Week 3 Matchups – Fantasy Football Player Spotlights

Each week I highlight every NFL matchup and which players are in the the spotlight within that specific matchup. I have used data from last year, along with data from the previous week to simply say “I think X will have a good week due to Y.” The further we get into this 2023 Season, the more information there is to process and truly understand what defense allows what and which teams are positive Fantasy Football matchups. Some of the players highlight from last week’s article, and their points per reception (PPR) scoring from Week 2:

• Daniel Jones – 31.74 points
• Tee Higgins – 28.9 points
• Nico Collins – 27.6 points
• Christian McCaffrey – 22.5 points
• Rachaad White – 21.3 points
• Bijan Robinson – 21.2 points
• Mike Williams – 16.6 points
• DJ Moore – 16.4 points
• Jake Ferguson – 10.10 points

Heading into Week 3, it will be a new week but the same exercise. The intention is to detail players I feel will beat their projections and be useful in both your Fantasy Football and DFS lineups. Looking strictly at the Sunday slate of games, here are my player spotlights for the week –

Sunday Slate

Falcons vs. Lions

• Kyle Pitts: The Lions allow the seventh most passing yards per game, and the third most Fantasy points per game (PPG) to tight ends. Noah Fant and Colby Parkinson combined for six catches for 97 yards in the Seahawks overtime win vs. the Lions last week. Kyle Pitts has been frustrating, and nearly droppable for Fantasy Football. Encouraging has been the 22 yards per catch in Week 1 (two receptions for 44 yards) and then earning five targets last week. People forget the quality of prospect the former first-round pick was, and his rookie 1,026 receiving yard season. Week 3 is a Kyle Pitts week.
• Sam LaPorta: In Week 2, Luke Musgrave only caught two passes but took them for 25 yards against Atlanta. In Week 1, Hayden Hurst had a huge week against the Falcons. Hurst caught five passes for 41 yards and a score. Atlanta is a Top 12 Fantasy matchup. Sam LaPorta has finished as a Top 10 Fantasy tight end in back-to-back games. Five catches in each of the rookie’s first two NFL games, and a solid 63 receiving-yard outing in Week 2. LaPorta is more than a streamer.

Chargers vs. Vikings

• Joshua Kelley: I can acknowledge that the Eagles ‘offensive line is quality, but do not let that take anything away from what D’Andre Swift did to the Vikings last week. Swift rushed 28 times for 175 yards and a touchdown. Boston Scott even ran an efficient five carries for 40 yards stat line with Jalen Hurts rushing for two touchdowns against the Vikings. Joshua Kelley had a down Week 2 with Austin Ekeler out, but still had 14 touches. In Week 1 Kelley rushed 16 times for 91 yards and a score, and I feel he is lined up for a bounce-back game as long as Ekeler remains out.
• Kirk Cousins: The Chargers allowed the most passing yards per game at 333 yards, and are the 2nd best Fantasy matchup for quarterbacks. Ryan Tannehill threw for 246 yards and a touchdown last week, and Tua Tagovailoa went completely off for 466 passing yards and three touchdowns in Week 1. Kirk Cousins has thrown the second most passing yards at 708 so far this season and is tied for first in passing touchdowns with six. Coming off of a QB2 Fantasy performance last week, I like Cousins to stay hot in Week 3.

Saints vs. Packers

• Kendre Miller: Green Bay has allowed the sixth most Fantasy PPG to running backs and the third most rushing yards per game this season. Bijan Robinson finished Week 2 with 124 rushing yards against the Packers. The Saints drafted Kendre Miller in the third round this year. Miller has been dealing with a hamstring issue but practiced in full Wednesday with Alvin Kamara suspended and Jamaal Williams potentially out injured. Miller rushed for 1,399 yards and 17 touchdowns last season at TCU and is lined up for a plus matchup with minimal running back competition.
• Jayden Reed: The Saints are a tough matchup through two weeks nearly across the board here. Last week, second-round selection Jayden Reed was targeted eight times and caught four of those passes with two of them being touchdowns. Having a big week likely should mean Reed continuing to see opportunities from Jordan Love, who has looked great so far. I doubt Reed is going to be a deep target drawing tons of defensive attention.

Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Half-PPR by Position | Flex Rankings | Positional Ranks w/ K & DST | Dynasty | Superflex Dynasty

Texans vs. Jaguars

• CJ Stroud: Jacksonville allows the 5th most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks this season and the eighth most passing yards per game. Patrick Mahomes threw for 305 yards and two touchdowns last week, and Anthony Richardson threw for 223 yards in his NFL debut and tacked on a passing and rushing touchdown against the Jaguars. CJ Stroud currently has the third most passing attempts in the NFL and fourth most passing yards through two weeks. In Week 2, Stroud threw for 384 yards and two touchdowns. Houston is letting this guy sling it, and weapons like Nico Collins and Tank Dell are emerging this year. Stroud is questionable and limited at practice, but signs point to him playing.
• Travis Etienne: Last season, Houston was the worst defense at stopping the run and slowing down running backs for Fantasy Football. This season, Houston ranks eighth in Fantasy PPG allowed to running backs. Zack Moss rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown last week against Houston. Week 1, Houston allowed three running back touchdowns. Down Week 2 for Travis Etienne, but in Week 1 he rushed the ball 18 times for 77 yards and a touchdown and also caught all five targets. Bounce-back Etienne week.

