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Quarterback
Thumbs Up of the Week: Anthony Richardson (v LAR)
Richardson shouldn’t be overlooked after missing Week 3 with a concussion, as he’s already made a huge impact with three rushing touchdowns in essentially five quarters of football, and Indy’s offense has been excellent under Shane Steichen. Los Angeles has been better than expected defensively, but Richardson plays at home and—based on his upside—should be viewed as a top-eight option at quarterback.
Thumbs Up: Joe Burrow (@ TEN)
The fantasy production wasn’t great, but Burrow came out of Monday’s win without suffering a setback to his injured calf, and he’ll now take on a Tennessee defense that is much more vulnerable through the air (fifth-most yards per game allowed) than on the ground (fourth-fewest yards per game allowed). Burrow getting the ball out of his hands quickly combined with Ja’Marr Chase aligning all over the place was a smart move by Cincinnati, and QB1 numbers can return this weekend.
Thumbs Up: Brock Purdy (v ARI)
Dating back to last season, Purdy has a 15:2 touchdown-interception ratio in eight games as the starter for San Francisco, and his lone game without multiple passing touchdowns was made up for by finding the end zone as a runner. Arizona has proven to be a gritty squad that could make things tough on the Niners, but Purdy’s poise and playmakers should make him at least a high-end QB2 option.
Thumbs Up: Russell Wilson (@ CHI)
Lost in the embarrassing loss to Miami and an 0-3 start for Denver is Wilson playing tremendous football under Sean Payton, and the way Chicago has performed defensively through three weeks could allow him to throw for 300+ yards for the third game in a row. If nothing else, Wilson will be given time with the Bears recording a league-low one sack so far in 2023, and it’s easy to imagine Jerry Jeudy and Marvin Mims Jr. getting lost in coverage for huge gains.
Thumbs Down of the Week: Dak Prescott (v NE)
New England being banged up at cornerback will make this an easier matchup for Prescott, and he’ll benefit from playing at home following last week’s upset loss to the Cardinals. However, the Patriots have allowed the fifth-fewest passing yards per game in the league (177.0), and they have been able to contain opposing passers with Jalen Hurts (12.5 fantasy points) and Tua Tagovailoa (12.26 fantasy points) both disappointing against them so far this year. Dak should be left on the bench if possible.
Thumbs Down: Daniel Jones (v SEA)
Seattle is on the other end of the spectrum as a matchup, as quarterbacks have torched them to begin 2023 with Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff, and Andy Dalton all throwing for 323+ yards. At the same time, Jones and the passing attack for New York has struggled outside of one half in a comeback win over Arizona, and not having Saquon Barkley saps the upside from the offense. If he doesn’t produce on the ground, the best shot for Jones to return QB1 value is for Darren Waller to go off and/or Jalin Hyatt to be more involved.
Thumbs Down: C.J. Stroud (v PIT)
Stroud has put up big-time passing numbers with 302.0 yards per game through three starts, but Pittsburgh has a history of dominating rookie quarterbacks, and the No. 2 overall pick will be tested by a ferocious pass rush with Houston’s offensive line not being healthy. The low floor and somewhat modest ceiling makes Stroud a streaming option to avoid for those overvaluing past production.
Thumbs Down: Justin Fields (v DEN)
Fields will hopefully flip a switch at some point like we saw last season, but he’s yet to reach 15.0 fantasy points in a game this year, and Denver getting blown out by the Dolphins should be a wake-up call for the defense. While the upside keeps Fields in the back end of the QB1 rankings, nothing is really working right now in Chicago, and it’ll take him going off on the ground to reach the fantasy potential that was expected of him entering the season.
Running back
Thumbs Up of the Week: Breece Hall (v KC)
After turning ten carries into 127 yards in the opener, Hall has been limited to 16 attempts for 27 yards in two games since, and he’s still looking for his first score of the season. That said, I’d expect New York to do whatever they can to get Hall going as their best chance of moving the ball and saving the season, so it’s worth banking on the upside as an RB2 option. Ideally, the Jets will feature Hall as a pass-catcher if the box is too crowded, and being at home helps.
Thumbs Up: Javonte Williams (@ CHI)
As mentioned, the Bears have struggled mightily on defense, and that included against the run where they’ve allowed a whopping 32.2 fantasy points to opposing running backs. Williams has at least been steady in terms of production as he works into form coming off a torn ACL, and he clearly passed the “eye test” in Week 3 with a couple of tackle-breaking gains in the loss. Particularly if he finds the end zone, Williams should return strong RB2 value.
