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| Tuesday, September 21, 2021 |
| If you want an example of why you shouldn't overreact to Week 1, the Packers and Lions both gave us a great one Monday night. The Packers offense, the source of much consternation last week, exploded for 35 points in the easy win, including four touchdowns for Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Jones -- two of Week 1's biggest disappointments. DaVante Adams didn't find the end zone himself, but his eight-catch, 121-yard performance was vintage otherwise. |
| On the Lions side ... well, T.J. Hockenson was good in both games, so they've got that going for them. The RB duo of Jamaal Williams and D'Andre Swift combined for just 115 yards on 22 touches between them Monday -- Swift and Williams each had at least 104 yards on their own in Week 1. It was especially troubling for Williams, who played just 35% of the snaps in Week 1 and then followed it up 37 total yards and 6.7 Fantasy points. Woof. |
| With Week 2 in the books, officially, it's time to turn our attention to Week 3, starting with the rankings and the waiver wire. You can find Jamey Eisenberg's top priorities on the wire as well as the first look at my rankings for Week 3 in today's newsletter, but first, here's a very quick rundown on the news you need to know from Monday: |
| Josh Jacobs (toe, ankle) is "very questionable" for Week 3. The Rams hope Darrell Henderson (rib) will be able to play in Week 3, but they likely won't know until Friday.JaMycal Hasty has a high-ankle sprain and will miss at least Week 3. The 49ers don't yet know the status of Elijah Mitchell (shoulder) or Trey Sermon (concussion) for Week 3. Carson Wentz sprained both of his ankles in Week 2. His status for Week 3 is very much up in the air. Andy Dalton has a bone bruise in his knee and his timeline is not yet known.Tua Tagovailoa is day to day with bruised ribs. Tyrod Taylor (hamstring) is expected to miss multiple weeks. Diontae Johnson avoided a major long-term injury. His status for Week 3 is not yet known. Amari Cooper is dealing with bruised ribs. We expect an update on his status Wednesday. The Jaguars expect Laviska Shenault (shoulder) to play in Week 3. Zach Ertz was placed on the COVID-19 list. He is vaccinated however and could be cleared to play in Week 3. |
| For more on what is sure to be an incredibly busy week for injury news, make sure you tune in to Fantasy Football Today on CBS Sports HQ at noon ET, and for help locking in your waiver-wire claims join Jamey Eisenberg, Adam Aizer, and I on the FFT YouTube stream tonight at 8 p.m., where we'll be taking your questions live for an hour. If you've got any questions before then, as always, you can email me at Chris.Towers@CBSi.com with the subject line "#AskFFT" to be included this week -- including in tomorrow's trade mailbag. |
| And here's what we've got on tap in today's newsletter: |
| ➕Top Week 2 Waiver Wire Targets📈Week 2 Rankings📉 |
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| ➕Top Week 2 Waiver Wire Targets |
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| Week 3 may not have that obvious must-add running back, but it might have even more potential difference makers on the waiver-wire than last week. So, you need to know how to best allocate your resources tonight. Jamey Eisenberg's Waiver Wire column is up and ready for you to get all the help you need. Here are the top targets for this week's run: |
| Jamey Eisenberg's top targets |
| Sterling Shepard (55% rostered) -- Shepard isn't just playing Julian Edelman dink-and-dunk role since moving to the slot for the Giants -- his average depth of target is actually up from 2020 while he's seeing a ton more targets. And it might be sustainable: Kenny Golladay might be the best wide receiver in this offense, but he's never going to be a huge target hot because he does so much of his work down the field. Shepard could remain a start-able option moving forward -- he's a top-24 WR for me in Week 3. Rondale Moore (65%) -- I don't have Moore ranked as high as Shepard in Week 3, but if I could only add one, I would go with Moore, because I love his upside. He's been the No. 4 WR in terms of routes and snaps for the Cardinals so far, but he actually leads the team in targets -- ahead of DeAndre Hopkins, yep -- and is making it awfully hard to keep him off the field. Everything the Cardinals have done since the preseason tells us they love what he