Fantasy Football: Preseason Week 3 Review
Andrew Luck’s retirement overshadows every other NFL headline. However, with the final rounds of fantasy football drafts taking place, plenty of other story lines are generating headlines. We take a look back at preseason Week 3 and other happenings in our Sizzle/Fizzle feature. Hopefully, our informational guide with further cement your draft plans. Good Luck!
Bears At Colts
Sizzle
I know the merits of the kicker position are debated constantly in fantasy football. Some hate kickers and want them banned. Others love kickers and feel they should always have a place. Like many, I do not focus heavily on kickers, but do not ignore them entirely. Once again, Chicago sat every one of any importance. That means I find myself composing more prose about Eddy Pineiro!
I do not want to call him “Steady Eddy” just yet, but he had a banner night in Indianapolis. Pineiro hit a 58-yard field goal and converted all three of his extra points. He also connected on a 21-yard field goal try. Drafting Pineiro may not be for the faint of heart. But the best kickers come from good offenses, and Chicago has enough weapons to score some points.
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Fizzle
We went from “will Andrew Luck play in week one?” to “Andrew Luck is retiring!” Forget the talk about it being the most shocking retirement in NFL history. It may be the most shocking retirement since Michael Jordan first retired in 1993.
Now we must evaluate the impact on the rest of the key personnel on the Indianapolis roster. New starter Jacoby Brissett has proven capable in past appearances. However, unless Colts head coach Frank Reich works major magic, Brissett’s nothing more than a second quarterback option.
If Luck was still present, we would take closer looks at the fringe Indianapolis components. That includes Devin Funchess, Parris Campbell, and Deon Cain. Right now, it would be hard to draft any of that trio. Campbell and Cain might warrant waiver looks, later on, should Brissett prove better than expected. They have more long-term upside than Funchess, especially in dynasty.
Eric Ebron and Jack Doyle also take hits. As mentioned before, Ebron was highly unlikely to match last year’s touchdown total even with Luck. He goes from a low-end tight end one to more of a high-end tight end two. Doyle now has little chance of moving out of the tight end two ranks.
T.Y. Hilton stays a wide receiver two. However, it is worth noting that Hilton had only 57 receptions in 2017 when Brissett started almost every game.
Marlon Mack will continue to be a running back two. By default, the Colts may turn to him and flex-worthy Nyheim Hines more often. They will also be in scoring positions less than they would have been with Luck. The ceiling drops for both backs.
Ravens At Eagles
Sizzle
Rookie wide receivers and backup quarterbacks flourished Thursday night in Philadelphia. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside was excellent for the Eagles, catching eight passes for 104 yards and a touchdown. With all of the weapons Philadelphia possesses, Arcega-Whiteside will go unselected in most redraft leagues. That said, he might end up as an impact-free agent later on. Dynasty league owners should be very happy to land him.
Philadelphia is very happy they landed veteran quarterback Josh McCown. McCown was 17-for-24 for 192 yards and two touchdowns. Baltimore had to be pleased by the showing of rookie quarterback Trace McSorley. Envisioned as the Maryland version of Taysom Hill, McSorley was 19-for-28 for 203 yards and two touchdowns.
Most importantly for Baltimore, their first-round pick, Marquise Brown, made his debut. Brown caught three passes. He spent a lot of time recovering from Lisfranc surgery during the offseason. Fellow rookie Miles Boykin had a 44-yard reception.
Fizzle
Eventually, Baltimore’s skilled rookie runner, Justice Hill, was going to encounter some adversity. The Eagles limited Hill to eight yards on seven carries. There are going to be some days like that for Hill during the season. As a player who swings for the fences and will spell Mark Ingram, Hill could bust at times. His good days will outnumber his bad. His best days could win weeks for your team.
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Redskins At Falcons
Sizzle
Last week, I questioned the wisdom of drafting Derrius Guice. I am questioning it a lot less now. Guice rushed for 44 yards on 11 carries and looked vigorous. Guice’s draft price (currently in the sixth round at fantasy football calculator) continues to be a little high. Adrian Peterson and Chris Thompson are not going anywhere at the moment. If you want to bet on upside, Guice finally showed he could be up to the task.
Earlier in the preseason, it looked like Ito Smith might lose his spot as Devonta Freeman’s direct backup. Smith had no problem producing against Washington, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He also scored his third touchdown of the preseason. Those handcuffing Freeman or looking to hit the fantasy discount shop can feel safer selecting Smith.
