Week 3 Fantasy Football Duds
Can you smell that? That’s the stench that is still lingering following Week 3 with the number of players who Pooped in Their Big Boy Pants. You can listen to the podcast for the full discussion of all the stinky details, but here is the list.
Quarterbacks
Carson Palmer @ BUF
-287 passing yards, 4 INTs
The yardage was there, but Palmer seemed out of sync with his weapons. Hopefully, this offense can reach their full potential.
Ryan Fitzpatrick @ KC
-188 passing yards, 6 INTs
Surely, Geno Smith could’ve done this right? Fitzpatrick actually had a better passing day completing passes to Chiefs DBs than he did going to Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall.
Marcus Mariota vs OAK
-214 passing yards, 2 INTs, 22 rushing yards
If you can’t get it done against the Raiders defense, you are dead to me.
Brock Osweiler @ NE
-196 passing yards, INT, 13 rushing yards
$72 million dollars would sure buy a lot of Pampers. Maybe then the Houston QB wouldn’t poop in his big boy pants.
Ben Roethlisberger @ PHI
-257 passing yards, INT
Steelers got thrashed in the battle for Wentz-sylvania. On the bright side, Le’Veon Bell’s suspension is over. So there’s that.
Running Backs
Matt Asiata @ CAR
-6 carries, 15 rushing yards, 1 reception, 4 receiving yards
This dude isn’t good, McKinnon deserves to be featured. Full stop.
T.J. Yeldon vs BAL
-6 carries, 17 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 11 receiving yards
Chris Ivory vs BAL
-12 carries, 14 rushing yards, 1 reception, 9 receiving yards
The Jacksonville rushing attack is gross, to say the least. There’s a reason JAG stands for Just Another Guy. These two are JAGs until further notice.
C.J. Anderson @ CIN
-14 carries, 37 rushing yards, 1 reception, 4 receiving yards
Better days are on the horizon for C.J. in this offense. Siemian took over the offense in an uncharacteristic aerial explosion in Week 3.
Spencer Ware vs NYJ
-20 carries, 75 rushing yards, 1 reception, 8 receiving yards
Oh, the fantasy day that wasn’t. You may recall seeing Spencer Ware score a TD, he was even part of the NFL Red Zone’s ‘every score from every game’ montage. However, the TD was called back, thus “un-salvaging” Ware’s day. With Charles’ return drawing closer, Ware’s days as a feature back may be over.
Deangelo Williams @ PHI
-8 carries, 21 rushing yards, 4 receptions, 23 receiving yards
Williams will now slide quietly back into the role of being the league’s most important handcuff. (Pronounced: “HAYAUND-CUFF!”)
Ryan Mathews vs PIT
2 carries, -5 rushing yards
Jeremy Langford @ DAL
3 carries, 31 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 15 receiving yards
I’ll address Langford and Mathews together. Both have talented players behind them on the depth chart and now both are dealing with injuries. While Langford’s injury may prove to be the more serious of the two, both are in danger of being flung into full-fledged committees in their respective backfields.
Wide Receivers
Eric Decker @ KC
-1 reception, 31 receiving yards, 6 targets
Brandon Marshall @ KC
-3 receptions, 27 receiving yards, 10 targets
It would be nice to assume the Jets can put this bad game behind them, but in Week 4 they have a date with the Legion of Boom and the Seattle Seahawks. Brace, brace, brace! Heads down, stay down!
Stefon Diggs @ CAR
-4 receptions, 40 receiving yards, 7 targets
Many fantasy owners were hoping Diggs would make it three in a row, 100-yard performances, but he had a tough matchup with the Carolina Panthers. These things happen.
Travis Benjamin @ IND
-4 receptions, 82 receiving yards, 7 targets
Many had this game pegged as the high scoring game of the week. So it is perplexing that Benjamin couldn’t get it going against the Colts pedestrian secondary. Literally, they were bringing people in off the street to play DB.
DeAndre Hopkins @ NE
–4 receptions, 56 receiving yards, 8 targets
When Bill Belichick wants to take your #1 weapon away, he takes it.
Jeremy Maclin vs NYJ
-4 receptions, 35 receiving yards, 7 targets
This was so close to being a bigger day. On several occasions, Maclin ran by Revis and was day dreaming of a beautiful sunset on Revis Island, but he just couldn’t connect with Alex Smith.
Kelvin Benjamin vs MIN
-nothing, 1 target
This is a first for this season, a dud who literally did nothing. Don’t worry, the Purple People Eaters defense is the real deal.
Julian Edelman vs HOU
-4 receptions, 38 receiving yards, 6 targets, 14 rushing yards
If at first, you don’t succeed at WR, switch to playing QB. In all seriousness, Edelman could reach Terrelle Pryor levels of involvement in Week 4. Dust yourself off and move on.
Tyler Lockett vs SF
-nothing, zero targets
…
Randall Cobb vs DET
–1 reception, 33 receiving yards, 3 targets
I wish I would tell you to R-E-L-A-X when it comes to Randall Cobb, but it is starting to look like maybe P-A-N-I-C is a more appropriate response.
Tight Ends
Jared Cook vs DET
-1 reception, 15 receiving yards
Hopefully, you weren’t counting on Cook as your primary TE anyway. But now that he’s injured there’s a chance that Richard Rodgers returns to his 2015 form.
Julius Thomas vs BAL
-2 receptions, 13 receiving yards
This is par for the course with Thomas. When he scores, you’re happy. When he doesn’t, well…
Martellus Bennett vs HOU
-2 receptions, 10 receiving yards, 6 rushing yards
It’s official, Bennett is a blocking TE in this offense. He should not be used save for a bye week or injury fill-in.
Dishonorable Mentions
Tajae Sharpe vs OAK
-3 receptions, 48 receiving yards, 7 targets
Golden Tate @ GB
-4 receptions, 40 receiving yards, 6 targets
Will Fuller @ NE
-3 receptions, 31 receiving yards, 7 targets
Phillip Dorsett vs SD
-3 receptions, 27 receiving yards, 4 targets