Quarterback
Ryan Fitzpatrick (vs SEA)
Fitzpatrick has returned to his second half of 2019 (when he was a top 10 fantasy quarterback) form the last two weeks after a rough start vs. New England. His young offensive line is maturing and he’s facing one of the most generous defenses in the league whose best player (Jamal Adams) is banged up in a game that should be a shootout. Fitzpatrick is the best quarterback option this week that you weren’t already starting automatically anyway.
Gardner Minshew (at CIN)
Minshew had a rough outing on national television last week against a mediocre defense, but that shouldn’t discourage you from playing him in 2QB/Superflex leagues or as a Roethlisberger/Tannehill fill-in against another mediocre defense this week. DJ Chark being out compressed the defense and took away Minshew’s best deep-ball option and Chris Conley looked bad on his downfield targets. Chark is due to return this week, which should get this offense humming again.
Nick Mullens (vs PHI)
Mullens is well-versed in the Kyle Shanahan offense and he should be able to run it without a hitch against an Eagles defense that really struggled with the Rams play designs and calls in Week 2. George Kittle is returning to the lineup this week and the 49ers running backs are also good pass-catchers to help hold down the fort while they wait for Deebo Samuel to likely return in Week 5.
Nick Foles (vs IND)
The Colts defense has been fearsome against the Jets and Vikings, but the Jaguars were successful against them with clever playcalling and a spread it around philosophy in the passing game. Foles should activate parts of the offense that Mitchell Trubisky couldn’t, including back-shoulder throws that wide receiver coach Mike Furrey admitted were not in the offense with Trubisky. Foles makes this offense look a lot better just by running it true to its concepts and ideas given his experience with Nagy in the past.
Running Back
Ronald Jones II (vs LAC)
Leonard Fournette hasn’t practice yet this week with an ankle injury and his history with injuries of this type isn’t encouraging. Jones should get a chance to be the lead back with the Buccaneers offense starting to come together around Tom Brady. Tampa doesn’t have another back on the roster that they trust on early downs. The Chargers defense should be much less fearsome without Melvin Ingram III and Chris Harris.
Mark Ingram, J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards (at WAS)
The Ravens handling of the backfield has been frustrating for fantasy players, but it might not matter this week against Washington. The Football Team will be missing Chase Young and Matt Ioannidis on the defensive line, the clear strength of the unit. Ingram has a decent shot at goal-line carries, Dobbins can get goal-line carries and make big plays in the passing game, and Edwards has been running hot along with the potential for the carries to close out what should be an easy win.
Jerick McKinnon, Jeff Wilson (vs PHI)
Raheem Mostert didn’t practice on Wednesday and Thursday and there’s no reason for the 49ers to rush him back after McKinnon and Wilson were more than adequate in the win over the Giants. Wilson was more valuable, but McKinnon also had a receiving score wiped off of the board by penalty and he has more big-play potential. Both are great flex plays or emergency RB2s.
Latavius Murray (at DET)
Murray has gotten at least 13 touches in two of the first three games and he should be part of the game plan against the Lions after they were gashed by the Packers for 248 rushing yards by running backs in Week 2. The Bears also averaged over five yards per carry against them in Week 1. The Saints offense has produced six running back scores in the first three games, it just happens that Alvin Kamara has collected all of them. Murray’s turn will come eventually and it could be this week.
Chase Edmonds (at CAR)
The Panthers have been the best defense for running backs to face this year, already allowing seven scores to running backs, at least 100 rushing yards to running back in every game, and at least eight running back receptions for an average of 6.9 yards per reception. This should be a big get right week for Kenyan Drake, but Edmonds could also ride the coattails of this matchup to a good game for teams that are in a bind at running back.
Wide Receiver
Hunter Renfrow (vs BUF)
The Raiders will be putting Zay Jones and Nelson Agholor out there at wide receiver this week and the Bills have given up big days to Jamison Crowder, Mike Gesicki, and Cooper Kupp out of the slot to the tune of at least 100 yards and a score to each. Renfrow is coming off of a good game vs. New England with a garbage-time score and a contested-catch at the goal line.
Preston Williams (at SEA)
Williams scored in Week 3 and dropped a score in Week 2 after a shaky start to the season. He seems to have knocked off all of the rust from offseason ACL surgery recovery and will be needed in what should be a track meet against the Seahawks defense that has given up 10 games of at least 65 yards to wide receivers and seven games of at least 100 yards, not to mention five wide receiver scores.
