Fantasy Football 2016: 5 Must Starts for NFL Week 3 and Why
Week 3 of the 2016 NFL season is under way. Want to nail down a win in your fantasy football league? You can’t go wrong with these picks.
It’s only fantasy football, but we all know by now just how real the obsession is for NFL fans. So as we enter Week 3 of the 2016 NFL season, you may be looking for the guys to win your matchup. That’s where we’re coming to the rescue on game days.
Each Sunday morning we will present our five best fantasy picks, addressing quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end and defense/special teams.
There will be no Ouija Board employed, rather statistical history when it comes to these choices. Because fans want to know not only who to pick but why.
Onward and good luck this season.
Sep 18, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) looks to pass against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Quarterback: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (vs Falcons)
The numbers are hard to ignore.
No, we are not just talking about the player that now ranks third in NFL history in both passing yards (61,589) and scoring tosses (433). We are talking about a divisional rival that has basically owned the Atlanta Falcons over the past 10 seasons.
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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees owns a 15-5 record vs. the team’s top NFC South adversary dating back to his arrival in the Big Easy in 2006. For fantasy purposes, the win-loss ledger means very little. He’s thrown for 6,194 yards in those 20 outings. And in 14 of those contests, he’s totaled 300-plus yards through the air.
The prolific passer has served up 37 touchdown passes compared to 21 interceptions. And Brees has been sacked only 21 times in those contests, which fits in well with the current state of the Atlanta pass rush. Dating back to the final game of the 2014 season, the Falcons have totaled two or fewer sacks in 19 consecutive games.
It looks like easy picking once again for Brees, who will be facing a club that is giving up the fourth-most total yards per game in the league. Dan Quinn’s team has one sack in two games and has already allowed seven touchdown passes to Jameis Winston (4) and Derek Carr (3) this season.
Sep 18, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) carries the ball against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Running Back: Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys (vs Bears)
It has been a disappointing start to the season for the supposedly-improved Chicago Bears defense. And things won’t get any easier this Sunday night against the stout offensive line of the Dallas Cowboys.
This offseason, the team paid big bucks to a trio of free agents via inside linebackers Jerrell Freeman and Danny Trevathan and defensive end Akiem Hicks. General manager Ryan Pace also used a first-round pick on outside linebacker Leonard Floyd.
It’s always dangerous to use two games as a gauge but it’s hard to ignore the irony. In 2015, the Bears were tied for 22nd in the league in rushing defense. This season, Chicago is 22nd in the NFL against the run. The numbers are the numbers.
Now add injury to insult. The Bears will be without Trevathan, injured in Monday night’s 29-14 home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. That means John Fox’s club will be shorthanded in the front seven against a Dallas’ offensive front loaded with Pro Bowlers like left tackle Tyron Smith, center Andy Frederick and guard Zack Martin.
Hence the Cowboys rookie running back is the play. Ezekiel Elliott hasn’t taken the league by storm to date but has totaled 41 carries for 134 yards and two touchdowns in a pair of games. He’s also fumbled twice and lost one of those miscues. But don’t be shocked when he leaves the Bears’ defense in his wake on Sunday night.
Sep 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown (13) celebrates a touchdown catch with Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Wide Receiver: Michael Floyd, Arizona Cardinals (vs Bills)
First things first. It wouldn’t be a shock if the angry 0-2 Buffalo Bills rose up and stunned the defending NFC West champions. Just throwing it out there for those interested in an upset of the week call.
Back to business. It was more than a week ago but we saw what New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick do to the Bills’ secondary. With assists from wide receivers Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker and Quincy Enunwa, the veteran signal-caller threw for 374 yards at Orchard Park. Marshall and Decker both eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark and Enunwa wasn’t far behind (92).
Now Carson Palmer and the Arizona receiving corps comes to town. So far it’s been a big year for veteran Larry Fitzgerald, the team leader with 14 catches for 162 yards and three scores. But don’t forget big-play performers Jamon Brown and John Brown and especially speedster Michael Floyd.
The latter has been limited to five catches for 69 yards and one score this season. But don’t be surprised when Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians tests the Buffalo secondary early and often when it comes to the deep ball. This week it is Floyd that steps to the forefront and steals a bit of the headlines from Fitzgerald when it comes to production.
Sep 18, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker (82) catches a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Tight End: Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans (vs Raiders)
After a somewhat quiet opening weekend, the Pro Bowler made his presence felt last Sunday in the Titans’ 16-15 come-from-behind victory at Ford Field over the Detroit Lions.
After two games, Delanie Walker ranks third on the team with nine receptions, trailing running back DeMarco Murray (12) and promising rookie wideout Tajae Sharpe (11). But the veteran performer leads the club with 125 receiving yards and is averaging 13.9 yards per grab. It was his fourth-quarter touchdown reception that help spur Tennessee’s comeback win.
Two weeks into 2016 and the Oakland Raiders have given up the most passing yards per game in the league. A revamped secondary has had its issues to dates. In last Sunday’s 35-28 home loss to the Atlanta Falcons, quarterback Matt Ryan targeted his three tight ends a combined 13 times and veteran Jacob Tamme (5-75-1 TD), rookie Austin Hooper (3-84) and Levine Toilolo (2-21) combined for 10 receptions, 180 yards and one score.
Walker enjoyed a career year in 2015 with a team-high 94 catches, good for an impressive 1,008 yards and six touchdowns. The Titans have surrounded him and second-year quarterback Marcus Mariota with more talent and options. It’s taking some time for a new-look Oakland defensive unit to get in sync and look for the underrated tight end to take advantage of that.
(Note: Walker is listed as questionable. Monitor the situation closely.)
Sep 11, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) is sacked by Miami Dolphins defensive end Mario Williams (94) during the first quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Defense/Special Teams: Miami Dolphins (vs Browns)
Some may think that the way to go is to actually let the Browns’ defense run wild in the Miami backfield this Sunday in South Florida. After all, Dolphins’ quarterback Ryan Tannehill has been taking a beating for years. In their last 50 games dating back to 2013, the team has allowed a disturbing 153 sacks.
But for the second time in three weeks, it’s the Miami defense that’s the play here. Despite a 0-2 start, Adam Gase’s club has totaled five sacks and three takeaways. Four of those quarterback traps have come courtesy of defensive linemen Jason Jones (1.5), Mario Williams (1), Ndamukong Suh (1) and Jordan Phillips (.5). Free safety Michael Thomas has the other sack but it’s a team that’s strength is in its front four.
For the third time in three games (and fifth consecutive contest dating back to last season), the Browns will be starting a different quarterback. This time it’s rookie Cody Kessler, who will likely hand the ball early and often to running back Isaiah Crowell. But Cleveland’s offensive front has also allowed six sacks in two weeks and that Miami defense will make its presence felt consistently.