brings to the table, and Moore could emerge as the star of this rookie class for Fantasy.J.D. McKissic (58%) -- Washington was in their two-minute offense a bunch in Week 2, and McKissic had a good game as a result. That's how this thing is probably going to work; they'll scheme up ways to get Antonio Gibson involved during their normal game plan, but when push comes to shove and they have to move the ball downfield in a hurry, McKissic is going to eat. As nine-point underdogs in Week 3 against the Bills, we could see plenty of McKissic.Cordarrelle Patterson (9%) -- Mike Davis is clearly the lead back for the Falcons, but Patterson is clearly an important part of what they want to do as well. Patterson has 21 touches through two games to Davis' 34, and if they keep using him that way, he could be Fantasy relevant moving forward.Tim Patrick (60%) -- Patrick is by far the least hyped member of the Broncos offense, but all he does when called on is produce, scoring a touchdown in each of the first two games this season. He'll need to do better than four targets per game moving forward, but you have to like what you've seen so far. |
| One (more) target for each position |
| QB: Justin Fields (77%) -- Fields isn't all that widely available in CBS Fantasy leagues -- and there are a handful of streamers I prefer for Week 3 -- but if he gets the chance to start, you'll want to make sure he's on your bench if you have a spot for him. Just in case. RB: Ty Johnson (8%) -- Johnson is going to get overlooked, but he led the Jets in snaps at RB in Week 1 and matched Michael Carter for the lead in Week 2. It hasn't led to much production, and Carter seems like the future of the position, but Johnson could help you out in a pinch in the coming weeks. WR: Michael Pittman (66%) -- If not for Wentz's injuries, Pittman might be near the top of the list after his eight-catch, 123-yard performance in Week 2 against the Rams -- the Rams! He should be close to universally rostered after that kind of performance.TE: David Njoku (15%) -- There aren't a ton of options at tight end who matter, and maybe Njoku doesn't. But he has a 16% target share through two games and some big-play ability, so with the Browns WR injury issues, don't overlook him if you want to take a shot on a streamer. |
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| 📈Week 3 Rankings📉 |
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| Well, now we've got two weeks to overreact to. Some players moved back up after a brief tumble in Week 1; some moved in the opposite direction. Here's where things stand for me in my first run through of the Week 3 rankings for PPR leagues. You can find Jamey, Dave, and Heath's rankings right here: |
| Quarterbacks |
| So, there's some movement here, for sure. Jalen Hurts' rushing ability has helped him continue to climb, while Kirk Cousins' hot start has him in the top 10 for a matchup against the Seahawks. But it gets real interesting once you get outside of the top 12: Teddy Bridgewater, Daniel Jones, Derek Carr, and Sam Darnold have all moved into the top 17 for this week. There's some matchup-based stuff there, for sure, but it's also a testament to how shockingly well that group is playing right now. You can see my full thoughts on the position here. |
| Patrick MahomesLamar JacksonKyler MurrayRussell WilsonJosh AllenTom BradyJalen HurtsJustin HerbertDak PrescottKirk Cousins Matthew StaffordAaron RodgersTeddy BridgewaterRyan TannehillDaniel JonesDerek CarrSam DarnoldJustin FieldsJoe BurrowJimmy GaroppoloBen Roethlisberger Matt RyanTaylor HeinickeMac JonesJacoby BrissettTrevor LawrenceBaker MayfieldJameis WinstonJared GoffZach WilsonJacob EasonDavis Mills |
| Running backs |
| Najee Harris at No. 7 may be the first surprise in my RB rankings, but I doubt he'll be the last. At least for now, I suspect I'll be higher than the consensus this week on Harris, David Montgomery, and Saquon Barkley, at least. But the thing that really stands out for me at running back is how steep of a drop-off there is mid-way through the RB2 range -- RB18 through 29 or so look pretty interchangeable to me right now. That is, also, the range that started the RB Dead Zone in drafts, coincidentally. You can read my full thoughts on the position here. |
