The third week of the NFL season is officially behind us. The long-awaited Sunday has come and gone in a blink of an eye. After countless hours of only moving from the couch to use the bathroom, we look ahead to Week 4. With everyone scrambling to the waiver wire, this article will look beyond that.
This is the third installment of the weekly series, One Week Ahead. We will use our fantasy football crystal ball to look ahead to future weeks and try to predict players who will emerge with fantasy relevance. We will try to get a leg up on our opponents by picking up potential fantasy assets before they become a major waiver wire pick-up.
Collin Johnson – WR New York Giants
Making his 2021 debut this past week, Collin Johnson put up five receptions for 51 yards on seven targets. This production is not going to win you any weeks, but it could be the start of something more. Playing 49% of the offensive snaps and running the third-most routes for a wide receiver on the Giants, Johnson will be worth the add.
Fellow wide receivers Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton both suffered hamstring injuries in the week three loss. While the main beneficiaries of this news are Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney, a window has just opened for Johnson. He proved he can be productive in his limited role and has the trust in quarterback Daniel Jones as he elected to target Johnson the most on the team.
Going forward, I am not sure how the usage will be, but, if Johnson sees an increased role, I expect him to fully take advantage of it. While the offense isn’t anything great, by playing well, Johnson could force the coach into keeping him on the field.
Donald Parham – TE Los Angeles Chargers
Donald Parham has done next to nothing this season so far and may be a forgotten man in some leagues. However, he is the perfect stash in deep leagues. Through three games, he only has one catch for 19 yards on two targets. Obviously, you are not plugging him into your lineup. But, if 34-year-old tight end Jared Cook were to miss any time, Parham would step right in. Last week, Cook ran routes on 70% of snaps he played. In addition, he has recorded 10 catches for 111 yards on 16 targets after three weeks. This is more targets than Logan Thomas, Hunter Henry, and Tyler Higbee.
Even with a healthy Cook, Parham is averaging a 49% snap share. Though the production has not been there, he is still seeing the field. Furthermore, he is running some routes. While it is nothing great, this suggests that eventually, he could turn into something. In a solid offense, with a stud quarterback who slings it around, Parham could emerge as an everyday fantasy option given the weak current tight end landscape in fantasy.
Jalen Guyton – WR Los Angeles Chargers
Another Charger makes the list. Now, we have a wide receiver, Jalen Guyton. For similar reasons mentioned above, Guyton could make for a good add. He is in a high-volume passing offense, with a quarterback that is entering elite status.
In week one he turned five targets into three receptions for 49 yards. He has since been less productive, but he is still seeing the field a good amount. Averaging a 66% snap share this season, Guyton ran the fourth-most routes on his team in week three. Pair this with the fact that both Mike Williams and Keenan Allen have dealt with injuries in the past, Guyton would be the next man up.
He flashed potential in 2020 when he had a few big games. If things break right for him, Guyton could find himself as a flex-worthy start in fantasy football. If you have the room on your roster, adding Guyton may pay off later in the season.
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