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

Raiders at Vikings

 

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, September 22nd at 1:00 pm EST

Location: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN

Betting Odds: MIN -8, 43.5 Total via Oddsshark

Network: FOX

Sleeper Spotlight: Darren Waller

 

Oakland Raiders

 

Quarterback

• Derek Carr (Sit)

 

After an impressive week one performance, Derek Carr reverted to his old self against the Chiefs. Carr threw for 198 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Carr is risk-averse and prefers checking down. Carr is averaging only 4.8 air yards per completion which is 29th out of 36 per NextGenStats. Carr is usually called a streaming type option in the right matchups, but wasn’t last week THE right matchup? He still failed to produce going against a Chiefs defense that let Gardner Minshew throw for 275 yards and two touchdowns. Playing the Chiefs made the Raiders play at the fastest pace they will likely play all year. it still wasn’t enough for Carr to produce. This matchup ain’t it either. The Vikings defense is going to terrorize Carr all game. They are 4th in QB hits so far and that will continue throughout the season with their talented defensive line. Until further notice, Carr is a sit for me.

 

Running Backs

• Josh Jacobs (Sit)
• Jalen Richard (Sit)
• Deandre Washington (Sit)

 

If you drafted Josh Jacobs, it is likely pretty difficult for you to sit him. You drafted him highly so you want to play him and you probably don’t have the best options behind him but beware the Vikings defense. The Vikings swallowed Devonta Freeman whole week one. While Aaron Jones had a good game last week, Jacobs does not possess the same kind of surroundings to buoy him. Carr will not be able to keep the offense properly running like Aaron Rodgers can, which will lead to the Raiders likely playing from behind. Unfortunately, Jacobs doesn’t have a real pass game role. Jacobs has only run 21 routes all year, which is the same as Jalen Richard and only 10 more than Deandre Washington. Jacobs didn’t see a single target last week (compared to three and two for Richard and Washington, respectively) which is alarming with the Raiders being in catchup mode most of the game. Jacobs proved to be a capable receiver in college, but Jon Gruden has been using him as a rusher almost exclusively. The Vikings are not the team to play a pure runner against, especially a pure runner on a mediocre at best offense. Do not start any of these backs this week… not that you were starting Richard or Washington anyway.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

• Tyrell Williams (Sit)
• Hunter Renfrow (Sit)
• Darren Waller (Start/TE1)

 

Tyrell Williams has impressed after being pushed into the number one receiver role for the Raiders. He is averaging 11.5 air yards per target, which is incredible with how short Carr is throwing on average and has a 47.4% share of the team’s total air yards. This matches up with his skill set as a size/speed type. Xavier Rhodes will be a true test for Williams. He hasn’t had to face number one corners often in his career and will likely see the focus of the Vikings defensive game plan. I would hold off on playing him. If he produces, we can start to feel comfortable with him weekly. Darren Waller looks like the “1b” target in this offense behind Williams. He’s seen 15 targets through two games, which is as good as it gets for TEs. The Vikings are a tough opponent, but you likely won’t have a better option over Waller. Stick with the volume and start him. Hunter Renfrow led the Raiders in targets last week with eight, but only produced four catches for 30 yards. He will be Carr’s check down option, which as you can see will get plenty of work. His workload will not produce much for fantasy and he’s best left on the waiver wire.

 

Minnesota Vikings

 

Quarterback

• Kirk Cousins (Start/QB1)

 

Woof, what a bad game from Kirk Cousins last week. The Packers’ defense is no joke and Cousins could not step up. Cousins has never been one to play well against tough opponents. But lucky for him, Cousins gets the Raiders this week to rebound. The Raiders are fourth-worst in the NFL in allowing both air yards per completion and intended air yards. Cousins will have success throwing deep to Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. He will also have plenty of time to hit those throws as the Raiders are 25th in QB hits this year. The Vikings offensive line is drastically improved this year. The line has given Cousins the most time to throw in the NFL with a 3.27 average per NextGenStats. They should have no issues keeping Cousins upright. Cousins has his best games against lower competition and with time to throw. He should have a solid game… with the caveat Mike Zimmer lets the Vikings throw more than 10 times.

 

Running Backs

• Dalvin Cook (Start/RB1)

 

Man, do I feel good about my Going Deep piece about Dalvin Cook during the fantasy draft season. It’s still only week three, but Cook has been unbelievable so far. Cook has 265 yards and three touchdowns in two games and looks to be starting his breakout season. It helps to be on Mike Zimmer’s team. Zimmer wants to run the ball, and run the Vikings have. The Vikings have run 65 times compared to passing it 42 times. In the modern NFL, that is preposterous. Having a pass to run ratio anywhere near 50/50 is high, this is extreme. Cook has handled 63% of the carries and has all the receptions out of the backfield. The carrying number would be higher without the Vikings in cruise mode against the Falcons late. Cook has seen eight-man boxes 28.3% of the time and it still hasn’t mattered. Cook is a must-start every week and is going to have his way with Oakland.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

• Stefon Diggs (Start/WR2)
• Adam Thielen (Start/WR2)
• Kyle Rudolph (Sit)

 

It’s not common to see a receiving tree as small as the Vikings this season. Only six different players have caught a pass from Cousins so far, with one over 5 catches. Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen have dominated this passing game. They have combined for 89% of the air yards and half of the targets. Diggs only has three receptions so far with one going for a 45-yard touchdown. He should have had a bigger game last week as Cousins missed him twice on passes that also should have been touchdowns. He had 161 air yards last week and that should continue. Thielen has been the only consistent receiver with eight catches in the two games. He had 139 air yards last week and has seen half of Cousins targets come his way this season. The Raiders secondary is banged up and Diggs and Thielen are in great spots to produce. I have them both as WR2s just because you don’t know when Mike Zimmer’s wet dream of under 10 passes is coming. Kyle Rudolph has nine yards in two games. Nine yards! If he can’t get more than 5 targets in two games with the lack of other pass catchers in the offense, he won’t be worth your time. Irv Smith Jr. might become more of an option as the season progresses.