Fantasy Stat Pack: Week Three

Ryan McDowell Posted On September 25, 2019

If you follow me on Twitter, you’ve probably noticed a series of tweets I share on a weekly basis regarding player and team defensive performances, all from a fantasy lens. I’m going to be sharing some of that same information with you here.

I use this each week as I am making my own lineup and waiver wire decisions and thought you might find this valuable as well.

Note: The scoring system used for this data is always PPR with four points for passing touchdowns.

All year to date fantasy ranks are based on total points.

Quarterbacks

Week Three QB1s (top 12 scorers)

QB1 Russell Wilson, SEA
QB2 Daniel Jones, NYG
QB3 Patrick Mahomes, KC
QB4 Deshaun Watson, HOU
QB5 Jameis Winston, TB
QB6 Kyle Allen, CAR
QB7 Dak Prescott, DAL
QB8 Matt Ryan, ATL
QB9 Carson Wentz, PHI
QB10 Lamar Jackson, BAL
QB11 Jacoby Brissett, IND
QB12 Tom Brady, NE

The highly-anticipated showdown between top young signal-callers Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson did not disappoint as both finished among the top 12 fantasy quarterbacks for the week. The real story at the quarterback position though was the debut of rookie Daniel Jones. “Danny Dimes” set multiple records on his way to a QB2 finish. Most importantly for fantasy players was what Jones showed as a runner, rushing for two touchdowns and leading his team in rushing, post-Saquon Barkley injury.

Year to Date QB1s

QB1 Patrick Mahomes, KC
QB2 Lamar Jackson, BAL
QB3 Dak Prescott, DAL
QB4 Russell Wilson, SEA
QB5 Tom Brady, NE
QB6 Deshaun Watson, HOU
QB7 Carson Wentz, PHI
QB8 Matt Ryan, ATL
QB9 Josh Allen, BUF
QB10 Kyler Murray, ARI
QB11 Case Keenum, WAS
QB12 Andy Dalton, CIN

With his huge Week Three game, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson jumped from QB9 to QB4 while setting a career-high with 50 pass attempts and over 45 fantasy points. Josh Allen and Kyler Murray each moved up two spots. After a pair of mirage weeks, Redskins veteran Case Keenum fell from QB5 to QB11 as he nears a benching in favor of rookie Dwayne Haskins.

QB1 Games this Season

3 Carson Wentz, Dak Prescott, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady
2 Case Keenum, Deshaun Watson, Matt Ryan, Russell Wilson
1 Kyler Murray, Drew Brees, Marcus Mariota, Matthew Stafford, Philip Rivers, Andy Dalton, Jared Goff, Jimmy Garoppolo, Josh Allen, Jacoby Brissett, Jameis Winston, Kyle Allen, Daniel Jones

Most QB1 Games Allowed

3 ARI, MIA, NO, NYG
2 ATL, DET, IND, PHI, PIT, WAS
1 BAL, CIN, CLE, DAL, HOU, JAX, KC, LAC, NYJ, OAK, SF, TB
0 BUF, CAR, CHI, DEN, GB, LAR, MIN, NE, SEA, TEN

Four teams have allowed a top quarterback performance in each week this season and are becoming obvious options to pick on when choosing fantasy quarterbacks for the week. The Cardinals face red hot Russell Wilson and Seattle while the winless Dolphins host the Chargers and veteran Philip Rivers. The Saints and Cowboys will likely be a high-scoring affair, which is good news for Dak Prescott, while the Giants face Keenum, or perhaps Haskins.

Amazingly, there are still ten teams that have yet to allow a QB1 game this year. That is a lot to dig through, but it is worth noting that four of these teams, the Patriots, Rams, Broncos and Packers, have each allowed fewer than 14 fantasy points per week to the quarterback position. That could be reason enough to avoid Josh Allen (vs. NE), Jameis Winston (vs. LAR), Gardner Minshew (vs. DEN) and Carson Wentz (vs. GB.)

Running Backs

Week Three RB1s (top 12 scorers)

RB1 Alvin Kamara, NO
RB2 Mark Ingram, BAL
RB3 Phillip Lindsay, DEN
RB4 Christian McCaffrey, CAR
RB5 Dalvin Cook, MIN
RB6 LeSean McCoy, KC
RB7 Tony Pollard, DAL
RB8 Rex Burkhead, NE
RB9 Derrick Henry, TEN
RB10 Joe Mixon, CIN
RB11 Nick Chubb, CLE
RB12 Frank Gore, BUF

There was some concern that the absence of starting quarterback Drew Brees would be bad news for the entire Saints offense, including star back Alvin Kamara. Instead, Kamara exploded for his best fantasy performance since Week Four last year. Veterans LeSean McCoy and Rex Burkhead took advantage of the absence of their teammates (Damien Williams, James White) to record their first RB1 games of the season. Rookie Tony Pollard used mop up duty against the Dolphins to produce his best game of his young career and old man Frank Gore made it back-to-back RB1 games this season. Gore didn’t have any RB1 games during the 2018 season.