Fizzle
Sadly, Jordan Reed has entered the NFL’s concussion protocol. With multiple concussions already in his career, you would expect extra caution in this case. Instead, Reed may play in week one. Vernon Davis would be a quality replacement but offers only sporadic value in this shaky offense. Reed’s ADP had fallen to the point where he became a bargain. Now, it could be prudent to search elsewhere for a sleeper.
Eventually, Dwayne Haskins will take over as Washington’s starting quarterback. Veteran Case Keenum lands the starting spot for the opener in Philadelphia. Hard to see Keenum squeaking out any two-quarterback league value given Washington opens with Philadelphia, Dallas, and Chicago. The Eagles are an enticing week one start.
Maybe Atlanta should have kept Matt Bryant. Giorgio Tavecchio missed his only field goal try against Washington. He has missed three other tries in Atlanta’s previous games. The Falcons responded by signing Blair Walsh. Once a sensation in Minnesota, Walsh struggled in his last significant stop in Seattle. It would be hard at this point to depend on either kicker, but maybe the Falcons make another move. The right kicker would offer nice value in Atlanta’s potent offense.
Seahawks At Chargers
Sizzle
Seattle’s depth at wide receiver keeps getting stretched. With D.K. Metcalf already out due to knee injury, the Seahawks lost David Moore. Moore injured his shoulder during practice. Tons of targets will be headed Tyler Lockett’s way.
Lockett currently has a fourth-round ADP in standard leagues according to Fantasy Football Calculator. Picking running backs in the first three rounds and then starting with Lockett at wide receiver would be a good strategy. Jaron Brown, who gets extra playing time with Metcalf and Moore out, should be on your daily fantasy radar. Brown would not cost much and ought to get some targets.
Rashaad Penny has not mounted a serious challenge to Chris Carson, but delivered his best performance of the preseason. Penny caught three passes, posted 37 total yards, and rushed for a touchdown. Despite his soft start, Penny stays in play as a weekly flex in Seattle’s run-oriented attack. If something happens to Carson, you would have an instant full-time starter.
Fizzle
For the first time since Melvin Gordon’s holdout began, Los Angeles saw some ground game struggles. Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson combined for 24 yards on nine carries. Do not overreact to one night of challenges for this talented duo. Gordon seems likely to miss games at this point. He has dug in and the Chargers do not seem inclined to give in to his demands. Plan on prioritizing Ekeler, but Jackson may have the higher touchdown potential.
Giants At Bengals
Sizzle
The Giants are enjoying good news on the injury front. Sterling Shepard should be okay for opening day and Golden Tate moved out of the concussion protocol. We offer a friendly reminder that Tate remains suspended for the first four games of the season.
Daniel Jones delivered another gem in the Queen City. Jones was 9-for-11 for 141 yards. At some point, he will make starts for New York.
Fizzle
Whatever slim hopes Cincinnati had of A.J. Green playing during week one seem to have evaporated. In fact, Green seems likely to miss at least a couple of games and maybe more. Drafting Green fairly close to his normal draft position could get you in big trouble. If he slides towards the middle rounds, it would be a lot easier to add A.J. to your roster.
In Green’s absence, Damion Willis gets a starting assignment. A rookie out of Troy, Willis had three receptions for 55 yards against New York. Additionally, John Ross has returned to practice after dealing with a hamstring injury. A disappointment so far, Ross needs to make an impact in the midst of Green’s absence.
Panthers At Patriots
Sizzle
Although his best runs were negated by penalties, Sony Michel looked sharp. He looked every bit like a lead back. Undervalued for a variety of reasons, Michel looks like a steal as opposed to a bust. For now, Damien Harris no longer lurks as a big threat.
New England activated Josh Gordon off the active/NFI list. A formality to be sure, but it represents how real Gordon’s return happens to be. We all know the risks with Gordon. We also know the potential rewards.
Fizzle
When Cam Newton gets hurt, whatever positives Carolina might find elsewhere are negated. Newton shed his walking boot and most are expecting him to start week one. Nevertheless, if you are still drafting, plan on pairing Newton with a high-level backup.
We expect football players to deal with injuries relating to football. Unfortunately, New England center David Andrews finds himself dealing with blood clots in his lungs. Of course, there are football ramifications with New England’s offensive line not being as strong. But the main hope will be that Andrews gets better as he deals with this scary situation.
Limited practices due to injury and the return of Gordon have taken the shine off N’Keal Harry. Some speculation hints at Harry missing week one. Removing him from your draft board might be extreme, but he should only be a late-round gamble.
