Fantasy News & Analysis

Jahnke: Fantasy football reactions to NFL Week 3

There's nothing better than an NFL Sunday — we had plenty of close games, comebacks and big performances this week. This year's rookie wide receiver class was highly touted coming into the season, and several of them had big performances, increases in playing time or both in Week 3.

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As always, this collection of fantasy reactions will include snap counts for skill players on each team, along with notes on players who saw their fantasy stocks rise or fall during the action — and how we should react to anything new.

Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers

Houston Texans Pittsburgh Steelers
WR WR
Will Fuller V – 44 snaps Chase Claypool – 61 snaps
Brandin Cooks – 41 snaps JuJu Smith-Schuster – 58 snaps
Randall Cobb – 34 snaps James Washington – 49 snaps
Kenny Stills – 8 snaps Diontae Johnson – 19 snaps
Ray-Ray McCloud III – 3 snaps
TE TE
Jordan Akins – 32 snaps Eric Ebron – 60 snaps
Darren Fells – 24 snaps Vance McDonald – 41 snaps
Pharaoh Brown – 4 snaps Derek Watt – 7 snaps
HB HB
David Johnson – 45 snaps James Conner – 53 snaps
C.J. Prosise – 2 snaps Benny Snell Jr. – 15 snaps
Anthony McFarland Jr. – 10 snaps
Jaylen Samuels – 6 snaps
Total – 47 snaps Total – 80 snaps

Injury: WR Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers

Johnson left the game in the second quarter with a concussion after being held without a catch in his first 19 snaps. Before the injury, it was noteworthy that Chase Claypool was playing ahead of James Washington. Claypool had multiple highlight catches the first two weeks, earning him one of PFF’s highest grades among receivers, although it was on a small sample size. With Johnson out, Washington saw an increase in playing time. Washington ended up with more targets and catches than Claypool. Even if Johnson doesn’t miss time, Claypool is someone to pick up off the waivers. He probably won’t cost much because his numbers weren’t great in this game. 

Winner: WR Randall Cobb, Houston Texans

Cobb was the biggest winner today among the Texans’ receivers with 95 yards and a touchdown. Today was the most healthy the Texans receivers have been this year, leaving to all three Houston starters playing the vast majority of snaps. The targets were pretty balanced among all of the Texans’ skill players. In any given week it will be hard to know which Houston players to trust, but they should have better matchups going forward.

Remember The Name: RB Anthony McFarland Jr., Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers’ running back situation was already confusing between Benny Snell being the best running back in Week 1 followed by James Conner taking the backfield back over in Week 2. While Conner remained the lead back this week, for the first time rookie McFarland joined the rotation. He looked good with 42 yards on six carries. It’s unlikely he sees significant enough time in the near-future to be worth starting. If Conner gets hurt or underperforms later in the season, there’s a chance it’s McFarland and not Snell who would become the lead back.

Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots

Las Vegas Raiders New England Patriots
WR WR
Nelson Agholor – 50 snaps Damiere Byrd – 66 snaps
Hunter Renfrow – 39 snaps Julian Edelman – 56 snaps
Zay Jones – 27 snaps N'Keal Harry – 46 snaps
Bryan Edwards – 24 snaps Jakobi Meyers – 7 snaps
Isaiah Zuber – 6 snap
Matthew Slater – 1 snap
TE TE
Darren Waller – 56 snaps Ryan Izzo – 43 snaps
Jason Witten – 15 snaps Devin Asiasi – 29 snaps
Foster Moreau – 15 snaps
Derek Carrier – 1 snap
HB HB
Josh Jacobs – 35 snaps Rex Burkhead – 32 snaps
Jalen Richard – 20 snaps Sony Michel – 26 snaps
Devontae Booker – 4 snaps J.J. Taylor – 15 snaps
Total – 59 snaps Total – 66 snaps

Loser: RB Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders

Jacobs was held to 71 yards on 16 carries with no touchdowns. While the yardage total isn’t terrible, what is concerning was how the Raiders used him. On third downs Jacobs was in on just 27.3% of snaps. This is more than he was used last year, but it was still less than the 38.1% share he held the first two weeks. He also wasn’t used much in the fourth quarter while the Raiders were trying to catch up. No one is questioning how good Jacobs is or that he will get his carries, but it seems like his playing time will be limited in games like this where the Raiders are losing.