Thumbs Up: Ezekiel Elliott (@ DAL)
The Cowboys have been run on so far this year (5.3 yards per carry allowed), and Elliott—who has provided a surprising amount of “juice” for New England—should be determined as he faces his former team. Rhamondre Stevenson is the lead back and has handled short-yardage carries, but Zeke was rotating drives with him in last week’s win, has been used as a pass-catcher, and might be given a shot to punch in a score if the opportunity presents itself. Consider him a borderline top-30 option.
Thumbs Up: David Montgomery (@ GB)
Montgomery (quad) seems likely to play on Thursday night, so fantasy owners shouldn’t waste any time getting him back in lineups against a Green Bay defense that is allowing the sixth-most rushing yards per game in the league and has historically struggled to defend the run. Although he was never able to get a win in this divisional matchup when with the Bears, Montgomery usually played well with 93.3 total yards per game and 4.9 yards per carry against the Packers, so he should immediately be back in the RB2 ranks if active.
Thumbs Down of the Week: Alexander Mattison (@ CAR)
Mattison is coming off his best game of the year with 25 touches for 125 total yards, but he nearly put the ball on the ground again—and head coach Kevin O’Connell stressed ball security this week as the Vikings sit at 0-3. With Cam Akers likely to make his team debut, it wouldn’t be a shock if he immediately was the lead runner, and Minnesota is a pass-first offense that will limit the fantasy appeal of Mattison in a split backfield. It might be a good idea to at least plan for alternatives.
Thumbs Down: Rachaad White (@ NO)
Todd Bowles said that he wants White to be more aggressive hitting the hole, but Tampa Bay’s shaky run blocking is an issue, too, and New Orleans limited the second-year back to ten carries for 29 yards in two matchups last season. For him to pay off as a start, White probably needs to produce through the air, and there is a chance rookie Sean Tucker gets more action in an attempt to spark the ground game. I’d bench White for this week and hope the Bucs get going following a Week 5 bye.
Thumbs Down: Dalvin Cook (v KC)
Cook signed with the Jets under the belief that they would be a high-powered offense led by Aaron Rodgers, but that obviously hasn’t been the case, and weaknesses on the offensive line have been spotlighted without a Hall of Fame quarterback to provide cover. The result has been just 2.3 yards per carry for the Pro Bowl runner, and Cook is arguably in handcuff territory—at least when the matchup isn’t perfect.
Thumbs Down: Brian Robinson Jr. (@ PHI)
Robinson was perhaps the lone bright spot on offense last week with ten carries for 70 yards, and fantasy owners can still consider him as an RB2 option simply based on how good he’s looked in 2023. The offensive line of the Commanders facing the seemingly impenetrable front of the Eagles doesn’t seem like a fair battle, though, and Robinson should be viewed as a fringe low-end RB2/FLEX option that needs the offense to be more balanced than it was in Week 3.
Wide receiver
Thumbs Up of the Week: Jerry Jeudy (@ CHI)
As expected, Jeudy was more involved against Miami than he was in his season debut, and it resulted in five receptions (on seven targets) for 81 yards. Now, I’d anticipate him being the focal-point of the passing attack against a Chicago defense that struggles to defend the middle of the field—which Denver should have no problem exposing with Jeudy both in the slot and out wide. I’d start him as a definite WR2 option that brings a nice combination of upside and floor.
Thumbs Up: Romeo Doubs (v DET)
Doubs has been a top-24 option at wide receiver through three weeks, and he’s produced as Green Bay’s top weapon with Aaron Jones (hamstring) and Christian Watson (hamstring) out. I’d argue getting Watson in the lineup will only increase the fantasy outlook for Doubs because opponents will be forced to roll the coverage in the speedster’s direction, and the trust Jordan Love (and Matt LaFleur) have in Doubs around the end zone is big for his fantasy potential. After getting injured in both games versus Detroit as a rookie, we’ll see if Doubs can stay hot in primetime.
Thumbs Up: Adam Thielen (v MIN)
After a quiet opener, Thielen has gone for lines of 7/54/1 and 11/145/1 over the past two weeks—and he’ll now enter Week 4 with a chip on his shoulder as his former team comes to town. Whether it’s Bryce Young (ankle) or Andy Dalton under center, Thielen should be a significant part of the offense, and Minnesota was just torched by Keenan Allen for 18 receptions and 215 yards. Fantasy owners can start him with some confidence.
Thumbs Up: Tank Dell (v PIT)
C.J. Stroud is a “Thumbs Down” at quarterback, but Dell’s speed feels like it could present some problems for the Pittsburgh secondary—a group that has already allowed huge games to Brandon Aiyuk (8/129/2), Amari Cooper (7/90), and Davante Adams (13/172/2) through three weeks. Nico Collins is still being viewed as the No. 1 wideout by many has Dell getting undervalued as a target that has awesome chemistry with Stroud.
