What You Need to Know from Week 3

Photo: USA Today Sports

New England at NY Jets

• The Patriots' run of being surprisingly competitive came to a screeching halt. Rhamondre Stevenson was a bust and showed his floor is lower than we thought. Antonio Gibson looks good, and his snap share is going up, so Stevenson's margin of error is small going into a matchup at San Francisco. It's okay to bench him this week.
• If the Patriots are waiting for the offensive line to firm up to plug in Drake Maye, the arrow is going in the wrong direction. Maye is still worth stashing in 2QB/Superflex.
• Jacoby Brissett leaned heavily on Demario Douglas. He is the best on the team by far at getting open and is worth an add in PPR leagues to see if this trend continues.
• Hunter Henry faded into the background again. He's only a weekly what-the-heck tight end play and not an essential hold.
• Aaron Rodgers played his best football of the year by a good margin. He's in play as a matchup QB1, and his value in 2QB/Superflex is on the rise. The whole offense will benefit if this continues.
• Tyler Conklin had his biggest game of the year and is worth an add and start against Denver (who just gave up seven catches to Cade Otton) this week. George Kittle could have a big game against the Patriots this week if he can get back on the field.
• The Jets leaned on their backfield again. Breece Hall remains a strong RB1, but Braelon Allen is a weekly flex play and league winner if Hall goes down. Hall's weekly ceiling is capped by Allen's presence, but it could help him stay healthy.
• Allen Lazard was impactful and it appears he is going to remain the WR2 even with Mike Williams back on the field. Lazard is worth a pickup and a play in deeper leagues this week with Garrett Wilson likely drawing shutdown corner Patrick Surtain II..
• Wilson was quiet again, but at least scored. Defenses are treating him like the clear #1 option. Be patient. If Rodgers keeps playing like this, bigger days are ahead for Wilson. He'll be a buy low next week if Surtain forces Rodgers to go elsewhere with the ball.

NY Giants at Cleveland

• Daniel Jones played well again, and it appears Malik Nabers' presence is going to help him keep his job. Jones is a boom/bust QB2 and worth a roster spot in 1QB leagues because of his rushing upside.
• Devin Singletary mostly did not find room to run against the Browns (the Raiders stalled out running game faces them next). Still, he scored and was involved in the passing game, so he put up low RB1 numbers. He's set up for a big game against the porous Cowboys run defense on Thursday.
• Nabers looks like a top 5 fantasy wide receiver. Jones did not affect his value after all. If anything, he elevates Jones. Congratulations if you selected him.
• Wan'Dale Robinson is a steady short-range target, and Jones will rely on him enough to make him a weekly flex consideration.
• The offensive line is doing him no favors (three more injuries this week), but Deshaun Watson looks like one of the worst quarterbacks in the league. Jameis Winston might have trouble reviving the pass offense a la Joe Flacco unless the line can firm up. 
• Jerome Ford was back to being the lead back but was quiet until the Browns were down big. He's only a what-the-heck flex against the Raiders.
• Amari Cooper scored twice and is probably worth a WR3/Flex play against the Raiders, but it's hard to see this offense supporting a consistent fantasy option in the passing game.

Philadelphia at New Orleans

• Derek Carr and the Saints offense was slowed down by predictable playcalling and a stout Eagles run defense. The Saints offense is mortal after all, but Carr is worth holding another week in 1QB leagues to see if they get back on track in Atlanta.
• Alvin Kamara is still getting ideal volume, but the running game and offense in general could be downgraded with starting center Eric McCoy out for 6-8 weeks. Kamara is still a fantasy RB1, but his value is trending down after a command performance against the Cowboys in Week 2.
• Chris Olave was prominent early and could have had a huge game if the offense had been better. He is continuing to trend up in value, but he does run into shutdown corner A.J. Terrell Jr. in Week 4.
• Rashid Shaheed put up a goose egg but had a long score bounce off of his chest and continues to get very high-value targets. He's still a high-ceiling WR3/Flex against the Falcons.
• Jalen Hurts and the Eagles offense moved the ball well but stalled out multiple times on the Saints side of the field. He is still a solid QB1 despite the likelihood of fewer tush-push scores this year.
• DeVonta Smith went out with a concussion and will probably miss at least Week 4. A.J. Brown is questionable at best in Week 4, so Hurts will have limited passing upside against Tampa.
• Dallas Goedert was the clear #1 target with Smith out. His long catch and run set up the game-winning score. He's a top-three tight end option in Week 4.
• Saquon Barkley kept the Eagles in the game with a scintillating 65-yard touchdown run. He looks like the best running back in the league. He would be RB1 and maybe the #1 overall pick in fantasy drafts today.

Houston at Minnesota

• C.J. Stroud struggled against the Brian Flores Vikings defense, which looks like one of the best in the league. The Texans offense should improve against the Jaguars in Week 4, so Stroud is still a QB1 start.
• Cam Akers scored in garbage time, but the Texans running game is not very threatening without Joe Mixon. Akers is just a what-the-heck flex in Week 4 if Mixon and Dameon Pierce are still out.
• Sam Darnold was dealing and very comfortable in Kevin O'Connell's offense to the tune of four touchdown passes, including one after he briefly left the game with a knee injury. He faces a tough Packers defense on the road in Week 4. If Darnold is good in that setting against that opponent, he has arrived as a high floor QB1 for fantasy.
• Aaron Jones asserted himself as the lead back and had a big game. He is looking like one of the best values at running back this year. Ty Chandler is still worth a hold because of Jones' injury history and the quality of this offense.
• Jalen Nailor scored again and should be rostered across leagues. Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson will be back soon, but Nailor can maintain value by being a primary deep target.

