It was a long week for fantasy owners with Covid-19 causing the delay of two games scheduled for Sunday. We still ended up with a great slate of action full of high-scoring games, and some highly drafted fantasy players who were slumping showed up big. There are a few backfields, however, that are in flux week to week that we’ll need to continue to monitor.
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.
This article will be updated as late games wrap up.
Baltimore Ravens at Washington Football Team
| Baltimore Ravens | Washington Football Team |
| WR | WR |
| Marquise Brown – 43 snaps | Terry McLaurin – 64 snaps |
| Willie Snead IV – 32 snaps | Isaiah Wright – 58 snaps |
| Miles Boykin – 31 snaps | Dontrelle Inman – 57 snaps |
| Devin Duvernay – 16 snaps | Antonio Gandy-Golden – 12 snaps |
| James Proche – 1 snap | Cam Sims – 4 snaps |
| TE | TE |
| Nick Boyle – 38 snaps | Logan Thomas – 66 snaps |
| Mark Andrews – 37 snaps | Marcus Baugh – 9 snaps |
| Jeremy Sprinkle – 8 snaps | |
| HB | HB |
| Gus Edwards – 22 snaps | J.D. McKissic – 39 snaps |
| J.K. Dobbins – 21 snaps | Antonio Gibson – 31 snaps |
| Mark Ingram II – 14 snaps | Peyton Barber – 5 snaps |
| Total – 57 snaps | Total – 71 snaps |
Winner: TE Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
Andrews had just four catches for 51 yards and no touchdowns over the last two weeks. Fellow tight end Nick Boyle has been in some plays recently that ideally would go to Andrews. But Andrews helped ease some concerns, catching all three passes thrown his way for two touchdowns. There are still plenty of reasons to be concerned about Andrews’ fantasy value going forward because of the lack of targets. He remains one of the most talented tight ends in the league, which will make it hard to ever bench him.
Loser: TE Logan Thomas, Washington Football Team
Thomas had been either first or second in targets for Washington in each of the first three weeks. This week, he was sixth in targets with three, bringing down just one pass four eight yards. If he can’t have a better week against Los Angeles next week, he will probably be droppable.
Sell High: RB Mark Ingram, Baltimore Ravens
Ingram was the only Ravens running back with a touchdown in the game, which will hopefully leave him with some fantasy trade value. In each of the first three weeks, Gus Edwards had outplayed Ingram on a per-play basis. This week, Edwards ended up with more carries than Ingram. J.K. Dobbins has maintained the third-down role and got some garbage time this week thanks to the lead. Ingram’s number of touches per game are trending down and will likely continue down that path as Edwards plays better and Dobbins gets more involved.
Seattle Seahawks at Miami Dolphins
| Seattle Seahawks | Miami Dolphins |
| WR | WR |
| Tyler Lockett – 56 snaps | DeVante Parker – 57 snaps |
| D.K. Metcalf – 55 snaps | Isaiah Ford – 45 snaps |
| Freddie Swain – 27 snaps | Preston Williams – 43 snaps |
| David Moore – 22 snaps | Jakeem Grant – 28 snaps |
| Penny Hart – 7 snaps | Lynn Bowden Jr. – 4 snaps |
| Mack Hollins – 2 snap | |
| TE | TE |
| Greg Olsen – 35 snaps | Mike Gesicki – 45 snaps |
| Will Dissly – 27 snaps | Durham Smythe – 29 snaps |
| Jacob Hollister – 14 snaps | Adam Shaheen – 20 snaps |
| Luke Willson – 6 snaps | |
| HB | HB |
| Chris Carson – 35 snaps | Myles Gaskin – 46 snaps |
| Travis Homer – 17 snaps | Matt Breida – 17 snaps |
| DeeJay Dallas – 11 snaps | Jordan Howard – 8 snaps |
| Total – 63 snaps | Total – 71 snaps |
Winner: WR DeVante Parker, Miami Dolphins
Last season, Preston Williams was the Dolphins’ top wide receiver until he was hurt. Williams' injury led to Parker’s breakout second half of the season. Over the first two weeks of 2020, it seemed like Williams would be the top player again based on playing time and who saw shadow coverage. But it’s been Parker leading the team in routes run over the past two weeks, with Williams rotating out more in two-receiver sets. Despite missing time with an injury early in the game, Parker caught 10 of 12 passes thrown his way for 110 yards. He should be the top Miami wide receiver going forward.