Loser: TE Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders’ other star player was held to just nine yards on two catches on four targets. There was no difference in Waller’s playing time from past weeks, but the Patriots do a great job of stopping opponents' top receivers even when they are tight ends. I would not be worried about Waller moving forward.

Sell High, RB Sony Michel, New England Patriots

Michel had a strong rushing performance with 117 yards on just nine carries. What makes Michel a sell-high candidate is that he did well despite seeing a decreased role. It was J.J. Taylor who led the team in carries. With Damien Harris potentially coming back from injury soon, as well as the return of James White, the Patriots backfield will be as crowded as ever. Michel will at best be seeing single-digit touches. Trade him now if someone is excited by how many yards he had, and if no one is, he can be cut.

Injury: WR Bryan Edwards, Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders were without one rookie receiver in Henry Ruggs and then lost Edwards in the third quarter. He had 48 yards on two catches before the injury, which was good for the second-most receiving yards on the day. Nelson Agholor replaced Ruggs, and then Zay Jones replaced Edwards. While those two players saw the playing time, it was slot receiver Hunter Renfrow who saw the targets. He caught six of nine passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. The Raiders have a tough schedule for wide receivers coming up, so none of these guys should be added even if the injuries persist a few weeks.

San Francisco 49ers at New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers New York Giants
WR WR
Kendrick Bourne– 64 snaps Darius Slayton -51 snaps
Brandon Aiyuk – 56 snaps Golden Tate – 48 snaps
Trent Taylor – 30 snaps C.J. Board – 24 snaps
Mohamed Sanu – 20 snaps Damion Ratley – 18 snaps
Dante Pettis – 8 snaps
TE TE
Ross Dwelley – 62 snaps Evan Engram – 44 snaps
Jordan Reed – 18 snaps Kaden Smith – 16 snaps
Charlie Woerner – 12 snaps Levine Toilolo – 4 snap
HB HB
Jerick McKinnon – 48 snaps Dion Lewis – 20 snap
Jeff Wilson Jr. – 23 snaps Wayne Gallman – 18 snaps
JaMycal Hasty – 6 snaps Devonta Freeman – 15 snaps
Elijhaa Penny – 2 snaps
Total – 77 snaps Total – 52 snaps

Winner: RB Jeff Wilson Jr., San Francisco 49ers

In a game where no skill player had more than 70 yards, it was Wilson who won the game thanks to his two touchdowns. Jerick McKinnon ended up dominating playing time on all three downs, but they had a near split in carries. Neither was particularly effective rushing, although each had a rushing TD. Both had three catches, with Wilson’s other touchdown coming in the air. If Raheem Mostert misses another week, chances are McKinnon will be the better back next week due to the playing time and opportunities. This week Wilson had the better fantasy performance.

Loser: RB Dion Lewis, New York Giants

The Giants had a New England-like backfield with three different running backs seeing between 15 and 20 snaps. The three had a combined 17 rushing yards and 17 receiving yards. Wayne Gallman and Devonta Freeman were the primary rushing backs, while Lewis was the primary receiving back. As time goes on I would expect Freeman to get more carries and Gallman to get less while Lewis keeps his role — which doesn’t hold much value if it’s only going to be one or two carries and a few targets per game. 

Injury: TE Jordan Reed, San Francisco 49ers

Reed had an impressive target share with five targets on 13 pass routes before leaving the game with an ankle injury. Kyle Shanahan is optimistic the injury isn’t serious. Once George Kittle is healthy, Reed loses his fantasy value anyway. If Kittle were to miss another game and Reed were to also miss time, Ross Dwelley was the next tight end up with 49 yards on four catches. He would have value in two-tight-end leagues.

Cincinnati Bengals at Philadelphia Eagles

Cincinnati Bengals Philadelphia Eagles
WR WR
Tee Higgins – 57 snaps John Hightower -78 snaps
A.J. Green – 56 snaps Greg Ward – 76 snaps
Tyler Boyd – 54 snaps Deontay Burnett – 39 snaps
Auden Tate – 25 snaps DeSean Jackson – 28 snaps
Mike Thomas – 16 snaps J.J. Arcega-Whiteside – 18 snaps
Alex Erickson – 6 snaps
TE TE
Drew Sample – 64 snaps Zach Ertz – 84 snaps
Cethan Carter – 9 snaps Richard Rodgers – 33 snaps
Mason Schreck – 1 snap Dallas Goedert – 6 snaps
HB HB
Joe Mixon – 52 snaps Miles Sanders – 70 snaps
Giovani Bernard – 18 snaps Boston Scott – 14 snaps
Samaje Perine – 1 snap Corey Clement – 6 snaps
Total – 72 snaps Total – 91 snaps

