Welcome back to the week 3 edition of Sink or Swim. Last week, my QB picks were hit or miss, as I was way off on Carson Wentz who was the 2nd highest QB scorer and Jameis Winston wasn’t asked to do too much which led to a lackluster fantasy day. The running backs saw more success but Kerwynn Williams and Jonathan Stewart ended up being big busts. Overall, the WR picks were ok, with JJ Nelson as a late replacement for John Brown and Adam Thielens lackluster performance the result of Sam Bradford sitting out. We won’t talk about the tight ends because that just didn’t turn out well. I should have expected Jacoby Brissett to lock on to Jack Doyle after Jacob Hollister was his favorite preseason target.
QUARTERBACK
SWIM
Jay Cutler (Miami Dolphins): Cutler looked pretty darn good last week all things considered and now gets to face a Jets secondary that has allowed some big games to Tyrod Taylor and Derek Carr to start the year.
Sam Bradford (Minnesota Vikings): Assuming he plays, he should be able to pick up where he left off two weeks ago. Outside of Brent Grimes, Tampa’s secondary shouldn’t scare anyone. They did just allow 31 completions and 300 yards to Mike Glennon and that embattled Bears offense.
DeShone Kizer (Cleveland Browns): After finishing as a QB1 in week 1, the bottom dropped out for him last week against a tough Ravens defense. He probably won’t find a better match up the rest of the season and should be a top 15 option this week.
SINK
Trevor Siemian (Denver Broncos): The matchup may look nice on paper, but there’s something about travelling across the country and playing in that stadium thats making me shy away from Siemian this week. The Bills haven’t allowed a passing TD yet and the Broncos should only need a few scores to win this game. I’d expect a lot from CJ Anderson and the rest of the backs.
Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers):
Jameis Winston (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): Even in matchups that look juicy on paper, I still find it hard to trust Winston as a QB1. The offense doesn’t allow him to put up those type of numbers and this week is a definite no go against the Vikings defense.
RUNNING BACK
SWIM
C.J. Anderson (Denver Broncos): With almost no chance of this game getting away from them early, I’d expect Anderson to get force-fed carries like he has been through the first two weeks. Buffalo does a respectable job against the run, but the volume will be enough that it shouldn’t matter much.
Isiah Crowell (Cleveland Browns): The Colts have been surprisingly good against opposing RB’s to start the year, but they did face the Cardinals last week who didn’t know what to do with their running game. Crowell has had two very tough weeks but I believe him asking for the ball more combined with a possible positive game script this week could lead to big things.
Theo Riddick (Detroit Lions): This feels like one of those games that will heavily feature Riddick, a high scoring shootout that forces Matt Stafford to throw the ball 30+ times. Riddick is largely boom or bust, and this certainly should be a huge boom game for him.
Buck Allen (Baltimore Ravens): The Jaguars front 7 is tough, but Derrick Henry just gashed them last weekend and Allen should be in line for another 20+ touches in a game the Ravens should control from start to finish.
Deep Dives–Tarik Cohen, Chris Johnson, Orleans Darkwa: Tarik Cohen should continue to see a similar workload as he has the first two weeks, making him a fine RB2 or Flex option in PPR formats. Chris Johnson is most likely to start at RB for the Cardinals this weekend, against a Dallas defense that just got destroyed by the Broncos. There are worse flex options. Say what you want about the o-line’s pass protection problems, if Orleans Darkwa can give the Giants some semblance of a running game, that would be just as big of a boost for that offense right now.
SINK
Jacquizz Rodgers (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): He fared quite well last week after I had him on the Sink list, so I probably should have learned my lesson right? This game should be tougher for him, and if the Bucs find themselves trailing, Charles Sims role will probably expand.
Demarco Murray/Derrick Henry (Tennessee Titans): I know Seattle has been bleeding yards to RB’s to start the season, but you have to think they should be able to fix that problem with the talent they have on that side of the ball. It looks like Murray will play meaning a potential even timeshare for carries. I’d rather just stay away from both, but if you need to start one, Henry has the upside.