Loser: WR Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks
Lockett was held to two catches for 39 yards. Over the first three weeks, Lockett had at least seven catches per game and four total touchdowns. Seattle chose to attack Miami’s outside cornerbacks frequently, and since Lockett played primarily in the slot, it didn’t lead to many targets. Lockett’s output should be much more like the first three games moving forward.
Sell High: RB Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks
Carson had his best game of the season with 16 carries for 80 yards and two touchdowns. At least part of his big game was due to Carlos Hyde missing the game with a shoulder injury. The Dolphins have also been among the teams to give up the most fantasy points to running backs on a per-touch basis. Carson has been limited with an ankle injury and took a big hit, which led to a concussion evaluation this week. The injury issues and return of Hyde are concerns moving forward.
Minnesota Vikings at Houston Texans
| Minnesota Vikings | Houston Texans |
| WR | WR |
| Adam Thielen – 58 snaps | Brandin Cooks – 61 snaps |
| Justin Jefferson – 51 snaps | Will Fuller V – 50 snaps |
| Chad Beebe – 16 snaps | Randall Cobb – 48 snaps |
| Olabisi Johnson – 11 snaps | Kenny Stills – 27 snaps |
| TE | TE |
| Kyle Rudolph – 48 snaps | Darren Fells – 52 snaps |
| Irv Smith Jr. – 41 snaps | Jordan Akins – 19 snaps |
| Tyler Conklin – 8 snaps | Pharaoh Brown – 7 snaps |
| HB | HB |
| Dalvin Cook – 49 snaps | David Johnson – 36 snaps |
| Alexander Mattison – 15 snaps | Duke Johnson Jr. – 25 snap |
| Total – 66 snaps | Total – 65 snaps |
Winner: WR Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Jefferson is the winner in this one despite Vikings stars also having successful fantasy performances. That’s because Jefferson avoided becoming a one-hit wonder. The rookie had nearly the same amount of playing time compared to last week, which led to a four-catch, 103-yard performance. His fantasy value going forward will be matchup dependent, and this was the easiest remaining game for Minnesota wide receivers on the schedule. There will be other matchups where you can feel comfortable starting him, including next week against the Seahawks.
Loser: RB David Johnson, Houston Texans
Johnson was the primary ball-carrier for the Texans but only had 63 yards on 16 carries. While that was the second-most yards he’s had in a game, what is more concerning is his diminished role in the pass game. Both of his catches came within seven minutes of the end of the game. Duke Johnson’s return to the lineup played a big role in that. In the first half of Week 1 when both were healthy, David played in 69% of snaps. That was down to 59% today. In games where the Texans are behind, this trend could continue. With how Houston has been playing, that could be a lot of the time.
Injury: TE Jordan Akins, Houston Texans
Akins left the game near the end of the first half with a concussion. Before he left, he was having a solid game with three catches for 46 yards. In his absence, Darren Fells took over the passing-down work while Pharaoh Brown was in for two-tight-end sets. If Akins were to miss a week or two, Fells would be far from a must add. The Texans have decent matchups these next two weeks, so Fells could be an option in leagues with two tight ends.
Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers
| Arizona Cardinals | Carolina Panthers |
| WR | WR |
| DeAndre Hopkins – 54 snaps | D.J. Moore – 55 snaps |
| Larry Fitzgerald – 53 snaps | Robby Anderson – 44 snaps |
| Christian Kirk – 36 snaps | Curtis Samuel – 36 snaps |
| Andy Isabella – 24 snaps | Pharoh Cooper – 19 snaps |
| Seth Roberts – 8 snaps | |
| Brandon Zylstra – 7 snaps | |
| TE | TE |
| Dan Arnold – 31 snaps | Chris Manhertz – 58 snaps |
| Darrell Daniels – 27 snaps | Ian Thomas – 44 snaps |
| Jordan Thomas – 1 snap | Colin Thompson – 17 snaps |
| HB | HB |
| Kenyan Drake – 37 snaps | Mike Davis – 54 snaps |
| Chase Edmonds – 21 snaps | Reggie Bonnafon – 21 snaps |
| Total – 57 snaps | Total – 76 snaps |
Winner: WR Robby Anderson, Carolina Panthers
No skill player for Arizona had more than 41 yards; the only Carolina player to do it earned this week’s “sell-high” designation. Anderson was the winner of the skill players in this game by default. He caught eight of 11 passes thrown his way for 99 yards. It is technically his second worst fantasy performance of the year, but when you can have nearly 100 yards and significant catches, you’re having a strong season.
Loser: RB Kenyan Drake, Arizona Cardinals
Drake’s been one of the biggest fantasy disappointments of the season. On paper this should have been a game where he could breakout, but that didn’t happen. He ran for just 35 yards on 13 carries and didn’t see a target. Over the first three weeks, Drake had been playing 65 to 68 percent of snaps, with Chase Edmonds taking the rest. It was reasonable to think part of the reason those numbers were that low is because the Cardinals were running so many plays, leading Drake to have over 50 snaps per game. This week, Arizona ran much fewer plays compared to other weeks. Edmonds instead played in a lower percentage of snaps. The only positive note for Drake fantasy owners is the Cardinals still have one of the easiest schedules for running backs remaining.
Sell High: RB Mike Davis, Carolina Panthers
On paper, Davis had a fairly good game with 84 yards rushing, a touchdown and five catches. Obviously, the eventual return of Christian McCaffrey hurts Davis’ trade value, but it would still be better to get something for Davis now than to let him sit on your bench until McCaffrey returns. One concern is that backup running back Reggie Bonnafon had 10 carries and looked just as good if not better running with the football. The other concern is the schedule, as the Panthers’ next four opponents are all average to good at stopping fantasy running backs.
Cleveland Browns at Dallas Cowboys
| Cleveland Browns | Dallas Cowboys |
| WR | WR |
| Odell Beckham Jr. – 58 snaps | Michael Gallup – 68 snaps |
| Jarvis Landry – 57 snaps | Amari Cooper – 63 snaps |
| Donovan Peoples-Jones – 33 snaps | CeeDee Lamb – 62 snaps |
| Noah Brown – 22 snaps | |
| Cedrick Wilson – 18 snaps | |
| Malik Turner – 2 snaps | |
| TE | TE |
| Austin Hooper – 63 snaps | Dalton Schultz – 63 snaps |
| Harrison Bryant – 52 snaps | Blake Bell – 28 snaps |
| Stephen Carlson – 16 snaps | |
| HB | HB |
| Kareem Hunt – 26 snaps | Ezekiel Elliott – 63 snaps |
| D'Ernest Johnson – 17 snaps | Tony Pollard – 22 snaps |
| Dontrell Hilliard – 15 snaps | |
| Nick Chubb – 14 snaps | |
| Total – 75 snaps | Total – 82 snaps |
Injury: RB Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
Chubb left the game late in the first quarter with a leg injury. Prior to the injury, only he and Kareem Hunt saw playing time. Based on Hunt’s talent, there was a thought that Hunt could see the vast majority of snaps the rest of the game. Instead, Hunt saw a lower percentage of snaps this week compared to the previous three. Hunt went from being the third-down back to the primary back on first and second downs with D’Ernest Johnson ending up with more carries and yards. Dontrell Hilliard played five of the six third-down snaps in the last three quarters.
If Chubb were to miss games, Johnson would be a big waiver wire pickup for the week. One would think Hunt would end up with more carries than Johnson in future games, but Johnson would be worth picking up in case that’s not true. This theoretically increases Hunt’s value, but the way he was used in this game makes that a little less clear.
