What We Saw: Week 3

Los Angeles Rams vs Cleveland Browns

 

Los Angeles Rams

 

Quarterbacks

 

• Jared Goff: 24/38, 269 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble lost | 4 carries, 14 yards

 

Jared Goff’s home/road splits have been spoken about ad nauseam, but there is truth to that narrative. Goff was inconsistent tonight, sometimes fitting throws into tight windows with pinpoint accuracy, but other times trying to do too much and throwing an interception. Or 2. I think Goff will only go as far as McVay takes him with his playcalling, so if McVay has an off day, so will Goff. I would still start him with confidence most weeks, especially at home. He has a plethora of talent around him that will allow him to score points even if he turns the ball over. Goff even ran a few times as well, showing off his elite speed that rivals that of Brandin Cooks. Jokes aside, Goff presents a nice floor and hasn’t hit his ceiling yet. I’m excited to see him play within his division against the very beatable defenses of the Cardinals and Seahawks. 

 

Running Backs

 

• Todd Gurley: 14 carries, 43 yards | 1 target, 0 receptions 
• Malcolm Brown: 3 carries, 7 yards | 1 target, 0 receptions

 

The Rams running game was not very effective this week, and has not been all season. I suspect this is part of the reason the Rams offense has not looked like itself this season. Going back to the end of last season, when Todd Gurley started missing time due to injury, the offense faltered. They need the run game to set up effective play-action, and to take pressure off Goff. Without that, they are still potent, but not nearly as explosive. Gurley does not look like his former self, and after a productive week 1, Malcolm Brown has not been utilized much at all. Hopefully, Gurley is being eased back in and will resume his former workload as the season goes on, but right now fantasy owners are probably frustrated with the former RB1 overall. I would still play Gurley in plus matchups, as he will likely not have many dud games, but if you have the luxury to sit him, I would consider it. The Rams are primarily a passing offense, which they were before, but before they were passing to Gurley at a very high rate. That simply isn’t the case anymore, and it dampens his upside immeasurably. 

 

Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends

 

• Brandin Cooks: 12 targets, 8 receptions, 112 yards | 1 carry, 8 yards
• Robert Woods: 8 targets, 3 receptions, 40 yards | 2 carries, 18 yards
• Cooper Kupp: 12 targets, 11 receptions, 102 yards, 2 touchdowns
• Gerald Everett: 2 targets, 2 receptions 15 yards

 

The Rams’ 3-headed monster was led this time by Cooper Kupp, whose comeback from an ACL tear has been nothing short of remarkable. After fantasy owners shied away from him during drafts, Kupp has proven to be a PPR machine, Goff’s favorite target, and a red-zone weapon. I am starting Kupp every week regardless of the matchup. Seeing videos of his recovery over the offseason, I was hopeful that he could get back to his former self, but somehow he has looked even better than before. Brandin Cooks also had a nice game, bouncing back from 2 less-than-stellar outings, and Robert Woods was able to get involved too. However, I believe Kupp is the primary target in all areas of the field and should be viewed as such going forward. Gerald Everett had a few nice catches as well, though between him and Tyler Higbee it’s a tossup which one will be used in the passing game week-to-week. Neither are viable as starters except for bye-week fill-ins. 

 

Cleveland Browns

 

Quarterbacks

 

• Baker Mayfield: 18/36, 195 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception

 

I’m genuinely shocked that Baker Mayfield has looked so anemic to start this season. Maybe I was too bought into the preseason hype, but over the latter half of last season, he looked like a legitimate future superstar. Even with the addition of one of the best receivers in the league, Baker has looked shaky, indecisive, and inconsistent. The offensive line woes have been well documented, but Baker has been sailing throws wide and high. He is a shaky starter every week, and I have begun benching him in leagues where I have the luxury to. Hopefully, Mayfield can live up to his potential, but I’m not sure it’ll happen against the Ravens’ fearsome defense next week. 

 

Running Backs

 

• Nick Chubb: 23 carries, 96 yards | 7 targets, 4 receptions, 35 yards

 

After a mystifying week 2 game script saw D’Ernest Johnson take Nick Chubb off the field numerous times, it appears as though Freddie Kitchens listened to the Twitter crowd. He even gave the ball to Chubb on a 4th and 9. Chubb had every single one of the running back touches while also being targeted in the screen and short game. He started slow in the first half, but was able to rip off several big runs in the second half. He also had a touchdown called back on an Odell Beckham, Jr. illegal shift. Chubb is an every-week starter who hasn’t hit his ceiling yet. If the Browns ever figure it out on offense, Chubb could be a top-5 play. But until then, he remains a low-end RB1 due to volume and an ability to break one off at any second. Fire him up every week, but I think Chubb owners have learned to temper their expectations this year, at least until the Browns offense performs as it should. 

 

Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends

 

• Odell Beckham, Jr: 9 targets, 6 receptions, 56 yards
• Jarvis Landry: 9 targets, 3 receptions, 62 yards
• Demetrius Harris: 2 targets, 1 reception, 2 yards, 1 touchdown
• Damion Ratley: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 26 yards

 

The Browns pass-catchers were not able to do much in this game, as their quarterback didn’t have the time or accuracy to get them the ball. Odell Beckham, Jr. had some highlight-reel catches, and Jarvis Landry got involved, but overall it was a down night for all of them. Demetrius Harris caught a touchdown in place of the injured David Njoku but was unable to do anything else. I saw many people projecting Odell as the WR1 overall in the offseason, but I thought the ball would be too spread around to allow those numbers. Well, I got the right result, but the wrong process; the ball has not been spread out. Odell and Landry have been getting nearly all the targets, but they will only go as far as their quarterback takes them. 

 

-Ryan Comeau