Tampa Bay Buccaneers
QB: Tom Brady, Blaine Gabbert, Ryan Griffin, and Josh Rosen
Brady has not been the world-beater of the past for your fantasy team this year and more than likely a bridge quarterback for your roster while you find future depth. Yet through three games the only disappointing statistic in his game log is that he is 20th in passing yards per game. Evans being hampered week one, and Godwin missing week two may have dampened his production through the start of the season, but against the Broncos he posted decent numbers for your team having all of his weapons back and healthy. Hopefully, the team will continue to gel, and the yards per game will increase, pushing him up from his 21st overall fantasy quarterback position.
The quarterbacks beyond Brady don’t deserve to be rostered unless it is an extremely deep league. Rosen is still trying to find his place in the league, and through three seasons, a practice squad position to learn from Brady and Arians may be his best opportunity yet.
RB: Ronald Jones, Leonard Fournette, LeSean McCoy, Ke’Shawn Vaughn
Of all the examples that Bruce Arians doesn’t care about your fantasy squad, the backfield for the Bucs may be the most prominent. A puzzle each week that is primarily decided by which back doesn’t fumble an exchange or miss a blocking assignment mid-drive.
Hopefully, you have Vaughn on your taxi, and McCoy has been an afterthought for dynasty rosters due to age. Ronald Jones was primed to own the backfield heading into the season before the last-minute signing of Fournette. Once Fournette joined the team it’s been unclear and remains murky. A monster week two from Fournette made it seem like the backfield was going to shift to his control, but Rojo continues to lead the team in carries and yards despite Fournette looking better. If you can get any value for these backs while the Bucs have a turnstile at the position do so. I’d be looking for a contender with injuries at the running back position to move these guys for future draft equity or wide receiver depth.
WR: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Scotty Miller
Mike Evans through three games has ten catches for 108 yards and four touchdowns. 104 of those yards came in Week 2 against the Panthers. So it is alarming that he isn’t posting consistent yardage totals, but a touchdown on 40% of receptions will do just fine. Evans is producing another fine season let him develop chemistry with Brady and it will only get better.
Godwin had to miss Week 2 but still has posted more receptions and yards than Evans. It’s true that he will be a reliable option for Brady moving forward, but Godwin and Evans are both viable options and number one receivers going forward. No question that if they are healthy they’ll be in your lineup. Miller dropping a long pass in week two didn’t help his chances of becoming the next slot receiver for Brady, but if Scotty can build off of week one and two, try and get value from another team or use him in deeper leagues as a bye week flex filler.
TE: Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard, Cameron Brate
Brate had promise before Gronkowski came to town, but now that Brady’s Buddy is in Tampa Bay even in two tight end sets Brate is a deep dynasty stash in hopes that Howard or Gronk depart. Hopefully, you were able to trade Gronk while the hype was building, but if not you’re probably stuck with him moving forward and you may get a week of value when your tight end has a bye week, but don’t hope for more than a touchdown.
O.J. Howard has some long term value, but hope that there is a major scheme change in order for better production or another team entirely or else Howard will constantly be a headache for people who drafted him.
New Orleans Saints
QB: Drew Brees, Taysom Hill, Jameis Winston
Winston and Hill are simply depth for Superflex leagues, but it’s looking more and more like they could be relevant this year with Drew Brees’s decrease in arm strength. Most of his career he hasn’t been a deep passer, but it looks like this may very well be his last season in the NFL. Try to find a quarterback-needy team after his Week 3 performance where Alvin Kamara made his stat line respectable. Brees and Brady have had similar seasons up to this point in the season, but Michael Thomas coming back should help Brees increase his yardage totals going forward.
RB: Alvin Kamara, Latavius Murray
Kamara is the elite running back we all assumed he would be especially after his big payday at the beginning of this season. Alvin will single-handedly win you weeks with his reception totals, and usually, a back with low carries doesn’t produce the way he does but through three weeks he is averaging almost 5.7 yards per carry. With 27 receptions, his involvement without MT on the field is incredible. Murray is not having a fantasy-relevant start to his season, but most of the Saints matchups haven’t allowed them to chew up the clock with Murray. He will continue to be a bye week flex fill and handcuff to Kamara.
WR: Michael Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Tre’Quan Smith, Deonte Harris
Alvin Kamara leads the entire team in yardage and receptions, I am not sure if that is mostly due to his ability, Drew Brees’s decline, or Michael Thomas’s absence. Thomas suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 1 and hasn’t seen the field since, but we all know what Thomas is about, and as soon as he is back things will start to look up for your dynasty squad. Do not sell Michael Thomas simply because of a slow start to your season. Thomas is unquestionably an elite level talent for years to come. As for the other receivers, hopefully, you are not stuck rostering them seeing as they do not get enough volume from Brees.
