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The top risers and fallers heading into Week 3.
We’re only two weeks into the season and there are already a couple teams that fantasy managers should want nothing to do with – the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos. Just two games in, many of us have seen enough.
When critical injuries mount as the season goes on, more teams will likely be added to this poisonous list of teams you want to avoid having any of their players in your fantasy lineups.
Will this veteran come to life in Week 3 thanks to a fine matchup?
Every week, at least one player becomes my fascination of whether he’s worthy of a fantasy football start as a streamer. The decision can be a mental wrestling match, but for the purpose of brevity, only one player can be chosen as the fantasy football gamble of the week. Be sure to check out one of our newest pieces, Streamers of the Week, from the talented Kevin Hickey.
Tracking my predictions: 0-2-0
Win: Player produces ≥ 75% of projected fantasy points
Loss: Player produces >75% of projected fantasy points
Tie: Player is ejected, leaves with an injury, or lands on COVID-19 list after publishing
2021 record: 8-9-1
2020 record: 5-10-1
After a major swing and miss in Week 1 by counting on Aaron Rodgers, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Allen Robinson was the choice for a shot at sweet, sweet redemption. The projection was seven targets, six receptions, 90 yards, a TD (21.0 PPR points). He was thrown to five times, landing four balls for 53 yards and a score (15.3 points) to barely fall short of the 75 percent threshold (72.9 percent) for a “win.” Robinson would have scored a second time if not for the medical “eye in the sky” intervening to end the play even though it had no bearing on him beating coverage and breaking the plane.
Nevertheless, a loss is still a loss, no matter how close he came to pulling through. Onward we go in search of our first dub of 2022!
Going for broke here … in some ways, it harkens back to my offseason affinity for the former Cleveland Brown and Atlanta Falcon. Despite a sloth-like start in his new confines, Hooper is in an intriguing position to contribute this week. “Contribute” is an extremely subjective word when discussing a player with a whole two receptions in as many games.
Working in Hooper’s favor: He saw an uptick in action last week, going from one to four targets. While TE Geoff Swaim has technically started each of the first two games, Hooper has been in on at least 50 percent of the plays in each contest and saw his snap count top that of Swaim’s in Week 2.
In addition to the Titans needing to open up the passing game to help keep defenders out of the box, Hooper faces a tremendous matchup for his position. The Raiders have met Los Angeles Chargers tight end Gerald Everett (14.4 PPR) and the Arizona Cardinals’ Zach Ertz (15.5 PPR) over the first two weeks. Everett scored a touchdown to get into double figures, whereas Ertz racked up 75 yards on eight grabs. The matchup is 64 percent better than the league average so far, and both teams totaled at least six catches and 77 yards from their collection of tight ends.
The Titans may need to throw more to keep pace with the Raiders, and it’s not like the Tennessee receiving corps has been impressive through two outings. Circling back to the expectations aspect, Hooper needs to post a strong enough line to warrant a flex spot or it’s a wasted opportunity. Don’t bank on the degree of volume Ertz posted, but we can still get a playable numbers from Hooper, particularly if the Titans falter on defense.
Given his current role, no bye weeks, and few TE injuries of consequence, Hooper is more safely utilized in daily fantasy rather than redraft. It is officially time to abandon ship if he doesn’t get it going this week.
My projection: 6 targets, 5 receptions, 52 yards, 1 TD (16.2 PPR points)
Check out where your roster options fit into our Week 3 start/bench tiers.
Player analysis and projections can be found in our Start/Bench Tool customized to your myHuddle league scoring and rosters. All player listings by groups are in no particular order.
Key: Upgrade / Downgrade
Forecasting where all of the notable players net out over the remainder of the season.
These fantasy football rankings track a player’s value for the remainder of the season and are intended to be used as a tool, not necessarily a definitive guide to player valuation.
The scoring system is performance PPR. There is no exact science behind season-long rankings, considering all of the variables and situational uncertainties at work.
Rankings key:
UP/DN is trending up or down from week’s ranking.
NR means the player wasn’t ranked last week.
UP/DN numbering shows where the player was ranked the prior week.
The NFL came down hard on Evans after his Week 2 ejection.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans will be suspended one game, pending appeal, for his role in a Week 2 brawl vs. the New Orleans Saints, specifically for shoving cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
The two have a storied rivalry that resulted in a one-game suspension for a previous incident in 2017, so it should come as no surprise the star receiver once again was told to take a seat.
The Bucs listed virtually the entire roster on the injury report in Week 2, though all but WRs Julio Jones (knee) and Chris Godwin (hamstring) were able to play. While Jones appears to be closer to being in the lineup than Godwin for Week 3, we’ll have to wait until the end of the week for an official status.
Tampa hosts the Green Bay Packers in Week 3, and the loss of Evans will be felt. The Packers are better vs. the pass than running game, despite what we saw in Week 1 vs. Justin Jefferson, so expect a healthy dose of Leonard Fournette.
Devalue quarterback Tom Brady to the level of bench status in nearly all formats. Peripheral options, like Breshad Perriman and Scotty Miller, garner a boost in playing time, whereas Russell Gage is likely to be the de facto WR1 of this group. TEs Cade Otton and Cameron Brate figure to be in line for more looks, too.
Perriman and Miller are flex plays for those looking to save a buck in DFS action. Gage is a fringe WR3 or flex in deep PPR settings otherwise. The rookie TE is unplayable, but Brate has a sniff of appeal in deep settings. Even still, it’s a low-upside play with a poor matchup ahead.
In redraft formats, if one must pick up a wideout from this roster, Perriman is the best bet for a touchdown. However, it’s a risky play, and looking outside of Tampa is wise. Given it is so early in the season and bye weeks aren’t here yet, we can lean on our benches for help. Check out our waiver wire release for more tips.
Ride it out with Evans on the bench, and about all we as gamers can do is hope that cooler heads prevail when these pugilists meet again in Week 13.
