There's nothing better than an NFL Sunday — we had plenty of close games, comebacks and big performances this week. This year's rookie wide receiver class was highly touted coming into the season, and several of them had big performances, increases in playing time or both in Week 3.
As always, this collection of fantasy reactions will include snap counts for skill players on each team, along with notes on players who saw their fantasy stocks rise or fall during the action — and how we should react to anything new.
Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers
| Houston Texans | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| WR | WR |
| Will Fuller V – 44 snaps | Chase Claypool – 61 snaps |
| Brandin Cooks – 41 snaps | JuJu Smith-Schuster – 58 snaps |
| Randall Cobb – 34 snaps | James Washington – 49 snaps |
| Kenny Stills – 8 snaps | Diontae Johnson – 19 snaps |
| Ray-Ray McCloud III – 3 snaps | |
| TE | TE |
| Jordan Akins – 32 snaps | Eric Ebron – 60 snaps |
| Darren Fells – 24 snaps | Vance McDonald – 41 snaps |
| Pharaoh Brown – 4 snaps | Derek Watt – 7 snaps |
| HB | HB |
| David Johnson – 45 snaps | James Conner – 53 snaps |
| C.J. Prosise – 2 snaps | Benny Snell Jr. – 15 snaps |
| Anthony McFarland Jr. – 10 snaps | |
| Jaylen Samuels – 6 snaps | |
| Total – 47 snaps | Total – 80 snaps |
Injury: WR Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Johnson left the game in the second quarter with a concussion after being held without a catch in his first 19 snaps. Before the injury, it was noteworthy that Chase Claypool was playing ahead of James Washington. Claypool had multiple highlight catches the first two weeks, earning him one of PFF’s highest grades among receivers, although it was on a small sample size. With Johnson out, Washington saw an increase in playing time. Washington ended up with more targets and catches than Claypool. Even if Johnson doesn’t miss time, Claypool is someone to pick up off the waivers. He probably won’t cost much because his numbers weren’t great in this game.
Winner: WR Randall Cobb, Houston Texans
Cobb was the biggest winner today among the Texans’ receivers with 95 yards and a touchdown. Today was the most healthy the Texans receivers have been this year, leaving to all three Houston starters playing the vast majority of snaps. The targets were pretty balanced among all of the Texans’ skill players. In any given week it will be hard to know which Houston players to trust, but they should have better matchups going forward.
Remember The Name: RB Anthony McFarland Jr., Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers’ running back situation was already confusing between Benny Snell being the best running back in Week 1 followed by James Conner taking the backfield back over in Week 2. While Conner remained the lead back this week, for the first time rookie McFarland joined the rotation. He looked good with 42 yards on six carries. It’s unlikely he sees significant enough time in the near-future to be worth starting. If Conner gets hurt or underperforms later in the season, there’s a chance it’s McFarland and not Snell who would become the lead back.
Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots
| Las Vegas Raiders | New England Patriots |
| WR | WR |
| Nelson Agholor – 50 snaps | Damiere Byrd – 66 snaps |
| Hunter Renfrow – 39 snaps | Julian Edelman – 56 snaps |
| Zay Jones – 27 snaps | N'Keal Harry – 46 snaps |
| Bryan Edwards – 24 snaps | Jakobi Meyers – 7 snaps |
| Isaiah Zuber – 6 snap | |
| Matthew Slater – 1 snap | |
| TE | TE |
| Darren Waller – 56 snaps | Ryan Izzo – 43 snaps |
| Jason Witten – 15 snaps | Devin Asiasi – 29 snaps |
| Foster Moreau – 15 snaps | |
| Derek Carrier – 1 snap | |
| HB | HB |
| Josh Jacobs – 35 snaps | Rex Burkhead – 32 snaps |
| Jalen Richard – 20 snaps | Sony Michel – 26 snaps |
| Devontae Booker – 4 snaps | J.J. Taylor – 15 snaps |
| Total – 59 snaps | Total – 66 snaps |
Loser: RB Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
Jacobs was held to 71 yards on 16 carries with no touchdowns. While the yardage total isn’t terrible, what is concerning was how the Raiders used him. On third downs Jacobs was in on just 27.3% of snaps. This is more than he was used last year, but it was still less than the 38.1% share he held the first two weeks. He also wasn’t used much in the fourth quarter while the Raiders were trying to catch up. No one is questioning how good Jacobs is or that he will get his carries, but it seems like his playing time will be limited in games like this where the Raiders are losing.
Loser: TE Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders’ other star player was held to just nine yards on two catches on four targets. There was no difference in Waller’s playing time from past weeks, but the Patriots do a great job of stopping opponents' top receivers even when they are tight ends. I would not be worried about Waller moving forward.
