2016 NFL WEEKLY GAME PREVIEWS: WEEK 4

There have been 28 different teams that have won at least one game this season through three weeks. That’s the third highest mark since 2002 (30 teams won in 2012).

There are five undefeated teams this season: Baltimore, Denver, Minnesota, New England and Philadelphia. Since 1990, 75.6 percent of the 131 teams that started 3-0 made the playoffs (99 teams).

There have been 2,186 points scored through three weeks, the third most ever (2012 there were 2,287 points).

There have been 30 games of 300 passing yards, the second most through three weeks of the season (in 2011 there were 34).

Here's a link to the Fantasy Alarm WEEKLY PLAYER RANKINGS.

Here’s a link to the DFS NFL PLAYBOOK PRO.

Here is my NFL Hot Takes piece.

** Game recaps are from NFL Media.

** All times listed are EDT.

*** ALL POINT TOTALS LISTED ARE BASED OFF A PPR SETUP

BYE WEEK: Green Bay, Philadelphia

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Miami Dolphins

Jordan Cameron is dealing with a concussion and likely won’t play. Dion Sims will have to step up. He has an ankle issue himself, but he is in for a big workload of snaps. The Bengals have allowed three scores to ends.

The running game is a situation to avoid. Arian Foster continues to miss time with a groin injury at practice. He won’t play this week. Kenyan Drake and Jay Ajayi are in the mix for touches with Damian Williams as well. Unfortunately, Isaiah Pead might also have a role giving the clubs a four-man rotation. Seems idiotic to this writer. The Bengals have not allowed a rushing score this season and permit just 3.7 YPC.

Jarvis Landry leads the AFC with 314 receiving yards and he has an average of eight grabs a game. He’s seen at least 10 targets for seven receptions each game this season. He’s also gone for more than 100-yards each of the last two games.

DeVante Parker has been a road warrior of late with an average of five grabs and 91 yards the last three games away from home. In two games this season he’s seen 19 targets but he’s only been able to turn them into eight grabs, albeit for 157 yards and a score.

Ryan Tannehill has thrown for more than 300-yards in each of his last two games including 319 yards and three scores last week. He’s thrown four picks and has lost a fumble in three games. He faces the Bengals who have allowed the 5^th most points a game to passers which includes nine passing scores.  

Kenny Stills has caught eight passes for 131 yards and a score… in three games.

Cincinnati Bengals

Giovani Bernard is averaging 3.3 YPC. He’s carried the ball just 15 times for 50 yards. As a pass catcher though he’s averaged five receptions and 47 yards a game with one score. Miami has allowed 14 receptions to runners this season.

Tyler Boyd has caught 11 passes for 120 yards in three games as he’s been held to three receptions for 24 yards or less in two of three outings.

Andy Dalton leads the AFC with 938 passing yards through three games. In his last 10 games at home he’s tossed 16 touchdown passes while being picked off six times. The negative is that he has thrown just two scores in three games this season.

Tyler Eifert (ankle) appears likely to miss another game. Tyler Kroft and C.J. Uzomah will be once again looked at. The duo has caught 10 passes for 134 yards and no scores through three games.

A.J. Green has scored five times his last five games at home. Green has averaged seven grabs for 98 yards a game this season. The Dolphins have allowed the third most receptions to wideouts through three games.

Jeremy Hill ran for two scores in Week 3 to give him 10 rushing scores his last 11 games (playoffs included). He takes on the Dolphins who have allowed 147 rushing yards a game, the second worst mark in football, though only two rushing scores.

Brandon LaFell has gone from four to three to two receptions a game. His yardage totals have gone from 91 to 39 to 34. He’s seen 15 targets in three games.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2016

Indianapolis Colts

Dwayne Allen or Jack Doyle? Who is the guy to own? Check out this Daily Dive Video. It’s really starting to look like it’s Doyle, and that is shocking.

Phillip Dorsett was given a shot last week with Donte Moncrief out of action. It just didn’t happen. Dorsett caught three of four passes for 27 yards in an extremely disappointing effort for the Hilton clone. The Jags have allowed the 9^th most points a week to wideouts including five scores.

Frank Gore has three scores and 189 rushing yards in two games in London. He’s averaged 16 carries a game for 62 yards this season, a pace for 1,000 yards though he’s scored one time. He’s only caught eight balls for 38 yards. The Jags are allowing the 7^th fewest points a week to runners.

T.Y. Hilton has scored once in eight games. Though averaging 98 yards a game he’s reached that yardage total once in three games. For more, see this Daily Dive Video.

Andrew Luck has thrown only eight scores in five games against the Jaguars. Luck has thrown an average of 41 passes a game with at least 37 in each outing. He’s thrown only two scores the last two games and has been picked twice while fumbling twice as the o-line continues to struggle.

Robert Mathis has nine sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries his last eight versus Jacksonville.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Blake Bortles has tossed six picks and has lost a fumble. The team has played from behind forcing Bortles to throw a lot and he has simply not looked sharp. The Colts are getting healthy, but they are allowing 306 passing yards a game though they have allowed just three passing scores.

Allen Hurns has caught 14 passes for 221 yards and two scores in two matchups with the Colts. Hurns has yet to score this season and has been held under 65-yards the last two games. The Colts haven’t been beaten for a score by wideouts.

Chris Ivory returned last week to 14 yards on a mere 12 carries. Not his fault as the o-line kept getting blown up. T.J. Yeldon did nothing to steal work as he carried the ball six times for 17 yards. That’s 13 carries for 45 yards the last two weeks for Yeldon. At least Yeldon has caught 14 passes this season but the goaline work, if there is any, likely goes to Ivory. The Colts are allowing the most points a week to running backs.

