Sit/Start Week 3: Reviewing All Fantasy Relevant Players In Every Single Game

Game Info

Kickoff: Monday, September 25th, 7:15 PM ET

Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

Betting Odds: PHI -5.5, 45.5 total via Oddsshark

Network: ABC

Writer: Mario Adamo Jr. (@marioadamojr on Twitter, /u/dotcaim on Reddit)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Quarterback

Baker Mayfield (Sit, Startable in Superflex)

I gave Baker Mayfield a shout-out in this week’s Waiver Wire Podcast. The Eagles’ secondary is banged up and currently allows the most points per game (ppg) to QBs (32), five more points than the number 2 Chargers (27). His touchdowns are low (3) but his picks are lower, he hasn’t thrown one yet. All that being said, I think he’s still only startable as a QB2 in Superflex league. I feel safer starting other options at QB this week.

Running Backs

Rachaad White (Start, Low-RB2), Sean Tucker (Sit)

Rachaad White was Rachaad Right in Week 2, rushing for 73 yards and a TD to finish as RB8. It was White’s second week in a row with at least a 72% snap count. He also out-carried fellow running back Sean Tucker, who I would not start in almost all circumstances, 17 attempts to eight. I worry about the matchup this week. The Eagles have a ruthless run defense, allowing 7 ppg to opposing RBs, the third-fewest across the league. I believe White will continue to get volume and be a High-RB2/Low-RB1 in most games due to his sheer volume, but I’m lowering expectations this week due to the matchup.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Mike Evans (Start, WR1), Chris Godwin (Sit, Low-WR3), Trey Palmer (Sit), Deven Thompkins (Sit), Cade Otton (Sit, TE2)

Baker Mayfield finally found a WR1 he’s willing to feed. It wasn’t OBJ in Cleveland, it wasn’t DJ Moore in Carolina, it’s Mike Evans in Tampa Bay. Mike Evans currently sits at WR4 and shows no signs of slowing down. I continue to start Evans with the utmost confidence. As for the rest of the receiver room, I’m concerned.

Chris Godwin has had six targets and eight targets in his games this year, has caught five in both, and about 50 yards in each (51 & 58). The targets are good, he’s had the second-most targets in each game, but he’s failed to convert that into meaningful fantasy production. I don’t expect Baker Mayfield to support a plethora of viable WRs and TEs, and I believe Mike Evans will continue to be the only pass catcher worth starting.

Trey Palmer and Deven Thompkins shouldn’t be rostered in most leagues. Besides Mike Evans, I would look elsewhere for WRs.

As for TE, Cade Otton caught all six of his targets for 41 yards and an admirable finish of TE11. I want to see more before I believe, I continue to stay away from Otton unless I’m desperate or in a deeper league.

Philadelphia Eagles

Quarterback

Jalen Hurts (Start, QB1)

After a disappointing QB19 finish in Week 1, Jalen Hurts bounced back with a QB4 finish against the Vikings. If you drafted Hurts you probably spent significant draft capital on him and might not even have a backup. Either way, you’re starting Hurts without hesitation.

Running Backs

D’Andre Swift (Start, High-RB2/Low-RB1), Kenneth Gainwell (Sit, Injured), Boston Scott (Sit, Injured), Rashaad Penny (Sit)

Congratulations to anyone who was brave enough to start D’Andre Swift after his 1.3 outing in Week 1. You were rewarded with a 27.1 performance good enough for a weekly finish of RB4. Swift showed flashes of the player you’d hoped he was when you drafted him. He dominated the volume game in Week 2 with a 75% snap count in the backfield. The big concern for me has always been the too-many-cooks situation in the backfield, not to mention Jalen Hurts having the legs to take it in himself. While the rest of this backfield is banged up I’m taking advantage and starting Swift with no hesitation.

Kenneth Gainwell is a peculiar spot. He led the backfield in snaps in Week 1 (41 to Swift’s 19) and led the team in rushing attempts (14 to Swift’s 1). But after an impressive Week 1, he was ruled out in Week 2 due to a rib injury. At the time of writing this, there is no new information about Gainwell so I expect him to miss MNF. Gainwell is worth a roster spot even in a crowded backfield, if he comes back healthy I expect him to be heavily involved again.

There hasn’t been much news on Boston Scott since he was evaluated for a concussion last Thursday. He’s worth a roster spot for his two games against the Giants, but should not be considered an option otherwise. Rashaad ‘Penny for your thoughts’ was a healthy scratch Week 1. He had 3 carries for 9 yards last week. I expect Penny to eventually have a good game, but it’s impossible to predict when it will be. I would roster Penny if you have the space with the potential of flipping him after his one good week.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

A.J. Brown (Start, High-WR2), DeVonta Smith (Start, HIgh-WR2), Quez Watkins (Sit), Dallas Goedert (Start, TE1) 

It’s crazy to think A.J. Brown’s ADP was 13 compared to DeVonta Smith’s 27 at the start of the year. Currently, Smith’s 40.8 points nearly doubles Brown’s 21.8. It’s still early though and I expect Brown to catch up at some point. Will it be this week? Tough to say, but you start both with confidence against a Buccaneers’ defense that allows 25 ppg to WRs, eighth most in the league.

Quez Watkins is the odd man out who I wouldn’t start. Watkins suffered a hamstring injury early in Thursday night’s game against the Vikings.

Dallas Goedert is in a similar situation to A.J. Brown, he was the 7th TE being taken in the draft and currently sits at TE40. He had a no-show in Week 1, failing to bring in his only target but bounced back in Week 2 bringing in six of his seven targets (most targets on the team) for 22 yards. I expect this offense to keep putting up numbers, but I do temper expectations slightly as it seems like any given week someone could be left out.