QBs
1.Cam Newton
2.Philip Rivers
3.Matthew Stafford
4.Drew Brees
5.Andrew Luck
6.Carson Palmer
7.Ben Roethlisberger
8.Kirk Cousins
9.Blake Bortles
10.Joe Flacco
11.Matt Ryan
12.Russell Wilson
13.Derek Carr
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14.Andy Dalton
15.Jameis Winston
16.Ryan Tannehill
17.Trevor Siemian
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18.Brian Hoyer
19.Dak Prescott
20.Eli Manning
Week 3 was a bit strange for fantasy QBs, as the top-10 included names like Dak Prescott and Brian Hoyer. Hell, Trevor Siemian was the #1 fantasy QB for crying out loud! As for my picks versus the ESPN experts, they were pretty bad all around last week. Let's start with the QBs, as I was high on Blake Bortles (ESPN #13, ME #9). He continues to have an incredibly slow start to 2016, and he finished 16th in Week 3. I was down on my man Kirk Cousins (ESPN #16, ME NOT RANKED), but he actually finished as a top-10 QB. I was happy to be wrong there, as the Redskins finally got in the win column. I hope he can keep it going this week against the Browns, and I have him as a top-10 play in that favorable matchup.
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I'm high on: Matt Ryan (ESPN #16, ME #11)
This one could come back to bite me in the ass because I might be starting this guy on my own fantasy team this week. Julio Jones had a horrible game against the Saints, but it was the running game that the Falcons relied on in that victory. Against the Panthers, I can't imagine they'll be able to stick to that same game plan. They'll need to air it out a bit, and Ryan has been the #2 fantasy QB through 3 games this year. I don't think you can just discount that and drop him all the way out of the QB1 conversation.
 I'm down on: Eli Manning (ESPN #14, ME #20)
Meanwhile, the ESPN rankings have QBs like Dak and Eli ahead of Ryan this week. You know who has a really tough matchup this week? Eli freaking Manning! He's facing a Viking defense that's made Aaron Rodgers and Cam Newton look pedestrian. And this game is on the road in Minnesota. At least Matty Ice gets to face the Panthers at home. I think Eli could end up outside of the top-20 fantasy QBs in Week 4, and the ESPN experts are crazy to rank him all the way up at 14th.
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RBs |
1.David Johnson
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2.Ezekiel Elliott
3.Le'Veon Bell
4.Lamar Miller
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5.Melvin Gordon
6.LeGarrette Blount
7.C.J. Anderson
8.Mark Ingram
9.Todd Gurley
10.DeMarco Murray
11.LeSean McCoy
12.Matt Forte
13.Carlos Hyde
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14.Christine Michael
15.Jeremy Hill
16.Frank Gore
17.Isaiah Crowell
18.Devonta Freeman
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19.Charles Sims
20.Spencer Ware
21.Latavius Murray
22.Jordan Howard
23.Matt Jones
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24.Tevin Coleman
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25.Jerick McKinnon
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26.Theo Riddick
27.Cameron Artis-Payne
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28.Giovani Bernard
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29.Chris Ivory
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30.Dwayne Washington
31.Rashad Jennings
32.Duke Johnson
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33.Kenyan Drake
34.Justin Forsett
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35.DeAngelo Williams
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36.Fozzy Whittaker
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37.TJ Yeldon
38.Derrick Henry
39.Orleans Darkwa
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40.Matt Asiata
41.Jay Ajayi
42.Terrance West
43,Alfred Morris
44.DeAndre Washington
45.Chris Thompson
46.Shaun Draughn
47.James White
48.Dexter McCluster
49.Bilal Powell
50.Devontae Booker
Ultimately I didn't do any better on my RB picks, but I was actually close on both of them. I was down on Jay Ajayi (ESPN #27, ME #34), saying Miami would rotate in Kenyan Drake and Isaiah Pead (which they did). Ajayi had about 2 fantasy points until his touchdown in overtime, which bumped him into the top-25. That's a bad beat right there. As for Jerick McKinnon (ESPN #31, ME #22), I was high on him because I thought he'd get the majority of touches and Carolina was susceptible to the run. Well, McKinnon more than doubled the touches and productivity to that of Asiata, but he still finished outside of the top-25 RBs in Week 3. I still like him this week against the Giants, and my opponent will likely play him against me. I hope I'm wrong about him two weeks in a row.