Loser: RB Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals

Mixon was held under 50 yards rushing for the second-straight game and still hasn’t scored his first touchdown of the season. There were concerns about Mixon’s fantasy value coming into the season, but he has been even less effective than anticipated. He’s had between 16 and 19 carries each game, which is a little less than late last season. Giovani Bernard has remained the third down back, leaving Mixon with few targets. The offensive line hasn’t been doing him many favors which has left him with a low yards per carry. Cincinnati has one of the worst strengths of schedule for a running back, so I wouldn’t consider him a buy-low candidate.

Waiver Wire Add: WR Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

Higgins was stuck near the bottom of the wide receiver rotation in Week 1. In Week 2, he was elevated to a clear top three wide receiver for the team, and this week he led the team in snaps. While Tyler Boyd was also a big winner this week with 125 yards on 10 catches, Higgins brought in two touchdowns. Only having 40 receiving yards might concern some, but the fact that he had nine targets is promising for his future.

Injury: TE Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles

Goedert left the game very early with a foot injury, which led to Zack Ertz having a good seven-catch, 70-yard performance. Ertz went from 61% of snaps in 11 personnel to 88% in this game. If Goedert were to miss any time, the biggest takeaway is that Ertz will see more opportunities. Richard Rodgers replaced him in two tight end sets, but the Eagles also used fewer of those formations after the injury.

Injury: WR DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles were already without Alshon Jeffery and Jalen Reagor, among others, coming into the game, leading to John Hightower and Greg Ward joining Jackson as the primary wide receivers. After Jackson left, Deontay Burnett primarily replaced him. Ward was the only wide receiver with more than four targets. Ward’s eight catches for 72 yards and a touchdown was impressive. I would only consider Ward a waiver wire addition if all of the Eagles top receivers are missing time. If even one is healthy, that will probably limit Ward’s targets.

Tennessee Titans at Minnesota Vikings

Tennessee Titans Minnesota Vikings
WR WR
Corey Davis – 55 snaps Adam Thielen – 61 snaps
Cameron Batson – 45 snaps Justin Jefferson – 51 snaps
Adam Humphries – 39 snaps Chad Beebe – 22 snaps
Kalif Raymond – 20 snaps Olabisi Johnson – 5 snaps
Nick Westbrook – 12 snaps
TE TE
Jonnu Smith – 66 snaps Kyle Rudolph – 48 snaps
MyCole Pruitt – 25 snaps Irv Smith Jr. – 36 snaps
Anthony Firkser – 19 snaps Tyler Conklin – 10 snaps
HB HB
Derrick Henry – 56 snaps Dalvin Cook – 48 snaps
Jeremy McNichols – 9 snaps Alexander Mattison – 16 snaps
Darrynton Evans – 8 snaps
Total – 75 snaps Total – 65 snaps

Waiver Wire Target: WR Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

Jefferson is probably the biggest waiver wire addition this week. Reports out of training camp weren’t great, and as recently as last week Olabsisi Johnson was seeing more snaps, pass routes and targets. With three targets each of the first two weeks, there was no indication a breakout was coming. His nine targets were the most for a Viking in a game this season and led to seven catches, 175 yards and a touchdown. While some of that is inflated by a 71-yard touchdown catch, the number of targets are promising for his future. Chad Beebe also passed Johnson on the depth chart, so it looks like Jefferson’s playing time is here to stay. The question will be if his targets will continue as well.

Winners: RB Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans and Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings

Both Cook and Henry were early- to mid-first round draft picks this August, and neither disappointed. Both had 20-plus carries for 100-plus yards, with Henry winning the touchdown battle two to one. With other top backs injured, they should remain two of the top fantasy running backs the rest of the season.

Remember The Name: WR Kalif Raymond, Tennessee Titans

Raymond was the impressive breakout receiver for the Titans. He caught three passes — of 61, 44 and 13 yards. The reason he’s a name to remember instead of a waiver wire target is because of his spot on the depth chart. The Titans were without A.J. Brown in this game, and he was still fourth for the Titans wide receivers in playing time. He had no catches on two targets over the first two games. It’s possible we see Raymond get a few targets a game after this impressive performance, but it won’t be sustainable enough to ever start him unless he moves up the depth chart.

