Fantasy Football Week 3: Complete Monday Night Preview
We are quickly running out of unbeaten teams in the NFL this season.
The Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals are all 3-0 in 2014. Two of those clubs won division titles a year ago and the Cardinals were a 10-6 team this past season.
So how is your fantasy team faring so far this fall? Are you still among the undefeated?
For those depending on the performances of players on the Chicago Bears and New York Jets, we are here to aid your cause.
Last week, both teams found themselves on the opposite end of comebacks. Rex Ryan’s squad led the Green Bay Packers 21-3 before falling at Lambeau Field, 31-24. The Bears trailed at San Francisco, 17-0, and then rallied for a 28-20 victory.
What does it mean? Don’t go to bed before the game is over tonight thinking you’ve either won or lost your fantasy matchup.
Starting Quarterbacks
1 of 8
Chicago Bears: Jay Cutler
Talk about a late wake-up call?
In the first seven quarters of 2014, the strong-armed quarterback threw three touchdown passes, a pair of interceptions and was sacked three times.
Last week in the fourth quarter at San Francisco, Cutler completed all five of his passes for 51 yards and three scores in the team’s 28-20 come-from-behind win.
With six touchdown passes in two games, the nine-year veteran could be on his way to doing something he’s yet to do in his NFL career—throw for at least 30 scores in a season.
Fantasy Prediction: 33-of-47, 348 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT; 2 carries, 4 yards, 0 TD.
New York Jets: Geno Smith
What a difference a year makes. In his first two games this season, Smith has connected on 65.0 percent of his throws for 397 yards, two scores and a pair of interceptions.
Two weeks into his NFL career a season ago, the second-round pick in 2013 completed only 53.4 of his passes for 470 yards and a touchdown while being picked off four times. Smith was sacked nine times in those contests, compared to being sacked only three times in two games this season.
Smith himself has seen the improvement, as he indicated to Seth Walder of the New York Daily News:
"I definitely have a lot more responsibility this year than last year. You’ve got to develop that trust within the offense. I’m getting better."
While he’s hardly looked like a world-beater this year, Smith’s improvement and comfort level are quite evident.
Fantasy Prediction: 19-of-28, 216 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 6 carries, 43 yards, 0 TD.
Running Backs
2 of 8
Chicago Bears Starter: Matt Forte
It’s been a respectable start for the league’s second-leading rusher in 2013 and one of the NFL’s most versatile weapons.
In two games, Forte has totaled 103 rushing yards on 29 carries while amassing 102 yards on 13 receptions. Unfortunately, the talented performer has yet to find the end zone as Chicago’s six touchdowns this season have all come through the air.
Fantasy Prediction: 13 carries, 40 yards, 0 TD; 6 receptions, 44 yards, 0 TD.
Chicago Bears Backup: Ka’Deem Carey
The fourth-round pick from the University of Arizona has totaled just one carry for four yards to date. He may get an attempt or two versus the Jets but doesn’t really figure to be a factor.
Fantasy Prediction: 2 carries, 5 yards, 0 TD; 0 receptions.
New York Jets Starter: Chris Ivory
Rex Ryan’s team is averaging a league-high 179 yards per game on the ground in two games and Ivory leads the way with 145 yards rushing and a pair of scores. He figures to have a very nice night against a struggling Chicago defense that still hasn’t solved its run-stopping issues.
Of course, we’re not sure how big of a night, as the Jets are very much a backfield by committee these days.
Fantasy Prediction: 21 carries, 74 yards, 2 TD; 1 reception, 6 yards, 0 TD.
New York Jets Backup: Chris Johnson
While Ivory leads the Jets in rushing yards, the former Tennessee Titans workhorse and three-time Pro Bowler has actually totaled a team-high 25 carries.
Johnson has racked up just 89 yards rushing this season and his longest run is a mere 11 yards. However, he’s much more of a pass-catching factor than Ivory. Johnson has totaled six catches for 23 yards and a touchdown in two games this season.
Fantasy Prediction: 9 carries, 50 yards, 0 TD; 3 receptions, 17 yards, 0 TD.
Wide Receivers
3 of 8
Chicago Bears: Brandon Marshall
He put on one heckuva display last Sunday night at San Francisco in the Bears’ come-from-behind win. Two weeks into 2014, Marshall has totaled 13 receptions for just 119 yards but has caught four of quarterback Jay Cutler’s six touchdown passes this season.
Like last week, Marshall is listed as questionable with an ankle injury, but like last Sunday night, he’s expected to play.
Fantasy Prediction: 9 receptions, 121 yards, 1 TD.
Chicago Bears: Alshon Jeffery
Similar to Marshall, Jeffery is once again on the injury report and listed as questionable with a hamstring issue. However, as Seth Walder of the New York Daily News noted, the third-year wideout participated in limited practice on Saturday, as did Marshall.
