Fantasy Football News & Notes: Week 3
With two weeks in the proverbial books, there has been a lot of Fantasy Football News and Notes to analyze. We are starting to see a flood of Noteworthy occurrences while the Trends are more team-related than specific players. The sample is too small and the trends that could be developing might have been dictated by matchups rather than what could become weekly behavior on behalf of a coaching staff that could justify something being characterized as a trend. Fantasy team managers are seeing running back committees touches and targets fluctuate, suggesting that the players are on equal footing on the depth chart and that the matchups are dictating their usage. The Rams for example. One week Malcolm Brown was the hero and the next, Darrell Henderson played a meaningful role. Another different example, is the Atlanta Falcons. As a team, their defense has been Swiss cheese. Offenses are cutting through it like a warm knife through butter. The result, high-scoring shootouts have been the norm. Its helped make Calvin Ridley the best wide receiver in Fantasy football and Russel Gage extremely relevant (21 targets - 15 receptions - 160 receiving yards - ranking him 15th in Fantasy points at wide receiver ahead of Top pick Julio Jones), while it has resulted in Todd Gurley struggling to produce even though his rushing attempts are there (35). But, we are beginning to see Fantasy Football News being made. We are beginning to see signs of how certain players will be utilized, or if they will at all, and how it could impact their Fantasy value going forward. The problem is the sample. In this article, I try not to jump to conclusions and make prognostications. I want the facts to tell the story and for me to bring it to your attention with Fantasy analysis to go along with it. And, so far, there are a lot more noteworthy Fantasy Football News & Notes than there are trends.
Fantasy Football News - Trends
I don't know if early-season team performance is a Trend or still Noteworthy, but I am leaning Trend. If an offense looks great for two weeks I am willing to accept it on its face...to a point. And more so when a defense struggles and even more so if they look lost and confused like the New York Jets and in many respects, the Atlanta Falcons. I am not willing to go as far as to make wild and crazy trade offers for individual players based on the first two weeks, but it impacts who I target and who I consider over or underpriced in DFS tournaments. Less so in cash. I still rely on historical data or meaningful sample sizes when determining my level of confidence with a player in cash formats. I want more sure about things and fewer fliers and risks. Here are some early season Fantasy Football News and Notes that I consider trends.
Team Stats - Defense
Passing Yards Allowed
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks have allowed the most passing yards in football (831). I am leaning "Don't Be Fantasy Fooled" on this one. They were on their way to blowing out the Falcons in Week #1 and while I am not sure I am buying into Cam Newton as an elite passer, Josh McDaniels with a mobile quarterback and linebacker size, I can see how the passing yards stacked up in what turned out to be a shootout. The loss of Bruce Irvin will hurt them while the addition of Jamal Adams should eventually show meaningful dividends. They face the Dallas Cowboys in Week #3 so the argument for their pass defense being weak is going to have more evidence to suggest as much, but don't be so quick to label them a "target" just yet. In cash games, this is a stack game, on either side and for DFS players that don't mind being part of the lemming swarm, by all means, stack it in tournaments as well. I am avoiding this one because I expect everyone to be on it. I do want individual shares though. Pick your favorite target or two and enjoy the ride.
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons have faced two of the best passing offenses in football, so it isn't a surprise they have allowed the second-most passing. yards in football (744). The invigorated Seattle Seahawks and early season MVP Russel Wilson and the high-flying Dak Prescott and his group of pass-catching weapons. That should be a reason, like Seattle, to be hesitant about casting the dye on them being deadbeats in pass coverage. But, I am buying it more with Atlanta. Their schedule is filled with quality quarterbacks and they did rank 11th worst in passing yards allowed in 2019. And, their offense is loaded with talent. Even if the pass D is legit, if the offense scores a lot and gets a lead, the passing yards and Fantasy points are going to follow. They are a target for me early on. They get the Chicago Bears this week and I am itching to go contrarian and stack against them this week with a Gage bring back for good measure. My one hesitation: Mitch Trubisky. Not buying him.
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Chris Mitchell
Chris Mitchell began his Fantasy Sports Writing/Podcasting career with RotoExperts.com, writing about Minor League Prospects, Fantasy Football and Baseball. He won a 2017 FSWA award for "Best Comedy Article" and was Nominated for "Best Fantasy Podcast” in 2018. He has worked as a freelance writer and season-long contributor to BaseballAmerica.com and as a Daily Fantasy Sports analyst for Fantasydraft.com. His content has appeared in a multiple of outlets like The AP, The New York Daily Post, USAToday, Fantrax.com and more. He is President of Bosco Nation, where his Podcasts can be found BlogTalkRadio