Texans At Cowboys
Sizzle
Dak Prescott continues to develop a connection with second-year receiver Michael Gallup. Prescott found Gallup for a 12-yard touchdown as Dallas routed their Texas rivals 34-0. While Gallup continues to show promise, the Cowboys should have Amari Cooper for opening day.
Rookie running back Tony Pollard rushed for 26 yards on six carries. Pollard was again used as the starter with Ezekiel Elliott extending his absence. Elliott’s holdout seems likely to end sooner than Melvin Gordon’s, but we have reached crunch time. If you want to throw caution to the wind and draft Elliott, it is imperative you pick Pollard later. If you have zero interest in Zeke, Pollard has shown enough to get touches even if Elliott returns.
Fizzle
Houston, we have a problem. Actually, more like problems. We start with the loss of Lamar Miller for the season with a torn ACL. To make matters worse, Miller also tore his MCL. Miller’s departure could set up Duke Johnson for a big season. But Johnson has never had a huge workload dating back to his days in Cleveland. While Johnson’s ADP will soar, the Texans are going to ponder making moves to beef up their depth. Do not automatically assume Johnson will have the same workload Miller did.
The other major problem for the Texans remains chemistry between Deshaun Watson and the offensive line. Sure, Houston needs help upfront. Nevertheless, Watson holds onto the ball too long at times. Between both issues, owners drafting Watson need to prioritize getting a quality backup.
Cardinals At Vikings
Sizzle
After disappointing during Arizona’s second preseason game, Kyler Murray got back on track in Minneapolis. The touted rookie was 14-for-21 for 137 yards. Arizona’s top receiver was rookie KeeSean Johnson. Johnson snagged seven passes for 85 yards. With Andy Isabella struggling and Hakeem Butler now on injured reserve, Johnson has become the rookie to watch in. His late-round outlook would be better had Arizona not signed veteran Michael Crabtree. Regardless, Johnson should be on your radar in all formats.
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The Vikings are high on rookie running back Alexander Mattison. Mike Boone has also made his mark in the Minnesota backfield during the preseason. But against Arizona, Dalvin Cook reminded everyone why he remains Minnesota’s main man. Cook embarked on an 85-yard journey to the end through Arizona’s bewildered defense. If his health finally cooperates, Cook should finish as a high-end running back one.
Fizzle
Critics of Kirk Cousins, and there are many, were probably popping open bottles of champagne. The beleaguered quarterback was 3-for-13 against an Arizona defense no one would confuse with the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. When things go bad for Cousins, they often go really bad. By no means does this change the outlook for Cousins in 2019. Between Cook’s expected emergence and his own inconsistency, Cousins will be firmly in quarterback two territory.
Steelers At Titans
Sizzle
There will be times the Steelers miss Antonio Brown, even factoring in Brown’s notorious diva side. Nonetheless, Pittsburgh’s passing game should be just fine. Ben Roethlisberger, playing for the first time this preseason, found Juju Smith-Schuster for a 17-yard touchdown. James Washington, who has shined over the preseason slate, caught a 41-yard touchdown from Mason Rudolph. Still, behind Donte Moncrief on the depth chart, Washington’s worth stashing on your bench.
James Conner averaged 8.2 yards per carry in Nashville. Somewhat overlooked because of Jaylen Samuels, Conner should get more than enough touches to produce fantasy dividends. Be happy if you can get Conner in the second round. That might not be feasible, but such a scenario would not be out of the question.
Fizzle
Citing an inability to protect Marcus Mariota, Tennessee head coach Mike Vrabel pulled Mariota early. Of course, that becomes easier to do when Mariota missed on all three of his pass attempts. Ryan Tannehill was six-for-nine.
While Tannehill may ultimately make starts, the Titans will struggle without suspended tackle Taylor Lewan. Lewan will miss the first four games of the season. Outside of Delanie Walker and Corey Davis, this passing game warrants a “shy away” approach. I would be leery of Adam Humphries in PPR leagues. At least rookie wide receiver A.J. Brown looks to be healthy. A shaky redraft prospect, Brown offers dynasty value should Tennessee eventually solve their quarterback dilemma.
Bills At Lions
Sizzle
Matthew Stafford made his first appearance of the season for Detroit and performed well. Stafford connected on 12-of-19 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown went to rookie running back Ty Johnson. Ty Johnson has not garnered a lot of attention due to the presence of Kerryon Johnson and C.J. Anderson. Nevertheless, his name should be filed away should injuries strike either of Detroit’s top backs.
