where he gets his long touchdown, but it is too risky for me to count on a guy that might only give me four or five good games a year. Those other 12 games he could cost you the win when he has weeks like last week where he posted 3/27/0 and a lost fumble.
Other Sits
- Keenan Allen (LAC) @ LAR
- Corey Davis (TEN) @ JAX
Tight End
The Fanatics Starts of the Week
O.J. Howard (NYG) vs PIT
Cameron Brate who? I think the tight end job is firmly Howard’s now, or at least until Jameis Winston is the quarterback again. Not that Howard has had a ton of work, only six targets so far, but it is much better than Brate’s two, which includes zero last week. What is most impressive with Howard right now is his average per reception. Even if we take away the 75-yard touchdown reception he had last week he still has four receptions for 75 yards, that is almost 19 yards per reception. He is a physical monster at the tight end position and facing a Steelers team that just got lit up by Travis Kelce, things are looking good for Howard owners this week. I am not expecting high volume but I am still expecting efficiency from him. Maybe four receptions for 65 yards and another touchdown.
Other Starts
- George Kittle (SF) vs ATL
- Jordan Reed (WAS) vs GB
The Fanatics Sits of the Week
Cameron Brate (TB) vs PIT
With as high powered of an offense the Bucs have been so far this year only getting two targets, and catching none, is not a good sign for Brate’s future. At least not while Winston is playing quarterback. Right now that is all Brate owners can hope for. Winston comes back and looks to his old reliable buddy in the red zone, but until that happens Brate would not even sniff a roster spot on my team. From a top ten tight end last year to a complete afterthought this year. I don’t think he gets blanked again this week, but I don’t see more than two receptions for less than 12 yards.
Other Sits
- Jared Cook (OAK) @ MIA
- Benjamin Watson (NO) @ ATL
Defense
The Fanatics Starts of the Week
Chicago Bears
The Bears are for real. They are getting after the quarterback and lead the league with 10 sacks. Remember they were sacking Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson their first two games too. They only have two interceptions but have forced five fumbles and recovered two of the then and have two defensive touchdowns. Then you look at the schedule as see they are playing the Cardinals who have looked terrible on offense this year and realize they could be looking at a shutout with multiple sacks and turnovers.
Other Starts
- Dallas Cowboys
The Fanatics Sits of the Week
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers just got torched by one high powered offense and they are about to be torched by another. It is too risky to go with the Steelers defense this week when there are some many other options that are less risky.
Other Sits
- Buffalo Bills
Michael Kelley is a member of the Going For 2 team. You can check out his website Dynasty League Problems for more writings or find him on Twitter @mikekelleydlp spreading fantasy knowledge for the masses.
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