DFS Alerts
Jimmy Graham (ankle) expected to play Week 3
Head coach Pete Carroll said to disregard Graham’s questionable tag because he should be ready to play the Titans this weekend. The tight end is off to a slow start but he may be able to find his rhythm this week. Although Tennessee hasn’t really been tested by the position yet this season, they did allow Jared Cook to haul in all five of his targets for 56 yards. If the Seahawks offense can put some drives together, Graham should have usage around the goal line; he’s tallied two end zone targets this year.
Go Overweight on This Stud Wideout
I know he isn’t cheap and that he is becoming more chalk than I thought was possible, but I just can’t help myself. I am going on record and saying Green will be the highest scoring wide receiver this week and will be on the Millionaire Maker winning lineup. All we keep hearing is that the Bengals, with a new offensive coordinator, are going to get their most skilled player the ball as much as they can. I have no idea why they haven’t been doing that so far, but I believe they will try to get him the ball, regardless of whether there’s double or triple coverage. This is still a top five receiver in the NFL, and when he gets 10 or more targets, he can win you a slate. I expect at least 10 to 15 targets this week and would be surprised if Green has less than 25 DK fantasy points. I will have 50% to 75% of Green for Week 3.
Terrance Williams (ankle) and CB Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring) didn't practice Friday, Brice Butler (ankle) limited
Both Williams and Butler were dealing with ankle sprains leading up to the Broncos game last week and it appears the injuries are lingering. We’ll find out their official game statuses tomorrow. If Willaims is able to suit up, it could be a nice spot to target him. Dez Bryant is expected to be stuck under Patrick Peterson’s shadow while Williams battles Justin Bethel. When Bryant was working against Janoris Jenkins in Week 1, Williams took advantage and finished with a team-high 68 yards. So far this season, Bethel has been targeted the most among Arizona’s CBs (15) and he’s given up eight receptions, 129 yards, and two scores, per PFF.
Other tagged players: Brice Butler, Dallas Cowboys John Brown (quad) didn't practice Friday, J.J. Nelson (hamstring) limited
Brown hasn’t practiced all week and it doesn’t look like he’ll be able to play Monday night. Nelson should be good to go though, he’ll compete with Larry Fitzgerald and Jaron Brown for targets against the Cowboys. While Brown was sidelined for their Week 2 matchup with the Colts, J.J. Nelson broke out for 120 yards and a score. It was Jaron Brown who led the team in targets though; he received 11 to Nelson’s 7. Although Jaron only finished with four receptions, his lack of efficiency is a little misleading as he was only tossed four catchable balls from Carson Palmer. Without John Brown and David Johnson, Jaron Brown and Nelson will continue to see an uptick in targets. They face the Cowboys in Week 3, a team that allowed Trevor Siemian to throw four touchdown passes Sunday. Dallas is pretty banged up at corner right now with Nolan Carroll ruled out, Orlando Scandrick coming off surgery to repair a broken hand, and his replacement, Chidobe Awuzie, dealing with a hamstring injury. After targeting the group 17 times, Siemien racked up 13 completions for 151 yards and two of his scores. It’s looking like a good matchup for the Cardinals receivers.
Other tagged players: J.J. Nelson, Jaron Brown, Larry Fitzgerald Likely Game Script Favors this Tight End
This is another guy who will be popular, and again…for very good reason. Ebron and Matthew Stafford are clicking so far this season, and in Week 3 they face a Falcons team that has allowed a whopping 20 targets to tight ends in two weeks. The pace Atlanta plays at, as well as the fact Detroit will likely be trailing and airing it out most of this one, are big reasons why Ebron is a tough fade here. In these types of spots, the athletic tight end’s usage typically increases dramatically. Most importantly, Ebron is simply still too cheap. I will have about 20% of EE this week, which would put me slightly overweight, with Chris Gimino currently projecting him for 15% ownership on FD and 10% on DK.
Rex Burkhead (ribs) ruled out for Week 3, several Patriots questionable
Head coach Bill Belichick is at it again with the full injury reports. Even though we know Rob Gronkowski and Danny Amendola are playing, they’re listed as questionable. Receivers Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett, Matt Slater, LB Dont’a Foreman, and CB Stephen GIlmore also have the “Q” tag heading into Week 3. Beat writer Mike Reiss believes Burkhead’s absence won’t have much of an impact on Mike Gillislee or James White, but it might create more opportunities for Dion Lewis. The Patriots fourth-string back has been quiet so far this season, picking up seven touches through two games, but he could pick up more receiving work against the Texans as long as game flow permits it. In the playoffs last year, Lewis scored three times on Houston – one rushing, one receiving, and he even brought a kick return to the house.
Other tagged players: Dion Lewis Evan Engram (concussion) will play Week 3
Engram was placed in the concussion protocol earlier this week as a precaution but he’ll play this weekend. The Eagles appear to be a terrific matchup for TEs right now. Their starting safeties, Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod, have earned pass coverage grades of 46.8 and 40.1 from PFF, respectively, and McLeod is banged up. Every-down LBs Nigel Bradham and Jordan Hicks have scored 41.6 and 34.9 in coverage, respectively. TE Travis Kelce just worked this team for an 8/103/1 line on ten targets. Engram caught exactly four balls in each of his first games and found paint against the Lions Monday night. With everyone else playing poorly on that offense, QB Eli Manning should continue to look for Engram in a favorable spot.
