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Fantasy Football Start/Sit: Week 3

Fantasy Football Start/Sit: Week 3
tevin_coleman_818x288

Tevin Coleman has been electric so far this season

R.C. Fischer discusses players to start and those to sit in Week 3 matchups.

This piece is part of our article program that features quality content from experts exclusively at FantasyPros. For more insight from R.C. head to Fantasy Football Metrics.

Start

Non-top 12 consensus ranked players at their positions who could wind up top 5 in Week 3

*Because this week has been filled with complete and utter running back despair, it’s about all I’m getting questions on at my website, I’m dedicating all three ‘starts’ in this column to running backs who are not recognized as ‘for sure’ starters in a given week – and are currently ranked outside the top 18 on FantasyPros.

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Shane Vereen vs. WAS
I’m entering my sixth year of never understanding what NFL teams see in Rashad Jennings. If you like low yards per carry, limited touchdowns, often banged up, and perpetual disappointment running backs – he’s just the man for the job. When Jennings got hurt in last week’s game and was his typical ineffective self when he wasn’t banged up, Vereen entered into a heavier role and took a career-high 14 carries. He had a couple of nice runs late and provided a small spark.

This week, Jennings has a cast on his left thumb. He’s not going to be 100% this week. The Giants are not all-in on Orleans Darkwa. They can trust Vereen for a week or two (or more) to carry a load as needed…and if Vereen is on the field for more snaps, not only will he get extra carries, but is then more available in the pass game. Last season, Vereen caught 8 passes in a game four times. If Vereen is on the field more this week, he might have a Danny Woodhead-like 10-carry game with 5–8+ receptions, and 100+ yards combined rushing and receiving.

Frank Gore vs. SD
I know Frank Gore has mostly been a yawn for going on three seasons now, but this could be one of the ‘wake up’ moments. Gore is obviously the main man for Indy. He’s going to get the bulk of the run game work. The beauty of that this week – he faces the San Diego Chargers. The team that is allowing a league-worst 5.1 yards per carry, a continuation of problems stopping the run last season. The Colts might actually be able to produce on the ground this week! If/when they do – Gore is taking 15+ carries and has a high probability to score. Also, under the radar, Gore has caught 7 passes so far this season, after averaging 2.1 receptions last year, and 0.7 per game the season prior. Gore might be a shock RB1 in PPR this week.

Tevin Coleman vs. NO
Did you know Tevin Coleman is 11th in PPG among all running backs in PPR formats this season? It’s true. I looked it up on the FantasyPros research tool.

Coleman has been working a full split (47%/53%) with Devonta Freeman so far this season but has outgained him in total yardage this season (188 to 133), despite five fewer touches. The shocker is that Coleman has caught 7 passes to Freeman’s 4 after two weeks (8 targets to 4). Coleman has become the more favored pass-game weapon out of nowhere.

Atlanta’s coaches have been talking up Coleman the entire summer, and none of us really believed them in fantasy, but they are backing it up with their actions. Coleman is a big part of the offense and growing. When Atlanta needed to run three straight plays/run the clock with 1:40 to go, up by 6 in Week 2 vs. Oakland…it was Coleman who ran the ball three times in a row.

This week, the Falcons face the Saints in a shootout, and I like Coleman to take another step forward…past Freeman.

Sit

Top 15 ranked players at their positions that are going to make you whine and say “I can’t sit my studs!” and then will make you wish you had:

A.J. Green vs. DEN
I’m not sure how you sit A.J. Green, I get that, but I also don’t know how you can start him this week against Denver. Andy Dalton‘s not 100% and has to take on the stingiest pass defense in the NFL. Dalton was sacked seven times in Week 1 versus the Jets. What’s going to happen to him versus the Broncos? It cannot mean big things for Green. Denver can double and triple Green, and let Brandon LaFell and Tyler Kroft try to beat them. The Bengals have no running game…so this one could be an ugly mess for all the Cincinnati fantasy things.

T.Y. Hilton vs. Jason Verrett/SD
Jason Verrett was excellent against Jeremy Maclin and Allen Robinson last two weeks and was excellent all 2015. Why would I think he wouldn’t be able to contain T.Y. Hilton this week? Denver’s great defense was able to contain Hilton last week. I like Hilton, a lot, but not as a WR1 or WR2 this week…maybe, not even as a WR3/flex.

Ryan Mathews vs. PIT
Ryan Mathews has three rushing TDs so far this season, so it feels right going with the ‘hot hand’ for fantasy. Mathews was mostly ineffective and was fortuitous to get two TDs on Monday night. He ran the ball only nine times against the Bears. In crunch time, Darren Sproles was more visible.

Mathews faces the Steelers this week – the #2 run defense in rushing yards allowed this season. Last season, the Steelers were fifth best against the run. Mathews is averaging only 3.5 yards per carry this season and is about to face a big-time run-stopping group. You’ll hope for a TD to save his day, but his luck runs out this week.


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