Winner: WR Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys
There are multiple wide receivers who could just as easily have been named here. Both Odell Beckham Jr. and CeeDee Lamb had roughly 80 yards and two receiving touchdowns each. Cooper gets the headline after a 12-catch performance for 134 yards and a touchdown. All three have bright futures the rest of the season.
Loser: WR Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys
There is bound to be a loser among the Cowboys skill players each week — there just aren’t enough passes to go around. This week, it was Gallup who disappointed, catching two passes for 29 yards on five targets. It was predictable that Gallup would have a poor game despite the Browns being among the league leaders in fantasy points per game given up to wide receivers. Cleveland’s outside cornerbacks have played relatively well while the middle of the defense was giving up all of the yards and touchdowns. That remained true today. Today’s disappointing fantasy performance was matchup related, so I’m not concerned about Gallup’s future.
New Orleans Saints at Detroit Lions
| New Orleans Saints | Detroit Lions |
| WR | WR |
| Tre'Quan Smith – 62 snaps | Marvin Jones Jr. – 54 snaps |
| Emmanuel Sanders – 51 snaps | Kenny Golladay – 50 snaps |
| Marquez Callaway – 15 snaps | Danny Amendola – 34 snaps |
| Deonte Harris – 14 snaps | Jamal Agnew – 11 snaps |
| Bennie Fowler – 10 snaps | Quintez Cephus – 6 snaps |
| Marvin Hall – 5 snaps | |
| TE | TE |
| Josh Hill – 40 snaps | T.J. Hockenson – 46 snaps |
| Garrett Griffin – 22 snaps | Jesse James – 30 snaps |
| Adam Trautman – 19 snaps | |
| HB | HB |
| Alvin Kamara – 47 snaps | Adrian Peterson – 27 snaps |
| Latavius Murray – 29 snaps | D'Andre Swift – 23 snaps |
| Kerryon Johnson – 11 snaps | |
| Total – 70 snaps | Total – 61 snaps |
Winner: RB Latavius Murray, New Orleans Saints
The Saints became one of the most run-heavy teams this week, and it’s a strategy that worked well for them. While Alvin Kamara led the team in carries as usual, Murray had an impressive 64 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns. Murray is someone to add onto rosters now. The Chargers and Panthers are both matchups where New Orleans could have a similar strategy, which could lead to double digit carries again. That would be helpful as we hit bye weeks and deal with running back injuries, committees and any other Covid situations.
Loser: RB Kerryon Johnson, Detroit Lions
Last week, Johnson appeared to have won the third-down role in the Lions backfield as well as the primary backup job on rushing plays. Johnson kept the third-down role this week, but rookie D’Andre Swift took over as the backup to Adrian Peterson on early downs. Johnson only had two snaps on first and second downs compared to 25 by Peterson and 16 by Swift. Johnson’s third-down role only led to one catch, while his three carries led to nine yards. Peterson put up the best numbers from the group but also saw less playing time compared to last week. Because of how much this changes from week to week, all three backs should be avoided until there is more consistency.
Sell High: Most Saints
Both Emmanuel Sanders and Tre’Quan Smith had good games, making up nearly all of the team’s receiving production. Sanders had six catches for 93 yards, while Smith caught two touchdowns. It’s only a matter of time before Michael Thomas comes back, which will hurt both receivers’ value. With how Brees has been playing, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Saints remain a run-first team. Jared Cook missed the game with an injury, but had been averaging just three catches per game. Rookie Adam Trautman had taken a little of Cook’s playing time before the injury and was the primary receiving tight end this week. Trautman was held without a target but could continue to take Cook’s time. Outside of Kamara and Thomas, the rest of the Saints offense shouldn’t be trusted on a week-to-week basis.