Broncos vs. Dolphins

• Javonte Williams: The Dolphins allow the fifth most rushing yards per game, and fourth most Fantasy PPG to running backs this season. Rhamondre Stevenson scored a rushing touchdown last week against Miami, and in Week 1 Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelley combined for 208 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Javonte Williams has had a slow start to 2023, but he touched the ball 17 times in Week 1 and 14 times in Week 2 after injury concerns. Six targets for Williams in Week 1 with Samaje Perine on the roster was appealing. Week 3 could be the first that makes us remember rookie season Williams who scored over 20 Fantasy Points all of Weeks 12-14 in 2021.
• Raheem Mostert: The Broncos allow the ninth most Fantasy PPG to running backs this season. In Week 2, Brian Robinson rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns against the Broncos, which is largely what skewed that Fantasy average. Raheem Mostert has played 73% of the snaps in both Week 1 and 2. Mostert has finished as the RB18 and RB5 the last two weeks, with Week 2 being a monster 18 attempts for 121 rushing yards and two touchdowns stat line. 19 touches last week shows he is the guy, even if rookie Devon Achane is now healthy. Achane may cut into the workload, but as of this week, it is going to be Mostert’s role to keep after a huge week.

Titans vs. Browns

• Derrick Henry: So far this season, Cleveland looks like a rough matchup for Fantasy Football. Hard here to really push for anyone. Derrick Henry has not scored well for Fantasy Football yet, but the volume continues to be there. Henry logged a monster 27 touches last week, which goes to show you that 2023 is no different than the past. Henry has had three seasons under his belt with over 300 rushing attempts.
• Elijah Moore: Last season, the Titans were the most friendly wide receiver matchup for Fantasy Football. In 2023, the Titans are allowing the third most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and the fifth most passing yards per game. Amari Cooper was questionable heading into last Monday night’s game against the Steelers and continues to deal with shoulder and groin issues. Elijah Moore trails Cooper 16 to 17 for targets this season. In week 1 Moore caught three balls for 43 yards. I am a true believer in what we saw out of Moore during his rookie season, and if there is a coming out game for him in his first year in his new home it is Week 3.

Bills vs. Commanders

• Stefon Diggs: The Commanders are allowing the seventh most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this season. Rookie Marvin Mims Jr. finished Week 2 with 113 receiving yards and a touchdown and Brandon Johnson finished with 66 yards and two touchdowns against Washington for the Broncos. Stefon Diggs has been targeted 13 and seven times in the first two weeks, finishing with 102 and 66 yards. You are obviously starting Diggs for Fantasy Football, but he may be a solid DFS plug to make.
• Brian Robinson: In Week 1 Breece Hall rushed for 127 yards against Buffalo. In week 1 Brian Robinson rushed the ball 19 times and then 18 times in Week 2. Week 2 was Robinson’s best Fantasy score of his career, finishing with 28.9 points as the week’s RB1. Robinson rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns last week. The clear Washington RB1, with Antonio Gibson not involved even close to what I personally thought he would be.

Colts vs. Ravens

• Michael Pittman Jr.: The Ravens allow the 6th most Fantasy PPG this season to wide receivers. Tee Higgins caught eight passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns last week against Baltimore. Week 1, Nico Collins caught six passes for 80 yards against the Ravens. Anthony Richardson is not practicing on Thursday due to being in the concussion protocol, which may mean more Gardner Minshew. Regardless of who the quarterback is, Michael Pittman Jr. is a focal point of this offense. Twenty-three targets for Pittman is 11 more than any other player on the roster and is the fourth-highest for wide receivers. Volume + matchup here.
• Zay Flowers: The Colts allow the second most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and fourth most passing yards per game through two weeks. Last week, Nico Collins finished the Colts game with 146 yards and a touchdown, Robert Woods with 74 receiving yards and Tank Dell with 72 receiving yards and a touchdown. Calvin Ridley caught eight passes for 101 receiving yards and a touchdown in Week 1 against the Colts. Zay Flowers is leading Baltimore with 15 targets so far, with double-digit Fantasy scoring in back-to-back weeks. Flowers finished Week 1 with 76 receiving yards and averaged 15.5 yards per catch in Week 2.