Sell High, RB Sony Michel, New England Patriots
Michel had a strong rushing performance with 117 yards on just nine carries. What makes Michel a sell-high candidate is that he did well despite seeing a decreased role. It was J.J. Taylor who led the team in carries. With Damien Harris potentially coming back from injury soon, as well as the return of James White, the Patriots backfield will be as crowded as ever. Michel will at best be seeing single-digit touches. Trade him now if someone is excited by how many yards he had, and if no one is, he can be cut.
Injury: WR Bryan Edwards, Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders were without one rookie receiver in Henry Ruggs and then lost Edwards in the third quarter. He had 48 yards on two catches before the injury, which was good for the second-most receiving yards on the day. Nelson Agholor replaced Ruggs, and then Zay Jones replaced Edwards. While those two players saw the playing time, it was slot receiver Hunter Renfrow who saw the targets. He caught six of nine passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. The Raiders have a tough schedule for wide receivers coming up, so none of these guys should be added even if the injuries persist a few weeks.
San Francisco 49ers at New York Giants
| San Francisco 49ers | New York Giants |
| WR | WR |
| Kendrick Bourne– 64 snaps | Darius Slayton -51 snaps |
| Brandon Aiyuk – 56 snaps | Golden Tate – 48 snaps |
| Trent Taylor – 30 snaps | C.J. Board – 24 snaps |
| Mohamed Sanu – 20 snaps | Damion Ratley – 18 snaps |
| Dante Pettis – 8 snaps | |
| TE | TE |
| Ross Dwelley – 62 snaps | Evan Engram – 44 snaps |
| Jordan Reed – 18 snaps | Kaden Smith – 16 snaps |
| Charlie Woerner – 12 snaps | Levine Toilolo – 4 snap |
| HB | HB |
| Jerick McKinnon – 48 snaps | Dion Lewis – 20 snap |
| Jeff Wilson Jr. – 23 snaps | Wayne Gallman – 18 snaps |
| JaMycal Hasty – 6 snaps | Devonta Freeman – 15 snaps |
| Elijhaa Penny – 2 snaps | |
| Total – 77 snaps | Total – 52 snaps |
Winner: RB Jeff Wilson Jr., San Francisco 49ers
In a game where no skill player had more than 70 yards, it was Wilson who won the game thanks to his two touchdowns. Jerick McKinnon ended up dominating playing time on all three downs, but they had a near split in carries. Neither was particularly effective rushing, although each had a rushing TD. Both had three catches, with Wilson’s other touchdown coming in the air. If Raheem Mostert misses another week, chances are McKinnon will be the better back next week due to the playing time and opportunities. This week Wilson had the better fantasy performance.
Loser: RB Dion Lewis, New York Giants
The Giants had a New England-like backfield with three different running backs seeing between 15 and 20 snaps. The three had a combined 17 rushing yards and 17 receiving yards. Wayne Gallman and Devonta Freeman were the primary rushing backs, while Lewis was the primary receiving back. As time goes on I would expect Freeman to get more carries and Gallman to get less while Lewis keeps his role — which doesn’t hold much value if it’s only going to be one or two carries and a few targets per game.
Injury: TE Jordan Reed, San Francisco 49ers
Reed had an impressive target share with five targets on 13 pass routes before leaving the game with an ankle injury. Kyle Shanahan is optimistic the injury isn’t serious. Once George Kittle is healthy, Reed loses his fantasy value anyway. If Kittle were to miss another game and Reed were to also miss time, Ross Dwelley was the next tight end up with 49 yards on four catches. He would have value in two-tight-end leagues.
Cincinnati Bengals at Philadelphia Eagles
| Cincinnati Bengals | Philadelphia Eagles |
| WR | WR |
| Tee Higgins – 57 snaps | John Hightower -78 snaps |
| A.J. Green – 56 snaps | Greg Ward – 76 snaps |
| Tyler Boyd – 54 snaps | Deontay Burnett – 39 snaps |
| Auden Tate – 25 snaps | DeSean Jackson – 28 snaps |
| Mike Thomas – 16 snaps | J.J. Arcega-Whiteside – 18 snaps |
| Alex Erickson – 6 snaps | |
| TE | TE |
| Drew Sample – 64 snaps | Zach Ertz – 84 snaps |
| Cethan Carter – 9 snaps | Richard Rodgers – 33 snaps |
| Mason Schreck – 1 snap | Dallas Goedert – 6 snaps |
| HB | HB |
| Joe Mixon – 52 snaps | Miles Sanders – 70 snaps |
| Giovani Bernard – 18 snaps | Boston Scott – 14 snaps |
| Samaje Perine – 1 snap | Corey Clement – 6 snaps |
| Total – 72 snaps | Total – 91 snaps |
Loser: RB Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals
Mixon was held under 50 yards rushing for the second-straight game and still hasn’t scored his first touchdown of the season. There were concerns about Mixon’s fantasy value coming into the season, but he has been even less effective than anticipated. He’s had between 16 and 19 carries each game, which is a little less than late last season. Giovani Bernard has remained the third down back, leaving Mixon with few targets. The offensive line hasn’t been doing him many favors which has left him with a low yards per carry. Cincinnati has one of the worst strengths of schedule for a running back, so I wouldn’t consider him a buy-low candidate.
