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Bold Predictions for Week 3

Bold Predictions for Week 3
Philip Rivers

Can Philip Rivers still deliver without so many top targets?

Ok, so I’ve been doing this column for two weeks, and I’ve already gotten the pattern down. I nail one of the five predictions – Ameer Abdullah as a top-10 running back in Week 1, Mike Wallace as a top-20 wide receiver in Week 2 – and just totally whiff on the rest. A.J. Green outside the top-30 wide receivers in Week 1? He finished third. Jay Cutler as a top-10 QB in Week 2? He literally finished last among QBs.

So, what do we do with that? Well, we’ve got a few different options. The first is that you play five different DFS lineups, and include one of the players named in the column in each. But, that seems like it’s going to lead to four out of five losing lineups, so maybe scratch that idea. I get less bold and try to give more accurate predictions? Pffft. I already try to make accurate predictions in my QB1 column, so where’s the fun in doing it here?

How about this? We all just collectively recognize that there’s a lot of awesome stuff on FantasyPros, and plenty of articles if you’re looking for some hardcore analysis on this week’s games. But for this article, we’re just looking to have some fun and highlight a few players I feel a little stronger about than others. We’ll laugh. We’ll cry (well, at least I will if I don’t start nailing more of these). We’ll spend a few minutes talking about fantasy football, which is a lot better than pretty much anything else.

Phew, glad we cleared the air. With that, let’s dive into another round.

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1) Jack Doyle is a top-10 tight end (28th in ECR)

I love Dwayne Allen this week, but it’s a little difficult to make a bold prediction with a guy who the experts rank eighth. With Donte Moncrief out, you have to expect the Colts to go with a lot of two-TE sets, meaning Doyle should see plenty of snaps and a decent amount of targets. The Colts should be in the red zone frequently in this game, and you know Andrew Luck will look for Doyle, as he had two touchdowns in Week 1. While this is obviously a bold pick, Doyle is going to be in my DFS lineups for sure, so I’m expecting a big game.

2) Tyrell Williams is a top-20 wide receiver (39th in ECR)

Williams is certainly getting some buzz, but not quite as much as he should. He’s got 132 yards and a touchdown in the first two games and Philip Rivers is legitimately running out of people to throw the ball to. It’s looking like Antonio Gates may miss this game, and Rivers will need to put up some points against the Colts. I’m thinking a big game is coming for SOME San Diego wide receiver, so why not Williams?

3) Philip Rivers is a top-2 QB (7th in ECR)

Can you tell which game I’ll be watching this weekend? I don’t see too many super hot takes out there for the QB position, so let’s just go with a guy I think should have a monster game, and that’s Mr. Rivers. Yes, as I just mentioned, he’s down almost all his decent weapons, but I don’t care. He’s going to need points in this game, and the Chargers’ coaches appear to want to give the ball to Melvin Gordon only when they’re forced to do so (though I expect a very good game from Gordon, too). Rivers feels like a top play this week.

4) Both Falcons running backs finish in the top 15

One of my opponents is starting both Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman as his running backs this week, and I am not optimistic about my chances. Certainly, at least one of them should finish in the top 15 (Freeman has an ECR of 13 and Coleman has an ECR of 24), but I think both have at least a decent shot to finish there. Points will be necessary in New Orleans, and whether it be on the ground or through the air, both Freeman and Coleman should be heavily involved, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see each of them with a score. For the sake of my own fantasy team, I’m hoping this one goes the way of my Jay Cutler prediction!

5) Kenny Britt is a top-30 wide receiver (54th in ECR)

The number of times in my fantasy football career that I have thought, “You know, Kenny Britt looks interesting this week,” only to be disappointed, is too numerous to mention. So, why not fall for it one more time? Ten catches for 161 yards on 16 targets in the first two games looks pretty great, as does a matchup with a Tampa Bay defense that gave up big yards and a touchdown to Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, and Larry Fitzgerald. But, if Britt burns me here, I’m never recommending him again. At least not until next year when he has a good game or two.


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Dan Harris is a correspondent with FantasyPros. For more from Dan, check out his archive or follow him @danharris80.

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