| Christian McCaffreyAlvin KamaraDalvin CookDerrick HenryJoe MixonAustin EkelerNajee HarrisAaron JonesDavid Montgomery Chris CarsonNick ChubbSaquon BarkleyJonathan TaylorD'Andre SwiftAntonio GibsonEzekiel ElliottMiles SandersMike DavisKareem HuntChase Edmonds Clyde Edwards-HelaireJames RobinsonMyles GaskinKenyan DrakeMelvin GordonJavonte WilliamsDevin SingletaryDamien HarrisTy'Son WilliamsJamaal Williams Leonard FournetteJames WhiteSony MichelElijah MitchellTony PollardNyheim HinesDavid JohnsonMark IngramPeyton BarberJ.D. McKissicMichael Carter Cordarrelle PattersonLatavius MurrayRonald JonesKenneth GainwellTy JohnsonJames ConnerTrey SermonSalvon AhmedGiovani BernardPhillip LindsayCarlos Hyde AJ DillonTony JonesJeremy McNicholsLarry RountreeJake FunkZack MossDarrel WilliamsDamien Williams |
| Wide receivers |
| I'm keeping the faith in A.J. Brown. In fact, I'm doubling down, moving him all the way up to No. 4 at the position this week. I think he and Julio Jones are going to have their first big game together. You can read my full thoughts on the WR position here. |
| Davante AdamsTyreek HillStefon DiggsA.J. BrownTyler LockettDeAndre HopkinsJustin JeffersonAmari CooperCeeDee LambKeenan Allen D.K. MetcalfCooper KuppD.J. MooreCalvin RidleyJulio JonesAllen RobinsonCourtland SuttonMike WilliamsDeebo SamuelChris GodwinRobert Woods Mike EvansTerry McLaurinSterling ShepardAdam ThielenJuJu Smith-SchusterChase ClaypoolTee HigginsDeVonta SmithJa'Marr ChaseBrandin CooksTyler Boyd Kenny GolladayRondale MooreMarquise BrownRobby AndersonMichael PittmanMarvin JonesCole BeasleyMecole HardmanCorey DavisAntonio BrownJakobi Meyers Tim PatrickEmmanuel SandersSammy WatkinsAJ GreenDJ CharkJaylen WaddleLaviska ShenaultJalen ReagorWill FullerK.J. OsbornDarnell Mooney Henry RuggsDarius SlaytonTerrace MarshallDevante ParkerBryan EdwardsBrandon Aiyuk |
| Tight ends |
| Last week, I said the biggest question here was whether T.J Hockenson was ready to join the top tier at the position. I think he is -- sort of. Travis Kelce and Darren Waller have separated themselves from the pack, again, but Hockenson is right there with George Kittle, in my eyes. There are actually 10 tight ends I feel pretty good about starting this week. You can read my full thoughts here. |
| Travis KelceDarren WallerGeorge KittleT.J. HockensonMark AndrewsKyle PittsNoah FantTyler HigbeeRob GronkowskiLogan Thomas Jonnu SmithAustin HooperDallas GoedertDavid NjokuJared CookHunter HenryRobert TonyanBlake JarwinDalton SchultzKyle RudolphJuwan Johnson Adam TrautmanTyler ConklinZach ErtzJack DoyleMike GesickiDan ArnoldCole KmetTyler KroftEric Ebron |
| Top-150 Flex RankingsChristian McCaffrey |
| Alvin KamaraDalvin CookDavante AdamsDerrick HenryTyreek HillJoe MixonStefon DiggsAustin EkelerTravis KelceNajee Harris Aaron JonesA.J. BrownTyler LockettDeAndre HopkinsDavid MontgomeryChris CarsonJustin JeffersonNick ChubbAmari CooperCeeDee LambKeenan Allen Saquon BarkleyJonathan TaylorD.K. MetcalfD.J. MooreDarren WallerD'Andre SwiftCooper KuppAntonio GibsonJulio JonesAllen RobinsonCalvin Ridley Courtland SuttonDeebo SamuelGeorge KittleMike WilliamsEzekiel ElliottChris GodwinSterling ShepardMike DavisRobert WoodsKareem HuntJames Robinson Myles GaskinMike EvansT.J. HockensonKenyan DrakeBrandin CooksTerry McLaurinAdam ThielenJuJu Smith-SchusterChase ClaypoolClyde Edwards-HelaireTee Higgins Miles SandersDeVonta SmithJa'Marr ChaseTyler BoydKenny GolladayDevin SingletaryRondale MooreChase EdmondsMelvin GordonMark AndrewsJamaal Williams Marquise BrownRobby AndersonDamien HarrisNoah FantMichael PittmanMarvin JonesCole BeasleyLeonard FournetteMecole HardmanCorey DavisAntonio Brown Jakobi MeyersKyle PittsTim PatrickJames WhiteTy'Son WilliamsSony MichelEmmanuel SandersTyler HigbeeElijah MitchellSammy WatkinsJavonte Williams Tony PollardRob GronkowskiLogan ThomasNyheim HinesDavid JohnsonAJ GreenDJ CharkJaylen WaddleLaviska ShenaultMark IngramJalen Reagor Peyton BarberJ.D. McKissicMichael CarterWill FullerCordarrelle PattersonK.J. OsbornJonnu SmithDarnell MooneyHenry RuggsDarius SlaytonLatavius Murray Dallas GoedertAustin HooperTerrace MarshallDevante ParkerBryan EdwardsNelson AgholorRonald JonesJames WashingtonJarvis LandryJared CookChristian Kirk David NjokuKenneth GainwellElijah MooreTy JohnsonHunter RenfrowBrandon AiyukHunter HenryJames ConnerMarquez CallawayBraxton BerriosRobert Tonyan Juwan JohnsonBlake JarwinDyami BrownDonovan Peoples-JonesGabriel DavisDalton SchultzKyle RudolphMarquez Valdes-ScantlingAdam TrautmanKJ HamlerTrey Sermon Tyler ConklinSalvon AhmedAnthony SchwartzZach ErtzGiovani BernardDemarcus RobinsonJack Doyle |
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