Waiver Wire Add: WR Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
Higgins was stuck near the bottom of the wide receiver rotation in Week 1. In Week 2, he was elevated to a clear top three wide receiver for the team, and this week he led the team in snaps. While Tyler Boyd was also a big winner this week with 125 yards on 10 catches, Higgins brought in two touchdowns. Only having 40 receiving yards might concern some, but the fact that he had nine targets is promising for his future.
Injury: TE Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
Goedert left the game very early with a foot injury, which led to Zack Ertz having a good seven-catch, 70-yard performance. Ertz went from 61% of snaps in 11 personnel to 88% in this game. If Goedert were to miss any time, the biggest takeaway is that Ertz will see more opportunities. Richard Rodgers replaced him in two tight end sets, but the Eagles also used fewer of those formations after the injury.
Injury: WR DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles were already without Alshon Jeffery and Jalen Reagor, among others, coming into the game, leading to John Hightower and Greg Ward joining Jackson as the primary wide receivers. After Jackson left, Deontay Burnett primarily replaced him. Ward was the only wide receiver with more than four targets. Ward’s eight catches for 72 yards and a touchdown was impressive. I would only consider Ward a waiver wire addition if all of the Eagles top receivers are missing time. If even one is healthy, that will probably limit Ward’s targets.
Tennessee Titans at Minnesota Vikings
| Tennessee Titans | Minnesota Vikings |
| WR | WR |
| Corey Davis – 55 snaps | Adam Thielen – 61 snaps |
| Cameron Batson – 45 snaps | Justin Jefferson – 51 snaps |
| Adam Humphries – 39 snaps | Chad Beebe – 22 snaps |
| Kalif Raymond – 20 snaps | Olabisi Johnson – 5 snaps |
| Nick Westbrook – 12 snaps | |
| TE | TE |
| Jonnu Smith – 66 snaps | Kyle Rudolph – 48 snaps |
| MyCole Pruitt – 25 snaps | Irv Smith Jr. – 36 snaps |
| Anthony Firkser – 19 snaps | Tyler Conklin – 10 snaps |
| HB | HB |
| Derrick Henry – 56 snaps | Dalvin Cook – 48 snaps |
| Jeremy McNichols – 9 snaps | Alexander Mattison – 16 snaps |
| Darrynton Evans – 8 snaps | |
| Total – 75 snaps | Total – 65 snaps |
Waiver Wire Target: WR Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Jefferson is probably the biggest waiver wire addition this week. Reports out of training camp weren’t great, and as recently as last week Olabsisi Johnson was seeing more snaps, pass routes and targets. With three targets each of the first two weeks, there was no indication a breakout was coming. His nine targets were the most for a Viking in a game this season and led to seven catches, 175 yards and a touchdown. While some of that is inflated by a 71-yard touchdown catch, the number of targets are promising for his future. Chad Beebe also passed Johnson on the depth chart, so it looks like Jefferson’s playing time is here to stay. The question will be if his targets will continue as well.
Winners: RB Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans and Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
Both Cook and Henry were early- to mid-first round draft picks this August, and neither disappointed. Both had 20-plus carries for 100-plus yards, with Henry winning the touchdown battle two to one. With other top backs injured, they should remain two of the top fantasy running backs the rest of the season.
Remember The Name: WR Kalif Raymond, Tennessee Titans
Raymond was the impressive breakout receiver for the Titans. He caught three passes — of 61, 44 and 13 yards. The reason he’s a name to remember instead of a waiver wire target is because of his spot on the depth chart. The Titans were without A.J. Brown in this game, and he was still fourth for the Titans wide receivers in playing time. He had no catches on two targets over the first two games. It’s possible we see Raymond get a few targets a game after this impressive performance, but it won’t be sustainable enough to ever start him unless he moves up the depth chart.
