Fantasy Football Week 3: Takeaways from Sunday's Action

Another fun-filled Sunday rife with telling fantasy football narratives unfolded in Week 3, as the Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers reasserted his elite production pattern and a surprising star turn for the Denver Broncos' young quarterback Trevor Siemian created increased interest in the team's passing game. 

Rookies are reigning behind center, as the Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott and Philadelphia Eagles' Carson Wentz again turned in clean lines and winning results. We hear those fanbases don't get along, so an eventual showdown between the rookies could prove compelling. 

In this recap of Sunday's action, we delve into a busy fantasy day in Seattle, as the Seahawks are dealing with an injury to Russell Wilson, but also rising prospects in Jimmy Graham and Christine Michael. The Minnesota Vikings, meanwhile, might just have the best fantasy defense in the league. 

Join us in recapping Week 3 with an eye on the top storylines and unique revelations the day in football produced. As always, feel free to share your questions and thoughts in the comment section below. 

The Detroit Lions' Marvin Jones Produces Huge Day in Green Bay

Mike Roemer/Associated Press

The Detroit Lions invested in wide receiver Marvin Jones in free agency this past March and the early returns appear rewarding, as he leads the NFL with 408 yards receiving after a stupendous Week 3 effort with 205 yards and two touchdowns at Lambeau Field on Sunday afternoon.

Franchise legend Calvin Johnson retired in the offseason, and Jones is helping to replace his lost production as the team's big-play threat on the outside. According to Tim Twentyman of the team's website, Jones' stellar stats on Sunday placed him in rare company with Johnson:

"

Marvin Jones becomes the first Lions receiver NOT named Calvin Johnson to go over 200 yards receiver since Roy Williams in 2007. #DETvsGB

— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) September 25, 2016"

Do we expect Marvin Jones to produce 2,176 yards this season as his current pace suggests? No, no we don’t. But we can conservatively project him for a career season in receptions and yardage, while it would be undeniably valuable for his investors if he can match his career mark of 10 touchdowns set in 2013.

With Matthew Stafford targeting Jones on nearly 23 percent of his routes and with Jones ranking second in the league with 3.21 yards per route run, per Pro Football Focus, the opportunity is present for Jones to sustain WR1 production. Congratulations to those that bought into the preseason hype.

Terrelle Pryor Tallies Fun Fantasy Line Playing Multiple Positions in Miami

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

Have you ever watched a high school football game where one kid stands out above the crowd athletically and has to make plays all over the field at several positions? We're going to avoid calling the Cleveland Browns a high school team, and instead salute the insane prep-like versatility Terrelle Pryor showed on Sunday in taking snaps at quarterback, tailback, receiver and even safety.

There were rumblings we noted leading up to the Browns' trip to Miami to face the Dolphins suggesting Pryor could see some exposure at quarterback with the team leaning on green rookie Cody Kessler—which made some sense given Pryor actually started behind center for the Oakland Raiders in 2013. For fantasy purposes, this development is entirely intriguing given Pryor is universally eligible as a receiver across fantasy platforms, which means managers can acquire increased upside from him given this newfound role.

On the afternoon—an overtime loss—Pryor totaled 200 yards of offense, including 35 yards passing on five attempts, 21 yards rushing with a touchdown run out of the Wildcat formation and a team-leading eight catches for 144 yards.

Pryor is currently rostered in right around 28 percent of ESPN leagues as of press time. With Josh McCown expected to miss several more weeks with a broken collarbone in his non-throwing shoulder, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Pryor's unique triple-threat role on offense could continue, adding real value to his profile.

In a similar bit of out-of-position eligibility upside, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk said on-air after the Sunday Night Football broadcast on NBC that the Patriots would consider playing Julian Edelman at quarterback if Jimmy Garoppolo can't play in Week 4. With experience in college as an option quarterback in similar fashion to Pryor, Edelman's already impressive fantasy stock would surge as a receiver playing quarterback. 

Trevor Siemian and Aaron Rodgers Enjoy 4-Score Sundays

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Broncos QB Trevor Siemian

Comparing the Denver Broncos' Trevor Siemian and the Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers isn't a natural association, but after both signal-callers produced four touchdowns apiece on Sunday, the connection makes more sense.

In throwing for 312 yards and four touchdowns in a win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Ohio, Siemian became the first quarterback in league history to throw for at least 300 yards and four scores without an interception in his first road start, per Chris Sprow of ESPN.com.

Even as he leads all arms in fantasy points so far in Week 3, we're not yet convinced Siemian is a legitimate fantasy starter, but we do find streaming interest for some upcoming matchups, like games against the soft defenses of the San Diego Chargers and the New Orleans Saints.