Denver at Tampa Bay

• Sean Payton called a good game for Bo Nix and Nix had his best game as a pro. He'll face a stiff test against the Jets, but is worth a bench spot in 1QB and superflex consideration in Week 4 because of his rushing upside.
• Nix is the team's leading rusher and scored again, but the rest of the running game is in shambles. Javonte Williams isn't the answer, and Jaleel McLaughlin scored but will remain in a limited role. Tyler Badie was good in the second half and is worth a pickup in deep leagues to see if he can capture early down work on a more competitive Broncos team.
• Courtland Sutton finally turned his target volume into a useful WR3/Flex game in PPR leagues, but his value is going to be capped there while Nix develops. Sutton should see a lot of Sauce Gardner in Week 4, so don't expect a repeat.
• Baker Mayfield was under a lot of pressure and didn't get much going against Denver. This reflects well on Denver's defensive quality but also lowers expectations for Mayfield and the whole offense going forward. Mayfield isn't a clear QB1 against the inspired Eagles defense.
• Bucky Irving outplayed Rachaad White again, and now it appears that the team will use Irving more. Both backs are just what-the-heck flexes against Philadelphia. It's possible this backfield doesn't give us a reliable option this year, but it looks like it will be Irving, if we get one.
• Mike Evans was shut down by Patrick Surtain II, but Todd Bowles said he wants more Evans going forward. Make sure he's in your lineup in Week 4.
• Chris Godwin appears to be game script-proof and has high-floor WR1 value right now. He was one of the best picks at wide receivers this year.
• Cade Otton caught seven balls, but they were mainly short-range and a symptom of the overall offensive issues for Tampa. He's not a clear waiver wire pickup until he does this in consecutive weeks.

Green Bay at Tennessee

• Matt LaFleur crafted a perfect game plan for Malik Willis again. Willis was one of the best fantasy quarterbacks of Week 3 on a limited pass volume. He should be on rosters in dynasty superflex leagues. This offense is set up for Jordan Love to produce when he returns. Willis is a viable start against a tough Vikings defense if Love sits out one more week.
• Josh Jacobs was held in check and outplayed by backup Emanuel Wilson, who scored on a perfectly executed screen pass. Jacobs is still an every-week play and the more valuable backfield member, but with this offense surging, Wilson should be rostered across leagues. He's a matchup flex play, but the matchup is tough this week vs. Minnesota.
• Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Tucker Kraft all look like possible fantasy starters once the pass volume goes up with the return of Love. Don't drop them, and make sure they aren't on the waiver wire. Dontayvion Wicks will be worth carrying again too.
• Will Levis' pattern is clear. Mostly solid play with a few unforgivable mistakes. This time, it was staring down an out-breaking pattern to create an easy pick-six. He's just depth in QB2/Superflex leagues and doesn't have the look of a quarterback who will elevate the value of his targets.
• DeAndre Hopkins was the most prominent target and trusted by Levis in key situations. He should be added if he was dropped after his slow start. But it's not clear that Levis can support more than one fantasy-worthy play, and Calvin Ridley could be that player most weeks.
• Tony Pollard was a lesser play than Tyjae Spears for the first time this year, but the snap split looks similar to earlier weeks. Keep Pollard in as an RB2/Flex against a depressed Dolphins team, and make sure Spears is rostered in your league. He has what-the-heck flex value this week.

Chicago at Indianapolis

• Caleb Williams racked up yards in garbage time, but the offense hasn't really been doing him any favors. The running game was so bad in what was a good matchup on paper that the offense will have to rely on Williams - who will get Keenan Allen back soon. Williams' value is trending up one way or the other.
• D'Andre Swift is probably a drop, but he could have some value in PPR leagues if this offense goes full Caleb. The Bears offensive line is getting no push, so no Bears back is worth a roster spot.
• Rome Odunze has the look of Williams' #1 downfield target. He should stay in lineups against the Rams even if Allen returns.
• Cole Kmet was a frequent target for Williams when the offense was in catchup mode. The chemistry they built is enough to merit an add and a start in a good matchup against the Rams.
• Anthony Richardson made two more rookie mistakes and just isn't ready to be trusted in fantasy leagues. The touchdown opportunities are still there, so don't drop him. His ceiling is very high if he can iron out the errors.
• Jonathan Taylor was the game's signature player and should be the face of the offense going forward. He is looking like a hit near the 1-2 turn. If there's a path for Richardson to improve, part of it is built on defenses selling out to slow down Taylor.
• Josh Downs tied for the team lead in targets even though he was only on the field for 57% of the snaps. He is still worth a roster spot in deeper leagues in the hope of improvement for Richardson… after a tough matchup against the Steelers this week.
• It's hard to see how Michael Pittman Jr will build enough momentum to merit a fantasy star in this offense. Even if Richardson improves, the vertical element of the pass offense will mostly exclude Pittman, and the volume will still remain low enough to make Pittman's floor a problem in PPR leagues.