Los Angeles Rams at Buffalo Bills
| Los Angeles Rams | Buffalo Bills |
| WR | WR |
| Robert Woods – 67 snaps | Stefon Diggs – 61 snaps |
| Cooper Kupp – 62 snaps | Gabriel Davis – 46 snaps |
| Josh Reynolds – 62 snaps | Cole Beasley – 38 snaps |
| Van Jefferson – 8 snaps | John Brown – 29 snaps |
| Isaiah McKenzie – 17 snaps | |
| Andre Roberts – 11 snaps | |
| TE | TE |
| Tyler Higbee – 50 snaps | Tyler Kroft – 44 snaps |
| Gerald Everett – 28 snaps | Reggie Gilliam – 1 snap |
| Lee Smith – 1 snap | |
| HB | HB |
| Darrell Henderson – 34 snaps | Devin Singletary – 55 snaps |
| Malcolm Brown – 34 snaps | T.J. Yeldon – 6 snaps |
| Total – 69 snaps | Total – 62 snaps |
Winner: WR Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
Kupp was the top fantasy receiver in this game while competing against plenty of high-scoring fantasy wide receivers and tight ends. He caught nine of 10 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. Some of this may have been game-script related, as the Rams were down most of the game and using a lot of three wide receiver sets. He did play 10 of 12 snaps in the first half, so they may be planning fewer two tight end sets anyway.
Loser: TE Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
Higbee only had two targets after scoring three touchdowns last week. The opportunity to sell him high has ended. There’s reason to be concerned about him at times going forward — the Rams used fewer tight ends than usual due to the game script, which led to Gerald Everett getting more playing time in 11 personnel. This could be the trend in games where Los Angeles is losing. It’s also worth noting that this was a particularly difficult matchup for Higbee against the Bills’ linebackers and safeties.
Sell High: RB Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams
Henderson had 120 yards and a touchdown, which was around the numbers he had the week before. Henderson was primarily the first- and second-down back while Malcolm Brown functioned as the third down back, similar to past weeks. The problem is that in Week 1 Cam Akers had the role Henderson has now, and at some point he will come back. When that happens, Brown is likely to keep his third-down role, leading to a potential three-man rotation on first and second downs. It would be better to let Henderson go now after two big performances before Akers comes back.
Injury: WR John Brown, Buffalo Bills
Brown only played the first half of the game because of a calf injury. The Bills were already using a lot of multiple receiver sets with Gabriel Davis and Isaiah McKenzie seeing significant time. In the second half, Davis was his clear replacement. Brown was held without a catch on two targets in the first half, while Davis caught all four passes thrown his way for 81 yards. If Brown misses any time, Davis would be the man to pick up in this high-powered offense.
Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons
| Chicago Bears | Atlanta Falcons |
| WR | WR |
| Allen Robinson II – 64 snaps | Calvin Ridley – 63 snaps |
| Darnell Mooney – 52 snaps | Olamide Zaccheaus – 54 snaps |
| Anthony Miller – 46 snaps | Brandon Powell – 37 snaps |
| Javon Wims – 24 snaps | Russell Gage – 12 snaps |
| Ted Ginn Jr. – 16 snaps | Christian Blake – 6 snaps |
| TE | TE |
| Jimmy Graham – 55 snaps | Hayden Hurst – 43 snaps |
| Demetrius Harris – 34 snaps | Luke Stocker – 32 snaps |
| Cole Kmet – 26 snaps | Jaeden Graham – 7 snaps |
| J.P. Holtz – 2 snaps | |
| HB | HB |
| David Montgomery – 46 snaps | Todd Gurley II – 35 snaps |
| Tarik Cohen – 26 snaps | Brian Hill – 23 snaps |
| Cordarrelle Patterson – 11 snaps | Ito Smith – 6 snaps |
| Ryan Nall – 7 snaps | |
| Total – 82 snaps | Total – 68 snaps |
Injury: RB Tarik Cohen, Chicago Bears
The Bears fear Cohen will be out for the year with an ACL injury, according to Ian Rapoport. It doesn’t seem like any single back will replace Cohen, but David Montgomery, Cordarrelle Patterson and Ryan Nall should all see an increase in playing time. Primarily, this will mean more targets for Montgomery. Patterson is an interesting player here — a hybrid running back and wide receiver who has primarily played out of the backfield so far and likely will even more going forward. He is worth a waiver wire addition.
Winner: WR Allen Robinson II, Chicago Bears
Robinson owners will be very happy with his performance — 10 catches, 123 yards and a touchdown. Over half of his targets came in the second half after Nick Foles took over as quarterback. No other wide receiver had more than two targets in the second half. Robinson should see no decrease in targets with Foles — if anything he’ll see better throws.