Marquise Lee has contributed 12 grabs for 141 yards as the third wideout in this offense.

Allen Robinson scored twice last week and now has 14 touchdowns in his last 15 games. He’s also seen at least 11 targets in 2-of-3 games but is still searching for his first 75-yard game.

Julius Thomas has scored five times in three games against the Colts. He’s scored just once this season and has caught just six balls the last two weeks. Normally dealing with ankle issues, he was missing practice with an elbow issue early in the week.

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Carolina Panthers

The Panthers ran for 100-yards last week, the 30^th straight game they have done that which is the third longest streak in NFL History.

Cameron Artis-Payne and Fozzy Whitaker will once again share work with Jonathan Stewart sidelined. Whitaker had a rushing score in the last matchup but carried the ball just five times for 22 yards last week. CAP had a much larger share of the work with 12 carries for 47 yards and figures to lead in touches. The Falcons are allowing 4.7 yards a carry and can be run on.

Kelvin Benjamin saw one target, one, in Week 3 after being targeting 21 times the first two games. He went from being the best wideout in the game to the worst just like that, and Cam Newton gets talked up as a great QB. For that matter, Benjamin gets talked up as a great WR. The duo was exposed last week but should find success this week as the Falcons have a porous pass defense.

Devin Funchess has three grabs for 38 yards. Who cares? Corey Brown is gaining on Devin, may have already passed him, with seven grabs on 11 targets the last two games.

Ted Ginn commits mistakes all over the field on a weekly basis. Pretty shocking really. He has six grabs on just 12 targets for 118 yards and no scores through three games.

Cam Newton takes on the defense that is allowing the most points a week to quarterbacks including a league worst 10 passing scores. Newton has thrown only 15 touchdowns in 10 games against the Falcons though he also has six rushing scores.

Greg Olsen has caught at least five passes in 4-of-6 games. Through three games this season he leads the club with 18 grabs and 259 yards. The Falcons are allowing the second most points a week to ends making Olsen, once again, an elite play.

Atlanta Falcons

Tevin Coleman had three rushing scores last week and is a top-25 running back every week at this point. Through three games he has been on the field 89 times and he’s scored four times on the ground. He’s also averaged 12 carries the last two games and he’s averaging three grabs a game. The Panthers have allowed three rushing scores.

Devonta Freeman has averaged just 3.35 YPC in 46 carrier carries against the Panthers. He’s also caught just eight passes while scoring one time. Still, he’s an every week starter, and you saw what he can do in Week 3. He’s averaging 18 touches a week and has out snapped Coleman 108 to 89. See this Big 3 Video for more.

Justin Hardy has a score in 2-straight games. He’s only seen seven targets in three games.

Julio Jones (calf) didn’t have a health setback and should practice even more fully in Week 4 after a disastrous Week 3 effort (1 catch). Jones blew up the Panthers last December for a 9-178-1 line and is still a WR1 each week despite a slow start to the season. He’s also averaged 128.5 yards and 0.5 scores his last six games at home.

Matt Ryan has a thumb issue that is minor. He should be fine. Ryan has thrown for 300-yards in each of the last four matchups. Ryan also has thrown for an average of 323 yards a game this season with seven passing scores and just one pick. The Panthers are allowing the 7^th fewest points a week to QBs.

Mohamed Sanu (shoulder) appears likely to be ready for Week 4, even after missing the second half in Week 3. He’s seen just 11 targets while averaging 43.3 yards a game. The Panthers have allowed the second fewest points to wideouts per game.

Jacob Tamme will take on the Panthers who have allowed the 7^th most points to tight ends. Tamme has caught at least four passes in four of five games and he currently leads the Falcons with 14 receptions.

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Oakland Raiders

Derek Carr threw for 351 yards and three scores in the matchup last season. He’s only taken two sacks this season and has been picked off just once. He’s averaged 289 passing yards despite numerous drops by his pass catchers.

Armani Cooper went for a 7-109-1 line in the last matchup. He’s struggled with drops and penalties thus far, but you still fire him up every week. He’s averaging 5-90 but hasn’t scored yet.

Michael Crabtree went 9-111-1 in the last matchup. Crabtree leads the Raiders with 19 grabs and is averaging 73.3 yards. He’s scored once.

Khalil Mack has 10 sacks and 12 tackles for a loss his last nine games.

Latavius Murray leads a messy backfield against a Ravens club that is allowing the 8^th fewest points a week to runners. Murray has scored in 3-straight games. He also scored the last time the two teams met. Still, he’s averaged less than 11 carries and 51 yards a game on the ground while catching eight passes for 58 yards all season. He doesn’t have volume in the least and is totally dependent on the scores to maintain his value. Here are the snap counts through three games; Murray 112 snaps, DeAndre Washington 41, Jalen Richard 39.

Seth Roberts had a touchdown in the last matchup. He’s also scored five times his last five road games. He’s only caught seven balls for 71 yards this season.

Clive Walford scored in Week 2 but the other two games it’s been a total of five grabs for 52 yards. The Ravens have allowed no scores and only 11 receptions to tight ends.

Baltimore Ravens

Kamar Aiken is still a nobody. He has three catches for 19 yards.

Joe Flacco takes on the Raiders who are allowing the third most points a week to passers. They are Hideous in the air. Their efforts include 340 passing yards a game and seven passing scores. Flacco has thrown for 725 yards and five scores in his last two against the Raiders.