TE: Jared Cook, Adam Trautman
Cook has not seen an uptick in targets with Michael Thomas out and is averaging three catches per game. That isn’t getting it done in a season where multiple tight ends have become relevant across the league. Trautman hopefully is on your taxi squad since he is mainly a blocker and a backup to Cook.
Carolina Panthers
For those disparaging Bridgewater before the start of the season saying he could not operate in Matt Rhule’s system and throw the deep ball, he is currently seventh in yards per game and 10th in yards per target. His receivers are simply not finding the end zone, with only two touchdowns in the three games hopefully positive regression finds its way to Bridgewater. They will most likely play from behind with McCaffrey missing time, and his stat line should remain steady.
RB: Christian McCaffrey, Mike Davis
The fantasy players rostering Reggie Bonnafon in the incident that CMC went down are surely disappointed to see Mike Davis have the most prominent role in the backfield while McCaffrey is out 4-6 weeks. Davis is no CMC but has posted similar receiving totals through his absence. If you have any offers for McCaffrey that do not involve a young stud running back and picks in return do not doubt his ability upon return. Fortunately, he will be back later in the season and if you can limp through the first half of the year he will be back.
WR: Robby Anderson, D.J. Moore, Curtis Samuel
Anderson is performing like a number one receiver with 92 yards per game and 129 yards after the catch. Moore on the other hand has been disappointing at best only securing 14 of his 26 targets for 239 yards and no touchdowns through the first three weeks. Do not give up hope on Moore, but between him and Anderson the steadier, newly acquired free agent may get the nod from his old college coach. Samuel has been the third chair to the others, and a gadget player; expect more of the same from him moving forward. Between Anderson and Moore fighting to be the number one, you can start both on any given week especially while McCaffrey is healing up over the next few weeks.
TE: Ian Thomas
Thomas was an expected breakout at the TE position in the offseason, but through three weeks most teams are surely benching him since he has only been targeted four times through three weeks. Hold him and hope that he finds a foothold in the offense or is utilized in the red zone, 8.3 yards per game will not get it done. Look for other options and do not be afraid to make a move for another player while Thomas develops on your bench.
Atlanta Falcons
QB: Matt Ryan
Ryan has been his usual self, putting up huge numbers and squandering away leads after doing so. To start the season he is fourth in yards, touchdowns, and attempts. Continue rolling him out there expecting large yardage totals, and fantasy success from your QB slot. With a wide receiver core like his its almost impossible not to do well. As long as the coaching staff stays intact after the two most recent losses Ryan will do just fine this season.
RB: Todd Gurley, Brian Hill, Ito Smith
Giving Gurley a chance this offseason would’ve more than likely cost you more than you are receiving in value. Under 70 yards per game is simply underwhelming at best but with the other injuries throughout the league, a healthy Gurley isn’t anything to be upset with right now. Lower expectations from the years he spent with the Rams and see him in an RB2 light moving forward and you will not be disappointed. If you are able to move him to an RB needy team and you yourself aren’t a contender I would take advantage of snap decisions by other managers in your league.
Brian Hill is steadily taking a few carries from Gurley in order to spell him, but moving further into the season it may become more of a split that makes them both fantasy irrelevant. If anything does happen to Gurley Hill is the back to roster, but it may turn into an ugly timeshare with Smith and Ollison hoping for their chance.
WR: Calvin Ridley, Julio Jones, Russell Gage
The time has finally come for Ridley to surpass Julio in fantasy. Jones is undeniably a better athlete and all-around talent than Ridley is, but we saw it last year with Godwin and Evans. There comes a time when the torch has to be passed and I believe we are seeing the exchange this season. Ridley has produced 349 yards on 21 receptions while scoring four times in three games. Julio may have been hampered through the start of the season and missed a game, but that isn’t something we aren’t used to with Jones.
Ryan will be able to make multiple receivers fantasy-relevant, but Ridley is the number one option moving forward, and I would attempt to move Julio on the name to another team needing a wide receiver. Russell Gage is quietly producing a fantasy-relevant season and should be rostered in all dynasty formats as we approach bye weeks and deal with injuries. In a PPR league, he should more than likely start on a weekly basis seeing that the falcons are always in close games.
TE: Hayden Hurst
The offseason hype train of all hype trains is moving much slower than anyone expected to start the season. He has been able to score two touchdowns, but 37 yards per game is frustrating managers who acquired him hoping for what Austin Hooper did during last year’s first half. Hurst is finding his role in the offense still and should see more production if Julio continues to miss time or plays as a decoy. Don’t give up hope on Hurst as it truly just depends if Gage or Hurst will see the targets on any given week.
Hopefully, your dynasty teams are starting off strong, if you need any advice on righting the ship or continuing your league domination come to me @DFF_MattBull and #alwaysbebuilding with @DFF_Dynasty.