Waiver Wire Target: TE Jimmy Graham, Chicago Bears
Speaking of Foles’ targets, Jimmy Graham caught four of eight targets in the second half for 47 yards and his second touchdown of the day. Foles has a history of throwing to tight ends, and it didn’t take any time to find his new tight end in Chicago early and often. Due to the number of targets Graham should continue to see going forward, he is definitely a waiver wire addition.
Injury: WR Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were without Julio Jones, which pushed Russell Gage to the second wide receiver spot and Olamide Zaccheaus in for three wide receiver sets. Gage left the game early with a concussion. This hopefully won’t be a long-term injury, and even if it is the Falcons have the Packers next week which might not be a great matchup for wide receivers. In future weeks, if there are any more injuries to their wide receivers, it is good to know that Zaccheaus is the next man up.
Washington Football Team at Cleveland Browns
| Washington Football Team | Cleveland Browns |
| WR | WR |
| Terry McLaurin – 63 snaps | Odell Beckham Jr. – 51 snaps |
| Dontrelle Inman – 45 snaps | Jarvis Landry – 45 snaps |
| Isaiah Wright – 29 snaps | KhaDarel Hodge – 35 snaps |
| Steven Sims – 23 snaps | JoJo Natson – 4 snaps |
| Antonio Gandy-Golden – 18 snaps | |
| Cam Sims – 1 snap | |
| TE | TE |
| Logan Thomas – 55 snaps | Austin Hooper – 54 snaps |
| Marcus Baugh – 13 snaps | Harrison Bryant – 40 snaps |
| Jeremy Sprinkle – 6 snaps | Stephen Carlson – 6 snaps |
| HB | HB |
| J.D. McKissic – 34 snaps | Nick Chubb – 34 snaps |
| Antonio Gibson – 25 snaps | Kareem Hunt – 29 snaps |
| Peyton Barber – 7 snaps | |
| Total – 64 snaps | Total – 62 snaps |
Winner: RB Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
Chubb continued to function as the first and second down back in the first three quarters while Kareem Hunt played on third downs and saw an uptick in snaps in the fourth quarter. Like last week, the split of playing time didn’t prevent Chubb from putting up big fantasy numbers. He had two touchdowns and 108 yards on 19 carries. There is still concern that Chubb won’t have as many opportunities in games when the Browns are losing, but as long as they’re winning Chubb will do just fine.
Loser: RB Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team
Gibson had a breakout performance last week, leading the Washington running backs in both carries and pass routes while limiting Peyton Barber to just one snap. This week, J.D. McKissic had 11 more pass routes, while Gibson had just over half of the carries. The fantasy owners who played Gibson probably aren’t complaining too much since Gibson scored a touchdown. This is concerning for the near future, though — we need Gibson to play more than 40% of snaps.
Remember The Name: WR Isaiah Wright, Washington Football Team
Steven Sims was questionable coming into this week with a toe injury. While he played, it was undrafted free agent Isaiah Wright who ended up with more slot snaps for Washington. He was targeted on six of his 18 pass routes, catching four for 24 yards. A a healthy Sims could lead to Wright not seeing much of any playing time again, but it is interesting that Wright has the most targets for a Washington wide receiver in a game this season not named Terry McLaurin.
New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts
| New York Jets | Indianapolis Colts |
| WR | WR |
| Braxton Berrios – 52 snaps | Zach Pascal – 55 snaps |
| Chris Hogan – 51 snaps | Michael Pittman Jr. – 34 snaps |
| Josh Malone – 38 snaps | T.Y. Hilton – 31 snaps |
| Lawrence Cager – 30 snaps | Daurice Fountain – 19 snaps |
| Ashton Dulin – 13 snaps | |
| TE | TE |
| Chris Herndon – 50 snaps | Mo Alie-Cox – 34 snaps |
| Ryan Griffin – 18 snaps | Jack Doyle – 33 snaps |
| Trevon Wesco – 15 snaps | Noah Togiai – 15 snaps |
| HB | HB |
| Frank Gore – 26 snaps | Jonathan Taylor – 24 snaps |
| La'Mical Perine – 21 snaps | Nyheim Hines – 20 snaps |
| Kalen Ballage – 19 snaps | Jordan Wilkins – 16 snaps |
| Total – 64 snaps | Total – 59 snaps |
Winner: Team Defense, Indianapolis Colts
The score might suggest that the Colts offense had a big day, but it was really the defense that shined with two pick-sixes and a safety. The Indianapolis defense was a popular pick for people who stream defenses, and they didn’t disappoint. It was hard to have too much of a takeaway from the rest of the Colts offense due to the blowout nature of the game and limited offensive snaps it took for them to win.
