Now that every team in the NFL has a few games under its belt, we’re starting to get a sense of which players are going to have an impact this season and which aren’t. We’re also able to identify some early-season trends, and so it’s time for a new season of, drumroll please…Who’s Up, Who’s Down!
We’re glad to be back. Here are the Week 3 trends.
Dylan Sinn is a freelance contributor for CraveOnline Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSinn or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
Photo Credit: Getty
Week 3 Fantasy Whos Up Down
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Andrew Luck QB – Indianapolis Colts
Through two games, Luck has done nothing to dissuade me from my preseason prediction that he’s already among the top 5 quarterbacks in the league. Yes, the Colts are 0-2, but that has been no fault of Luck’s. He has put the team in position to win both games against 2013 playoff teams, throwing five TD passes and completing 63 percent of his throws. He did toss a costly INT against the Eagles, but anyone, except, apparently the officials, saw his receiver get held on the timing play. I’m giving him a pass there.
Luck faces the Jaguars this week, a team that just got lit up by Kirk Cousins, so he’s a must-start on Sunday. He should be one of the most valuable quarterbacks in the league going forward, and if you have the chance trade for him immediately. He’ll still throw his share of picks, but he’s also always a threat to bully his way in for a rushing TD, so the third-year signal-caller brings that extra dimension as well.
Arrow Pointing: Up
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Darren Sproles RB – Philadelphia Eagles
I hesitate to even put “RB” next to Sproles’ name in the heading there because he’s just as much a pass-catcher as he is a runner. After the Eagles stole him from New Orleans this offseason for just a single fifth-round pick, the 31-year old back shown that he still has plenty left in the tank and has made the Saints look foolish in the process.
Anyone who watched the Eagles play in the first couple of weeks knows that the checkdown to the running back is a major part of Philly’s fast-paced offensive arsenal. Sproles and LeSean McCoy form a deadly combo out of the backfield and Sproles was the star on Monday against the Colts, catching all seven passes thrown his way for a career-high 157 yards, the vast majority of which came after the catch. The Eagles take on Washington this week, which has allowed the third-most fantasy points to backs this season, according to ESPN.com. Sproles might not get most of the carries with McCoy also in the backfield, but he’s a strong flex option.
Arrow Pointing: Up
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Kelvin Benjamin WR – Carolina Panthers
The second rookie wide receiver on this list may turn out to be even more exciting than the first, which would be no small feat. While the Florida State product doesn’t possess Watkins’ game-breaking speed, at 6’5’, 240 lbs., he’s a mammoth receiver capable of reaching any but the most errant of passes.
Both backup QB Derek Anderson and Cam Newton have targeted Benjamin eight times when they’ve lined up under center, indicating that he’ll have a big role in the offense this season. Despite a few drops, the wideout has averaged 17.3 yards on eight catches and scored a touchdown already in his young career. He’s only owned in 42 percent of ESPN fantasy leagues currently, so pick him up soon. One caveat: he didn’t practice Wednesday with a knee injury so make sure to monitor that situation.
Arrow Pointing: Up
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Sammy Watkins WR – Buffalo Bills
Watkins was so highly touted coming as the No. 4 overall pick that he was high on fantasy draft boards before the season even started. Seemingly the only question was whether he had a quarterback who could get him the ball regularly. Now it seems that EJ Manuel is proving very capable of handling the new sports car he has been given in the rookie wideout and the duo has put the Bills on the map early in the season.
The 21-year old Watkins became the first Bills rookie to have a 100-yard receiving game in a decade, since Lee Evans did it in 2004, when the former Clemson star put up 8 catches for 117 yards against the Dolphins Sunday. He’s still recovering from a rib injury, so he may not even be 100 percent yet, which is a scary thought for opposing defenses. Watkins has the Chargers and Texans next, both of which have struggled early against the pass.
Arrow Pointing: Up
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Victor Cruz WR – New York Giants
The last time we saw Cruz dancing the salsa after a touchdown was nearly a full year ago, in Week 4 of the 2013 season. Since then, the former UMass star has been held out of the end zone and has just a single 100-yard game. He’s failed to reach that mark in two games combined this season, despite having 16 passes thrown his way.
The 27-year old has caught just seven of those passes and dropped three more and the Giants have been beaten badly in both games. The connection that Eli and Cruz once had seems to be disintegrating and, although the wideout is owned in 100 percent of fantasy leagues, he’s probably going to be waiver wire fodder soon. Don’t start him this week against a tough Texans’ pass rush.
Arrow Pointing: Down