WIDE RECEIVER
SWIM
A.J. Green (Cincinatti Bengals): Don’t give up on him just yet. A new offensive coordinator should help get him more looks and this Green Bay defense loves to give up big games to opposing wide outs. He should break the 100 yard mark in this one.
Golden Tate (Detroit Lions): His match up in this game could likely be the most important of the game, and I’d expect him to beat slot corner Bryan Poole a good amount on Sunday while the outside is locked down.
Davante Parker (Miami Dolphins): He posted a respectable line last week in a tough match up and now gets a Jets team that allowed 3 TD’s to Michael Crabtree a week ago. He truly does look like a difference making talent on the outside and expect at least one big play out of him this weekend.
Adam Thielen (Minnesota Vikings): As long as Sam Bradford plays this weekend, I really like all of the Vikings offensive options. Thielen should be in for the best day though, with a cupcake match up in the slot against Robert McClain.
Jermaine Kearse (New York Jets): Kearse has seemed like the only target of Josh McCowns through 2 weeks and I’d imagine that will continue against a shaky Dolphins secondary. His floor won’t be super high playing in this Jets defense, but the volume at least makes the floor high
Deep Dives–Tyler Lockett, Mohamed Sanu, Rashard Higgins: I have a feeling this may be the game the Seahawks offense wakes up a little, featuring a deep shot to Tyler Lockett. Mohamed Sanu has been targeted 15 times over the first two weeks and should see 7-8 targets again Sunday. He’s a fine Flex option. This week should give us a good idea of how much Rashard Higgins can help your fantasy team the rest of the way. I’m hoping for something like 8 catches for 90+ yards.
SINK
T.Y. Hilton (Indianapolis Colts): Still wouldn’t trust rolling him out their in lineups yet, even if his individual match up is enticing as it is. He should still have his best game of the season if Jacoby Brissett is willing to take some chances, but I’d definitely be looking elsewhere for my WR3 or Flex.
Alshon Jeffrey (Philadelphia Eagles): With Janoris Jenkins tentatively scheduled to play, it means another tough shutdown corner for Jeffrey to go up against. Don’t expect a repeat of last week, with his week 1 numbers more likely.
Michael Thomas (New Orleans Saints): I’m still starting Thomas in leagues where I own him, but I have a suspicious feeling the Saints may change up their offensive approach this game and feature more of a rushing attack. They need to find a way to keep their defense off the field at all costs, so maybe this will be the game were they unleash Adrian Peterson.
TIGHT END
SWIM
Jack Doyle (Indianapolis Colts): As mentioned in the opener, Jacoby Brissett seems to be programmed to throw heavily to his tight end. Doyle has a fantastic match up too, as the Browns haven’t been able to defend opposing tight ends effectively in years.
Hunter Henry (San Diego Chargers): Henry bounced back in a big way last week and has the physical tools to be one of the leagues best tight ends. Normally I would say the match up here is brutal, but no Eric Berry led to a big game by Zach Ertz last week also.
Zach Miller (Chicago Bears): Should continue to see a heavy dose of targets in this game as one of the Bears top pass catching options. The Steelers have had some problems with opposing tight ends the past two years, so Miller should have a decent reception total with a chance at a TD.
SINK
Jimmy Graham (Seattle Seahawks): He is currently nursing a knee and ankle injury and just hasn’t been able to get in rhythm with Russell Wilson anyway. I am still holding on to him, but it’s certainly a concern that he has done so little up until this point.
Martellus Bennett (Green Bay Packers): Bennett hasn’t been utilized as many owners had hoped and it could be related to how Aaron Rodgers has basically faded out his tight ends since Jermichael Finley. Just like Graham, I am still holding, but finding another tight end to start for this week.
Coby Fleener (New Orleans Saints): He will again be a TD or bust TE option this week, and I’m leaning towards he doesn’t score for the third game in a row. Even with Willie Snead out, the volume just hasn’t quite been there.