Los Angeles Chargers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| Los Angeles Chargers | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| WR | WR |
| Keenan Allen – 50 snaps | Justin Watson – 56 snaps |
| Jalen Guyton – 45 snaps | Mike Evans – 54 snaps |
| Jason Moore – 25 snaps | Scotty Miller – 40 snaps |
| Tyron Johnson – 8 snaps | Tyler Johnson – 25 snaps |
| K.J. Hill – 2 snaps | Jaydon Mickens – 11 snaps |
| TE | TE |
| Hunter Henry – 45 snaps | Rob Gronkowski – 65 snaps |
| Virgil Green – 25 snaps | O.J. Howard – 28 snaps |
| Stephen Anderson – 3 snaps | Cameron Brate – 16 snaps |
| Donald Parham – 1 snap | |
| HB | HB |
| Joshua Kelley – 30 snaps | Ronald Jones – 49 snaps |
| Justin Jackson – 21 snaps | Ke'Shawn Vaughn – 19 snaps |
| Austin Ekeler – 3 snaps | LeSean McCoy – 5 snaps |
| Kenjon Barner – 4 snaps | |
| Total – 53 snaps | Total – 76 snaps |
Winner: WR Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Evans has been battling injuries all season and missed some time in this one. Despite this, he’s caught at least one touchdown in every game in 2020. He led the Buccaneers in targets, receptions and receiving yards. This was supposed to be a tough matchup for the Tampa Bay receivers, and they have a few more tough ones coming up. After that, Evans should be a top-10 receiver in the rankings most weeks.
Injury: TE O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
According to Bruce Arians, Howard ruptured his Achilles and is likely out for the season. While this is unfortunate for Howard and we wish him a speedy recovery, this should give Rob Gronkowski’s fantasy value a boost. Over the first two weeks, Gronkowski played 68% of 11 personnel snaps. Over the last two weeks before Howard’s injury, that was up to 86%. Gronkowski took 100% of those snaps after Howard’s injury. Playing time should no longer get in Gronkowski’s way, so now he will just need more targets.
Injury: RB Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
Ekeler was carted off the field early with a hamstring injury and then rookie Joshua Kelley saw the majority of snaps while Justin Jackson also played significant time. There was no clear early-down back compared to a third-down back or clear rushing back or receiving back. The Chargers had just one play in the red zone, as all of their touchdowns came on bigger plays. Based on previous weeks, Kelley is the clear goal-line back even when Ekeler is healthy. In Week 1, Kelley did play more of a rushing role while Jackson had more of a passing role before Jackson missed time with an injury.
If Ekeler misses time, Kelley is the back to roster of the two. They were used pretty interchangeably, so it’s certainly possible for Jackson to have the hot hand at some point and be the main back instead. Jackson is also worth waiver wire attention.
Injury: RB LeSean McCoy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Leonard Fournette missed this game with an injury, LeSean McCoy left early with an ankle injury and Kenjon Barner left with a concussion. This led to a big game for Ronald Jones who had 111 yards on 20 carries. Even with all of the injuries, the Buccaneers still only used Jones on 20% of third-down snaps. If McCoy misses significant time and Fournette returns from injury, Fournette should benefit the most as he would likely become the third-down back.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals
| Jacksonville Jaguars | Cincinnati Bengals |
| WR | WR |
| D.J. Chark Jr. – 58 snaps | Tyler Boyd – 58 snaps |
| Keelan Cole – 50 snaps | A.J. Green – 53 snaps |
| Laviska Shenault Jr. – 37 snaps | Tee Higgins – 43 snaps |
| Chris Conley – 21 snaps | Auden Tate – 22 snaps |
| Collin Johnson – 13 snaps | Alex Erickson – 7 snaps |
| TE | TE |
| Tyler Eifert – 46 snaps | Drew Sample – 64 snaps |
| James O'Shaughnessy – 35 snaps | Cethan Carter – 20 snaps |
| Tyler Davis – 7 snaps | Mason Schreck – 3 snaps |
| HB | HB |
| James Robinson – 52 snaps | Joe Mixon – 62 snaps |
| Chris Thompson – 16 snaps | Giovani Bernard – 13 snaps |
| Samaje Perine – 1 snap | |
| Total – 68 snaps | Total – 75 snaps |
Winner: RB Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals
Mixon hadn’t scored a touchdown coming into this game but made up for it with a three-touchdown performance. He touched the ball 31 times and ended up with 181 yards. While those who started Mixon this week are happy, it’s worth remembering they were facing Jacksonville, which has given up a lot of points to running backs. Our strength of schedule tool says there won’t be a better matchup for Bengals running backs this season. Giovani Bernard was still the third-down back, out-snapping Mixon six to one on third and 2 or more yards. If you were looking to trade Mixon before, now might be a good time to do it.