Player To Drop: TE Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts
The Colts’ tight end position was of interest this week, as Jack Doyle returned from injury a week after Mo Alie-Cox had a breakout day receiving. Alie-Cox ended up playing more in this game than Week 1, although he ended up blocking a lot due to game script. He had three targets and the lone receiving touchdown of the Indianapolis offense, while Doyle was not targeted despite running more routes. Doyle was already a borderline TE2 coming into the season based on his talent and situation, but it will be hard to trust him while he’s fighting fight Alie-Cox for targets.
Remember The Name: RB La’Mical Perine, New York Jets
The Jets have been without their starting running back and top three receivers, which for the most part has made it a team to avoid. Rookie running back La’Mical Perine is a name to keep an eye on. Last week, Frank Gore saw the vast majority of snaps, but this week Perine was close to even with him. Perine ran for 24 yards on seven carries and had two targets while leading the Jets backs in routes run. With this season already looking lost for New York, it wouldn’t be surprising if at some point in the season Perine gets extensive playing time so the Jets can see what they have.
Carolina Panthers at Los Angeles Chargers
| Carolina Panthers | Los Angeles Chargers |
| WR | WR |
| D.J. Moore – 45 snaps | Keenan Allen – 75 snaps |
| Robby Anderson – 40 snaps | Jalen Guyton – 63 snaps |
| Curtis Samuel – 33 snaps | Mike Williams – 40 snaps |
| Seth Roberts – 17 snaps | K.J. Hill – 38 snaps |
| Pharoh Cooper – 9 snaps | Joe Reed – 6 snaps |
| Brandon Zylstra – 2 snaps | |
| TE | TE |
| Ian Thomas – 35 snaps | Hunter Henry – 69 snaps |
| Chris Manhertz – 24 snaps | Virgil Green – 13 snaps |
| Colin Thompson – 2 snaps | Stephen Anderson – 4 snaps |
| HB | HB |
| Mike Davis – 39 snaps | Austin Ekeler – 56 snaps |
| Reggie Bonnafon – 2 snaps | Joshua Kelley – 23 snaps |
| Total – 51 snaps | Total – 78 snaps |
Winner: RB Mike Davis, Carolina Panthers
Davis is a winner after largely stepping into Christian McCaffrey’s role rather than being in a committee. While Curtis Samuel played some running back, Davis had 13 of the Panthers’ 19 designed runs. He also led the team in targets with nine. He brought down eight and had the Panthers’ only offensive touchdown. His usage should remain high among running backs for as long as McCaffrey is out.
Winner: RB Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
Ekeler also has to be considered a winner based on how much he was used. He led the team in carries and had the team's only rushing touchdown. He also caught all 11 passes thrown his way for 84 yards, really helping his PPR owners. While Joshua Kelly will continue to get some carries each game, Ekeler is still the top running back to have on your team from Los Angeles.
Buy Low: WR D.J. Moore, Carolina Panthers
Moore was held to two catches on four targets for 65 yards. He has yet to have his first receiving touchdown against tough matchups. He has a few other tough matchups but also some very solid ones going forward — he should have a big game next week against the Cardinals. It’s a good time to trade for him ahead of that matchup.
Sell High: WR Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers
Allen had a ridiculous 17 targets — tied for the most by a player this season. He was able to bring down 13 of those passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. He is only a sell-high candidate if someone overreacts to this week's numbers. Allen should still be the Chargers’ clear No. 1 receiver the rest of the season, and they have a decent schedule. But his value will be a little higher this week than others if you’re looking to move him.
Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks
| Dallas Cowboys | Seattle Seahawks |
| WR | WR |
| Michael Gallup – 70 snaps | Tyler Lockett – 74 snaps |
| Amari Cooper – 65 snaps | D.K. Metcalf – 74 snaps |
| CeeDee Lamb – 49 snaps | Freddie Swain – 34 snaps |
| Noah Brown – 29 snaps | David Moore – 31 snaps |
| Cedrick Wilson – 24 snaps | |
| TE | TE |
| Dalton Schultz – 55 snaps | Greg Olsen – 48 snaps |
| Blake Bell – 27 snaps | Will Dissly – 30 snaps |
| Sean McKeon – 4 snaps | Jacob Hollister – 11 snaps |
| HB | HB |
| Ezekiel Elliott – 80 snaps | Chris Carson – 44 snaps |
| Tony Pollard – 6 snaps | Carlos Hyde – 16 snaps |
| Travis Homer – 16 snaps | |
| Penny Hart – 2 snaps | |
| Total – 82 snaps | Total – 76 snaps |
Winner: WR Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks
Anytime someone scores three touchdowns, they belong in the winner section. Lockett saw a team-high 13 targets and brought in nine for 100 yards. The Seahawks have the easiest schedule for wide receivers the rest of the season, including matchups against the Dolphins and Vikings the next two weeks. He and D.K. Metcalf should both have several more big games this season.