Justin Forsett and Terrance West continue to split the work while Buck Allen remains a non-entity as the team awaits the return of Kenneth Dixon (potentially next week). The Raiders are allowing a league worst 5.1 YPC and an average of 136 rushing yards a game. The also permit the 8^th most points a week to runners. West has carried the ball 33 times for 119 yards, Forsett 31 for 98. Forsett has caught 11 passes, West four. Theoretically at least, West is the goaline back as HC John Harbaugh seeks improvement.

Crockett Gillmore scored twice in the last matchup. He’s only caught two passes for 27 yards this season.

Breshad Perriman has caught five balls for 89 yards even as his role grow. Simply not startable in any format at the moment.

Dennis Pitta scored in his last game against the Raiders. He has 18 receptions, tied for the most in the league for a tight end. Note that nine grabs and 102 yards came in Week 2 while his other two efforts consist of nine receptions for 81 yards.

Steve Smith is up against the Raiders who have allowed the third most points a week to wideouts. In two of three games Smith has seen at least nine targets though he’s yet to score and has averaged 76 yards and six receptions the last two weeks.

Mike Wallace has scored three times in three games. The Raiders have allowed five passing scores to wideouts this season. Wallace has seen six targets each game this season catching just 10 passes. He’s also posted just 75 yards the last two weeks.

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Detroit Lions

Ameer Abdullah has been sent to the I.R. and it seems like that he will miss the entire season. Theo Riddick caught passes in Week 3 but he looked terrible as a runner. His coach defended his terrible effort by blaming the line. Don’t buy it. Reddick cannot run the football (3.0 YPC for his career). Dwayne Washington is going to see more work on the early downs. Riddick has 16 catches and his total of 96 grabs since the start of last season is the best in football so he can still help in a PPR setup of course. The Bears have allowed five rushing scores and 143 rushing yards a game on the ground.

Anquan Boldin has scored in 2-straight outings. Too bad he has only 11 receptions for 105 yards in three games.

Eric Ebron scored in the last meeting and he has two score in his last three games on the road. He’s also caught at least four passes each game for 46 yards. He’s seen 15 targets the last two games.

Marvin Jones went nuclear last week with six grabs for 205 yards and two scores. The last two games he’s caught 14 passes for 323 yards and two scores producing as if he was a Calvin Johnson clone. Marvin has seen 29 targets in three games.

Matthew Stafford threw for 385 yards and three scores last week. He has thrown for three touchdowns in each his last four games. He’s averaging 328 passing yards a game this season with a 67.5 percent completion rate. The last two against the Bears he’s thrown for 352 yards and 3.5 touchdowns an outing.

Golden Tate has 94 yards… in three games. He’s caught only 13 passes out of 22 targets and he’s yet to get into the end zone. The Bears have allowed 38 pass catches to the wideout, pretty much smack dab in the middle of the league.

Chicago Bears

Jay Cutler is being called day to day with a thumb issue. It’s unclear if he, or Brian Hoyer, will start in Week 4 against the Lions, we’re leaning Hoyer, who are one of the five worst defenses in points allowed to quarterbacks.  Hoyer threw for 317 yards and two scores last week in a very Hoyer like efforts - passable in the fantasy game but not very good.

Alshon Jeffery has scored in 3-straight games against the Lions and the club from Detroit has allowed five scores to wideouts this year. In six career meetings Jeffery has five touchdowns while averaging 98 yards a game. He’s yet to get into the end zone this season while catching 14 passes in three games.

Jeremy Langford is out 4-6 weeks with an ankle issue. Ka’Deem Carey is dealing with a hamstring issue that could keep him out of action. That leaves the majority of this backfield to Jordan Howard who is an RB2 option this week. The Bears signed vet Joique Bell off his couch but he’s a handcuff only option who is likely out of football shape. The Lions have not allowed a rushing score though they are permitting a pathetic 5.1 yards per carry.

Zach Miller caught eight balls for 78 yards and two scores last week working with Hoyer. The Lions allow the most points a week to tight ends including five scores. Don’t go nuts. Miller caught just seven balls for 49 yards the first two games.

Kevin White caught six balls for 62 yards in Week 3, a solid effort. Amazingly, he was targeted a relentless 14 times by Hoyer showing his effort to be much less exciting that it was on the surface. White has seen his reception total and yardage marks, go up each week.

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Tennessee Titans

Derrick Henry takes on the Texans who are allowing the 9^th most points a week to runners. He’s carried the ball 24 times for 88 yards and has caught three balls for 50 yards as a caddy.

Marcus Mariota has stunk. Now he takes on the Texans who are leading the NFL with 151 passing yards allowed. They also have 10 sacks and have allowed just a single passing score. MM isn’t startable even in two QB leagues.

Rishard Matthews has been a disappointment. He’s caught 10 balls for 98 yards in three games.

DeMarco Murray leads the NFL with 29 rushing scores since the start of 2013. The last two weeks he’s carried the ball 28 times for 203 yards and a score. He’s been a boss averaging more than seven yards a carry. In three games this season he’s scored twice as a pass catcher and he’s caught at least five passes each game.

Tajae Sharpe has been targeted seven times each of three games. Alas, he’s been held out of the end zone and has caught seven passes for 81 yards the last two weeks as he’s been called out by the coaching staff for needing to bring more. The Texans are allowing the 4^th fewest points a week to wideouts.

Delanie Walker hauled in a massive 15 passes in two meetings last season. The Texans have allowed 10 receptions and 58 yards through three games to ends. He should play this week after sitting out last week. 

Kendall Wright should return from his hamstring issue this week and potentially have a role right away as Harry Douglas and Andre Johnson have done nothing with their snaps to this point.

