Scoring was most certainly down across the board in week three. Between disappointing players, injuries and defenses catching up to offenses, a lot of the big scorers of the first two weeks were held in check.
Doom and gloom aside, a slow down on scoring is good for the owners with borderline teams as it will provide opportunities for new players to step up and contribute big. Keep an eye out for these types of players as we begin the bye weeks because good pick-ups can be the difference between making the playoffs and missing out yet again.
James LeBeau is an avid fantasy football participant and a sports contributor for CraveOnline Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @Jlebeau76 or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
Photo Credit: Getty
Week 4 Love Hate
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Alex Smith QB - Kansas City
Smith isn't to be confused with Peyton Manning but he is having a steady start to the season. A guy who avoids making the big mistake, Smith should be fantasy gold against a Giants defense that made Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton into a fantasy savior a week ago. On average, quarterbacks that have faced the Giants are scoring 25.7 fantasy points per game -- that's tied for the sixth highest average in the NFL.
LOVE
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Anquan Boldin WR - San Francisco
The San Francisco offense is in full panic mode after delivering back to back horrible performances. This week doesn't exactly look like the week to change the trend as the 49ers face a stout Rams team on a short week. The key to Boldin's productivity this week lies in the health of tight end Vernon Davis. Boldin needs a healthy Davis to draw pressure off him and with the short week it may be better to go with a safer play if you have one.
HATE
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Bilal Powell RB - New York Jets
Powell entered the season in fantasy limbo as it was expected he would split the workload with fellow back Chris Ivory. However, as the first few weeks have went by, it appears that Powell has progressed to being the featured back on a Jets team that has turned a few heads this year. Expect Powell to build upon his breakout 149 yard performance against the Bills last week with another solid effort against the Titans this week.
LOVE
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Larry Fitzgerald WR - Arizona
Not counting a week one performance where he put up 80 yards and two touchdowns, Fitzgerald has been anything but stellar. Battling a bum hamstring, Fitzgerald hasn't shown the speed owners are used to seeing out of the big man. The cure for this small fantasy drought is on the horizon though, as the Cardinals face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week. The Bucs will be starting a rookie QB which should increase the time the Arizona offense is on the field. With a week of good practices behind him, expect good things from Fitzgerald.
LOVE
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Matt Schaub QB - Houston
Schaub was a serviceable fantasy option over the first three games of the year. He ranks 13th at his position in fantasy points while ranking fourth in touchdowns. However, Schaub meets a buzzsaw this week in the form of the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks have ate opposing quarterbacks alive this year, allowing just 24 total fantasy points to the position. Don't expect Schaub to do much this week against this level of competition.
HATE
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Maurice Jones-Drew RB - Jacksonville
The fantasy production of MJD has mirrored the offense of the Jaguars as a whole as both have been very disappointing. MJD is only averaging a dismal 2.6 yards per carry this season and has yet to crack 50 yards in a game. Add that he is fighting a lingering ankle injury and all signs point to another bad performance against the colts.
HATE