Rookie tight end T.J. Hockenson showcased a connection with Stafford, hauling in three passes for 52 yards. Hockenson heads into the season as a tight end two in most cases but has the potential to move up. As for Stafford, his days as a quarterback one appear to be numbered for the time being. But with Hockenson, Marvin Jones, and Kenny Golladay, Stafford will still have some occasional big games. One of those could be opening day against an Arizona secondary missing two starting cornerbacks.
Buffalo’s Over the Hill Gang backfield duo of LeSean McCoy and Frank Gore flashed back to their younger days. Gore averaged 7.1 yards per carry and McCoy generated 6.2 yards per attempt.
Fizzle
With Buffalo’s veteran backs flashing back to their younger days, rookie Devin Singletary did not see much action. Singletary rushed for a nine-yard touchdown on his only carry. For all the promise he has shown, the Bills do not appear to be deviating from their committee plans. Singletary should be a steady contributor at some point, but right now, looks to be just a bench stash.
The often unlucky Lions found themselves dealing with worrisome injuries in the wake of Friday night. Center Frank Ragnow suffered an ankle injury. Fortunately, it does not appear to be serious. Linebacker Jarrad Davis also injured his ankle. While Ragnow could be able to go on opening day, Davis appears unlikely to play. Although Davis is not an IDP superstar, owners counting on him need to look for an alternative.
Jaguars At Dolphins
Sizzle
We finally witnessed the real Jacksonville offense and got affirmation on a couple of key fantasy angles. First, Leonard Fournette looked healthy. Secondly, Dede Westbrook’s breakout season appears to be upon us. With Westbrook and Nick Foles in harmony, Westbrook snagged four passes for 29 yards and a touchdown. The Jacksonville passing game will not support multiple weapons, but it will be good enough to support Westbrook.
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Last year, Jacksonville’s team defense disappointed many fantasy owners who reached for them. This year, with slightly depressed draft stock, the Jaguars can easily make amends. First-round pick Josh Allen dominated the Dolphins. With Allen combining forces with Calais Campbell, Yannick Ngakoue, and Jalen Ramsey, the Jaguars should have some big days. One of their Indianapolis games is during week 17, but their week 11 Colts clash will be easier.
Fizzle
The Kalen Ballage propaganda platform appears to be running out of steam. Miami’s second-year running back rushed for 17 yards on 12 carries. Additionally, Kenyan Drake has returned to practice. Do not expect Ballage to disappear. The Dolphins do not have much besides him and Drake. But after all of the recent publicity surrounding Ballage, do not be shocked if Drake remains the best back.
Miami still seems puzzled as to whether to choose Ryan Fitzpatrick or Josh Rosen as their starting quarterback. Once-promising Preston Williams failed to catch a pass. Kenny Stills could be heading elsewhere. This Miami mess will be one of the best teams for streaming defenses to square off against. If there are any silver linings for Miami, tight end Mike Gesicki caught three passes for 59 yards. Albert Wilson was cleared for practice.
Packers At Raiders
Sizzle
Oakland was considered to be the “home” team in this game that was played in Winnipeg. The disastrous field conditions have already been documented. Fortunately, the Raiders emerged unscathed. Maybe the Antonio Brown drama appears to be on the verge of subsiding somewhat. The mercurial receiver may land an endorsement deal as part of getting a new helmet. We can all sleep better once that happens.
Josh Jacobs got a little bit more of a boost when Oakland released Doug Martin. Although Martin’s best days are behind him, the Raiders had resigned him after Isaiah Crowell tore his achilles. Letting him go represents more confidence in Jacobs and backups Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington. Richard and Washington would likely form a committee if something happens to Jacobs.
Fizzle
Green Bay was not as lucky in Canada. Wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown suffered a high-ankle sprain and will miss several weeks. St. Brown did not represent a significant threat to Geronimo Allison or Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Still, Aaron Rodgers loses a quality target. The Packers also lost first-round defensive end Rashan Gary to injury as well.
Earlier in the preseason, Green Bay rookie running back Dexter Williams looked interesting. Now, he looks to be fourth on the depth chart.
Browns At Buccaneers
Sizzle
There were plenty of troubles for Tampa on Friday night. Jameis Winston was sacked five times and was 9-for-19. Backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert suffered a shoulder injury. Neither Peyton Barber nor Ronald Jones did much of anything. But through it all, Chris Godwin again showed why he looks to be worth the hype. Godwin caught four passes for 52 yards, including a 20-yard reception.
