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

 

Bears at Redskins

 

Game Info

Kickoff: Monday, September 23rd at 8:150 pm EST

Location: FedExField, Landover, MD

Betting Odds: WAS +4.5, 42 Total via Oddsshark

Network: ESPN

Sleeper Spotlight: Taylor Gabriel

 

Chicago Bears

 

Quarterbacks:

• Mitchell Trubisky

 

Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has struggled in the early stretch of the season, struggling with inaccuracy at less than 60% and averaging less than 10 points per game scoring. I wrote about Trubisky last week and how concerned owners should feel about his disturbing trends. Even though the Redskins are a plus matchup, allowing 31 points against fantasy QBs, he belongs on your bench until he can string together more than one decent outing.   

 

Running Backs:

• Tarik Cohen (Start / RB2) 
• David Montgomery (Start / Flex)
• Mike Davis (Sit)

 

It remains to be seen if this Bears running game can be a force to be reckoned with but what we do know is, at this point, this is a three-headed backfield. While Mike Davis did see just 25% of the snaps last week that is is a considerable timeshare. David is a take what’s given runner with limited upside. He’s just in the way for owners right now and should not be owned unless David Montgomery misses time. Speaking of Montgomery, last week was encouraging. On the field, for just 27 snaps he was given 21 opportunities. While he was not ultra-productive against a tough Broncos run defense, the signs are all pointing up. I am recommending you get him in your lineup this week, as you don’t want to miss his breakout game. Also, get Tarik Cohen back in your lineup this week. It’s looking like the Bears want to rely on just two backs, they are just slow in trusting the rookie. Cohen will always have value and I expect a bounce-back against a Redskins team that likes to attack the QB but struggles to defend the backs out of the backfield.   

 

Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends:

• Allen Robinson (Start / WR1)
• Taylor Gabriel (Flex)
• Anthony Miller (Sit)
• Trey Burton (Sit)

 

This week’s easiest start decision is Allen Robinson against a Redskins secondary that is allowing nearly 40 fantasy points to opposing receivers including five touchdowns. He could find his way into the endzone and is a low-end WR1 for owners this week. I would also think about starting Taylor Gabriel in your flex as a big-play threat with the chance to catch a long touchdown. Gabriel is nearly an every-down player and again the Redskins are struggling against fast outside receivers. In Week 1 DeSean Jackson lit them up for two long touchdowns then Cowboy Devin Smith caught another against them in Week 2. Gabriel is a better play this week than Anthony Miller and Trey Burton, both working themselves back into the lineup with unclear roles.  

 

Washington Redskins

 

Quarterback:

• Case Keenum (Sit)

 

Veteran quarterback Case Keenum hasn’t been bad to open the season. He finished as a QB1 in Week 1 and still managed to finish with nearly 19 fantasy points in Week 2. However this week he faces the vaunted Bears’ defense, a team that allows just 228 yards passing over their previous eight. Chicago is allowing less than 10 points per game, has registered seven sacks early and is always a threat for turnovers. Sit Keenum this week. 

 

Running Backs:

• Adrian Peterson (Sit)
• Chris Thompson (Deep Flex)

 

Thompson should be an outlet used to avoid the Bears’ blitz. He will have decent flex appeal with pass-catching work. Just as it is hard to recommend playing Keenum, the same can be said of the ageless wonder, Adrian Peterson. A week after being a healthy scratch, Peterson was thrust into a starting role against Dallas and managed just 25 yards on 10 carries. Things don’t get any easier for him this weekend, as he faces perhaps the most difficult rush defense in the league. Bench him this week but be ready to load him up next week against a pedestrian Giants defense.   

 

Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends:

• Terry McLaurin (Start / Flex)
• Trey Quin (Sit)
• Paul Richardson (Sit)
• Vernon Davis (Sit)
• Jordan Reed (Sit)

 

Despite a tough matchup I still feel good about recommending rookie Terry McLaurin in your lineup this weekend. McLaurin has been highly productive to open the year and is already the number one target for Washington. It’s too bad his starting QB is Keenum, last week McLaurin was open deep on a play that Keenum just couldn’t convert. A similar play happened in Week 1. Regardless, McLaurin is proving to be an excellent target in the red zone, a player that can use his physic to get open and can get deep. Washington’s underneath receivers, Trey Quin and Paul Richardson should not be in your lineups this week. Both have limited fantasy value and are facing perhaps their toughest matchup of the year. Finally, at tight end, Jordan Reed looks like he will play this week but it’s always so difficult to trust the talented pass-catcher. Vernon Davis would be a value and an easy play should be facing any other defense, so keep him on ice for one more week and keep an eye on how Reed plays. 

 

-Marc Salazar (@dingwog) 

 

Featured Image by Nathan Mills (@NathanMillsPL)