In two games this season, Jeffery has totaled eight receptions for 118 yards and zero touchdowns, with 44 of those yards coming on one catch.
Fantasy Prediction: 4 receptions, 62 yards, 0 TD.
Chicago Bears: Santonio Holmes
Is there revenge on the mind of the one-time New York Jets wide receiver?
Holmes was a late pickup by the Bears this offseason after being released by the Jets, and as NFL irony would have it, he could find the end zone on Monday night against his former team. He’s totaled just four catches for 41 yards in 2014, but with Marshall and Jeffery not 100 percent, he may be a bigger factor this week.
Fantasy Prediction: 6 receptions, 45 yards, 1 TD.
Chicago Bears: Josh Morgan
The well-traveled wideout helps make the Bears wide receiving corps one of the deeper groups in the league. Morgan started the opener in Week 1 versus the Buffalo Bills and was targeted three times, catching one pass for nine yards.
Last week, the veteran receiver was inactive against the 49ers, and while he’s on this week’s injury report (groin), he’s listed as probable for this contest.
Fantasy Prediction: 2 receptions, 19 yards, 0 TD.
New York Jets: Jeremy Kerley
Last season, Kerley led the club in catches and receiving yards. However, those totals read just 43 receptions for 523 yards. The fifth-round pick in 2011 finished second on the team with a mere three touchdown grabs.
This season, he’s already snagged eight catches for 60 yards and could exploit the Chicago secondary if New York’s running game is effective.
Fantasy Prediction: 5 receptions, 81 yards, 0 TD.
New York Jets: Eric Decker
He’s listed as questionable for Monday night’s game with a hamstring injury, but once again according to Walder, the offseason free-agent addition practiced on Saturday.
The former Denver Broncos wideout leads the Jets with nine receptions for 137 yards and a score two weeks into 2014.
Fantasy Prediction: 4 receptions, 52 yards, 1 TD.
New York Jets: David Nelson
With Decker’s status somewhat up in the air, Nelson could be a bigger factor in Monday’s matchup. Last season, the fifth-year pro finished second on the Jets with 36 catches for 423 yards and two touchdowns.
Fantasy Prediction: 2 receptions, 24 yards, 0 TD.
New York Jets: Greg Salas
The 6’2”, 210-pound wideout has been targeted twice in each of the team’s first two games this season. However, Salas totaled one grab for 12 yards in Week 1 versus the Oakland Raiders and didn’t catch a pass last week at Lambeau Field.
Fantasy Prediction: 0 receptions.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Tight Ends
4 of 8
Chicago Bears Starter: Martellus Bennett
Bennett totaled 65 catches for 759 yards and five scores a year ago in his first season with the Bears. The talented tight end is off to another good start in 2014, leading Chicago with 15 catches—two for scores. He should definitely find some holes in the Jets’ 3-4 defense.
Fantasy Prediction: 4 receptions, 38 yards, 0 TD.
Chicago Bears Backup: Dante Rosario
He’s totaled just two catches for 21 yards this season, and against New York’s defensive unit, he could find a little success. But not enough to make a difference in this game.
Fantasy Prediction: 2 receptions, 14 yards, 0 TD.
New York Jets Starter: Jeff Cumberland
Last season, Cumberland led the team in touchdown receptions. Of course, he scored only four touchdowns, one less than Brandon Marshall had last week at San Francisco.
In two games in 2014, the downfield threat has averaged 12.8 yards per grab on his five receptions but has yet to find the end zone yet this season.
Fantasy Prediction: 3 receptions, 12 yards, 0 TD.
New York Jets Backup: Jace Amaro
The Jets added Amaro in the second round in May and he had his ups and downs this offseason in terms of catching the football. In two games this season, he’s been targeted five times and caught three passes for only 13 yards.
Fantasy Prediction: 1 reception, 14 yards, 0 TD.
Defense/Special Teams
5 of 8
Chicago Bears Defense/Special Teams
Mel Tucker’s defensive unit has totaled five sacks and forced five turnovers in two games this season. Of course, four of those sacks and all but one of those takeaways came in last week’s 28-20 win at San Francisco.
Chicago finished dead last in the NFL in rushing defense a year ago and doesn’t look much better this season to date. All told, the Bears have allowed 191.1 yards per game on the ground in their last 12 outings dating back to 2013.
Still, don’t be shocked if Tucker’s pass rush has a bit of an impact in this contest.
Fantasy Prediction: 27 points allowed, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF.