Tampa’s third running back, Dare Ogunbowale, had an offensive playtime percentage of 49% against the Browns. The Bucs have given extensive playing time to Ogunbowale during the preseason. Showing promise, Ogunbowale would not be a horrible late-round gamble.
Fizzle
Nobody will be bailing on Baker Mayfield based on Friday’s game. However, Mayfield did not build the momentum he would have liked. The second-year signal-caller completed just 10-of-26 passes. Cleveland’s offensive line issues will be something Mayfield will have to contend with. A breakout season seems likely for brash Baker. But if you believe he will struggle more than expected, you may want someone like Matt Ryan instead.
49ers At Chiefs
Sizzle
The Damien Williams doubters were dealt a blow when Williams raced into the end zone on a 62-yard touchdown pass. Williams believers had to be thrilled amidst all the Darwin Thompson talk. Thompson looks like a factor, but Carlos Hyde appears to be headed to the waiver wire. With Williams healthy and looking sharp, he becomes a much safer pick. Elsewhere for Kansas City, Mecole Hardman caught three passes for 40 yards. Patrick Mahomes was Patrick Mahomes.
After a debacle against Denver, Jimmy Garoppolo eased the minds of San Francisco fans and fantasy owners. Garoppolo completed 14-of-20 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown pass to Matt Breida. Not a regular option in one quarterback leagues, Garoppolo at least showed promise for two-quarterback owners. He should produce as a streamer at times.
In addition to catching the touchdown passes, Breida rushed for 44 yards on seven carries. With an eighth-round ADP at Fantasy Football Calculator, Breida should outperform his draft spot, albeit not dramatically.
Fizzle
Part of the reason why Breida’s price tag looks so reasonable just happens to be backfield mate Tevin Coleman. Coleman, with an ADP on the fourth/fifth round at Fantasy Football Calculator, struggled in Kansas City. Coleman produced just 19 yards on nine carries. There’s nothing wrong with having Coleman on your roster. He seemed to always be on the flex radar in Atlanta and should stay there in San Francisco. However, his draft spot would be that of a regular starter. Do not overpay for Coleman.
Dante Pettis, who has had a puzzling preseason, has been battling a groin injury. At this point, if someone in your league wants to reach for Pettis, let them. Otherwise, if he slides quite a bit in your league, give in to temptation.
Saints At Jets
Sizzle
The first-team offense for New Orleans looked as good as ever. Drew Brees hooked up with Michael Thomas for a 19-yard touchdown. Alvin Kamara had a 25-yard reception. New Orleans also got a 78-yard punt return for a score from Deonte Harris. The Saints can celebrate the removal of star defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins from the active/PUP list.
Sam Darnold delivered another nice outing, going 8-of-13 for 97 yards for a touchdown. He clicked again with Robby Anderson, with the duo connecting on a 41-yard pass. Anderson seems to have separated from the other New York receivers. Darnold will be a legitimate starter in two-quarterback leagues with occasional high ceiling potential in one quarterback formats.
Fizzle
A report from ESPN’s Rich Cimini offers speculation Le’Veon Bell will not start the year with a huge role. Ty Montgomery, despite losing a fumble against the Saints, has generally done well during the preseason. We all know Adam Gase and his recent Miami committee history. By no means am I suggesting Montgomery will make this a shared backfield over the long haul. But there are already red flags with Bell. One of the top wide receivers would make a safer pick in the first round.
Broncos At Rams
Sizzle
Pretty much anyone of importance sat this one out for Denver. The Broncos were playing their fourth preseason game since they appeared in the Hall of Fame game. But a team that could have been dealing with a quarterback controversy has unexpected stability. Drew Lock was unable to mount a challenge to Joe Flacco. Now a thumb injury has sidelined Lock to the point where he may land on injured reserve.
For better or worse, Flacco will either lead a Denver revival or another disappointing season. His secure spot atop the depth chart gives two quarterback leaguers one more choice on draft day.
Fizzle
The most well-known Los Angeles players were nowhere to be found. Rookie Darrell Henderson at least saw time. The story remains the same for the touted rookie. I am sure many Henderson fans are not happy that he will wind up again in Fizzle land. But with not much else happening with the Rams, who else am I going to focus on?
As a result, one cold word will lead to another. Henderson averaged 2.5 yards per carry against Denver. He has averaged less than three yards per carry throughout the preseason. While performing better as a receiver, Henderson looks more like a complementary piece than a lead back. I fully admit I could be wrong, but he does not look like the clear-cut handoff to Todd Gurley. Malcolm Brown and John Kelly are also part of the mix.
