Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, September 26th at 4:05 PM ET
Location: Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, Nevada
Betting Odds: LV-4, 45 Total on Vegas Insider
Network: CBS
Miami Dolphins
QUARTERBACK
Jacoby Brissett (Sit)
With all due respect to Jacoby Brissett, I don’t think he’ll be in your starting lineup after averaging just 4.2 yards/pass attempt and getting shutout by the Bills in Week 2. Fun fact; Brissett was under pressure on 59.6% of his drop backs in that game. Yikes! Here’s hoping for better days ahead this week. Also, please get healthy, Tua Tagovailoa.
RUNNING BACKS
Myles Gaskin (Sit), Salvon Ahmed (Sit), Malcolm Brown (Sit)
We were hoping that Myles Gaskin would have the same role he had last year, where he ranked in the top-ten in PFF expected fantasy points per game. Instead, this is mainly a three-back committee. Gaskin does have five targets in each of the first two games of the season, but doesn’t offer much at all in terms of rushing presence. At this point, he’s clustered more with the likes of receiving backs James White and Nyheim Hines, and I wouldn’t be looking to start him; there isn’t a lot of upside present sadly.
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
Will Fuller V (Sit), Jaylen Waddle (Sit), DeVante Parker (Sit), Mike Gesicki (Sit)
How far have the Raiders come that I’m not recommending starting ONE player against them! Well, maybe that says more about Miami, who simply aren’t an efficient-enough offense for the amount of bodies they have to feed. I am SO excited to see Will Fuller V back in action, but it’s unclear how three receivers are each going to produce with Brissett playing behind such a poor offensive line. Until one player separates himself from the pack, there isn’t a receiver to start here. Heck, Mike Gesicki is splitting time with the other tight ends on the roster! Clearly, head coach Brian Flores does not care about our fantasy teams. What a shame.
Las Vegas Raiders
QUARTERBACKS
Derek Carr (Sit)
Let’s give a round of applause to Derek Carr, who has been critical in the team’s 2-0 start and averaged 10.3 yards/pass attempt against the Steelers last week. If the Raiders continue to rank near the top of the league in pass rate over expectation, then he’ll be a quarterback you can definitely start. Personally, though, the game script might not be great here. The Dolphins are a strong pass defense that rank 1st in PFF coverage grade thus far (despite facing the Bills), and aren’t likely to provide much offensively. Thus, head coach Jon Gruden isn’t likely to pass the ball at such a high frequency, leading to less overall production for Carr. Maybe next week against the Chargers, folks!
RUNNING BACKS
Kenyan Drake (Start, Flex*), Josh Jacobs (Sit*), Peyton Barber (Sit)
At the moment, it’s unclear that Josh Jacobs will be able to play after not playing in Week 2 with an ankle injury. Even if he does play, his snaps might be limited, so you’ll likely want to keep him on your bench regardless. Kenyan Drake has finished as the 26th-best fantasy running back in back-to-back weeks, and, funny enough, that’s about where I have him ranked this week. Peyton Barber will be the one who gets most of the extra carries if Jacobs is out and the Raiders run the ball at a greater rate, yet Drake’s receiving workload should help him profile as a FLEX option this week.
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
Henry Ruggs III (Sit), Bryan Edwards (Sit), Hunter Renfrow (Sit), Darren Waller (Start)
It was awesome to see Henry Ruggs III see a career-high seven targets and finish as a top-ten fantasy receiver, while Bryan Edwards and Hunter Renfrow have been factors in this passing attack as well. Still, none of them still provide the consistent usage to start in a neutral situation, let alone in a game with a low game total facing a strong secondary. Do I really need to address Darren Waller? He has 25 targets over the first two games of the year, and really, if you roster him, the only question you should ask is: what gift from the gods allowed me to have him on my team? Enjoy watching him continue his stretch of dominance this week.
All Stats via Pro Football Focus