Los Angeles Rams at Buffalo Bills

Los Angeles Rams Buffalo Bills
WR WR
Robert Woods – 67 snaps Stefon Diggs – 61 snaps
Cooper Kupp – 62 snaps Gabriel Davis – 46 snaps
Josh Reynolds – 62 snaps Cole Beasley – 38 snaps
Van Jefferson – 8 snaps John Brown – 29 snaps
Isaiah McKenzie – 17 snaps
Andre Roberts – 11 snaps
TE TE
Tyler Higbee – 50 snaps Tyler Kroft – 44 snaps
Gerald Everett – 28 snaps Reggie Gilliam – 1 snap
Lee Smith – 1 snap
HB HB
Darrell Henderson – 34 snaps Devin Singletary – 55 snaps
Malcolm Brown – 34 snaps T.J. Yeldon – 6 snaps
Total – 69 snaps Total – 62 snaps

Winner: WR Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams

Kupp was the top fantasy receiver in this game while competing against plenty of high-scoring fantasy wide receivers and tight ends. He caught nine of 10 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. Some of this may have been game-script related, as the Rams were down most of the game and using a lot of three wide receiver sets. He did play 10 of 12 snaps in the first half, so they may be planning fewer two tight end sets anyway.

Loser: TE Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams

Higbee only had two targets after scoring three touchdowns last week. The opportunity to sell him high has ended. There’s reason to be concerned about him at times going forward — the Rams used fewer tight ends than usual due to the game script, which led to Gerald Everett getting more playing time in 11 personnel. This could be the trend in games where Los Angeles is losing. It’s also worth noting that this was a particularly difficult matchup for Higbee against the Bills’ linebackers and safeties.

Sell High: RB Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams

Henderson had 120 yards and a touchdown, which was around the numbers he had the week before. Henderson was primarily the first- and second-down back while Malcolm Brown functioned as the third down back, similar to past weeks. The problem is that in Week 1 Cam Akers had the role Henderson has now, and at some point he will come back. When that happens, Brown is likely to keep his third-down role, leading to a potential three-man rotation on first and second downs. It would be better to let Henderson go now after two big performances before Akers comes back. 

Injury: WR John Brown, Buffalo Bills

Brown only played the first half of the game because of a calf injury. The Bills were already using a lot of multiple receiver sets with Gabriel Davis and Isaiah McKenzie seeing significant time. In the second half, Davis was his clear replacement. Brown was held without a catch on two targets in the first half, while Davis caught all four passes thrown his way for 81 yards. If Brown misses any time, Davis would be the man to pick up in this high-powered offense.

Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons

Chicago Bears Atlanta Falcons
WR WR
Allen Robinson II – 64 snaps Calvin Ridley – 63 snaps
Darnell Mooney – 52 snaps Olamide Zaccheaus – 54 snaps
Anthony Miller – 46 snaps Brandon Powell – 37 snaps
Javon Wims – 24 snaps Russell Gage – 12 snaps
Ted Ginn Jr. – 16 snaps Christian Blake – 6 snaps
TE TE
Jimmy Graham – 55 snaps Hayden Hurst – 43 snaps
Demetrius Harris – 34 snaps Luke Stocker – 32 snaps
Cole Kmet – 26 snaps Jaeden Graham – 7 snaps
J.P. Holtz – 2 snaps
HB HB
David Montgomery – 46 snaps Todd Gurley II – 35 snaps
Tarik Cohen – 26 snaps Brian Hill – 23 snaps
Cordarrelle Patterson – 11 snaps Ito Smith – 6 snaps
Ryan Nall – 7 snaps
Total – 82 snaps Total – 68 snaps

Injury: RB Tarik Cohen, Chicago Bears

The Bears fear Cohen will be out for the year with an ACL injury, according to Ian Rapoport. It doesn’t seem like any single back will replace Cohen, but David Montgomery, Cordarrelle Patterson and Ryan Nall should all see an increase in playing time. Primarily, this will mean more targets for Montgomery. Patterson is an interesting player here — a hybrid running back and wide receiver who has primarily played out of the backfield so far and likely will even more going forward. He is worth a waiver wire addition. 

