Golden Tate, Ameer Abdullah's Post-Preseason Week 3 Fantasy Advice

With the dwindling weeks of the preseason here, most fantasy football owners are preparing for their big draft days. 

When looking for options at wide receiver and running back, the Detroit Lions are a deep side with plenty of talent. In action on Friday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars, fantasy owners got another chance to take a look at wide receiver Golden Tate and running back Ameer Abdullah. 

Here is how they performed on Friday.

Player	Rush	Yards	Receptions	Yards	TD
Golden Tate	-	-	3	91	1
Ameer Abdullah	3	8	1	21	-

Tate is proving that he is more than capable of being a big-time playmaking wide receiver even with Calvin Johnson on the roster. 

With great speed and athleticism, he is going to be a big target for Matthew Stafford on days opposing defenses key in on Johnson—which could most likely be every week. 

He had an opportunity to show off his big-play capabilities with a 62-yard touchdown as shown by the NFL:

It seems Tate is in the right setting to flourish and put up some big fantasy numbers for you. He's projected by ESPN to put up 136.1 points in 2015 by hauling in 85 receptions for 1,065 yards and five touchdowns. 

But if he is as lethal on deep routes as she showed on Friday, those touchdown numbers can only go up. Tate is a very viable option as a second receiver and should be around in your fantasy draft in the fourth or fifth round to take. 

In the backfield, a blistering start to the preseason has since been mired a bit by two mediocre outings running the ball. Week 3 probably did not sell many fantasy owners on Abdullah, who rushed for just eight yards on three carries. 

His 21-yard reception out of the backfield, however, is something that is encouraging. He was given an opportunity to show his arsenal of speed and agility in a bit of space, which can only build his confidence moving forward. 

He even received the approval of legendary running back Walter Payton's son:

A two-dimensional threat, Abdullah is going to be drafted in your fantasy league, and if he's around in the right round, snag him. Abdullah is projected to put up 124.3 points with 560 rushing yards and 402 passing yards as the successor to Reggie Bush, who was a backup running back turned dual-threat out of the backfield in 2014. 

While Joique Bell will prove to be the big, bruising running back who is projected to record around 800 yards in 2015, Abdullah is the versatile quick option who will be a vital target against aggressive defenses. 

Look to take Abdullah in the seventh or eighth round after your regular starters are established. If one of your starters goes down or does not perform to potential, you still have a dangerous running back capable of posting the big play. 

Stats and projections are courtesy of ESPN.com.