Jimmy Graham (ankle) questionable for Week 3
The tight end is dealing with an ankle injury and he’ll be a game-time decision Sunday. Graham got banged up in Week 2 and finished with a poor one-catch performance. He’s had a slow start to the season along with the rest of the offense; he’s caught three passes total for just nine scoreless yards. It doesn’t help that QB Russell Wilson is constantly running for his life. Their offensive line ranks 30th in pass-blocking efficiency this season, per PFF. They’ve already allowed 33 pressures through two games; that 16.5 pressures per game pace is an even worse than the one they set last year (14.89 per game), which ranked 31st. If Graham misses their Week 3 matchup against the Titans, it should boost the market shares for Doug Baldwin, Paul Richardson, and Tyler Lockett. C.J. Prosise could potentially get more receiving work out of the backfield as well.
Saints CBs Marshon Lattimore, Sterling Moore, and LT Terron Armstead ruled out for Week 3
The Saints will be without their best corner, Lattimore, when they take on the Panthers this Sunday. On the offensive side of the ball, they’ll be missing both of their starting tackles, Armstead and Zach Strief. The injuries in the secondary are big for quarterback Cam Newton and receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who was expected to be shadowed by Lattimore. The Saints will now have to rely on P.J. Williams and De’Vante Harris at cornerback, which is bad news for them considering they’ve given up 10/13/182/1 and 6/7/110/1 lines, respectively. Without Greg Olsen on the field, Benjamin’s market share should rise and he should be able to feast. Devin Funchess will have an excellent matchup as well, but he may have been more appealing if Benjamin was going to be defended by Lattimore the whole game. Not surprisngly, both receivers are in the top ten in projected ownership on DraftKings and Newton is tied for first at quarterback.
Other tagged players: Cam Newton, Kelvin Benjamin, Devin Funchess Jason Verrett ruled out for Sunday; Melvin Gordon questionable but fully expected to play
Verrett will miss a second straight game, leaving the Chargers shorthanded in the secondary. Casey Hayward is still roaming and we aren’t going to want to pick on him – Hayward is expected to see quite a bit of Tyreek Hill, so this could be a game where we get a random touchdown out of Albert Wilson or Chris Conley. It’s more probable that Travis Kelce leads the Chiefs passing attack for another week. As for Gordon, he’s not expected to be limited in terms of workload, but the Week 3 draw isn’t nearly as enticing as his situation this past Sunday. Gordon isn’t a recommended cash game option against KC, but he has plenty of GPP upside given his TD potential and involvement as a receiver.
As reported by: Jack Wang Other tagged players: Los Angeles Chargers
Jordy Nelson (quad) questionable for Week 3, still expected to paly
RT Bryan Bulaga (ankle) joins him on Green Bay’s questionable list heading into their matchup with the Bengals. Nelson is expected to play through a quad injury he suffered against the Falcons last Sunday. Randall Cobb’s absence would likely lead to Nelson running more of his routes out of the slot, where he’d avoid Dre Kirkpatrick and Adam Jones, so he’s still a recommended DFS option even with the questionable tag looming over his name. Given that this is an afternoon start, we could see Nelson’s ownership drop due to at least a small level of uncertainty as to his status. We’d be shocked if he wasn’t out there against the Bengals.
Randall Cobb (chest) doubtful for Week 3
LT Bakhtiari (hamstring), LB Nick Perry (finger), DT Mike Daniels (hip), and CB Davon House (quad) are all considered doubtful as well. Fellow receiver Jordy Nelson is also on the injury report with a questionable designation, but he’s expected to play as of this writing which at least keeps things relatively in tune for Aaron Rodgers. In three games without Cobb last season, Geronimo Allison earned 17 targets and 2 TDs as the 3rd/4th option in the offense, and he’ll have some deep GPP appeal here this week as he’s likely to assume that role against Cincinnati. Allison ate up five targets against Atlanta with a 10.4 aDOT, while Adams (who is far too cheap on DraftKings) corralled ten looks from Rodgers, good for a 20% share of Green Bay’s targets. Cobb’s absence may not actually be good news for Adams, as it’s likely to lead to more Jordy Nelson in the slot (where we want to target the Bengals) and push Adams to the outside, where he’ll be tasked with facing off with Dre Kirkpatrick and Adams Jones for most of the game. Ty Mongtomery is the most appealing play on the Green Bay side, as the Packers are large favorites and Montgomery has been utilized heavily so far in terms of snap count, with no other GB back even remotely threatening his playing time.
Other tagged players: Davante Adams, Jordy Nelson, Geronimo Allison Update: Colts CB Vontae Davis doubtful for Week 3
Davis isn’t expected to play after being downgraded to doubtful Friday. A struggling secondary is also pretty banged up right now as Week 2 starter Quincy Wilson has already been ruled out.
Raiders CB Sean Smith (neck, shoulder) questionable for Week 3
Oakland’s cornerback earned an 86.5 PFF grade in Week 1, which would be third in the league if he had enough snaps to qualify.
Steelers DE Stephon Tuitt (biceps) questionable for Week 3
It looks like the defensive end is on track to play Week 3 after being inactive last Sunday. Tuitt’s presence would help the Steelers pass rush. In 2016, he led their interior defenders with 46 pressures, which was 14th in the league at his position, per PFF. It’s a nice matchup for him as the Bears offensive line has allowed 34 pressures through two games, the third-most in the NFL.