Winner: WR Allen Robinson II, Chicago Bears

Robinson owners will be very happy with his performance — 10 catches, 123 yards and a touchdown. Over half of his targets came in the second half after Nick Foles took over as quarterback. No other wide receiver had more than two targets in the second half. Robinson should see no decrease in targets with Foles — if anything he’ll see better throws.

Waiver Wire Target: TE Jimmy Graham, Chicago Bears

Speaking of Foles’ targets, Jimmy Graham caught four of eight targets in the second half for 47 yards and his second touchdown of the day. Foles has a history of throwing to tight ends, and it didn’t take any time to find his new tight end in Chicago early and often. Due to the number of targets Graham should continue to see going forward, he is definitely a waiver wire addition.

Injury: WR Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons were without Julio Jones, which pushed Russell Gage to the second wide receiver spot and Olamide Zaccheaus in for three wide receiver sets. Gage left the game early with a concussion. This hopefully won’t be a long-term injury, and even if it is the Falcons have the Packers next week which might not be a great matchup for wide receivers. In future weeks, if there are any more injuries to their wide receivers, it is good to know that Zaccheaus is the next man up.

Washington Football Team at Cleveland Browns

Washington Football Team Cleveland Browns
WR WR
Terry McLaurin – 63 snaps Odell Beckham Jr. – 51 snaps
Dontrelle Inman – 45 snaps Jarvis Landry – 45 snaps
Isaiah Wright – 29 snaps KhaDarel Hodge – 35 snaps
Steven Sims – 23 snaps JoJo Natson –  4 snaps
Antonio Gandy-Golden – 18 snaps
Cam Sims – 1 snap
TE TE
Logan Thomas – 55 snaps Austin Hooper – 54 snaps
Marcus Baugh – 13 snaps Harrison Bryant – 40 snaps
Jeremy Sprinkle – 6 snaps Stephen Carlson – 6 snaps
HB HB
J.D. McKissic – 34 snaps Nick Chubb – 34 snaps
Antonio Gibson – 25 snaps Kareem Hunt – 29 snaps
Peyton Barber – 7 snaps
Total – 64 snaps Total – 62 snaps

Winner: RB Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns

Chubb continued to function as the first and second down back in the first three quarters while Kareem Hunt played on third downs and saw an uptick in snaps in the fourth quarter. Like last week, the split of playing time didn’t prevent Chubb from putting up big fantasy numbers. He had two touchdowns and 108 yards on 19 carries. There is still concern that Chubb won’t have as many opportunities in games when the Browns are losing, but as long as they’re winning Chubb will do just fine.

Loser: RB Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team

Gibson had a breakout performance last week, leading the Washington running backs in both carries and pass routes while limiting Peyton Barber to just one snap. This week, J.D. McKissic  had 11 more pass routes, while Gibson had just over half of the carries. The fantasy owners who played Gibson probably aren’t complaining too much since Gibson scored a touchdown. This is concerning for the near future, though — we need Gibson to play more than 40% of snaps.

Remember The Name: WR Isaiah Wright, Washington Football Team

Steven Sims was questionable coming into this week with a toe injury. While he played, it was undrafted free agent Isaiah Wright who ended up with more slot snaps for Washington. He was targeted on six of his 18 pass routes, catching four for 24 yards. A a healthy Sims could lead to Wright not seeing much of any playing time again, but it is interesting that Wright has the most targets for a Washington wide receiver in a game this season not named Terry McLaurin

New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts

New York Jets Indianapolis Colts
WR WR
Braxton Berrios – 52 snaps Zach Pascal – 55 snaps
Chris Hogan – 51 snaps Michael Pittman Jr. – 34 snaps
Josh Malone – 38 snaps T.Y. Hilton – 31 snaps
Lawrence Cager – 30 snaps Daurice Fountain – 19 snaps
Ashton Dulin – 13 snaps
TE TE
Chris Herndon – 50 snaps Mo Alie-Cox – 34 snaps
Ryan Griffin – 18 snaps Jack Doyle – 33 snaps
Trevon Wesco – 15 snaps Noah Togiai – 15 snaps
HB HB
Frank Gore – 26 snaps Jonathan Taylor – 24 snaps
La'Mical Perine – 21 snaps Nyheim Hines – 20 snaps
Kalen Ballage – 19 snaps Jordan Wilkins – 16 snaps
Total – 64 snaps Total – 59 snaps

Winner: Team Defense, Indianapolis Colts

The score might suggest that the Colts offense had a big day, but it was really the defense that shined with two pick-sixes and a safety. The Indianapolis defense was a popular pick for people who stream defenses, and they didn’t disappoint. It was hard to have too much of a takeaway from the rest of the Colts offense due to the blowout nature of the game and limited offensive snaps it took for them to win.