More relevant for fantasy purposes would be the fact receiver Emmanuel Sanders produced a huge fantasy outing in Cincinnati, ranking second in points at the position in ESPN leagues for the week. Even Demaryius Thomas got in on the fantasy fun with six receptions for 100 yards and a score. We're not expecting such big lines each week from this tandem, but it's clear they have fine fantasy profiles going forward after fears of Siemian holding them back appeared legitimate early in the season.

As for Rodgers, he did much of his damage in the first half of a win over the Lions, producing four scores in the first two quarters. In an efficient outing, the performance marked just the second time he posted a Total QBR of at least 99 in his career, per ESPN Stats & Info.

It might come down to giving Rodgers a clean pocket, as Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus found his passer rating was 146.1 without pressure and just 50.0 with pressure in Week 3.

After an abysmal Week 2, it was nice to see Rodgers and the Packers offense get untracked, as he remains a bankable elite at the position.

Are the Minnesota Vikings the Best Defensive Team in Football?

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Vikings DE Danielle Hunter

The Carolina Panthers had averaged 40.4 points per game in their previous seven home games, but were held to just 10 points and shut out for the final three quarters in a loss to the visiting Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon. 

After producing three interceptions, a safety, a punt return for a score and eight sacks—the second-most ever against Panthers QB Cam Newton—the Vikings' D/ST (defense and special teams) now have 60 fantasy points in ESPN leagues, the most in the NFL by 20 points. 

This telling list of possessions for the Panthers from ESPN Stats & Info reveals just how dominant the Vikings proved in the contest. Newton looked great to start the game, but the Panthers offense eroded to a standstill as the Vikings' consistent pressure invaded the pocket:

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Panthers' last 10 drives today ended:
safety
punt
missed FG
punt
INT
punt
INT
punt
INT
turnover on downs

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 25, 2016"

The Kansas City Chiefs produced eight turnovers against the New York Jets on Sunday, the most in a game by the Jets since 1976, per ESPN Stats & Info, but many of their interceptions were due to Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick having a historically inaccurate day. We respect the Chiefs' defense, but the consistent pressure and big-play ability of the Vikings has them poised as the top fantasy defense going forward.

Fantasy Lessons from the Eagles' Dominant Win over the Steelers

Associated Press

Eagles QB Carson Wentz

In drubbing the Pittsburgh Steelers 34-3 on Sunday in South Philly, the Philadelphia Eagles made a statement to the league and became an intriguing source of fantasy interest.

The game marked the largest loss for the Steelers since Week 2 of 1989, a 41-10 loss to the Bengals. The Steelers offense remains a top unit, but also appears more fallible after struggling to establish the run or effectively protect quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The impending return of Le'Veon Bell next week could help spur the running game, as DeAngelo Williams may have hit a wall after leading the league in snaps and touches among backs. 

The real story, as you'll hear over and over in the coming days on sports radio and national talking-head shows on television, is the rise to stardom of rookie signal-caller Carson Wentz from North Dakota State.

Per ESPN Stats & Info, Wentz has thrown 102 passes and no interceptions this season, good for the most passes thrown without an interception to begin a season by a rookie in league history. Wentz has officially become a viable fantasy asset worthy of streaming in quality matchups. The team has a bye week next, but we consider him a worthy streaming starter for the team's trip to face the Detroit Lions in Week 5.

Another revealing fantasy note from the win was the stellar success Darren Sproles enjoyed in the passing phase, as his 73-yard receiving score was the team's longest reception by a tailback since Herschel Walker on Sept. 4, 1994, per ESPN Stats & Info. Sproles isn't a weekly fantasy option, but like Wentz, is worthy of streaming at the flex spot when needed, especially in point-per-reception leagues.

Tailback Ryan Mathews was limited to just two touches for negative yardage in the game after looking sluggish with a lingering ankle injury, so shares of rookie Wendell Smallwood—who produced 79 yards and a score on the day—could prove prudent as a handcuff investment to Mathews.

The Eagles won this round in the battle of Pennsylvania, while Wentz is showing shares of the Eagles offense could prove profitable this season.

Several Fantasy Takeaways from a Busy Sunday in Seattle

Associated Press

Seahawks TE Jimmy Graham

The Seattle Seahawks' win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday produced several telling fantasy narratives. For one, signal-caller Russell Wilson was injured and left the game with what The MMQB's Albert Breer reports could be an MCL sprain.