Year to Date RB1s

RB1 Dalvin Cook, MIN
RB2 Christian McCaffrey, CAR
RB3 Austin Ekeler, LAC
RB4 Alvin Kamara, NO
RB5 Mark Ingram, BAL
RB6 Derrick Henry, TEN
RB7 Le’Veon Bell, NYJ
RB8 David Johnson, ARI
RB9 Marlon Mack, IND
RB10 Phillip Lindsay, DEN
RB11 Ezekiel Elliott, DAL
RB12 Nick Chubb, CLE

Chargers Melvin Gordon replacement Austin Ekeler finally slowed down a little, dropping him from RB1 to RB3 for the season and Kamara’s huge day moved him inside the top 12 backs, all the way up to RB4. Mark Ingram moved from RB12 to RB5 and both Phillip Lindsay and Nick Chubb climbed into the RB1 range for the first time this year. That means someone had to take the tumble and the victims were Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Chris Carson.

RB1 Games this Season

3 Dalvin Cook
2 Alvin Kamara, Austin Ekeler, Christian McCaffrey, David Johnson, Derrick Henry, Frank Gore, Le’Veon Bell, Mark Ingram, Nick Chubb
1 Aaron Jones, Chris Carson, Damien Williams, Ezekiel Elliott, Joe Mixon, Josh Jacobs, Kerryon Johnson, LeSean McCoy, Marlon Mack, Peyton Barber, Phillip Lindsay, Raheem Mostert, Rex Burkhead, Saquon Barkley, Tony Pollard

Most RB1 Games Allowed

3 BUF, CIN
2 CAR, CLE, DET, GB, IND, LAC, LAR, MIA, NYJ
1 ARI, ATL, BAL, DEN, HOU, JAX, KC, MIN, NYG, OAK, SEA, WAS
0 CHI, DAL, NE, NO, PHI, PIT, SF, TB, TEN

The Bills and Bengals have each allowed three RB1 games already this year. That could be just the matchup Steelers struggling running back James Conner needs as he faces the Bengals on Monday Night Football. Conner has ranked as the RB29, RB18 and RB38 in the first three weeks this year. The Bills face the Patriots, though as always, Bill Belichick and the Pats’ backfield are difficult to maneuver. Burkhead has played a surprisingly large role this season while starter Sony Michel has struggled. New father James White is also expected to be back after sitting last week.

With nine teams yet to allow an RB1 performance, let’s again focus on average fantasy points allowed. Once viewed as among the worst defenses in the league, the Buccaneers have turned things around and are giving up only 10.9 fantasy points to opposing backfields. That’s simply another sign that it is time to send broken-down back Todd Gurley to the bench this week. The 49ers (BYE) and Patriots (vs. Frank Gore) have also surrendered less than 15 fantasy points per week to running backs.

Wide Receivers

Week Three WR1s (top 12 scorers)

WR1 Mike Evans, TB
WR2 Keenan Allen, LAC
WR3 Cooper Kupp, LAR
WR4 Tyler Lockett, SEA
WR5 Taylor Gabriel, CHI
WR6 Sterling Shepard, NYG
WR7 Julio Jones, ATL
WR7 Amari Cooper, DAL
WR9 Nelson Agholor, PHI
WR10 Paul Richardson, WAS
WR11 Marvin Jones, DET
WR12 Marquez Valdes-Scantling, GB

After two disappointing weeks, Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans finally exploded with a triple take of touchdowns and his first overall WR1 game since 2016. Chargers receiver Keenan Allen, the top-overall fantasy scorer on the young season, produced another huge game, finishing as the WR2. Giants receiver Sterling Shepard returned from his missed game due to a concussion and took advantage of the big game from rookie Daniel Jones to finish as a top-12 receiver for since Week Seven of last year. With veterans Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson missing the game with an injury, Nelson Agholor produced his second straight WR1 game.

Year to Date WR1s

WR1 Keenan Allen, LAC
WR2 Julio Jones, ATL
WR3 Sammy Watkins, KC
WR4 Amari Cooper, DAL
WR5 TY Hilton, IND
WR6 Cooper Kupp, LAR
WR7 Tyler Lockett, SEA
WR8 DJ Chark, JAC
WR9 Mike Evans, TB
WR10 Terry McLaurin, WAS
WR11 John Ross, CIN
WR12 Michael Thomas, NO

Allen climbed from WR5 to WR1 and leads the league in a large number of receiving categories. Julio Jones moved from WR8 to WR2, while Bengals potential breakout star John Ross fell from WR2 to WR11 with a down week. The current top 12 includes new arrivals like Amari Cooper, Cooper Kupp, Tyler Lockett and Mike Evans, which means some had to fall. Calvin Ridley, Emmanuel Sanders, Marquise Brown and Odell Beckham are now in the WR2 tier.