Loser: WR A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals
Green was held to one catch on five targets for three yards. Both younger wide receivers saw more targets, leading to a lot more yards and catches. With how well Tee Higgins has been playing compared to Green, it wouldn’t be surprising if at some point Higgins takes Green’s snaps in the base offense. He is someone I would look to sell, but not many people are likely to be buying.
Waiver Wire Target: WR Laviska Shenault Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars’ second-round rookie had been fairly consistent over the first three weeks with between 30 and 40 receiving yards.This week, Shenault had a mini break-out game with five catches for 86 yards. He had the second-most targets, receptions and receiving yards on the team, and there is no reason that shouldn’t remain true every week. It’s worth noting the person ahead of him is D.J. Chark, who two weeks ago was a buy-low candidate and had by far his best game of the season.
New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams
| New York Giants | Los Angeles Rams |
| WR | WR |
| Darius Slayton – 66 snaps | Robert Woods – 54 snaps |
| Golden Tate – 51 snaps | Cooper Kupp – 49 snaps |
| C.J. Board – 32 snaps | Josh Reynolds – 30 snaps |
| Damion Ratley – 29 snaps | Van Jefferson – 3 snaps |
| TE | TE |
| Evan Engram – 57 snaps | Tyler Higbee – 48 snaps |
| Kaden Smith – 24 snaps | Gerald Everett – 33 snaps |
| Levine Toilolo – 11 snaps | Johnny Mundt – 11 snaps |
| HB | HB |
| Devonta Freeman – 37 snaps | Malcolm Brown – 35 snaps |
| Dion Lewis – 21 snaps | Darrell Henderson – 22 snaps |
| Wayne Gallman – 10 snaps | |
| Total – 68 snaps | Total – 57 snaps |
Winner: WR Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
Kupp was the only player in this game with more than 50 receiving yards and the only player with a receiving touchdown. It’s his second-straight game with a TD and third-straight with at least 65 yards. While his numbers themselves were impressive, the biggest reason for optimism for Kupp going forward is his usage in all of the Rams’ two-tight-end sets. The Rams have rotated Kupp in and out to start the season, and he only played two of those snaps last week — this is his first time being the every-down player in that personnel grouping. If this continues, he will see more playing time — so more targets, catches and yards.
Loser: RB Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams
Henderson was coming off of two big games, and the Rams were expected to run a lot in this game. Unfortunately for Henderson, teammate Malcolm Brown ended up with more carries and Henderson was also limited to one catch. The two backs were used basically the same way as past weeks. Henderson saw slightly more snaps on first and second downs last week, while Brown had one more than Henderson this week. When Cam Akers returns, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Akers cut more into Henderson’s playing time than Brown’s.
Player To Cut: WR Golden Tate, New York Giants
Tate was held to four catches for 20 yards. While he remains in on nearly every snap in 11 personnel, he wasn’t used as much in two-tight-end sets as last week. In Week 3, he played in 100% of snaps in two-tight-end sets, compared to one-third this week. This wasn’t a good matchup for the Giants receivers, but New York also has the fifth-worst schedule for wide receivers the rest of the season. Tate might still have a good game or two left in him this season, but you probably wouldn’t be starting him during those weeks.