After a sluggish statistical start to the season, in part due to an ankle injury, Wilson was heating up against the division rivals, throwing for 233 yards in the first half, the second-highest total for a half in his career, per ESPN Stats & Info.

More testing, namely a MRI, will reveal Wilson's status. Included in that hot half for Wilson was a rapport with tight end Jimmy Graham, a onetime fantasy superstar who has become an afterthought in Seattle after underwhelming numbers last season before suffering a serious knee injury.

Graham produced the third-best fantasy line among tight ends for the week in ESPN leagues. As long as Wilson's injury isn't a long-term issue, Graham could be on the rise again at a shallow tight end position.

Just as telling could be the fact wideout Tyler Lockett wasn't targeted in the win, suggesting he's not a bankable fantasy option until proven otherwise. It's tough to stomach cutting him this early, but we understand doing so in shallower 10-team formats.

The biggest fantasy narrative might be tailback Christine Michael exploding for two touchdowns and over 100 total yards in the win. With Thomas Rawls ailing and Michael thriving, this could be his gig to lose going forward.

In this same game, we saw 49ers running back Carlos Hyde enjoy a strong showing with two scores himself, but we advise selling high given the inconsistent nature of the San Francisco offense.

With Jeremy Langford Injured, Shares of Jordan Howard Are Intriguing

Associated Press

Bears RB Jordan Howard

Chicago Bears running back Jeremy Langford was injured in the team's loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night, as he was carted off due to an ankle injury, per Adam Hoge of WGN Radio. Bruising rookie back Jordan Howard assumed lead duties in his place, producing 92 yards from scrimmage on 13 touches.

We already had serious doubts about Langford's ability. Fantasy analyst Mike Clay, then of Pro Football Focus, expounded on Langford's inefficient production pattern from 2015: 

"

Langford forced only seven missed tackles. No back who carried the ball at least 88 times had fewer. Among our aforementioned 44 backs with at least 100 attempts, Langford’s 0.5 missed tackle rate was easily lowest. Our “Elusive Rating” stat analyzes a runner’s success beyond the point of being helped by his blockers. Langford’s 10.3 rating (which includes three forced miss tackles as a receiver) ranks dead last among 51 qualified backs. …

He averaged 1.8 yards after contact per attempt, which was worst among our sample of 100 running backs.

So you say you saw him make a few big plays, eh? Not exactly. Langford managed only two runs of 15-plus yards. That 7.3 rate was worst at the position. 

"

Howard is available in over 80 percent of ESPN leagues as of press time, suggesting he's a top addition and surely a popular waiver addition this week. We advise spending big in FAAB (free-agent acquisition budget) and burning top waiver claims for Howard, as he could become the team's lead back if Langford is to miss extended time. 

LeSean "Shady" McCoy and Todd Gurley Shake off Slow Starts with Big Days

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

The Arizona Cardinals had allowed just 70.6 rushing yards per game and the seventh-fewest rushing scores to tailbacks from the start of last season through Week 2 of the 2016 season. It was somewhat natural, then, to have tempered expectations for Buffalo Bills RB LeSean McCoy in Week 3, who entered the game against the visiting Cardinals with just 117 rushing yards.

McCoy completely out-produced expectations en route to the second-best fantasy performance from a tailback so far for Week 3 in ESPN leagues. With a pace for 59 receptions and 256 carries, as well as sole claim to goal-line duties for the Bills, McCoy should be regarded as a high-floor RB1 asset going forward.

If he sputters at all in upcoming visits to New England and Los Angeles, the buy-low beacon could flash one more time, while the sheer volume of his role and a sweet fantasy playoff schedule (games against the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins) could make Shady a league-winning commodity.

As for the Los Angeles Rams' Todd Gurley, the first-round fantasy commodity bruised his way to 85 yards on the ground and two scores. Like McCoy, investors were getting leery of Gurley's stock, with buy-low questions flying around Twitter entering the week. 

Gurley's upside in fantasy is likely tied to his sole share of goal-line duties for the Rams, while his downside is simply being tied to the Rams' languid offense. That said, there have been growing signs of promise for the 2-1 Rams in the passing phase, and Gurley is on pace for over 340 total touches—and that's with a conservative projection in the receiving department. 

We don't suggest selling Gurley just to sell, but if you can get comparable star assets in return, we understand the interest in divesting of shares in the Rams offense. That said, don't be surprised if he eventually leads the league in rushing this season based on volume alone, as he's averaged over 20 carries per game, a true rarity in this pass-happy era of NFL football. 

Route, target and fantasy-point data sourced from an ESPN database.