Houston Texans

Will Fuller caught nine balls for 212 yards and a score in his first two home games. He also caught just three balls last week for 31 yards. Fuller has caught just seven passes the last two games.

Ryan Griffin has caught 11 balls for 74 yards. Not much to see though. Stephen Anderson caught five balls for 40 yards. Not much to see though.

DeAndre Hopkins has gone for 24 receptions, 449 yards and four touchdowns over three games in the matchup. In three games this season he has caught 16 passes for 223 yards and two scores. He’s seen at least eight targets each week.

Lamar Miller still hasn’t scored this season. Here are his touch totals per game; 32, 27 and 25. That’s massive. Miller is averaging just under 110 yards a game from scrimmage while catching 10 passes. The Titans have allowed one rushing score and the second fewest points a week to runners.

Brock Osweiler has thrown for three scores while being picked off four times. He’s completed just 59.6 percent of his passes, some blame goes to the pass catchers, but Brock simply hasn’t looked sharp this season while averaging just 232 passing yards a game. The Titans have allowed just two passing scores with a 56.5 percent completion rate through three games.

Jaelen Strong has one catch this season.

J.J. Watt has been placed on the I.R. with a back issue and his 2016 season might be at an end.

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Buffalo Bills

Reggie Bush has played two snaps since Week 1.

Charles Clay didn’t catch a pass last week and has seven receptions for 67 yards in three games. Knee injury or not, he’s useless, despite what his coach is saying.

Mike Gillislee is a mere handcuff. He ran the ball three times for 20 yards last week.

Marquise Goodwin caught one pass for six yards after catching two for 112 yards the previous game. He’s a deep touchdown threat, nothing else.

LeSean McCoy carried the mail last week for 110 yards and two scores. In each game he’s carried the ball at least 15 times while catching at least three passes. He’s a touch monster who has scored three times.

Tyrod Taylor has completed a mere 47 passes in three games while averaging 26 passing attempts. The offense has turtled as he’s averaging just 176 passing yards a game while completely a mere 61 percent of his passes. In 2-of-3 games he’s also failed to throw a touchdown pass.

Sammy Watkins (foot) might or might not play. Sounds like it’s a pain tolerance issue, not a structural situation. He has shown an inability to perform as an NFL player when hurt.

Robert Woods caught six passes for 51 yards last week. If Watkins is out he is the only pass catcher in this offense worth a darn, but the effort last week is pretty much his ceiling.

New England Patriots

Danny Amendola went for nine receptions and 117 yards in the last matchup. He’s only seen nine targets in three games this season.

Tom Brady misses one more game. Jimmy Garoppolo (shoulder) and Jacoby Brissett (thumb) are both likely to be ready to play. Still, as of Wednesday morning, Jimmy G as said to still be lacking full mobility in his shoulder. Still, as of this writing he is expected to start which if good news for the pass catchers. The Bills have allowed just two passing scores while picking off four passes, and they have also created 10 sacks.

LeGarrette Blount is opposed by a Bills club that has allowed five rushing scores to running backs. Blount has scored four times as a runner and he’s averaging 25 carries for 99 yards a week through three games. With the uncertainty under center another day with a huge workload seems likely.

Julian Edelman has scored seven times his last 11 games. None of those scored have happened in three games this season though he’s still caught 18 passes through three games and could always see some work at QB if the need arises.

Rob Gronkowski has scored 10 times in nine games against the Bills. The Bills have been the stingiest defense in football against tight ends through three games. Gronk says his hamstring is ok, a week after he appeared on the field just 14 snaps out of 64. He should see his workload increase significantly this week though he still warns he’s not 100 percent. Wasn’t he fully healthy six weeks ago? #PatriotsLie

Chris Hogan has caught eight passes for 123 yards in three games. He caught one ball for three yards last week. The Bills have allowed the most points to wideout this season including a rather amazing 260 yards a week to the wideout.

James White has caught eight passes for 52 yards. He’s carried the ball eight times for 35 yards. Why are we talking about his guy again?

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Seattle Seahawks

Doug Baldwin caught eight passes for a career best 164 yards last week. He also scored. He has nine scores his last four games against the AFC. In two of three games he’s seen at least 10 targets an in those games he’s caught two scores and 17 passes.

Jimmy Graham caught six balls for 100 yards and a score last week as he was finally part of the offense. The Jets are allowing the 11^th most points a week to tight ends though they have permitted just one score.

Tyler Lockett didn’t catch a pass last week. He’s caught seven balls for 116 yards in three games. He’s a non-entity, though he still maintains massive big play potential.

Christine Michael will be the man for a while with the news on the break in leg Thomas Rawls (see this note). Michael will face the Jets who have allowed just 71.7 yards passing a game, third best in football, and just one rushing score. Christine ran for a career best 106 yards with two scores last week and he is averaging a robust 5.2 yards per carry through three games.

C.J. Prosise and Alex Collins are mere after thoughts.

Paul Richardson has caught just four passes for 46 yards. Meanwhile, Jermaine Kearse has caught nine balls for 79 yards.

Russell Wilson has an ankle issue on one side and a knee issue on the other. He swears he will play through his MCL injury, and the belief is he will. However, he’s looking nothing like his former athletic self, and his offensive line continues to struggle in pass blocking. Wilson has only tossed two scores in three games and just doesn’t appear anywhere close to 100 percent physically. The Jets have allowed a 71 percent completion rate and 284 passing yards a game.

New York Jets

Eric Decker has scored in 6-of-7 games and has 15 touchdowns his last 19 games. He’s also scored in 8-straight games at home. No wide receiver has scored this season against the Seahawks. Decker's shoulder is giving him trouble and he's headed for an MRI.

