Fantasy Football 2015: 6 Things to Watch for in Preseason Week 3

The third week of the preseason is typically when starters see the most action, because by the time Week 4 of the preseason rolls around, teams rest core players in preparation for the real deal.

That means this weekend gives fantasy football players the best chance yet to scope out targets for the upcoming season. So what should you be looking for heading into this weekend’s slate of games?

Odds are you’ll keep tabs on your favorite team or, if you’ve already drafted, some of the players already on your fantasy squad. This article will go over some of the other storylines worth following this weekend.

The Green Bay Packers Post-Jordy Nelson

Michael Dwyer/Associated Press

Jordy Nelson’s season-ending injury is an obvious blow to the fantasy community, but it also opens the door for some unproven players to step into a vacant spotlight.

Nelson’s injury bumps Randall Cobb up to the No. 1 spot, while second-year pro Davante Adams slides into the team’s No. 2 role, but there’s no clear-cut leader when it comes to the team’s No. 3 wideout position. It’s a coveted role, and it’s something fantasy players should pay close attention to because any player that assumes a key role in an Aaron Rodgers-led offense is worth knowing.

Jeff Janis was the first player to come on to the field once Nelson hobbled off, sparking debate as to whether or not he would be the one to help fill the void. As Evan Silva of Rotoworld noted on Twitter:

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Reminder that Jeff Janis entered with #Packers 1st team when Jordy left. New 3-WR set should be Randall Cobb-Davante Adams-Janis.

— Evan Silva (@evansilva) August 23, 2015"

However, the Packers spent a third-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft on wideout Ty Montgomery this offseason, and he’s also part of the equation. In fact, it was Montgomery—not Janis—that practiced with the Packers’ first-team offense on Tuesday, per Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Green Bay Packers beat reporter Michael Cohen.

Myles White is also in the mix, though he should be considered the underdog.

“I think all three of those guys understood the opportunity before what happened to Jordy,” said Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy regarding Janis, Montgomery and White, per the team’s official web site. “They’re going to play even more football Saturday night. I think it’s loud and clear what’s available to them.”

This is one of the most important developments to monitor this weekend.

Melvin Gordon vs. the Seattle Seahawks Defense

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

Melvin Gordon saw limited playing time in San Diego’s first preseason game of the season and missed the second game entirely, so we haven’t seen him in action too much.

That should change Saturday night—in a prime-time game aired on national television, no less—when the San Diego Chargers host the Seattle Seahawks.

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Barring unforeseen setback, Gordon fully expected to play Saturday against Seahawks and see ample load. https://t.co/it2GMvG2yr

— Michael Gehlken (@UTgehlken) August 25, 2015"

That tweet comes from Michael Gehlken, Chargers beat writer for the San Diego Union-Tribune. An “ample load” sounds promising, and it means the fantasy football community should get a good look at Gordon—a player many are hoping can be an RB2 for their fantasy squads.

If he succeeds against the Seahawks defense, you can be assured that his draft stock—and trade value—will rapidly rise. Even if he’s mediocre against Seattle’s defense, people will still view it in a positive light given the competition.

Saturday night could be make or break for Gordon’s preseason fantasy stock.

Pittsburgh’s Use of Markus Wheaton

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Steelers offense is loaded with talent. Four of their players are currently being drafted within the first five rounds of fantasy drafts, per Fantasy Football Calculator. They are running back Le’Veon Bell, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wideouts Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant. Two of those four (Bell and Brown) are going within the first five picks.

But there’s another potential fantasy option looming in Pittsburgh: wide receiver Markus Wheaton.

Roethlisberger has grown comfortable with Wheaton and “trusts him,” according to ESPN.com, and Wheaton has been ahead of Bryant on the team’s depth chart so far this preseason.

How Pittsburgh uses Wheaton versus how the team uses Bryant in the team's fourth preseason game (the Steelers also played in the Hall of Fame game) should be telling. Will the Steelers stick with Wheaton as their No. 2 despite the promise Bryant showed last season, or will the team give Bryant an increased role to see if the magic can be multiplied?

