Set Your Lineups For Week 3

Photo of Jorge Edwards Jorge Edwards Follow on X Send an email September 23, 2020
6 minutes read

 

Good lord week two was a rough week with all the injuries that occurred on Sunday. However, we must NOT focus on the past because there is a whole lot of fantasy football left to be played, and for those who lost key starters on their teams may this article serve you well.

However, before we get down to business don’t forget to check out our waiver wire articles this week on both offense and IDP. If there are still players listed in these articles available on your waiver wire please snatch them up immediately!

NOW let’s get down to business, folks!

Here are your 4-EYED Starts & Sits For Week 3!

Quarterback

Gardner Minshew vs. Dolphins: START

 

Facing a Dolphins team that allowed “Mr. Innaccurate” Josh Allen to put up 417 yards passing and 4 TDs, it is almost criminal not to recommend Gardner Minshew as a START this week. As if you needed any more convincing Minshew is tied for 6th in passing attempts in the redzone, 2nd in TDs in the redzone with 5, and has the 7th best passer rating in the NFL.

The Dolphins have the worst pass coverage unit in the NFL, the 7th worst pass rushing unit in the NFL, and are allowing the 3rd most fantasy points to QBs this season.

Need I say anymore? No? Good! Start Minshew this week!

 Matt Stafford vs. Arizona Cardinals: SIT

Yes, I remember the shootout in the desert these two teams had in week 1 of 2019. I can tell you with reasonable confidence that will not happen this week. Arizona is allowing the 7th fewest fantasy points to the position this season, they’re ranked 14th in coverage, 16th in pass-rushing, and if that wasn’t bad enough the Lions haven’t had a skill position player score double-digit fantasy points (0.5 PPR) in consecutive weeks all season. Without Kenny Golladay there to help keep the defense honest as well as having a consistent running game, the only reason why you would play Stafford is that you’re hoping for the home-run plays. Granted if there was any QB to do so it would be him, but you can find more “sure” options on the waiver wire this week so he’s a SIT for me this week.

Running Backs

D’Andre Swift vs Arizona Cardinals: START

On the flip side of the Lions passing attack, the Lions rushing attack should have a solid week this week, especially the rookie D’Andre Swift. Leading the team in snap % so far this season Swift has been getting plenty of work in the running and receiving game for the Lions. Arizona is allowing the 6th most fantasy points to the position, and given the lack of receiving options on this team look for Stafford to go to Swift early and often in this matchup which is why he is a must START!

Any Jets RB vs. Indianapolis Colts: SIT

I mean I really shouldn’t have to explain this, but since I’m here, why not. The Colts are allowing the 5th fewest fantasy points to the running back position and recently held running back Dalvin Cook to only 63 yards rushing. That would probably be because the Colts are top 12 in run defense, and with the re-emergence of production from defensive tackle DeForest Buckner running lanes should start becoming a thing of the past along Indy’s defensive line. Oh, and the Jets suck. ALL OF WHICH should be good enough reason why you should fade Jets RBs now and probably going forward.

Receivers

Terry McLaurin vs. Cleveland Browns: START

I mean….did you see how he got open on Patrick Peterson?! The Browns have the 20th ranked coverage unit in the NFL, they give up the 8th most fantasy points per game to the position, McLaurin has led Washington in targets all season, and given the potential negative game script the “Football Team” is likely to be in look for Terry “F1” to pick right back up from where he left off in week 2.

Stefon Diggs vs. Los Angeles Rams: SIT

My knock here isn’t so much on Diggs’s ability to get open (he’s a great route runner) to be fantasy relevant, but rather my concern is that his QB’s passing volume won’t be as elite as it was in week 2. Facing a Rams team that ranks 2nd overall in pass coverage and allows the third-fewest fantasy points to the position, I would assume star shutdown cornerback Jalen Ramsey would be responsible for covering Diggs throughout the game, essentially removing him from any and all startable production. If anything I’d be more confident in recommending John Brown as a start candidate this week. As far as Diggs goes, if you have more consistent options with a safer floor I’d start them over Diggs.