Quincy Enunwa leads the club with 17 receptions. He’s taken them for 183 yards. He’s also been targeted 25 times in three games. Enunwa was on the field for 82 percent of the snaps last week.

Ryan Fitzpatrick threw six picks last week. He is opposed by the Seahawks who haven’t allowed a passing score while permitting a mere 163 passing yards a game. Fitzpatrick has thrown for 18 touchdowns and only four picks in his last games at home.

Matt Forte has averaged 22 carries and three receptions a game. Even when the offense was shut down last week he still carried the ball 15 times for 65 yards (4.3 YPC). He is one of the few backs in the game who you can legitimately pen down for 20 touches a week. The Seahawks are allowing the 7^th fewest points a week to runners.

Brandon Marshall has cleared 100-yards in 6-of-9 games. He has 14 touchdowns in 19 games with the Jets including 10 in nine home games. He looked healthy last week despite concerns about his knee as he was on the field for 97 percent of the snaps.

Bilal Powell has carried the ball just nine times in three games, though his 8.1 YPC is outstanding. He caught six balls last week to push his season total up to nine receptions.

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Cleveland Browns

Gary Barnidge has scored nine times since the start of last season, tied for 4^th at the tight end spot. He hasn’t scored this season. He has seen 11 targets, turning them into nine receptions and 103 yards the last two games. The Skins haven’t allowed a score to tight ends this season.

Isaiah Crowell enters Week 4 tied for the NFL rushing lead (274 yards). He’s also scored in five of seven games including two of three this season. The Skins’ have been battered for seven rushing scores this season. Meanwhile, remove the 85-yard scamper he had in Week 2 and his other 44 carries are for an average of 4.3 YPC. Still a solid number, but way off the impressive 6.1 YPC mark so many talk about.

Duke Johnson has carried the ball 16 times this season for 103 yards. He’s also seen at least five targets a game and has caught an average of four passes. The Skins have allowed the 4^th most points a week to runners but a moderate total of 15 receptions to the position.

Cody Kessler is opposed by a Redskins team that is allowing 71 percent completion percentage with 302 passing yards allowed. Kessler has one start under his belt and didn’t do anything with it throwing for 244 yards and no scores. He didn’t toss a pick but fumbled twice losing one. He’s just a guy, at best.

Terrelle Pryor went for a historic line in Week 3. He’s still in a bad offense, with a below average quarterback and precious little in game work as a wideout. He’s seen a whopping 24 targets the last two games but has only been able to secure 11 of those passes doing his best Mike Evans imitation.

Washington Redskins

Kirk Cousins is on pace to throw for more than 5,200 yards and has thrown for at least 296 yards all three games. The Browns are allowing more than two passing scores a game and 294 passing yards a game. They have no pass rush and Joe Haden should miss the game.

Jamison Crowder had 78 yards and a score last game. He’s also seen his target total go from 10 to 8 to 7. Only once in three games has he hit 60-yards, and despite scoring two games in a row he has only four scores in 19 NFL games and is no red zone threat at 5’8”. The Browns have allowed the 5^th most points a week to the wideout.

Josh Doctson has six receptions for 66 yards in two games as he was inactive last week when he just couldn’t stretch out his Achilles. Sounds like he could miss this week as well.  

Matt Jones carried the ball 17 times last week and crested 60-yards for the second time in a row. He’s averaging 4.1 YPC and has one rushing score this season. The Brown are allowing 3.9 YPC but they have permitted two rushing scores. Chris Thompson has carried the ball just 12 rimes while catching a mere six passes in three games. Rob Kelley has four carries for seven yards this season.

Pierre Garcon has caught five passes in two of three games. In both of those outings he’s gone for 50-yards. Alas, he’s averaging just four receptions and 45 yards a game and hasn’t scored this season.

DeSean Jackson went for five grabs, 96 yards and a score in Week 3. Through three weeks he’s averaging just under five grabs for 79 yards on eight targets. He’s scored just once. Keep an eye on his ankle as he’s not practicing early in the week. The Browns have allowed six scores to wideouts.

Jordan Reed has scored four times in four games of late against the AFC. The Browns have allowed 22 receptions to tight ends, the second most in football. No touchdowns yet though. Back to Reed. He’s seen at least seven targets in all three games though he’s yet to go for more than 70 yards as he’s also failed to score.

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Denver Broncos

C.J. Anderson has scored seven times, six on the ground, in his last eight games (playoffs included). He’s scored three times in three games this season while averaging 21 touches a game. Anderson has averaged a mere 3.8 YPC through three games as the Broncos have failed to establish their running game. Devontae Booker has carried the ball 16 times for 62 yards through three games. The Bucs are allowing the 7^th most points a week to runners.

Virgil Green didn’t play last week because of a calf injury. He’s seen eight targets in two games. Jeff Heuerman has one catch for 29 yards. The Bucs have allowed an average of four receptions for 32 yards a week to tight ends.

Emmanuel Sanders went off for a 9-117-2 line last week. He went for eight grabs and 88 yards the first two games. He’s seen at least eight targets per game and looked stupendous last week.

Trevor Siemian faces the Bucs who have allowed just 33 passes a week yet they have still permitted 272 passing yards a game with seven scores and one pick. Siemian had a historic effort last time out, 300/4/0 in his first road start, but didn’t look great in doing it. He’s a moderate play even after last week’s success.