Loser: RB Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
Elliott played a ridiculously high 80 of 82 snaps but had just 58 yards. The Cowboys tried to get him involved in the pass game with a team high 12 targets, but he only caught half of those for 24 yards. The Cowboys have the second-most difficult schedule for running backs the rest of the season, so he is someone who could be worth selling high after a better week.
Remember The Name: WR Cedrick Wilson, Dallas Cowboys
Considering past WRs performances against the Seahawks, all of the Cowboys were expected to have big games. Most of the wide receivers didn’t disappoint, though Cedrick Wilson was surprisingly the one to catch two of the three passing touchdowns. It’s unlikely that he’ll see much playing time in future games — the Cowboys had 57 pass attempts, and as the game went on Wilson and Noah Brown started subbing in for the other receivers more often. In future weeks, the Cowboys won’t be passing as much, so there will be less need to rotate the stars out.
Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals
| Detroit Lions | Arizona Cardinals |
| WR | WR |
| Marvin Jones Jr. – 60 snaps | DeAndre Hopkins – 61 snaps |
| Kenny Golladay – 48 snaps | Larry Fitzgerald – 56 snaps |
| Danny Amendola – 29 snaps | KeeSean Johnson – 47 snaps |
| Jamal Agnew – 14 snaps | Andy Isabella – 26 snaps |
| Quintez Cephus – 10 snaps | |
| Marvin Hall – 6 snaps | |
| TE | TE |
| T.J. Hockenson – 54 snaps | Darrell Daniels – 37 snaps |
| Jesse James – 33 snaps | Dan Arnold – 32 snaps |
| HB | HB |
| Adrian Peterson – 39 snaps | Kenyan Drake – 44 snaps |
| Kerryon Johnson – 20 snaps | Chase Edmonds – 21 snaps |
| D'Andre Swift – 6 snaps | |
| Total – 66 snaps | Total – 65 snaps |
Winner: WR Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions
Golladay finally saw his first action of 2020 — he tied for the team lead in targets with seven and scored one of the two Lions touchdowns. Detroit seemed to limit Golladay’s snaps a little more than usual, so there’s room for Golladay to see a bigger workload in future weeks.
Remember The Name: WR Andy Isabella, Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals scored three touchdowns, and two of them were to Andy Isabella. He caught all four passes thrown his way and had the second-most receiving yards for Arizona. This had the potential to be an even bigger breakout game for Isabella with Christian Kirk out with injury, but 2019 sixth round pick KeeSean Johnson mostly took Kirk’s place. He had close to double the snaps of Kirk and seven targets. If Isabella was a clear top-three receiver in snaps it would be a lot easier to get excited about this performance. With Johnson ahead of him, it’s hard to imagine Isabella getting enough targets to start him anytime soon.
Player To Drop: RB D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions
Swift had a clear role for the Lions in the first two weeks as their receiving back. He had a clear lead in pass routes both weeks, including leading the team in third-down snaps. His role was significantly reduced in Week 3: He didn’t play on any third downs, had no carries and ran the third-most pass routes. This should be good news for Kerryon Johnson, but he only put up 30 total yards. Swift already didn’t have much fantasy value in his previous role due to lack of touches, but with this reduced role it would take a lot for him to return to fantasy relevancy.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Denver Broncos
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Denver Broncos |
| WR | WR |
| Mike Evans – 61 snaps | K.J. Hamler – 59 snaps |
| Chris Godwin – 55 snaps | Tim Patrick – 53 snaps |
| Scotty Miller – 29 snaps | Jerry Jeudy – 46 snaps |
| Tyler Johnson – 21 snaps | DaeSean Hamilton – 12 snaps |
| Jaydon Mickens – 2 snaps | Tyrie Cleveland – 3 snaps |
| Diontae Spencer – 2 snaps | |
| TE | TE |
| Rob Gronkowski – 63 snaps | Noah Fant – 53 snaps |
| O.J. Howard – 33 snaps | Jake Butt – 18 snaps |
| Cameron Brate – 5 snaps | |
| HB | HB |
| Ronald Jones – 35 snaps | Melvin Gordon III – 39 snaps |
| Leonard Fournette – 25 snaps | Royce Freeman – 24 snaps |
| LeSean McCoy – 11 snaps | |
| Total – 68 snaps | Total – 63 snaps |
Winner: QB Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brady was throwing to an injured Mike Evans Week 1 and was without Chris Godwin in Week 2. This week he had a fully healthy lineup — at least to start the game. This led to a 297-yard and three-touchdown performance. Evans only caught two passes but they both went for touchdowns. Scott Miller led the team in yards. Godwin also had a touchdown, and Rob Gronkowski was more involved in the passing game than he has been over the past two weeks. This looked like something we can expect from the Buccaneers in future weeks.