Tight Ends

Mike Gesicki vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: START

 

Believe it or not, the Jaguars are allowing the third-most fantasy points to the tight end position all season. With Gesicki being the most targeted receiving option for the Dolphins all season and in a game that has garbage time fantasy point potential written all over it look for Fitzpatrick to continue targeting his favorite receiving option making him, based on volume alone, a must START this week.

Jordan Reed vs. New York Giants: SIT

Speaking of believe it or not, the G-Men have actually been pretty stout against tight ends on the season, and despite his performance last week with Jimmy G at the helm of this 49ers offense the chances of that repeating with Nick Mullens at the helm is another thing entirely. Look for the 49ers to focus on what they do best, which is run the ball, and because of which you should SIT Jordan Reed this week.

Linebackers

A.J. Johnson vs. Tampa Bay Buccanneers: START

A.J. Johnson, meet Leonard Fournette. Leonard Fournette, meet A.J. Johnson. One loves rushing up the middle of a defensive and the other likes running downhill to meet the running back head-on evidenced by his team-leading run-stopping %. This is as sure as it gets from an IDP perspective. START A.J. with confidence this week!

Nathan Gerry vs. Cincinnati Bengals: SIT

Facing a Bengals offense that has shown a pass to run ratio this season of 58.2-41.8, look for this game to be fairly pass-heavy in nature for the Bengals given their ineffectiveness on the ground with Joe Mixon. All that being said, if the Bengals DO in fact fade the passing game due to them being up by so many points then it would be T.J. Edwards who would see the bulk of the run tackling/fantasy output in this matchup, not Gerry, as the Bengals have shown this season they’d rather force the running backs up with middle of the field rather than to the outside edges where Gerry would thrive.

Defensive Linemen/Edge Rushers

DeForest Buckner vs. New York Jets: START

 

Last week you were reminded of why the Colts traded a first-round pick for Buckner in the offseason. Look for that type of performance to continue given the fact they’re facing a Jets team ranked 2nd worst in pass blocking this week.

Maxx Crosby vs. New England Patriots: SIT

Coming into his second season, there was a lot of hype surrounding “Mad Maxx” and his pass-rushing prowess. As a rookie, he finished #1 among defensive lineman on the team in solo tackles, tackles for a loss, sacks, QB hits, and forced fumbles. No other member of the defensive line came close to this level of performance.

Flash forward to 2020 and despite his snap % being the highest along the defensive line, backup & veteran Carl Nassib has been one the generating more pressure on opposing quarterbacks in the form of QB hits, sacks, and tackles.

For those starting Crosby on name value alone, stop. Until he shows again that he can outplay his competition he is not worth starting in any IDP format. Oh, and this week he faces a Patriots pass-blocking unit ranked 2nd in the NFL. So there.

Defensive Backs

Carlton Davis vs. Denver Broncos: START

Carlton Davis has been one of my favorites all offseason and he is certainly showing his merits as an IDP play during the season. Earing his first interception on the season last week against Teddy Bridgewater, look for Davis to continue his IDP hot streak to the season when he’ll be playing a game of “chess” with new Broncos QB Jeff Driskell who will likely be throwing often in this game due to negative game script as well as throwing often to unfamiliar receivers. All of which means more amount of time for the Bucs defense to be on the field and for Davis to do his thing. START him at DB/CB this week.

Kyle Fuller vs. Atlanta Falcons: SIT

The Falcons, while normally being a pass-heavy offense, have SO MANY receiving options that the volume Fuller would have in coverage is kind of diluted because of which. Not the strongest argument I could come up with, I know. But that’s my stance and I’m sticking to it!

Good luck this week, #4EYEDfans!

Photo of Jorge Edwards Jorge Edwards Follow on X Send an email September 23, 2020
6 minutes read
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