Marvin Jones (vs NO)
Marshon Lattimore is on the injury report with a hamstring injury, which could lead to Janoris Jenkins covering Kenny Golladay and Jones getting a backup corner. Even if Lattimore can play, he’ll likely be matched up against Golladay, leaving Jones facing Jenkins, who is prone to gambling and giving up huge plays. The Saints secondary let Allen Lazard get behind them more than once last week, so Jones is a decent bet to notch a big play or two this week with Golladay still rounding into form.
Mecole Hardman (vs NE)
Hardman is going to be a resident in the sleeper column until he becomes an every-week start. Last week he hit for a long score and had another bounce off of his hand. He had a 48-yard score against the Patriots for his only catch last year in the win over New England and should be an important target this week with Bill Belichick likely looking to take away Tyreek Hill.
Justin Watson (vs LAC)
Scott Miller hasn’t practiced yet this week and Chris Godwin is out. That should allow Watson to slide into the valuable slot role in the Bruce Arians offense when they go three-wide, and play outside receiver in two-wide sets. The Chargers are going to be without Melvin Ingram III, which should help Tom Brady’s comfort level, and Chris Harris, which stretches the secondary a bit thinner while they focus on not letting Mike Evans beat them.
Brandin Cooks, Randall Cobb (vs MIN)
Has Cooks fallen to sleeper levels after being drafted as a WR3/WR4? It might be a stretch, but the point of him appearing here is to encourage you to plug him into lineups against a Vikings secondary that is hemorrhaging big plays against opposing passing games. Aaron Rodgers completed big-play shots to three different receivers in Week 1 and Kalif Raymond had a 100-yard game on only three catches last week. With Will Fuller doing more work in the short and intermediate game, Cooks could be the one to reel in a deep ball or two from Deshaun Watson this week. Cobb has been making the most of limited targets, but with Will Fuller limited by his hamstring issue in practice this week, he also becomes someone that we want to consider in lineups this week.
Tight End
Dawson Knox (at LV)
Last week Josh Allen threw three scores to tight ends while Knox was nursing a concussion. This week Knox returns to face a Raiders defense that won’t have an answer for Allen. In one of his few misfires this year, Allen failed to hit a wide-open Knox in the end zone in Week 1. Odds are he’ll get a chance to rectify that this week.
Logan Thomas (vs BAL)
Thomas should be a frequent target against a Ravens secondary that has funneled targets to tight ends because their outside corners are so good. The Browns tight ends posted 6-70-1, the Ravens 9-78-1, and Travis Kelce 6-87 against them so far this year. Thomas has a modest ceiling, but he could rack up catches in garbage time this week.
Austin Hooper (at DAL)
Hooper has done little to nothing for fantasy players this year, but that could change in Week 4. The Browns may have to open up the offense to keep up with Dak Prescott and company. Odell Beckham was added to the injury report with a back injury, Jarvis Landry isn’t 100% after offseason hip surgery, and Kareem Hunt hasn’t practiced yet this week, so Hooper will have to play a bigger role in the passing game unless the Browns can control the game with Nick Chubb and timely plays on defense.
Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard (vs LAC)
We should have probably learned our lesson by now to stay away from Bruce Arians tight ends, but Howard caught a score in Week 1 and Gronkowski had six catches last week when the wide receiver group got banged up, so there’s hope against a Chargers defense that has a diminished pass rush with Melvin Ingram III sidelined. The Bucs should favor two tight end sets with Chris Godwin out and Scotty Miller looking likely to sit this week.
Adam Trautman (at DET)
Everyone is looking at how juicy T.J. Hockenson’s matchup is the other side of this one, but don’t overlook Trautman, who has been generating buzz since he showed up after being a third-round pick and trade-up target for the Saints. Jared Cook is very likely out and the Lions have already given up two scores to opposing tight ends this year. If you have to go to the waiver wire to replace Jonnu Smith this week, Trautman could save your bacon.
Robert Tonyan Jr (vs ATL)
Tonyan being more involved could continue as the Packers will have Davante Adams likely back this week, but will lose Allen Lazard to core muscle surgery. Tonyan is an Aaron Rodgers favorite and he has already scored twice this year. The Falcons have already allowed four touchdowns to tight ends this year, and both Jimmy Graham and Dalton Schultz had huge games against them.