Demaryius Thomas has seen his reception and yardage totals increase each week up to his 6-100-1 line last week. He’s still yet to see more than seven targets a game. The Bucs have allowed just 32 grabs to wideouts but they have also permitted a league worst seven scores to WRs.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Cameron Brate score two times last week as his target total went from seven in two games to 10 in Week 3. Note that his QB threw the ball 58 times last week so Brate is extremely unlikely to see double-digit targets again this week. The Broncos have allowed 15 grabs to ends but just the 19^th most points to ends including zero scores. 

Mike Evans leads the AFC with 21 receptions leading to a weekly average of seven receptions for 100 yards. He’s also scored in 3-straight games. Still, the 21-for-37 conversion rate is a concern. He saw a massive 30 targets the last two weeks.

Adam Humphries has improved greatly week by week. Humphries has seen his catch totals for three to six to nine and his yardage totals have also jumped each week (34, 67 and 100). Not much in the way of touchdown upside, but the pass catching option is trending upwards in a big way at the moment. 

Vincent Jackson has caught nine passes for 99 yards and it appears that his days of even moderate production might be at an end. Denver is allowing the 3^rd fewest points a week to wideouts.

Doug Martin (hamstring) should miss another game leaving Charles Sims to face a Broncos team that is allowing 4.7 YPC and 128 rushing yards a game with four scores against on the ground. Sims produced 124 yards from scrimmage last week with a score (69 receiving, 55 rushing). He’s produced 100-yards from scrimmage his last two games at home.

Jameis Winston is opposed by a Broncos club that has allowed a mere 179 passing yards a game and a total of two passing scores in three games. They are also second in the NFL with 12 sacks. Winston has also been terribly inefficient this season showing little refinement in his game despite throwing at least 50 passes each of the last two games and 405 yards last week.

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Los Angeles Rams

Tayvon Austin caught five balls for 82 yards and a score last week. He had six grabs for 96 yards and two scores in the last meeting, the best game of his career. Austin has seen an average of 10 targets a week this season and has turned them into five catches for 48 yards a week. He’s carried the ball on five times this season.

Kenny Britt leads the club with 199 receiving yards as he’s caught 14 passes. He’s yet to score though and isn’t likely to change that in this matchup.

Todd Gurley went off for two scores last week in addition to 85 rushing yards. He ran for 146 yards in the meeting last October. His average touch total per game has been 22. He is opposed by the Cardinals who allows a big total of 4.8 YPC and has permitted for rushing scores.

Lance Hendricks, nope. The Cardinals allow the 4^th fewest points a week to tight ends.

Case Keenum is up against the Cardinals who, even with the bad effort last week against the Bills, still has held quarterbacks to a 59.7 percent completion percentage, 189 yards a week and 0.67 passing scores against five total picks.

Brian Quick scored from 44 yards out last week. He has six grabs for 84 yards this season.

Robert Quinn had a sack and a forced fumble last week. He has nine sacks in eight games against the Cardinals.

Arizona Cardinals

John Brown is likely to start seeing more work. Michael Floyd is dealing with a concussion and he’s produced a 39.1 percent catch rate this season the worst in football for a guy who has seen 20 or more targets (Floyd has caught a terrible total of just nine of 24 passes as he’s been inefficient to say the least). Brown did catch seven balls for 104 yards in the last meeting while Brown caught six balls for 113 yards in the outing. Jaron Brown saw six targets the week after he scored but he only caught three of them. John Brown is still the Brown to own. The Rams have allowed 49 wideout grans, second most in football.

Chris Johnson has carried the ball 19 times for 61 yards and a score. He’s not startable.

David Johnson ran for two scores and 83 yards last week as the only Cardinals player to show up. He ran for 99 yards and caught a touchdown in the last matchup. The Bills are allowing less than 99 yards a game on the ground but they have been beaten for five rushing scores. Johnson has averaged 4.6 YPC in his career and has scored 11 times as a runner on just 172 carries. He’s also caught 10 passes for 169 yards in three games.

Larry Fitzgerald has scored four times in five games including three times this season. The Rams have allowed one passing score to wideouts. Fitzgerald has seen 10 targets each game this season and has caught an average of seven passes for 72 yards a game. Last season he averaged 6.8 receptions and 76 yards a game.

Carson Palmer threw for 356 yards and two scores in the last meeting. As I noted in the DFS QB Coach, he’s not performing well at all. The Rams are allowing 266 passing yards a game and four scores through the air in three games.

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New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees is opposed by a Chargers club that is allowing the 4^th most fantasy points a week to signal callers. That includes 322 passing yards a game and a total of five passing scores. The last time times that Brees has faced the AFC he’s thrown for 400 yards and three scores.

Travaris Cadet faces a Chargers club that has allowed more receptions to running backs than any in football (27 receptions). Cadet caught six passes last week and has seen at least six targets in 2-of-3 games.

Brandon Coleman stepped up in the absence of Mr. Snead as he caught seven of eight passes for 78 yards. He’s still the fourth wideout if Snead is on the field.

Brandin Cooks has 100 yards and a score his last two games against the AFC. Cooks saw eight targets in Week 3 but he uncharacteristically vanished catching two passes for 13 yards in a crushing effort for his owners. Last season on the road his eight game pace would have led to 80 receptions and 1,000 yards over 16 contests, so talk of his terrible work on the road is overblown.

Colby Fleener caught seven balls for 109 yards and a score last week. Still committed numerous mistakes though the trust factor with Brees is on the rise. Fleener has still caught just 10-of-23 targets. The Chargers who are allowing the 4^th most points a week to ends.

Mark Ingram posted 107 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown last week. Ingram has just one score this season but he has caught four passes the last two games. The Chargers allow the 5^th most points to runners a game.