Player To Drop: TE Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts

The Colts’ tight end position was of interest this week, as Jack Doyle returned from injury a week after Mo Alie-Cox had a breakout day receiving. Alie-Cox ended up playing more in this game than Week 1, although he ended up blocking a lot due to game script. He had three targets and the lone receiving touchdown of the Indianapolis offense, while Doyle was not targeted despite running more routes. Doyle was already a borderline TE2 coming into the season based on his talent and situation, but it will be hard to trust him while he’s fighting fight Alie-Cox for targets.

Remember The Name: RB La’Mical Perine, New York Jets

The Jets have been without their starting running back and top three receivers, which for the most part has made it a team to avoid. Rookie running back La’Mical Perine is a name to keep an eye on. Last week, Frank Gore saw the vast majority of snaps, but this week Perine was close to even with him. Perine ran for 24 yards on seven carries and had two targets while leading the Jets backs in routes run. With this season already looking lost for New York, it wouldn’t be surprising if at some point in the season Perine gets extensive playing time so the Jets can see what they have.

Carolina Panthers at Los Angeles Chargers

Carolina Panthers Los Angeles Chargers
WR WR
D.J. Moore – 45 snaps Keenan Allen – 75 snaps
Robby Anderson – 40 snaps Jalen Guyton – 63 snaps
Curtis Samuel – 33 snaps Mike Williams – 40 snaps
Seth Roberts – 17 snaps K.J. Hill – 38 snaps
Pharoh Cooper – 9 snaps Joe Reed – 6 snaps
Brandon Zylstra – 2 snaps
TE TE
Ian Thomas – 35 snaps Hunter Henry – 69 snaps
Chris Manhertz – 24 snaps Virgil Green – 13 snaps
Colin Thompson – 2 snaps Stephen Anderson – 4 snaps
HB HB
Mike Davis – 39 snaps Austin Ekeler – 56 snaps
Reggie Bonnafon – 2 snaps Joshua Kelley – 23 snaps
Total – 51 snaps Total – 78 snaps

Winner: RB Mike Davis, Carolina Panthers

Davis is a winner after largely stepping into Christian McCaffrey’s role rather than being in a committee. While Curtis Samuel played some running back, Davis had 13 of the Panthers’ 19 designed runs. He also led the team in targets with nine. He brought down eight and had the Panthers’ only offensive touchdown. His usage should remain high among running backs for as long as McCaffrey is out.

Winner: RB Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers

Ekeler also has to be considered a winner based on how much he was used. He led the team in carries and had the team's only rushing touchdown. He also caught all 11 passes thrown his way for 84 yards, really helping his PPR owners. While Joshua Kelly will continue to get some carries each game, Ekeler is still the top running back to have on your team from Los Angeles.

Buy Low: WR D.J. Moore, Carolina Panthers

Moore was held to two catches on four targets for 65 yards. He has yet to have his first receiving touchdown against tough matchups. He has a few other tough matchups but also some very solid ones going forward — he should have a big game next week against the Cardinals. It’s a good time to trade for him ahead of that matchup. 

Sell High: WR Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers

Allen had a ridiculous 17 targets — tied for the most by a player this season. He was able to bring down 13 of those passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. He is only a sell-high candidate if someone overreacts to this week's numbers. Allen should still be the Chargers’ clear No. 1 receiver the rest of the season, and they have a decent schedule. But his value will be a little higher this week than others if you’re looking to move him.

Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks

Dallas Cowboys Seattle Seahawks
WR WR
Michael Gallup – 70 snaps Tyler Lockett – 74 snaps
Amari Cooper – 65 snaps D.K. Metcalf – 74 snaps
CeeDee Lamb – 49 snaps Freddie Swain – 34 snaps
Noah Brown – 29 snaps David Moore – 31 snaps
Cedrick Wilson – 24 snaps
TE TE
Dalton Schultz – 55 snaps Greg Olsen – 48 snaps
Blake Bell – 27 snaps Will Dissly – 30 snaps
Sean McKeon – 4 snaps Jacob Hollister – 11 snaps
HB HB
Ezekiel Elliott – 80 snaps Chris Carson – 44 snaps
Tony Pollard – 6 snaps Carlos Hyde – 16 snaps
Travis Homer – 16 snaps
Penny Hart – 2 snaps
Total – 82 snaps Total – 76 snaps

Winner: WR Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks

Anytime someone scores three touchdowns, they belong in the winner section. Lockett saw a team-high 13 targets and brought in nine for 100 yards. The Seahawks have the easiest schedule for wide receivers the rest of the season, including matchups against the Dolphins and Vikings the next two weeks. He and D.K. Metcalf should both have several more big games this season.

