First off, I need to apologize for not getting a Week 3 edition of this article out. Sometimes there simply are not enough hours in a day and in turn, in a week. Anyhow, the last time we were here was Week 2 and we fell just 12.72 points shy of our 100 point goal in Week 2. I’ll do my best to not miss a week again so here we go with Week 4!
This is a series where I construct a hypothetical fantasy football lineup using players that are owned in less than 40-percent of Yahoo and/or ESPN leagues. The goal of the series is to top 100 PPR fantasy points using the make-shift team. The premise is to show that there is readily available value at all times across most waiver wires. You can find last week’s results below and the result of previous weeks at the bottom of this article.
Week 2 Results
Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - 18.38 Points
Zack Moss (Indianapolis Colts) - 20.7 Points
Justice Hill (Baltimore Ravens) - 8.3 Points
Tutu Atwell (Los Angeles Rams) - 15.2 Points
Allen Robbinson II (Pittsburgh Steelers) - 2.2 Points
Jake Ferguson (Dallas Cowboys) - 11.6 Points
Rashee Rice (Kansas City Chiefs) - 4 Points
Kendrick Bourne (New England Patriots) - 6.9 Points
Total: 87.28 Points
Difference: 12.72 Points
Week 4 Lineup
Quarterback
C.J. Stroud (Houston Texans) - Owned in 41% of Yahoo and 26.8% of ESPN Leagues
Stroud has been one of the highest volume quarterbacks the past two weeks and gets another quality matchup this week. Across the last two weeks, Stroud has posted 21.46 and 20.6 fantasy points respectively. Through the first three weeks of the season, the Steelers have allowed the 11th most passing yards-per-game at 235.3 yards. Let’s not forget that Stroud threw for 384 yards two weeks ago against the Colts. The biggest thing when it comes to Stroud is that he hasn’t thrown an interception yet this season.
Runningbacks
Elijah Mitchell (San Francisco 49ers) - Owned in 42% of Yahoo and 36.7% of ESPN Leagues
Right now, this is the largest spread on the books as the Arizona Cardinals are getting 14 points. If Vegas is right, there will be plenty of ‘garbage time’ touches available for Mitchell. He saw 11 carries and three targets in the 49ers’ stomping of the Giants on Thursday Night Football last week. McCaffrey has already seen 73 opportunities through the first three weeks. The 49ers are going to have to give him some rest to preserve him for later in the season. The Cardinals have also allowed the eight most fantasy points to opposing runningbacks on the season.
Devin Singletary (Houston Texans) - Owned in 15% of Yahoo and 33.5% of ESPN Leagues
Dameon Pierce has been ineffective with his opportunities through the first three weeks of the season, carrying the ball 40 times for 100 yards which equated to 2.5 yards-per-carry. That isn’t going to cut it. Singletary, although on just 20 carries through the first three weeks, is averaging 3.5 yards-per-carry. Singletary saw 11 opportunities a week ago and if Pierce comes out the gate struggling this week, I can see much of the same happening.
Wide Receivers
Robert Woods (Houston Texans) - Owned in 22% of Yahoo and 21.3% of ESPN Leagues
I guess we’re going all in on the Texans putting together a strong performance against the Steelers. As I’m already playing Stroud it would make sense to double down with Woods. Woods has seen at least six targets in each of Houston’s three games this season. On top of that, Houston gets the Steelers this week who have allowed the fifth most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers through the first three weeks of the season.
Jaydeen Reed (Green Bay Packers) - Owned in 24% of Yahoo and 22.1% of ESPN Leagues
The Packers don’t get a plus matchup this week with the Detroit Lions but I’m looking past that. Reed saw eight targets in Week 2 and saw seven Week 3. The Lions have allowed the 23rd most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. This game has sneaky potential to be high scoring as well between two divisional rivals.
Tight End
Luke Musgrave (Green Bay Packers) - Owned in 36% of Yahoo and 30.9% of ESPN Leagues
Musgrave gets a very good matchup this week with the Detroit Lions, who have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends through the first three weeks of the season. He saw a season high in both targets and receptions last week with eight and six respectively. He seems to be a big part of this Packers’ offense and gets as good of a matchup as possible.
Flex
Josh Downs (Indianapolis Colts) - Owned in 9% of Yahoo and 9.7% of ESPN Leagues
Now, I would feel better about this play if Gardner Minshew were to be playing this week but it appears that Anthony Richardson will be back under center for the Colts this. Downs saw 12 targets a week ago with Minshew filling in for Richardson. He caught eight of those targets for 57 yards. However, it’s not like the volume wasn’t there prior, as he saw seven targets in Week 1 and five targets in Week 2. The Rams are middle-of-the-road in terms of allowed fantasy points to opposing wide receivers as well.
D.J. Chark Jr. (Carolina Panthers) - Owned in 17% of Yahoo and 45.8% of ESPN Leagues
Like Downs, I would feel better in this play if Andy Dalton were to play for the Panthers instead of Bryce Young but it’s trending towards Young being back in this week. Chark made his season debut in Week 2 where he saw just one target but saw 11 targets with Dalton under center a week ago. Chark caught four of his targets for 86 yards and a score last week. With another game under his belt and getting back into playing shape, I feel confident in Chark this week.
Week 1 Results
Sam Howell, QB, Washington Commanders - 16.18 Points
Deon Jackson, RB, Indianapolis Colts - 5 Points
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs - 3.9 Points
Van Jefferson, WR, Los Angeles Rams - 6.4 Points
Hunter Renfrow, WR, Las Vegas Raiders - 0 Points
Jake Ferguson, TE, Dallas Cowboys - 4.1 Points
Isaiah Hodgins, WR, New York Giants - 1.4 Points
Gus Edwards, RB, Baltimore Ravens - 5.2 Points
Total: 42.18 Points
Difference from 100 Points: 57.82 Points
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