Personally, I believe Bryant is simply better than Wheaton and will therefore be the team’s No. 2 receiver by October, regardless of what the depth chart says. But if the Steelers roll with Wheaton in two-receiver sets this weekend and he rises to the occasion, look for chatter about Wheaton to grow louder as Bryant’s value takes a hit.

Nothing will be set in stone regarding the dynamic of the Steelers receiving corp following the game this weekend, but it's an important bout nonetheless because it will give us a good look as to what the Steelers are currently thinking.

The Return of Doug Martin?

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In case you missed it over the weekend, Doug Martin is once again a thing in the fantasy community.

Bleacher Report’s own Scott Polacek already broke down the fantasy implications of Doug Martin's and Charles Sims' preseason Week 2 performances, but this is a situation worth monitoring in preseason Week 3 as well.

Martin carried the ball six times for 59 yards during the team’s second preseason game, highlighted by a 30-yard scamper on the first drive of the game. He broke several tackles on that run, breathing new life into the “Muscle Hamster” nickname in the process. He also caught one pass for nine yards before coming out of the game.

Martin dominated the Cincinnati Bengals, and he has successfully captured the attention of the industry. Tweets below from Mike Clay of Pro Football Focus and Aaron Nagler of FanDuel—sent during Tampa Bay's Monday night game—illustrate this point: 

"— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) August 25, 2015"

"

Doug Martin is on a mission this year. Looks so damn good.

— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) August 25, 2015"

The question, of course, is whether or not this Martin hype will last or if it's just a flash in the pan.

Fantasy owners should be paying close attention when the Buccaneers play against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday night. Martin has a chance to convert the lingering doubters.

The Titans’ Running Back Situation

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Rookie running back David Cobb and second-year pro Bishop Sankey appear to be in a fierce competition with one another for the starting job in Tennessee.

In the end, the two figure to share the backfield—forming the dreaded running back committee—but the third preseason game is when Cobb and Sankey will have their best chance yet to prove they belong at the top.

Sankey outperformed Cobb in the team’s second preseason game—rushing for 45 yards on six carries compared to Cobb’s 26 yards on eight carries—but both players had a shot with the first-team offense, indicating that the Titans are still searching for a starter.

Prior to Tennessee’s preseason game against the St. Louis Rams, Paul Kuharsky, Titans beat writer at ESPN.com, wrote that he “think[s] Cobb will prove the better back and wind up with more carries."

However, following Sankey’s strong outing against the Rams, Kuharsky wrote, “The Titans won’t be so anxious to turn to David Cobb as an alternative at the top of the rotation if Sankey can play more like he did in this game.”

This one is still up in the air.

The Emergence of Minnesota WR Charles Johnson

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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Charles Johnson stepped up last season when Cordarrelle Patterson regressed, and so far this preseason, Johnson’s hype train has only picked up steam.

Johnson caught four passes for 40 yards and scored in the team’s most recent preseason game, displaying strong chemistry with Teddy Bridgewater in the process. “Charles Johnson is the receiver Teddy Bridgewater trusts most,” noted Matt Vensel of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. He added: 

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The young quarterback likes to spread the ball around, as we have seen in the preseason and in training camp practices as well. But last night’s game said everything we need to know about where Bridgewater will be looking when he absolutely needs a play. All four of Johnson’s receptions against the Raiders went for a first down or a touchdown. When the Vikings went for it on 4th and 6, Bridgewater fired one outside the numbers to Johnson, who was exactly where he needed to be.

"

Everyone is buzzing about the Vikings offense this season. That's because Adrian Peterson will be back on the field, Kyle Rudolph is healthy again and Bridgewater is expected to make strides. Now Johnson is joining the conversation.

It’s unlikely Johnson will do anything to lower his value in Minnesota’s fourth preseason game (the Vikings have already played in three preseason games this year because they were featured in the Hall of Fame game), but he does have an opportunity to add fuel to the fire.

And, yes, one game can make a big difference. Last week, Johnson was being drafted in the seventh round of 12-team points-per-reception (PPR) leagues, according to data from Fantasy Football Calculator. Following last weekend’s game, Johnson moved up to the middle of the sixth round.

One good preseason game caused Johnson’s ADP to jump a full round. What would a second consecutive good game do to his stock?