Patriots vs. Jets

• Hunter Henry: The Jets are allowing the seventh most Fantasy PPG to tight ends. Jake Ferguson scored a touchdown against the Jets last week, and Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox combined for seven catches in Week 1 against the Jets. Hunter Henry has finished as the TE1 and then TE2 the last two weeks for Fantasy Football. 13 total targets this season, both weeks over 50 receiving yards and both weeks scoring a touchdown. Ride the hot hand in a great matchup.
• Dalvin Cook: The Patriots have allowed the 10th most Fantasy PPG to running backs this season, and Raheem Mostert just rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns against them last week. Dalvin Cook has attempted 17 rushes to Breece Hall’s 14, and has four catches to Hall’s one. Hall has been more efficient without a doubt but has floated at 31% and 34% of the snaps the last two weeks to Dalvin’s 50% and 36%. Not sure New York will force Hall into volume this week, or even this year with a veteran on the roster and him coming off of the ACL injury.

Panthers vs. Seahawks

• Miles Sanders: The Seahawks allow the seventh most Fantasy PPG to running backs, with David Montgomery rushing for 67 yards and a touchdown last week and Kyren Williams combined with Cam Akers in Week 1 for three touchdowns. Bryce Young has been ruled out for Week 3, meaning Andy Dalton will go under center. Miles Sanders has yet to have a good Fantasy week but has touched the ball 22 and 17 times in the first two games. This week could mean Sanders finally having his first good Carolina outing in his first season with the team should he follow the touchdown trend against Seattle.
• Kenneth Walker III: The Panthers allow the second most Fantasy PPG to running backs and eight most rushing yards per game through two weeks. Tony Jones Jr. rushed for two touchdowns last week, and Bijan Robinson combined with Tyler Allgeier for 131 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Carolina. There was fear for rookie Zach Charbonnet cutting into work, but Kenneth Walker III has played 63% and 61% of the snaps and logged 16+ touches in his first two games. Walker rushed for 64 yards in Week 1 and rushed for two touchdowns in Week 2. Big day is incoming for the sophomore.

Bears vs. Chiefs

• Chiefs starting running back: Chicago was a plus matchup for running backs last season, and have allowed the fifth-most Fantasy PPG this year. Rachaad White rushed for 73 yards and a score last week, and Aaron Jones scored both a rushing and receiving touchdown in Week 1. Isiah Pacheco has been banged up, so we have to monitor his status. Whether it is Pacheco or Clyde Edwards-Helaire as the lead rushing back, I like them in this matchup. Jerick McKinnon may also factor in, but I will take whoever is actually touching the ball the most. Cop out answer here but as of Thursday I do not know who the starter is.
• Justin Fields: Every once in a while I run with narratives that do not directly pull any data. Just a feeling. My feeling is that Justin Fields gets right back on track for Fantasy Football this week. The same Fields who scored the fifth most Fantasy Points last season. The same Fields who averaged 24.8 Fantasy PPG last season when the playbook was geared towards his strengths in Weeks 6-18. Fields has voiced his frustrations with the media, his coaching staff, and himself. I think this is the week Chicago realizes they need to focus their offense around Fields’ strengths like they did last year. Everyone is writing off Justin Fields, and I feel too many did at this point last year only to look foolish later on. A Fields come-back week is in store.

Cowboys vs. Cardinals

• Dak Prescott: The Cardinals are allowing the third most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks this season, with Daniel Jones and Sam Howell combining for 593 passing plus rushing yards and five total touchdowns against them through two weeks. Dak Prescott has yet to have a big Fantasy week, but 255 passing yards and two passing touchdowns last week is at least a trend in the right direction. This Arizona matchup presents Dak with a good matchup to have a…good day.
• Zach Ertz: The Cowboys have been a terrible matchup for Fantasy Football this season, and have allowed just 10 points through two weeks. Zach Ertz seems to be the favorite target of Joshua Dobbs as an easy outlet for the backup quarterback. 18 targets through two games is solid for Ertz, who might just see 10 in this one vs. Dobbs having the time to chuck it down the field to anyone else.

Sunday Night Football

Steelers vs. Raiders

• Najee Harris: The Raiders allow the third-most Fantasy PPG to running backs this season with James Cook rushing for 123 yards last week, and Damien Harris combining with Latavius Murray for two rushing touchdowns against them. Javonte Williams also averaged four yards per carry in Week 1 against Las Vegas. Everyone seems to be out on Najee Harris, who has done nothing special for Fantasy Football so far this year and are enamored with Jaylen Warren instead. Harris has played 52% and 57% of the snaps but has nearly split work evenly with Warren in terms of total touches. Harris has averaged 5.17 and 4.3 yards per carry through two weeks. In Week 1 the Steelers were blown out by the 49ers 30-7 and then last week Harris and Warren combined for just 16 attempts. If there is a week to show us something Najee, this is your week.
• Josh Jacobs: The Steelers allow the most Fantasy PPG this season to running backs. Brutal injury for Nick Chubb against the Steelers last week, who rushed 16 times for 64 yards. Jerome Ford took Chubb’s role and rushed 16 times for 106 yards in the same game. Christian McCaffrey rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers in Week 1. Josh Jacobs has been awful the first two weeks, after having a monster 2022 season leading the league with 1,653 rushing yards. The Steelers struggling against running backs gives Jacobs a great shot at getting right.