For most of you by now you’ve either gone 2-0 in your season-long leagues or at least broke even in week 2 bringing your record to 1-1. Even the less fortunate individuals who’ve gone 0-2, all of you by now are starting to get a sense of how the players on your fantasy football team(s) are contributing to your overall success or lack thereof.
Now is the time to start taking that understanding of your team’s dynamic and help mold that train of thought into helping turn your team into a lean mean fantasy point-scoring machine by addressing the various concerns you might have on your roster(s). At the very least you can continue to add players to your bench that would not only provide you depth at a particular position but would also stop your opponents from gaining that same advantage.
It’s time to play the game within the game.
It’s time to establish your weekly rhythm of how you conduct your fantasy football business.
It’s time for you to become confident about playing fantasy football.
It’s time to believe, no matter what your record is, that you are the BEST at playing this game!!!
In the words of Morpheus…
That being said in order to be the best you have to think like the best, and the best managers in fantasy football can spot great matchups a mile away. So, without further adieu here is my list of players I believe will help you win your fantasy football matchups this week.
I give you my 4-EYED PREVIEWS for Week 3!
Quarterback: Matthew Stafford will have a solid matchup against the Eagles on Sunday
Matthew Stafford on the season thus far:
- 5th in total passing yards on the season with 630 yards
- 4th in TDs with 4
- 7th in fantasy points per game with 21.4
- 4th in intended air yards with 10.4
The Eagles defense, according to FantasyData.com ranks 9th in passing yards per attempt allowed to opposing quarterbacks & 25th in interception percentage. According to ProFootball Focus, the Eagles rank 18th in total defense, 19th in defensive coverage against receivers, and 15th in pass rush. Meanwhile, the Lions offensive line ranks 7th in pass protection according to Football Outsiders.
Are you starting to see what I’m getting at?! Stafford should be pretty well protected against Eagles defense, a defense whose top cornerback is still trying to return to form after a season-ending knee injury in 2018, making him a fantastic pick off of the waiver wire this week and a sure-fire START in week 3.
Running Back: David Montgomery will have his coming out party on Monday Night Football
The Redskins defense, whose defensive line has suffered the past two weeks due to the loss of defensive end Johnathan Allen, ranks 30th in the NFL in run defense. The Bears rank 17th in run-blocking. In week 2, David Montgomery out-touched his competition at running back posting 18 carries on the day with the next leading running back posting just 4 attempts. Given the defensive mismatch and the volume he’s receiving in Chicago, if there was ever a night for this talented rookie to burst onto the scene and make a huge impact it would be this week against my beloved Redskins. Start him as your flex this week and be prepared for him to give you RB2 upside.
Wide Receiver: Randall Cobb will provide you with WR2 upside this week against the Dolphins
According to ProFootball Focus, Randall Cobb will have the second-best WR/CB matchup this Sunday among Cowboys’ wide receivers when he lines up against the Miami Dolphins cornerback Jomal Wiltz. How good is Jomal Wiltz? Let me put it this way, ProFootball Focus doesn’t even have a player profile of him online. That should really tell you all that you need to know. With Michael Gallup out of action for a while following surgery on his meniscus, Cobb should be Dak’s release value in the receiving game allowing him to produce in a big way in week 2. Role + matchup = Good Times!
Tight End: The Eric Ebron haters are REALLY going to hate him on Sunday when he goes off
The Falcons allowed Zach Ertz six targets in the redzone when playing the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. While he didn’t do anything substantial with those targets, if given the opportunity, you SHOULD expect Eric Ebron to do something with his. Besides being an overall bigger receiving target, Ebron has an established rapport with Jacoby Brissett which has translated into him leading the Colts in receiving targets among tight ends. While Jack Doyle has been the chunk play receiving target between the 20s, Ebron has been who Brissett has targeted most this season when in scoring position among his fellow tight ends. Ebron also has the only TD among Colts tight ends when in scoring position. If the Falcons give up the same amount of targets to Ebron as they did to Ertz, this Sunday expect 2-3 of them to be for touchdowns. #BOLDPREDICTION
IDP-LB: Thomas Davis will have a field day against the Texans on Sunday
Thomas Davis has been the #TackleMachine for the Los Angeles Chargers this season at the linebacker position, something this defense has desperately needed for quite some time. How good has he been?
Davis has 26 (13 solo/13 assisted) total tackles among his fellow linebackers in two weeks. The next best performance for a Chargers linebacker has just 16 with. He’s clearly outplaying his competition in his 14th season in the league. Next up he looks to take on one of the better surprises at the running back position so far this season with that being Carlos Hyde of the Houston Texans. That being said Davis only has two missed tackles on the season and that was from playing against one of better dynamic rushers in the league in Kerryon Johnson. Carlos Hyde is no Kerryon Johnson at this point in his career. Therefore, look for Davis to continue racking up his tackle numbers on the season making him a top-scoring linebacker in your IDP leagues in week 3.