Others: Marvin Mims Jr. (@ CHI), Nelson Agholor (@ CLE)
Thumbs Down of the Week: Mike Evans (@ NO)
Battles between Evans and cornerback Marshon Lattimore can always lead to fireworks for one reason or another, but Tampa Bay’s all-time leading receiver is in danger of being cooled off with New Orleans holding him to 35.6 yards per game over the past nine meetings (including playoffs). Benching him might understandably be out of the question for fantasy owners that have rode the hot start, but Evans is at least an option I would avoid in DFS lineups.
Thumbs Down: Jahan Dotson (@ PHI)
The early part of the season was expected to be a challenge for Dotson and the Washington passing attack, so fantasy owners expecting a Year 2 breakout should simply sit tight for one more week. Philadelphia has been weaker in coverage compared to last year, but Dotson was limited to three receptions for 24 scoreless yards (on nine targets) in two games against them as a rookie, and it’d be wise to wait until next Thursday against Chicago to get him in lineups.
Thumbs Down: Drake London (@ JAX)
We didn’t rank Nico Collins highly last week because of a matchup versus Tyson Campbell, and now it will be London that draws the emerging 23-year-old cornerback. Talent can always allow the former top-ten pick to have a good day as we saw in Week 2 with a 6/67/1 line, but that performance is sandwiched by a couple of outings with a combined two receptions for 31 yards, and the Atlanta passing attack is not operating at a high level right now.
Thumbs Down: Michael Thomas (v TB)
Injuries to the Tampa Bay cornerbacks need to be monitored, and Thomas has encouragingly seen target totals of eight, nine, and nine so far this year. But there is uncertainty with Jameis Winston under center in place of Derek Carr (shoulder), and Thomas has been limited to yardage totals of 17, 51, and 65 in the past three matchups against Todd Bowles’ defense. I would rather play a guy that might have been picked up this week such as Tank Dell or Joshua Palmer.
Others: Marquise Brown (@ SF), D.J. Moore (v DEN)
Tight end
Thumbs Up of the Week: Kyle Pitts (@ JAX)
We are reaching “insanity” territory for Pitts, but there are signs to be encouraged about with nine targets last week, and he even had a carry with Atlanta trying to get him more involved. Crazy things seem to happen in London games, and Pitts going off on another continent—just when many finally bench him—is easy to imagine for a possible high-scoring game. I’m sticking with him as a midrange TE1 play.
Thumbs Up: Evan Engram (v ATL)
On the other side of this weekend’s London matchup, Engram has been extremely steady with fantasy-point totals of 7.4, 8.7, and 10.2 to begin the season, and now he gets a plus matchup with Atlanta having just allowed a breakout game to rookie Sam LaPorta (8/84/1 on 11 targets). Zay Jones (knee) being out is a further boost to Engram, and he’s at least a solid starting option with top-five upside.
Thumbs Up: Gerald Everett (v LV)
High expectations for Everett in Kellen Moore’s offense haven’t panned out thus far, but the unfortunate loss of Mike Williams (knee) might allow him to come into focus, and Las Vegas has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Three touchdowns by Donald Parham Jr. this year could even be a benefit moving forward as it leads to opponents paying less attention to Everett—who went for eight receptions, 134 yards, and a score in two games against the Raiders in 2022.
Thumbs Down of the Week: Zach Ertz (@ SF)
Ertz was quiet last week with the Cardinals playing from ahead in their upset win over Dallas, and he’ll now take on a San Francisco defense that remains stout against opposing tight ends—allowing just 17.3 yards per game to the position. The poor matchup combined with 4.2 yards per target on the season pushes Ertz way down in the rankings as our No. 30 option at tight end.
Thumbs Down: Dalton Schultz (v PIT)
C.J. Stroud highlighting Schultz as a target he has trust in during the summer hasn’t led to production on the field for the former Cowboy, and he could be hurt by Brevin Jordan—who is still just 23—earning more playing time with flashes shown in back-to-back games. Maybe the Pittsburgh pass rush will result in Stroud favoring the veteran, but I’d consider him a low-end TE2 play.
Thumbs Down: Adam Trautman (@ CHI)
For as bad as the Bears have been in coverage between the numbers, Trautman probably isn’t enough of a factor in the passing game (zero receptions over the past two weeks) to feel good about in lineups. Look for Sean Payton and the offense to attack the middle of the field with the wideouts and running backs with Greg Dulcich (hamstring) out.