Okay, I have to get this out…fuck! Mea Culpa seriously, I am so sorry. I brazenly disregarded the Kirk Cousins Prime Time Curse and suggested, nah implored him as a “must start”! Who did I think I was? Who did I think he was? ARGGH!
So, forgive me. I will do better. But I can’t promise the same of Cousins.
Let’s get past this, shall we? And move on to Week3 and make right what once went wrong (Quantum Leap quote my friends).
QUARTERBACKS
MUST START
Matthew Stafford @ Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have given up the most fantasy points per game so far this season to the quarterback position(26.94). Stafford looked so bad against the Buffalo Bills in game one but seriously, who hasn’t?
Last week against an underrated Atlanta Falcons team he threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns. Yes, he did also have two interceptions but that’s what you get with Stafford (remember he had 17 interceptions last season).
MEH
Kirk Cousins v Detroit Lions
I know…I know but this really does look good. The struggle for Cousins in prime time is real. And the Lions defense has given up the third-most fantasy points per game this season to the quarterback position (26.25).
This really should be a bounce-back game for Cousins and his weapons (well maybe not Adam Thielen).
TEMPER YOUR EXPECTATIONS
Joe Burrow @ New York Jets
Burrow has been sacked 11 times this season. ELEVEN TIMES I am worried for him. (As worried as a Steeler fan can be for a Bengal). The ‘good’ news is that the Jets have only three sacks in two games (yet they haven’t played the sieve that is the Bengals offensive line) so Burrow may have a chance.
Last week in their surprising loss to the Dax-less Dallas Cowboys, Burrow threw 36 times, for the 24 completions, 199 yards and one touchdown. He also ran for 26 yards on four attempts.
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LONG SHOT
Russell Wilson v San Francisco 49ers
Wilson has been bad. Nathaniel Hackett has been bad. Yet this could be surprisingly good. Yes, Wilson has two touchdowns in two games. And okay he has a total of five rushing yards in two games. And well…um Jerry Jeudy’s participation is unlikely. And sure, he has only thrown 46.6% of his 73 pass attempts to the wide-out position.
But this game could be surprisingly good for Wilson and fantasy managers brave enough to play him (or desperate enough). Wilson’s familiarity with the 49ers go back to his Seahawk days. In five meetings he had 13 passing touchdowns and one interception.
I know it’s a different team…but I’m trying to be optimistic here…Let’s Ride!
RUNNING BACKS
MUST START
James Robinson @ Los Angeles Chargers
Did he really tear his Achilles? Last week he played 63% of the offensive snaps and 35.6% of the touches out of the backfield. So far Robinson has had a touchdown in Weeks1and2, and he has carried the ball a combined 34 times for 130 rushing yards.
MEH
Tony Pollard @ New York Giants
Pollard is the back on passing downs in the Cowboys’ offense. But he also is carrying the rock to the tune of (mixed metaphors) nine carries (and seven targets) for 98 yards in Week2.
This week the Giants could be missing Kayvon Thibodeaux, Azeez Ojulari and Leonard Williams.
But perhaps the best part of the game will be Monday night commentary from @TheBigLeagueSays on GoingFor2 Monday night “2-point conversion” podcast. Seriously, tune in at 7pm eastern and you won’t be disappointed. I promise.
Also, play Pollard.
TEMPER YOUR EXPECTATIONS
David Montgomery v Houston Texans
Do we still harbor expectations for Montgomery? You should. Last week he had 50% of the touches in the backfield. He had 15 rushes for 122 yards. That’s 8.1 average yards per attempt.
Here is something. Last week the Bears were behind, and they still only attempted 11 passes. The Bears currently attempt 32 carries per game (6th) and have the highest rushing percentage at 65.98%.
Next up is Houston who are giving up the sixth-most fantasy points to the running back position (20.0).
LONG SHOT
Travis Etienne @ Los Angeles Chargers
This is for all of us who drafted Etienne over Robinson. Sorry. Last week Etienne was on the field for 38% of the offensive snaps. He had nine carries to Robinson’s 23. He had 20 rushing yards to Robinson’s 64 and he did not get a touchdown but Robinson did.
A slight reason for optimism, he had three targets and Robinson had two…yaa.
WIDE RECEIVERS
MUST START
Drake London @ Seattle Seahawks
London leads the Atlanta Falcons in targets (19). Last week he was targeted 12 times for eight receptions, 86 yards and one touchdown. He has a (close your eyes Kyle Pitt fantasy managers) 33% target share and a 74.4% snap share.
MEH
Garrett Wilson v Cincinnati Bengals
Another day another rookie to roster in your redraft fantasy lineups. Last week Wilson was on the receiving end of 14 targets, eight receptions, 102 yards and two touchdowns.
The Jets throw on 75% of their offensive plays.
TEMPER YOUR EXPECTATIONS
Jakobi Meyers v Baltimore Ravens
This is picking on a Ravens defense that gave up 469 receiving yards to the Miami Dolphins last week.
If you are playing Meyers, you are brave. But if you are playing Meyers, remember he has a 29.7% target share and an 85.8% snap share. Last week quarterback Matt Jones attempted 35 passes, and 13 targets went to Meyers. He had nine receptions and 95 yards.
Meyers had a knee injury come up Wednesday. Monitor his status.
LONG SHOT
Curtis Samuel v Philadelphia Eagles
This is actually more about quarterback Carson Wentz than Samuel. There is so much talk about it being a ‘revenge’ game for Wentz and how it will propel him to “ball out”. Two questions: how did that narrative work for Russell Wilson and two have you ever been to Philly?
TIGHT ENDS
MUST START
Gerald Everett v Jacksonville Jaguars
Last week Everett tied with Mike Williams for target leads (10). *Monitor the status of Keenan Allen and Justin Herbert*
Everett finished last week with six receptions, 71 yards and zero touchdowns. But he finished as TE8.
MEH
Evan Engram @ Los Angeles Chargers
New home and new attitude for Engram. Last week he led the team in targets with eight. He collected seven receptions and 46 yards. He has a 69.5% snap share and a 17.6% target share.
You expect the Jaguars to be chasing points and the Chargers have allowed 12.6 fantasy points per game to the tight end position.
TEMPER YOUR EXPECTATIONS
Tyler Higbee @ Arizona Cardinals
Higbee has 20 targets in two games which leads all tight ends. Last week he was targeted nine times for seven receptions and 71 yards.
The Cardinals have given up the most fantasy points to the tight end position to tight ends so far this season (29.1). The opportunity will be there but the fight for targets is real.
LONG SHOT
Kyle Pitts @ Seattle Seahawks
Things have to get better, right? Right now, Pitts is TE35. He has an 86.4% snap share, yet he has only run 44 routes and a 17.5% target share. (London has a 74.4% snap share and a 33.3% target share running 46 routes).
“TO LIVE IN HEARTS, WE LEAVE BEHIND IS NOT TO DIE”—THOMAS CAMPBELL
As I was researching for this article, I was reminded that this Sunday, September 25, 2022, is one year since Mike Tagliere’s wife Tabbie informed the fantasy world of his death. I never met the man and I imagine I am a little less because of it. But I remember the impact the announcement had and still the reverberations.
I’m not sure why I am compelled to mention this, except for the fact that someone I never met is reminding me to live life to the fullest. So, this weekend breath in…breath out… smile at a stranger…tell someone you love them.
Matthew Freedman thank you for the reminder.
Thank you, Mike Tagliere.
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