New York Jets Defense/Special Teams
Their cornerback issues aside, the Jets are more than capable of putting plenty of heat on Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. Keep in mind that Chicago is down two starters on the offensive line and Rex Ryan’s club features star defensive linemen Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson, not to mention some fairly exotic schemes, as noted by Larry Mayer of chicagobears.com:
"It’s not much of a surprise that Jets coach Rex Ryan likes to blitz. After all, he grew up watching his father, Buddy, coordinate Bears defenses that sent everyone but the peanut vendors to pulverize quarterbacks. But the challenge is figuring out when the extra rushers are coming and from where.
"
And perhaps this is the night that New York discovers its opportunistic touch. In their last 18 games dating back to the start of 2013, the Jets have forced a mere 16 turnovers.
Fantasy Prediction: 23 points allowed, 4 sacks, 1 INT, 2 FF.
Best Sleeper Adds
6 of 8
A couple of these performers may not be on your team and could be worth adding on Monday morning or afternoon. Sometimes a little last-minute shopping can be beneficial.
1. Santonio Holmes, Wide Receiver, Chicago Bears (Owned in 2.3 percent of ESPN leagues)
The Super Bowl XLIII MVP with the Pittsburgh Steelers spent the last four seasons with Rex Ryan and Co.
With both Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery hurting a bit and well-traveled Josh Morgan listed as probable, Holmes may be the club’s healthiest wide receiver.
And he may just have a little something to say when it comes to his unceremonious departure from the Jets.
2. Geno Smith, Quarterback, New York Jets (Owned in 7.3 percent of ESPN leagues)
He’s one of the most improved quarterbacks in the league, but is he worth picking up on short notice? Smith has committed three turnovers in two games but has thrown a pair of touchdown passes and also rushed for 64 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
3. Bilal Powell, Running Back, New York Jets (Owned in 0.5 percent of ESPN leagues)
Powell has totaled just 20 yards rushing on five carries and seems to be the odd man out of sorts in the Jets' backfield by committee. Still, he could see some action in this contest if the Jets ground attack has its anticipated impact in this contest.
Injury Report
7 of 8
Here is a look at the latest injury report regarding the Bears and Jets, focusing on key performers (courtesy of NFL.com).
Chicago Bears | ||
Player | Status | |
Matt Slauson | G | Out |
Roberto Garza | C | Out |
Jeremiah Ratliff | DT | Out |
Shea McClellin | LB | Out |
Brandon Marshall | WR | Questionable |
Alshon Jeffery | WR | Questionable |
Josh Morgan | WR | Probable |
Jared Allen | DE | Probable |
Chris Conte | S | Probable |
It’s safe to say that this remains a banged-up bunch of Bears.
Marc Trestman’s club will be down a pair of starters on the offensive line in Slauson and Garza, while Chicago’s already shaky run defense will be missing Ratliff up the middle.
Marshall comes off a brilliant three-touchdown performance against the San Francisco 49ers, but he and Jeffery are once again listed as questionable.
New York Jets | ||
Player | Status | |
Dee Milliner | CB | Doubtful |
Eric Decker | WR | Questionable |
Chris Johnson | RB | Probable |
Willie Colon | G | Probable |
Nick Mangold | C | Probable |
Quinton Coples | LB | Probable |
Like the Bears, Rex Ryan’s club has a pair of starting offensive linemen on the injury report. But Colon and Mangold are listed as probable and are expected to play.
After sitting out the season opener, Milliner returned last week but is listed as doubtful for this tilt. The Jets remain shorthanded at cornerback and can least afford to be down another member of the secondary.
Start or Sit
8 of 8
We know who the stars are when it comes to this contest. But is there a pivotal player or two that may be on your roster that you can’t decide whether to start or not? Here’s a little help.
WR Santonio Holmes (Bears): Just like on Thursday night when we saw Devin Hester score a couple of touchdowns against his old head coach Lovie Smith, irony always finds its way onto an NFL field. If Chicago is playing from behind, as has been the case the first two games, Holmes could get reacquainted with the end zone.
Verdict: Start
RB Chris Johnson (Jets): The seven-year pro always has the potential for the big play…we think. He leads the Jets with 31 touches from scrimmage this season but his longest play to date is just 12 yards. Johnson could give way to Bilal Powell in terms of carries in this contest.
Verdict: Sit
WR David Nelson (Jets): With wideout Eric Decker listed as questionable, it wouldn’t be a bad play to have Nelson in your lineup. The Jets ground attack should make it easy for Geno Smith to find all of his receivers.
Verdict: Start
Some statistical support provided by Pro-Football-Reference and ESPN.com. Depth chart info provided by Ourlads.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Post-June 1 Trade Candidates ☎️")
.JPG?w=600 "TO Talks Cowboys Relationship")
.jpg?w=600 "Taylor Heinicke Retiring")
.jpg?w=600 "49ers OC Hypes Mike Evans 🤩")