Michael Thomas scored for the first time last week as he appears to have established himself as the third wideout in the pecking order. The rookie has caught an average of six passes for 62 yards a week and he scored in Week 3 with Snead on the shelf.

Michael Snead (toe) missed the game last week letting Brandon Coleman step forward. The Chargers are allowing the 18^th most points a week to wideouts and Snead would slide back into being a potential starting option this week if he’s on the field, albeit one with a whole lot of downside.

San Diego Chargers

Travis Benjamin has caught an average of six pass on seven targets per game this season. He’s caught 10 of those balls for 197 yards the last two weeks but unless his volume increases he’s not going to keep up that pace.

Antonio Gates (hamstring) sounds like he might miss another game after sitting out last week. Hunter Henry is a beast with tons of physical talent and he did a very good “Gates” last week with five grabs for 76 yards. He only saw five targets though. The Saints haven’t allowed anything to ends this season – nine receptions for 59 yards.

Melvin Gordon has produced a league leading four rushing scores. The Saints are allowing a league worst 149.3 yards a game at 5.0 yards a carry. They have also permitted six rushing scores. They have been brutalized on the ground.

Dontrelle Inman has his best game in three weeks in Week 3 with three grabs for 32 yards.

Philip Rivers takes on the Saints who have allowed just three passing scores this season. They also permit 299 passing yards a game and a near 70 percent completion percentage. They also haven’t picked off a pass. He’s thrown for 695 yards and five scores in two starts against the Chargers.

Tyrell Williams stepped up last week with six grabs for 69 yards on nine targets. That’s three games played and three efforts of at least 61 yards for the big wideout. The Saints allow the second most points a week to wideouts.

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Dallas Cowboys

Cole Beasley has been a target machine and has produced at least 65 yards in 3-straight games. See the Big 3 Video. He’s yet to score a touchdown but his target total figures to be significant yet again in Week 4 if Mr. Bryant is limited.

Dez Bryant scored last week. He has 54 scores since 2011, the second most at his position. He had an MRI on his knee early in the week and was not practicing early in the week. We just don’t know where he’s at physically as of this writing though reports suggest that he has a hairline fracture in his knee. The team still believes it possible that he will suit up thought that seems unlikely to this writer. He's also still a moron. Brice butler would likely slot into Bryant's spot, potentailly for a few weeks.

Ezekiel Elliott was removed twice at the goaline last week when he was winded in favor or Alfred Morris and Lance Dunbar. EE still crushed it running for 140-yards. He’s also scored in two of three career games. By the way, Morris has scored the last two games and Dunbar’s score was his first ever on the ground. The Niners are allowing 4.0 YPC and 123 rushing yards a week on the ground. They’ve been beaten for two rushing scores.

Dak Prescott has looked great for a rookie. He threw for 248 yards and a score last week while also scoring on the ground. Still, he has but one passing score in three games and has twice failed to thrown for 250 yards. Moreover, after tossing 45 passes in Week he’s thrown a total of just 54 passes the last two games.

Terrance Williams has caught seven passes for 122 yards, has a fumble and also a game costing play where he failed to run out of bounds.

Jason Witten caught nine passes in Week 1. He’s seen just six targets the last two weeks catching five of them. The Niners are allowing the 5^th most points a game to tight ends for what that’s worth.

San Francisco 49ers

Blaine Gabbert remains the quarterback despite horrible work since Colin Kaepernick continues to struggle in practice. Gabbert has thrown for an average of 284 yards a game his last four at home but this season the number is just 177 per game as he’s been picked off three times while completing 55 percent of his passes. There is no passing attack at the moment.

Shaun Draughn should have a role as a pass catcher in this offense. He doesn’t. Draughn has been targeted just five times in three games catching three passes for 20-yards. Not startable in any format.

Carlos Hyde takes on a Cowboys team that has allowed just one rushing score this season. He also was very fortunate in Week 3 (see this video). Hyde has run for 50 yard and a score in the last meeting and he has four scores in three games.

Jeremy Kerley leads the club with 12 receptions and 114 yards. That’s a weekly average of four and 38. #Pathetic

Vance McDonald scored the first two games. Alas, he’s caught just five of seven targets in three games and was forced from last week’s outing with a hip issue. It’s uncertain if he will play this week. Too bad too since the Cowboys are allowing the third most points to tight ends.

Quinton Patton had five grabs for 60 yards in Week 1. The last two games he’s caught four passes for 33 yards.

Torrey Smith has the lone score amongst wideouts but he’s also caught just eight passes for 103 yards through three games as he and Gabbert struggle for a connection.

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Kansas City Chiefs

Jamaal Charles (knee) seems to have a chance to return to action this weekend. We’re still waiting for official word. Spencer Ware looked sharp in Week 3 and he appeared on 71 percent of the snaps compared to 22 percent for Charcandrick West (it was 54 to 39 percent in Week 2). West, by the way, missed practice early in the week with ankle woes. If he’s out, Ware will see a massive workload if Charles is also sidelined. The Steelers are allowing just 75.3 yards on the ground this season. However, they have permitted three rushing scores and two receiving scores to running backs.  

Chris Conley has caught nine passes for 102 yards. Albert Wilson has caught five passes for 12 yards.

Travis Kelce went for a 6-89-1 line last week. He’s basically the same guy every week. He’s seen seven targets each of the three games. He’s caught six, five and six passes. He has scored just one time.

Jeremy Maclin has scored seven times his last 12 games (playoffs included), though he’s been held out of the end zone the last two games. Maclin has failed to reach 70-yards in any of the three games this season. The Steelers have allowed one score to wideouts.