WR1 Games this Season

2 John Ross, Julio Jones, Keenan Allen, Nelson Agholor
1 Calvin Ridley, Chris Godwin, DeAndre Hopkins, DeSean Jackson, Emmanuel Sanders, Jamison Crowder, John Brown, Kenny Golladay, Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Thomas, Odell Beckham, Phillip Dorsett, Sammy Watkins, TY Hilton, Tyler Boyd, Marquise Brown, DJ Chark, Demarcus Robinson, Deebo Samuel, Amari Cooper, Cooper Kupp, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Marvin Jones, Mike Evans, Paul Richardson, Sterling Shepard, Taylor Gabriel, Tyler Lockett

Most WR1 Games Allowed

3 PHI
2 CHI, DET, IND, LAC, MIA, NO, NYJ, SF, WAS
1 ATL, BUF, CAR, CIN, CLE, DEN, HOU, JAX, KC, LAR, NYG, OAK, PIT, SEA, TB
0 ARI, BAL, DAL, GB, MIN, NE, TEN

The Eagles have given up three WR1 games already this season. Could this be the week we see a breakout game from Davante Adams, who has weekly finishes of WR64, WR17 and WR50. Through three weeks, Adams isn’t even the top fantasy scorer for his own team. The Redskins and Giants are the two teams allowing the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers and this week, they face each other. Sterling Shepard should be locked into lineups, as should rookie Terry McLaurin.

Once again, the Patriots defense has been dominant, and this makes John Brown a player to avoid in Week Four. The Packers (vs. Eagles), Rams (vs. Buccaneers) and Broncos (vs. Jaguars) are each among the league leaders for fewest fantasy points allowed to wideouts.

Tight Ends

Week Three TE1s (top 12 scorers)

TE1 Darren Waller, OAK
TE2 Greg Olsen, CAR
TE3 Austin Hooper, ATL
TE4 Evan Engram, NYG
TE5 Jordan Akins, HOU
TE6 Will Dissly, SEA
TE7 Dawson Knox, BUF
TE8 Darren Fells, HOU
TE8 Travis Kelce, SF
TE10 Delanie Walker, TEN
TE11 George Kittle, SF
TE12 Zach Ertz, PHI

After a couple of solid games to begin the season, Raiders tight end Darren Waller exploded for a TE1 week, catching 13 passes for over 130 yards. He’s just the tenth tight end to ever reach those numbers in a single game. The Texans have become known for not involving the tight end into their offense but this week, they produced a pair of TE1 games with Jordan Akins and Darren Fells each making the list for the first time this year.

Year to Date TE1s

TE1 Evan Engram, NYG
TE2 Mark Andrews, BAL
TE3 Darren Waller, OAK
TE4 Travis Kelce, KC
TE5 Greg Olsen, CAR
TE6 Austin Hooper, ATL
TE7 Delanie Walker, TEN
TE8 Will Dissly, SEA
TE9 Zach Ertz, PHI
TE10 George Kittle, SF
TE11 Jason Witten, DAL
TE12 Vance McDonald, PIT

We already knew that no Odell Beckham would be a good thing for tight end Evan Engram. Now we also know that no Eli Manning makes things even better for Engram, who is the TE1 and can be considered a top-tier dynasty option at the position. Will Dissly has played well early this season, currently ranking as the TE8. Things are looking up for the second-year player after the Seahawks traded away his prime competition, veteran Nick Vannett.

TE1 Games this Season

3 Darren Waller, Evan Engram, George Kittle
2 Mark Andrews, Austin Hooper, Delanie Walker, Greg Olsen, Travis Kelce, Will Dissly, Zach Ertz
1 Blake Jarwin, David Njoku, Eric Ebron, Jimmy Graham, Tyler Eifert, Tyler Higbee, Vance McDonald, Vernon Davis, TJ Hockenson, Jason Witten, Darren Fells, Jordan Akins, Dawson Knox

Most TE1 Games Allowed

3 ARI, TB
2 CIN, LAC, MIN, PIT, TEN
1 ATL, BAL, BUF, CAR, CHI, CLE, DAL, DEN, DET, IND, JAX, KC, MIA, NO, NYG, OAK, PHI, SEA, SF, WAS
0 GB, HOU, LAR, NE, NYJ

Just like last season, the Cardinals and Buccaneers remain teams to target when choosing tight ends. In fact, the Cardinals have now allowed the TE1 and a pair of overall TE2 games through three weeks. Yuck! This week is Dissly’s turn and now he has the job all to himself. The Bucs face the Rams, which could put Gerald Everett into streaming consideration.

The Packers, Texans, Rams, Patriots and Jets have yet to allow a top-12 game to a tight end. That means subpar matchups for Zach Ertz, Greg Olsen, OJ Howard and rookie Dawson Knox. The Jets are on a bye this week.

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Ryan McDowell

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

In addition to his senior leadership role here at DLF, Ryan is also a husband, father of three and PE teacher. Ryan is the commissioner of multiple dynasty leagues, most notably the Kitchen Sink Dynasty Leagues. Here at DLF, Ryan’s focus is on identifying, monitoring and analyzing player value.