Hot Fire Fantasy Football Questions: Week 3
Our “Hot Fire Fantasy Questions” series takes a look at Week 3 following up recent news, fantasy performances, and implications for owners moving forward. Our Hot Fire contributors from our Fantasy Footballers writing staff includes Nate Hamilton (@DomiNateFF) and Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg).
Make sure you listen to today’s podcast to get Andy, Mike, and Jason’s reactions from all the Week 3 action.
1. Which surprising signal-caller from Week 3 (Brissett, Bortles, Goff, Hoyer, Keenum, Watson, Kizer) is a legitimate streaming candidate next week?
Blake Bortles
Even though the Jets defense stepped it up in Week 3 vs the Dolphins, I believe that Blake Bortles is the best streaming option of this bunch for Week 4. He looked fantastic against the Ravens, who were supposed to be a tough defense. He’s got a solid RB in Leonard Fournette that defenses will focus on allowing passing lanes to open. Give me Bortles in Week 4. -Nate Hamilton
DeShone Kizer
Thus far, Kizer has posted 2 top 10 weeks while throwing in a Week 2 dud that we can explain as rookie woes. His base line as a runner is valuable especially in 4 point per passing TD leagues as 5 rushes per game as been his average. Having 30+ yards in your back pocket is a great floor while also the added upside to make plays down-the-field with his giant arm. I don’t mind his matchup next week against an exploitable Cincinnati defense at home. -Kyle Borgognoni
2. What RB performance should owners pay attention to?
Jay Ajayi
It’s not time to hit the panic button on Jay Ajayi but I think a game against a sub-par defense should have been a cake walk for a guy of his talent. There are real concerns over Ajayi’s knees and whether or not he should get a huge workload each week. Ajayi went from 28 carries for 122 yards in Week 1 to just 11 carries for 16 yards in Week 2. This is night and day in his effectiveness on the ground against what should have been an easy opponent. I know it’s only 2 games for Ajayi, but it’s fair to assess his lack of production following a game in which he received 28 carries. Just something to monitor moving forward. –Nate Hamilton
Dalvin Cook
The dude is a complete workhorse and fantasy owners should be drooling over the amount of Le’Veon Bell-type usage he has been receiving so far. He finally found the end zone after seeing insane volume the last 2 weeks. With 169 all-purpose yards against the Bucs, Cook can get it done in all phases of the game. Only Todd Gurley is seeing more rushing attempts than Cook’s 20.3 and only Kareem Hunt is averaging more yards on the ground per game. In other words, this guy is a top 5 RB right now and the rest of the season in terms of usage. -Kyle Borgognoni
David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
3. Who had one of your favorite fantasy stat lines of the week and why?
T.Y. Hilton
7 receptions on 9 targets for 153 yards and a touchdown. That stat line belongs to T.Y. Hilton. I now worry a little less about when Luck will return and can confidently play Hilton in my lineups moving forward. Jacoby Brissett looked to Hilton early and often and has now targeted Hilton 15 times in the past 2 games for 202 yards. -Nate Hamilton
Matt Prater
Yes, I know he’s a kicker but they are real people too. Hitting multiple 50+ yarders, to go along with a 35, 40, and 2 PATs is getting it done my friends. 19 points from a kicker is a week changer. Owners need to pay attention to this type of matchups: indoor with a huge over/under Vegas total. Prater was started only in 60% of Yahoo leagues… that needed to be more like 100%. Despite seeming like a random lot each week, there is a “Method to the Kicker Madness”, as a I wrote about earlier this offseason. -Kyle Borgognoni
4. Which high draft pick’s Week 3 performance redeemed fantasy owners the most after starting slowly?
Jordan Howard
After combining for 22 carries for just 59 yards and one touchdown in his first two weeks, Jordan Howard exploded against the Steelers with 23 carries for 138 yards and two touchdowns! This should set Howard owners at ease who were worried about Tarik Cohen taking over as the Bears featured back. After a performance like that, there’s no doubt who the feature back is in Chicago. –Nate Hamilton
A.J. Green
Finally! Just give him the dang ball and good things happen. New play-caller Bill Lazor listened and Andy Dalton responded as Green was peppered to the tune of 10 catches on 13 targets for 111 yards and a TD. They also got him involved in quick hitters and short slants which makes too much sense… he’s the best thing the Bengals have. His TD was an easy one from Dalton early in the 1st quarter. He’s always had elite ball skills especially when it’s in the air but just giving him targets is a given. If he continues seeing double digit targets, you are getting the top 5 WR you (and I) paid for earlier. -Kyle Borgognoni