Loser: RB Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys

Elliott played a ridiculously high 80 of 82 snaps but had just 58 yards. The Cowboys tried to get him involved in the pass game with a team high 12 targets, but he only caught half of those for 24 yards. The Cowboys have the second-most difficult schedule for running backs the rest of the season, so he is someone who could be worth selling high after a better week.

Remember The Name: WR Cedrick Wilson, Dallas Cowboys

Considering past WRs performances against the Seahawks, all of the Cowboys were expected to have big games. Most of the wide receivers didn’t disappoint, though Cedrick Wilson was surprisingly the one to catch two of the three passing touchdowns. It’s unlikely that he’ll see much playing time in future games — the Cowboys had 57 pass attempts, and as the game went on Wilson and Noah Brown started subbing in for the other receivers more often. In future weeks, the Cowboys won’t be passing as much, so there will be less need to rotate the stars out.

Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals

Detroit Lions Arizona Cardinals
WR WR
Marvin Jones Jr. – 60 snaps DeAndre Hopkins – 61 snaps
Kenny Golladay – 48 snaps Larry Fitzgerald – 56 snaps
Danny Amendola – 29 snaps KeeSean Johnson – 47 snaps
Jamal Agnew – 14 snaps Andy Isabella – 26 snaps
Quintez Cephus – 10 snaps
Marvin Hall – 6 snaps
TE TE
T.J. Hockenson – 54 snaps Darrell Daniels – 37 snaps
Jesse James – 33 snaps Dan Arnold – 32 snaps
HB HB
Adrian Peterson – 39 snaps Kenyan Drake – 44 snaps
Kerryon Johnson – 20 snaps Chase Edmonds – 21 snaps
D'Andre Swift – 6 snaps
Total – 66 snaps Total – 65 snaps

Winner: WR Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions

Golladay finally saw his first action of 2020 — he tied for the team lead in targets with seven and scored one of the two Lions touchdowns. Detroit seemed to limit Golladay’s snaps a little more than usual, so there’s room for Golladay to see a bigger workload in future weeks. 

Remember The Name: WR Andy Isabella, Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals scored three touchdowns, and two of them were to Andy Isabella. He caught all four passes thrown his way and had the second-most receiving yards for Arizona. This had the potential to be an even bigger breakout game for Isabella with Christian Kirk out with injury, but 2019 sixth round pick KeeSean Johnson mostly took Kirk’s place. He had close to double the snaps of Kirk and seven targets. If Isabella was a clear top-three receiver in snaps it would be a lot easier to get excited about this performance. With Johnson ahead of him, it’s hard to imagine Isabella getting enough targets to start him anytime soon.

Player To Drop: RB D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions

Swift had a clear role for the Lions in the first two weeks as their receiving back. He had a clear lead in pass routes both weeks, including leading the team in third-down snaps. His role was significantly reduced in Week 3: He didn’t play on any third downs, had no carries and ran the third-most pass routes. This should be good news for Kerryon Johnson, but he only put up 30 total yards. Swift already didn’t have much fantasy value in his previous role due to lack of touches, but with this reduced role it would take a lot for him to return to fantasy relevancy.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Denver Broncos

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Denver Broncos
WR WR
Mike Evans – 61 snaps K.J. Hamler – 59 snaps
Chris Godwin – 55 snaps Tim Patrick – 53 snaps
Scotty Miller – 29 snaps Jerry Jeudy – 46 snaps
Tyler Johnson – 21 snaps DaeSean Hamilton – 12 snaps
Jaydon Mickens – 2 snaps Tyrie Cleveland – 3 snaps
Diontae Spencer – 2 snaps
TE TE
Rob Gronkowski – 63 snaps Noah Fant – 53 snaps
O.J. Howard – 33 snaps Jake Butt – 18 snaps
Cameron Brate – 5 snaps
HB HB
Ronald Jones – 35 snaps Melvin Gordon III – 39 snaps
Leonard Fournette – 25 snaps Royce Freeman – 24 snaps
LeSean McCoy – 11 snaps
Total – 68 snaps Total – 63 snaps

Winner: QB Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Brady was throwing to an injured Mike Evans Week 1 and was without Chris Godwin in Week 2. This week he had a fully healthy lineup — at least to start the game. This led to a 297-yard and three-touchdown performance. Evans only caught two passes but they both went for touchdowns. Scott Miller led the team in yards. Godwin also had a touchdown, and Rob Gronkowski was more involved in the passing game than he has been over the past two weeks. This looked like something we can expect from the Buccaneers in future weeks.