Indianapolis Colts at Chicago Bears
| Indianapolis Colts | Chicago Bears |
| WR | WR |
| Zach Pascal – 54 snaps | Allen Robinson II – 55 snaps |
| T.Y. Hilton – 54 snaps | Darnell Mooney – 45 snaps |
| Marcus Johnson – 34 snaps | Anthony Miller – 44 snaps |
| Ashton Dulin – 18 snaps | Javon Wims – 10 snaps |
| Daurice Fountain – 15 snaps | Ted Ginn Jr. – 7 snaps |
| TE | TE |
| Jack Doyle – 45 snaps | Jimmy Graham – 40 snaps |
| Trey Burton – 36 snaps | Demetrius Harris – 24 snaps |
| Mo Alie-Cox – 33 snaps | Cole Kmet – 15 snaps |
| J.P. Holtz – 5 snaps | |
| HB | HB |
| Jonathan Taylor – 33 snaps | David Montgomery – 53 snaps |
| Nyheim Hines – 25 snaps | Cordarrelle Patterson – 11 snaps |
| Jordan Wilkins – 12 snaps | Ryan Nall – 1 snap |
| Total – 72 snaps | Total – 62 snaps |
Waiver Wire Target: WR Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears
Mooney is a fifth-round rookie who started the season at the bottom of the Chicago rotation at wide receiver opposite Allen Robinson. He had the second-most wide receiver snaps for the Bears by Week 2, and each week the gap between him and the next outside wide receiver has grown. Mooney saw the second-most targets against the Colts, leading to a five-catch and 52-yard performance. There isn’t much room for his playing time to keep increasing, but he could keep seeing a lot of targets. With coverages focused on Robinson, Mooney could do well against teams with a poor second outside cornerback.
Buy Low: RB David Montgomery, Chicago Bears
Montgomery’s role was expected to see a slight increase with Tarik Cohen landing on injured reserve this past week. Because the Bears were behind early and spent the entire game passing, Montgomery didn’t have a great stat line. He had 27 rushing yards and three catches for 30 receiving yards. However, he played over 85% of the Bears’ offensive snaps. The Colts have been among the best teams at preventing running backs from scoring fantasy points. There are very few workhorse running backs in the NFL, but Montgomery is now one of them. The Bears’ schedule gets much easier for backs the second half of the season.
Sell High: TE Mo Alie-Cox, Indianapolis Colts
Alie-Cox has been a popular waiver wire pickup at tight end. He had 111 receiving yards in Week 2 and a 50-yard, one TD performance in Week 3. There have been concerns with how he would split playing time with Jack Doyle, and those concerns grew significantly after this game with the return of Trey Burton. Burton led the tight ends in pass routes with 19, while Doyle had 14 and Alie-Cox eight. Both Doyle and Alie-Cox were used more as run blockers than receivers. Alie-Cox might still have a little value thanks to the touchdown. Players with fewer than 10 routes in a game that involved so much passing don’t need to be on a roster. If you can trade him for anything do it — if not, let him go.
Buffalo Bills at Las Vegas Raiders
| Buffalo Bills | Las Vegas Raiders |
| WR | WR |
| Stefon Diggs – 56 snaps | Nelson Agholor – 67 snaps |
| John Brown – 52 snaps | Zay Jones – 66 snaps |
| Gabriel Davis – 36 snaps | Hunter Renfrow – 50 snaps |
| Isaiah McKenzie – 21 snaps | Keelan Doss – 3 snaps |
| Cole Beasley – 18 snaps | |
| Andre Roberts – 6 snaps | |
| TE | TE |
| Dawson Knox – 29 snaps | Darren Waller – 70 snaps |
| Tyler Kroft – 20 snaps | Jason Witten – 19 snaps |
| Reggie Gilliam – 3 snaps | Foster Moreau – 10 snaps |
| HB | HB |
| Devin Singletary – 54 snaps | Josh Jacobs – 50 snaps |
| T.J. Yeldon – 8 snaps | Jalen Richard – 14 snaps |
| Taiwan Jones – 1 snap | Theo Riddick – 7 snaps |
| Devontae Booker – 6 snaps | |
| Total – 61 snaps | Total – 74 snaps |
Winner: WR Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
Diggs remains one of the best fantasy wide receivers of the season after an impressive performance against the Raiders. He caught six passes for 115 yards and led the team in targets. The Bills’ schedule gets considerably more difficult for wide receivers in the coming weeks, which should hurt Diggs’ fantasy points per game, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from enjoying this performance.
