Fantasy Football: Week 3 “Sneaky Starts”
Week three of the NFL season is upon us and it’s time again to triple check those starting lineups for fantasy football. At this point in the year, every team is still in it. So if you’re sitting at 0-2 in your league, don’t feel like the season is over. This week there are a some players that could be in for a very solid day. I’m not looking for the same guys every site pumps, I’m looking for guys that are still available in most leagues and have a potential to put up quality numbers. Here is a look at Week 3’s fantasy football “Sneaky Starts.”
Playing against a potentially vulnerable Bears’ secondary, Geno Smith could be a “start” for your fantasy football team in Week 3. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
QB – Geno Smith, New York Jets
Geno has actually had a decent fantasy football season to this point, which after last year’s dreadful showing should be a big deal. This week he gets a Bears team who has given up the 13th most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. He could also be playing “keep up” with a potent Bears’ offense that will be picking on the Jets’ weak secondary. Smith is only owned in 12% of Yahoo fantasy football leagues and I like him this week over guys like Phillip Rivers, Joe Flacco, and Jake Locker who play at Buffalo, at Cleveland, and at Cincinnati respectively.
RB – Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders
Some of websites like to make fun of guys like McFadden and the people who own or play him, but here’s the reality. He’s the starting running back right now, the New England Patriots have given up the eighth most points to opposing runners thus far, and when healthy, McFadden has shown he can produce. He’s worth a look over guys with less favorable opponents.
WR – James Jones, Oakland Raiders
The former Packer had a big game last week getting targeted 14 times as the Raiders played “catch-up” against the Texans. This week could be more of the same against the New England Patriots. Jones has managed to catch a touchdown pass in each of the Raiders’ two games this year. The catch is New England has given up the least amount of points to opposing teams’ receivers in the first two weeks and they are playing in Foxborough. The targets and touchdown potential garner a strong look.
TE – Larry Donnell, New York Giants
After the first two weeks, Donnell shouldn’t be a secret anymore, yet he is still only owned in 38% of yahoo fantasy football leagues. The first two weeks Donnell has been Eli Manning’s clear safety net catching 12 passes on 17 targets. Donnell isn’t going to blow up for 115 yards, but he is a reliable start this week against a Houston team that will be applying consistent pressure on Eli. Donnell will get a bunch of targets and have a chance to record a solid day of work.
Give me your thoughts in the comments section below and check Stripehype.com every weekend for your fantasy football “Sneaky Starts” of the week.