Welcome to Fantasy Football Week 3 from ML B
Okay! Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls and fantasy folk alike.
Happy Sunday! And welcome to week 3 of the NFL season.
So much has happened thru the first 1/8th of the season (it’s going by so fast!) let’s talk current events first.
The Bills are the first team to become to 3-0 this season after defeating the Dolphins on Thursday night (Dolphins are 0-3 oof), the Colts are 2-0 for the first time since 2009, while the chiefs are 0-2 for the first time since 2014. While I expect one of those to change this afternoon, it’s safe to assume the Green Bay Packers will also be moving onto 3-0 (they're playing the Browns today), as will the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, versus the Justin FieldsFree New York Jets (0-2). While it is never ideal when your starting QB gets a concussion during an NFL match and is then forced to miss another week, backup QB Tyrod Taylor is a proven veteran who is more than capable to keep the Jets competitive and mistake-free on offense. However, counting on their defense to slow down Baker and the boys may be a more difficult task, as the Jets defense has allowed 30+ points in each of their first two games.
Speaking of backup QBs, The Battle of the Backups will be playing in Minneapolis today. Jake Browning and the 2-0 Bengals are at the 1-1 Vikings and Carson Wentz (Yes, 2016 2nd overall pick Carson Wentz.)
Wentz will be playing in a very QB friendly offense with head coach Kevin O’Connell (which just saw Sam Darnold go 35 td - 12 int in 2024). I am genuinely eager to see how these QBs fare today given the fantasy implications it would have on the former LSU teammates, Justin Jefferson and 1.01 Ja'Marr Chase.
There are three games of the week this weekend in my opinion.
Rams @ (Eagles), Broncos @ (Chargers) and, Lions @ (Ravens). I like the (home) teams in each of those matchups.
While id love to sit and discuss every single team and game this week, you’re not here to do that. You can turn on YouTube or YouTube TV and listen to the professionals (former players and “non-players”) talk shop.
You’re here for fantasy football talk.
So let’s skip the foreplay get right into it.
Let’s first address the elephant in the room: Rookie RBs…. They are simply not living up to the preseason hype we all had for them (Jeanty, Hampton, Henderson, Harvey, Johnson). If you drafted any of those players at or near their ADP, chances are your fantasy football team is struggling and that is what we here at MoneyLeaguers are here to help you with.
Let me preface this by saying, I am a die-hard Chargers fan, and big Matthew Berry fan, and i can’t even begin to express to you how difficult it was for me not to pull the trigger on selecting Omarion Hampton (MB’s Ride-or-Die) in the 2nd rd. of all my fantasy football leagues (4), however, once the Chargers starting left tackle, Rashawn Slater, suffered a freak injury (season-ending ruptured patella tendon) during training camp, I was okay not selecting the Chargers 1st rd. rookie RB. In fact, I did everything in my power to drive up the price; by convincing my fellow league mates I was drafting him. The issue isn’t the talent or the OL, thank you Joe Alt, it is the splitting of the carries (1A-1B) with Najee Harris that worried me.
While I believe in Omarion Hampton and am optimistic, he could have a late-season resurgence similar to we’ve come to expect with most rookie RBs transitioning into the NFL. BUT, the Chargers under Greg Roman are suddenly a passing team? Welcome to Fantasy Football.
It may be worthwhile to consider moving Omarion Hampton if you are 0-2.
Do not fret fantasy footballers (unless you're 0-3 after today), the rookie RBs will eventually get going but it may be wise to temper our expectations during the first half of the season.
Who am I kidding….?
Go get them if you’re 2-0.
Here are my predictions for the rookies this week,
Ashton Jeanty rushes for a season high 60+ rush yards and caps it off with a touchdown, versus a Commanders defense that allowed just 30 yards rushing vs. the Giants in week 1 and 84 yards rushing on 23 carries to Josh Jacobs and the Packers last week.
I would've obviously chosen The Commanders at home > the Raiders, but without Jayden Daniels… it should be a close one.
Unfortunately, Omarion Hampton will NOT score his first touchdown of the year this week.
TreVeyon Henderson, however, will get CLOSE to scoring today. I like the Patriots offense today versus a Pittsburgh defense that appears to be a shell of the steel curtains of past. Henderson will have a chance to score.
RJ Harvey and Kaleb Johnson are washes for me this week but keep an eye on JCM and Quinshon Judkins today. I expect them both to be productive and a focal point of their offenses.
Now on to Non-RBs. The fantasy relevant one’s at least.
WR’s Egbuka, T-Mac and TE Tyler Warren have been impressive to say the least and are clearly their respective QBs favorite targets thus far.
But be mindful, Chris Godwin is ramping up and is expected to return and make his season debut next Sunday vs. the Eagles. While it may take some time for him to ramp up, i expect Godwin to eventually take some of those targets away from Emeka.
Enjoy this week and the next with Egbuka but, if I were a Emeka shareholder (which I'm not), I personally would be preparing to sell him asap.
Tetairoa McMillan is the focal point of the Carolina Panthers offense, as is Chubba Hubbard, and despite the Panthers looking terrible once again, I like those two this week and rest-of season. Buy them if you can.
As for Tyler Warren… what can i say? The kid is a flat-out baller. I drafted him in every league I am in this season and I'm, ba-da ba-ba-ba, lovin’ it.
You are starting him every week whether he has a toe or not.
Unless you’re offering me Brock Bowers, don’t bother sending me an offer for Tyler Warren.
Keep an eye out for Matthew Golden today.
Okay, thank you all for stopping by, that’ll do it for my first article on the MoneyLeaguers.
Before I go. “One Last Thing”
Here are my Final Thoughts for Week 3.
Lamar Jackson continues his revenge tour and pushes the Ravens over the Lions, scoring over 23 fpts today.
Bijan Robinson torches the Panthers going for over 100 scrimmage yards, scoring 17+ fpts versus the Panthers.
Josh Jacobs scores a rushing TD against the Browns stellar run-defense. With a rushing TD today, Jacobs (11 weeks) will tie, LaDainian Tomlinson (12) for the most consecutive games with a rushing TD. 15+ fpts
CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens BOTH score a receiving TD today against the 0-2 Chicago Bears.
Puka Nacua shows us he is a Top 3 WR in the NFL season. Scoring from 30 yards out. 15+ fpts.
Tucker Kraft, hobbled or not, makes a statement and puts up a performance similar to Dalton Kincaid (played Thursday). 13+ fpts
Last but not least.
For those who are 0-2, 1-1, or even 2-0. This is not the time to sit idly and bank on the players you drafted or picked up off of waivers to be your guys all season. The season is long and full of _____ (you fill in the blank). Go out and send some offers! And most importantly, go have some fun!
Cheers and Happy Sunday.
Catch ya next week.
Yours Truly,
Bryan "Big B"