Loser: RB Melvin Gordon III, Denver Broncos

Gordon was expected to have a rough game due to the matchup, but it ended up being worse because of how much the Broncos used Royce Freeman. In Week 2, Gordon had 78% of the Broncos’ offensive snaps, but this week that dropped to 62%. Gordon ended up just barely putting up more yards than Freeman despite having significantly more carries and targets. Gordon should have better days against weaker run defenses, but the limit to his playing time puts a cap on that upside.

Player To Drop: RB LeSean McCoy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers’ running back situation has been confusing, but McCoy has maintained a role as the third-down back. He didn’t have any carries in this game and was limited to two catches on four targets. What made things worse is that Leonard Fournette continued to take some of the third-down snaps. With how much talent the Buccaneers have at wide receiver and tight end, it doesn’t look like McCoy will be Brady’s new James White. He’s more likely to lose playing time to Fournette than to garner more touches. 

Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints

Green Bay Packers New Orleans Saints
WR WR
Allen Lazard – 59 snaps Tre' Quan Smith – 61 snaps
Marquez Valdes-Scantling – 57 snaps Emmanuel Sanders – 48 snaps
Darrius Shepherd – 23 snaps Deonte Harris – 22 snaps
Malik Taylor – 4 snaps Bennie Fowler – 11 snaps
Marquez Callaway – 2 snaps
TE TE
Robert Tonyan – 40 snaps Adam Trautman – 32 snaps
Marcedes Lewis – 20 snaps Jared Cook – 21 snaps
Jace Sternberger – 19 snaps Josh Hill – 20 snaps
John Lovett – 2 snaps
HB HB
Aaron Jones – 44 snaps Alvin Kamara – 41 snaps
Tyler Ervin – 23 snaps Latavius Murray – 21 snaps
Jamaal Williams – 19 snaps
Total – 62 snaps Total – 61 snaps

Winner: RB Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

You know you've seen something special when a player accounts for over half of his team's receiving yardage, but it's even more impressive when a running back does it. Kamara was at that point up until the final drive: He caught 13 of the 14 passes thrown his way for two touchdowns and 139 yards — 83 yards more than any other Saints player. Throw in an additional 58 rushing yards, and you have a great fantasy day. Kamara has a chance to be the best fantasy running back this year.

Waiver Wire Target: WR Allen Lazard, Green Bay Packers

Lazard is already owned in plenty of fantasy football leagues, but after his performance tonight, it's worth double-checking to see if he's available on the waiver wire. With Davante Adams out, Lazard was not only Aaron Rodgers' favorite target, but he also served as the Packers' big-play threat. He caught six of the eight passes thrown his way for 146 yards and a touchdown, and tonight's game should only grow the confidence Rodgers has in him. Lazard will continue to be an every-down player even when Adams is back, so the opportunity for these kinds of games will continue.

Injury: TE Jared Cook, New Orleans Saints

Cook started the season strong with a five-catch, 80-yard performance. Last week, he was limited to two catches but saved his fantasy score with a touchdown. He was held to two catches again this week, but his playing time was limited more than usual. He suffered an ankle injury in the third quarter, but even before the injury, there was reason to be concerned about his usage.

Cook played 70.2% of 11-personnel snaps over the first two weeks; he also saw over half of the 12-personnel snaps. This week, he was taken out of 12 personnel altogether, giving way to Josh Hill and rookie Adam Trautman. It's also worth noting that Hill had been the primary tight end in 21 personnel, but Trautman took the lead in that personnel grouping tonight, as well.

Trautman became the tight end in 11 personnel tonight, and because he is also a blocker, Trautman might see more playing time if Cook were to miss any time. Trautman is definitely a waiver wire addition if Cook's injury is serious enough to keep him off the field.

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