Loser: RB Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
Jacobs had a great Week 1 but his fantasy value has been in decline since then. He was limited to 48 rushing yards on 15 carries this week against a Bills defense that came into the game with the third-lowest run defense grade as a team. What is also concerning is that three other Oakland running backs saw playing time. While Jacobs should rebound as a rusher, it wouldn’t be surprising if his targets continue to be limited like last season.
Waiver Wire Target: WR Gabriel Davis, Buffalo Bills
Davis is a fourth-round rookie who has been sitting fourth on the depth chart. He’s played significantly more than most players in that spot because the Bills have been using more four-wide-receiver sets than anyone else in the league. It seems like Davis has passed Cole Beasley on the depth chart. Beasley missed time in this game with a foot injury, but Davis was playing more than Beasley on the first drive and did the same in the fourth quarter. This only led to one target (which ended up being a touchdown), but he should get more targets in future weeks with the increase in playing time.
Philadelphia Eagles at San Francisco 49ers
| Philadelphia Eagles | San Francisco 49ers |
| WR | WR |
| John Hightower – 50 snaps | Brandon Aiyuk – 64 snaps |
| Greg Ward – 48 snaps | Kendrick Bourne – 50 snaps |
| Travis Fulgham – 37 snaps | Trent Taylor – 37 snaps |
| Deontay Burnett – 19 snaps | Deebo Samuel – 25 snaps |
| Adrian Killins Jr. – 8 snaps | Mohamed Sanu – 7 snaps |
| TE | TE |
| Zach Ertz – 59 snaps | George Kittle – 72 snaps |
| Richard Rodgers – 22 snaps | Ross Dwelley – 13 snaps |
| Charlie Woerner – 2 snaps | |
| HB | HB |
| Miles Sanders – 48 snaps | Jerick McKinnon – 67 snaps |
| Boston Scott – 9 snaps | Jeff Wilson Jr. – 6 snaps |
| Corey Clement – 4 snaps | |
| Total – 62 snaps | Total – 73 snaps |
Winner: TE George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
The last time Kitte took the field was in Week 1, when he caught four passes for 44 scoreless yards and suffered the injury that would go on to sideline him for Weeks 2 and 3 — hardly the dream start he was hoping for. He returned to his elite form against the Eagles, however, catching 12 of the 36 passes Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard combined to throw — including the 49ers' only passing touchdown — for nearly four times the receiving yards of any other San Francisco pass-catcher. He is back to being a must-start every week, regardless of the matchup.
Loser: TE Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles
Ertz was the most talented receiver on the field for the Eagles, but he just didn’t deliver tonight. He caught four passes, but one went for eight yards, and the other three went for a combined one yard. The 49ers have been one of the top teams when it comes to stopping tight ends, so Ertz's performance, while disappointing, isn’t surprising. He played nearly every snap with Dallas Goedert out; he should be a buy-low candidate after this performance.
Sell High: WR Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
Aiyuk had one of the best highlights of the day on a lateral pass that led to a 38-yard catch-and-run touchdown that included one of the most impressive hurdles you will ever see in a football game. He only touched the ball two other times all game, though. Aiyuk was a popular waiver wire target last year after his 70-yard performance, and tonight's highlight-reel play won't be forgotten soon.
Kittle's return clearly limited Aiyuk's targets, as did Deebo Samuel‘s. Samuel played in his first game of the season, but even though he saw limited time, he still came away with more catches than Aiyuk. The Arizona State product should continue to do well when he gets the ball in his hands, but the lack of touches will make it hard to trust starting him in the future.
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