Fantasy faithful, I bid you hello. I apologize for my absence. I have been busy welcoming a beautiful baby girl into the world and I spent the past week enjoying my daughter’s company. But now, it’s time for fantasy and and the upcoming slate of games scheduled for Week 3. Can Melvin Gordon keep his hot streak going? Will Stefon Diggs repeat his amazing performance from Week 2 this week against Carolina? Let’s find out.
Start
Melvin Gordon, RB, San Diego Chargers
This is probably the last time I’ll be able to put Chargers back Melvin Gordon on this list as he’s becoming a no-brainer, every-week starter for fantasy owners but he’s got a great matchup coming up against the Colts who have allowed an average of 125 rushing yards per game and three touchdowns in two games.
Shane Vereen, RB, New York Giants
New York’s pass-catching running back Shane Vereen makes for an interesting sleeper play this week as the Giants’ main back Rashad Jennings will be sporting a cast to protect an injured thumb. Jennings is listed as questionable for Sunday (know that the NFL has done away with the probable designation for players) and will likely be at less than 100 percent. Vereen saw more carries than Jennings last week against New Orleans and figures to be heavily involved in the Giants’ gameplan against Washington, who has surrendered a league-worst five rushing touchdowns in two games. Start Vereen with confidence Sunday.
Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee Titans
I thought the Raiders’ poor defensive outing Week 1 against the Saints was an aberration given that it looked like Oakland got better defensively in the offseason. But after the Raiders allowed 396 passing yards and three touchdowns to Matt Ryan and the Falcons last week, they may be the team that fantasy owners start all their players against this season. In two games, the Raiders lead the league in passing yards allowed per game with a whopping 404-yard average.
Sit
Carlos Hyde, RB, San Francisco 49ers
49ers running back Carlos Hyde may be in line for another season in which he goes off in Week 1 only to do little throughout the rest of the year. Hyde wasn’t great in San Francisco’s game in Carolina last week and the road doesn’t get any easier at Seattle. The Seahawks have been tough against the run, allowing just 64 yards on the ground on average and just one rushing touchdown in two games.
Andy Dalton, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton has a tough matchup on Sunday against the Denver Broncos. The Broncos are second in the league for sacks with eight on the season. They allow the third fewest passing yards per game to opposing teams at 173 yards per game. Denver’s defense has allowed just two passing touchdowns on the year.
Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings
With no Adrian Peterson in the Vikings’ backfield and a relatively new quarterback under center, I’d have to think that the Panthers’ defensive gameplan revolves around stopping receiver Stefon Diggs. Diggs is a talented receiver who posted an amazing 9-catch, 182-yard, 1-touchdown statline against Green Bay in Week 2, but the Panthers have proven they can stop top receivers. They limited Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders to less than 100 yards combined in their season opener. They did let 49ers receiver Torrey Smith catch three passes for 55 yards and a touchdown but I believe that the Panthers are thinking that Diggs is the new lynchpin in this offense. Stop him and the road to victory gets much tougher for Minnesota. I look for the Panthers to limit the athletic Diggs.
Curb your Enthusiasm
This section is reserved for players fantasy owners likely can’t afford to sit despite a bad matchup. Fantasy owners should temper their expectations for players listed here.
Latavius Murray, RB, Oakland Raiders
Raiders running back Latavius Murray has given fantasy owners solid production over the first two weeks of the season but Sunday presents a difficult matchup against a Titans defense that has stymied both Adrian Peterson and Lions backs Ameer Abdullah (though he got injured early) and Theo Riddick. The Titans have yet to allow a rushing touchdown on the season.