Loser: RB Melvin Gordon III, Denver Broncos
Gordon was expected to have a rough game due to the matchup, but it ended up being worse because of how much the Broncos used Royce Freeman. In Week 2, Gordon had 78% of the Broncos’ offensive snaps, but this week that dropped to 62%. Gordon ended up just barely putting up more yards than Freeman despite having significantly more carries and targets. Gordon should have better days against weaker run defenses, but the limit to his playing time puts a cap on that upside.
Player To Drop: RB LeSean McCoy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers’ running back situation has been confusing, but McCoy has maintained a role as the third-down back. He didn’t have any carries in this game and was limited to two catches on four targets. What made things worse is that Leonard Fournette continued to take some of the third-down snaps. With how much talent the Buccaneers have at wide receiver and tight end, it doesn’t look like McCoy will be Brady’s new James White. He’s more likely to lose playing time to Fournette than to garner more touches.
Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints
| Green Bay Packers | New Orleans Saints |
| WR | WR |
| Allen Lazard – 59 snaps | Tre' Quan Smith – 61 snaps |
| Marquez Valdes-Scantling – 57 snaps | Emmanuel Sanders – 48 snaps |
| Darrius Shepherd – 23 snaps | Deonte Harris – 22 snaps |
| Malik Taylor – 4 snaps | Bennie Fowler – 11 snaps |
| Marquez Callaway – 2 snaps | |
| TE | TE |
| Robert Tonyan – 40 snaps | Adam Trautman – 32 snaps |
| Marcedes Lewis – 20 snaps | Jared Cook – 21 snaps |
| Jace Sternberger – 19 snaps | Josh Hill – 20 snaps |
| John Lovett – 2 snaps | |
| HB | HB |
| Aaron Jones – 44 snaps | Alvin Kamara – 41 snaps |
| Tyler Ervin – 23 snaps | Latavius Murray – 21 snaps |
| Jamaal Williams – 19 snaps | |
| Total – 62 snaps | Total – 61 snaps |
Winner: RB Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
You know you've seen something special when a player accounts for over half of his team's receiving yardage, but it's even more impressive when a running back does it. Kamara was at that point up until the final drive: He caught 13 of the 14 passes thrown his way for two touchdowns and 139 yards — 83 yards more than any other Saints player. Throw in an additional 58 rushing yards, and you have a great fantasy day. Kamara has a chance to be the best fantasy running back this year.
Waiver Wire Target: WR Allen Lazard, Green Bay Packers
Lazard is already owned in plenty of fantasy football leagues, but after his performance tonight, it's worth double-checking to see if he's available on the waiver wire. With Davante Adams out, Lazard was not only Aaron Rodgers' favorite target, but he also served as the Packers' big-play threat. He caught six of the eight passes thrown his way for 146 yards and a touchdown, and tonight's game should only grow the confidence Rodgers has in him. Lazard will continue to be an every-down player even when Adams is back, so the opportunity for these kinds of games will continue.
Injury: TE Jared Cook, New Orleans Saints
Cook started the season strong with a five-catch, 80-yard performance. Last week, he was limited to two catches but saved his fantasy score with a touchdown. He was held to two catches again this week, but his playing time was limited more than usual. He suffered an ankle injury in the third quarter, but even before the injury, there was reason to be concerned about his usage.
Cook played 70.2% of 11-personnel snaps over the first two weeks; he also saw over half of the 12-personnel snaps. This week, he was taken out of 12 personnel altogether, giving way to Josh Hill and rookie Adam Trautman. It's also worth noting that Hill had been the primary tight end in 21 personnel, but Trautman took the lead in that personnel grouping tonight, as well.
Trautman became the tight end in 11 personnel tonight, and because he is also a blocker, Trautman might see more playing time if Cook were to miss any time. Trautman is definitely a waiver wire addition if Cook's injury is serious enough to keep him off the field.
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