Alex Smith has thrown a pick and lost two fumbles. He’s failed to thrown for 240 yards in either of his last two games. He has one score his last two games. The Steelers have allowed just three passing scores this season but they have been battered for 332 passing yards a game, the second worst mark in the game.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Le’Veon Bell will return to a full complement of snaps in his first game back from the sound of it. Bell has averaged 19 carries and 92 rushing yards in two previous games versus the Chiefs. The Chiefs are allowing the 9^th most points a week to runners and that includes 123 rushing yards, tied for 8^th most in football, while allowing two rushing scores. Bell profiles as an RB1 in his first game back from suspension. DeAngelo Williams will head to the bench having produced four scores and an average of 129.4 yards from scrimmage his last five games at home.

Antonio Brown went for six grabs and 124 yards in the last meetings. He also turned a whopping 18 targets into 12 receptions and 140 yards last week after his down Week 2 effort. Brown has seen at least 11 targets each game and twice has gone over 125 yards.

Jessie James scored in Week 2. Still, he’s caught just five passes the last two games and has a total of 70 receiving yards in three games. Xavier Gamble caught score in Week 2. He has two catches this season. The Chiefs have allowed eight receptions for 61 yards in three games to the Chiefs.   

Ben Roethlisberger hasn’t looked great. He is in for a tough matchup this week as well as the Chiefs have allowed only two passing scores while picking off a league best eight passes. Big Ben has 13 passing scores in his last four games at home, at least three each time out.

Eli Rogers is in a walking boot early in the week which bodes well for Sammie Coates’ chances of seeing significant snaps as the WR3 (Coates leads the league with a 29 yard average on his seven grabs for 203 yards). The Chiefs are allowing the 10^th fewest points to wideouts and that includes just one score.

Markus Wheaton returned to action and last week was on the field for just 45 percent of the snaps (Coates 67 percent, Rogers 35 percent and Darrius Heyward-Bey 45 percent). He didn’t do anything at all with one catch on five targets for all of five yards.

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New York Giants

Odell Beckham went for a 7-121 line last week against Josh Norman. He reached 200 grabs and 3,000 yards in his 30^th game, the quickest anyone has ever gotten there. ODB still hasn’t scored this season. The Vikings have allowed just one score to wideouts this season.

Victor Cruz has caught 11 passes in three games. He’s always out there because of the three wideout sets and has gone for 70-yards the last two games, but he’s seen just 15 targets through three outings.

Larry Donnell has caught eight of 11 passes for 50 yards and a score. Will Tye has caught eight of 11 passes for 40 yards.

Rashaad Jennings missed the game last week with a broken thumb. He can carry the ball, but blocking and pass catching are a concern. Too bad if he can’t suit up after producing 136 yards from scrimmage in the last matchup (74 run, 62 catch). Shane Vereen has been placed on the I.R with a torn triceps. He is out for a minimum of eight weeks. Orleans Darkwa and Paul Perkins seem likely to form a committee with Darkwa in the lead if Jennings sits again, though Bobby Rainey will likely see the field as well. Darkwa scored last week and has 52 yards on 11 carries. The Vikings are allowing just 3.5 YPC and 84 yards a week on the ground (7^th best).

Eli Manning takes on a Giants club that leads the league with 15 sacks (they had eight last week against the Panthers). The Vikings have also allowed just three passing scores while picking off five passes. Eli also looked terrible in the matchup last season throwing for three picks. Eli has thrown for 350 yards his last two games, and I talked more about his successes in this Big 3 Video.

Sterling Shepard has looked tremendous through three games. Here is his per game average: 5.3 receptions, 77.7 yards and 0.67 scores. Despite all of that he’s failed to average seven targets a game. The Vikings are allowing the 5^th fewest points a game to wideouts.

Minnesota Vikings

Sam Bradford takes on the Giants who have allowed just three passing scores and a middle of the road 262 passing yards a game. Bradford has averaged 29 pass attempted and 229 passing yards in two outings with three touchdown passes and no picks. This just isn’t an offense with any discernable workload which crushes his upside.

Stefon Diggs has scored in two of three home games. He also fell to just four receptions and 40 yards last week as he saw seven targets. Talk of him being a WR1 seems extremely premature. The Giants are allowing the 11^th most points a week to wideouts.

Everson Griffen has three sacks last week, he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week, and has six in his last four games.

Charles Johnson has caught three passes for 20 yards. Cordarrelle Patterson has caught two passes for 14 yards. Yep. Laquon Treadwell can’t even get on the field since he’s not doing well in practice.

Meanwhile nobody Adam Thielen has caught 11 passes for 124 yards. He still hasn’t scored or seen more than five targets in a contest.

Jerick McKinnnon played over Matt Asiata convincingly last week as McK saw 35 snaps to 19 for Asiata. McK had 16 carries and 17 touches. Asiata had six carries and seven touches. Too back McKinnon didn’t do anything (45 rushing yards, and two as a receiver). Clearly Jerick is the better play, albeit a very boring one. The Giants are allowing just 3.2 yards a carry for 77 yards a game. They have also allowed one rushing score.

Kyle Rudolph has scored his last two games. That manes that he’s scored or gone for 65 yards in all three games this season. He’s also seen a high total of 26 targets in three games, despite constantly being asked to pass block. Sam Bradford likes to throw to his tight end by the way. The Giants haven’t allowed a score to tight ends though they have allowed them to catch 16 balls for 172 yards.

Ray Flowers can be heard Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday, 8 PM EDT, Wednesday 7 PM EDT on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 9 PM EDT PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).