I'm high on: DeAngelo Williams (ESPN #46, ME #35)
 I don't doubt Mike Tomlin when he says to expect a lot of Le'Veon Bell in his first game back from suspension. But keep in mind, this is his first real game back from injury as well. Sure, he played a preseason game against the Saints in which he ran the ball 3 times and caught a few passes. Otherwise, he's just been practicing. I know the Steelers didn't use DeAngelo much when Le'Veon was healthy last year, but I think he could be a little more in the mix this season...especially considering the rate at which he scored touchdowns while Bell was injured in 2015. I'm not saying I'M going to be starting DeAngelo this week, but I definitely like him more than the ESPN experts.
I'm down on: Jamaal Charles (ESPN #43, ME NOT RANKED)
Just stop. First of all, I don't get why experts rank guys like this who are so unlikely to even play. Charles hasn't seen the field at all in 2016, yet 3 of the 5 ESPN fantasy gurus ranked him in their top-40 RBs. Even if he does play (which I don't think he will), I wouldn't even think to rank him. I'd say he maybe plays a series or two once he DOES return to action, and I'd much rather start 10 other guys ahead of Charles this week (knowing they'll at least play and get a few touches).
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WRs
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1.Antonio Brown
2.A.J. Green
3.Julio Jones
4.Odell Beckham, Jr.
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5.Allen Robinson
6.DeAndre Hopkins
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7.Marvin Jones Jr.
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8.Larry Fitzgerald
9.TY Hilton
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10.Kelvin Benjamin
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11.Alshon Jeffery
12.Travis Benjamin
13.Jarvis Landry
14.Brandin Cooks
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15.Amari Cooper
16.Doug Baldwin
17.Stefon Diggs
18. DeMaryius Thomas
19.Terrelle Pryor
20.Mike Evans
21.DeSean Jackson
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22.Jeremy Maclin
23.Willie Snead
24.Emmanuel Sanders
25.Brandon Marshall
26.Dez Bryant
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27.Michael Crabtree
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28.Tyrell Williams
29.DeVante Parker
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30.Mike Wallace
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31.Eric Decker
34.Julian Edelman
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36.Allen Hurns
37.Michael Floyd
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38.Jamison Crowder
39.John Brown
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40.Phillip Dorsett
41.Cole Beasley
42.Tavon Austin
43.Golden Tate
44.Kevin White
45.Tyler Lockett
46.Tajae Sharpe
47.Quincy Enunwa
48.Victor Cruz
49.Robert Woods
50.Torrey Smith
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The top 3 fantasy WRs in Week 3 were Marvin Jones, Emmanuel Sanders, and Terrell Pryor. Wow.
I was high on Sterling Shepherd (ESPN #39, ME #26), who caught 5 balls for 73 yards and a TD. He also had one catch and run that landed him down at the 1 yard line, so he almost ended up with two scores. As it was, he was easily a top-20 WR and actually finished just ahead of OBJ. As for Sammy Watkins (ESPN #27, ME #37), I continued to be down on him as he is dealing with an injury. He didn't even suit up in Week 3, so I'll count that as a win too. I'm not ranking him again this week, but I'll give you someone else I'm down on because I'm tired of talking about him (the ESPN consensus ranking of him is still #32 this week).
I'm high on: Mike Wallace (ESPN #40, ME #30) & Steve Smith, Sr. (ESPN #43, ME #32)
The ESPN experts nearly all agree that Joe Flacco is a top-12 play this week at home versus Oakland. But they all also seem to agree that none of the Ravens WRs are really worth starting in this game. Huh?!? Well I'm going to respectfully disagree, especially considering the Raiders have given up the MOST fantasy points to WRs through 3 games. Meanwhile, Mike Wallace has 3 TDs and Steve Smith is averaging nearly 9 targets per game. I think both of these guys are startable, at least as a FLEX option.
 I'm down on: Mike Evans (ESPN #12, ME #20)
Evans has had a good start to the 2016 season, seeing over 12 targets per game and scoring a TD in each of his first three games. I say that streak ends on Sunday against a Denver defense that gave up the fewest points to WRs last season and already the 3rd fewest this year. Evans may still get double digit looks, but I think he'll end up well outside of the WR1 conversation this week.
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TEs
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1.Greg Olsen
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2.Jordan Reed
3.Rob Gronkowski
4.Travis Kelce
5.Kyle Rudolph
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6.Delanie Walker
7.Zach Miller
8.Eric Ebron
9.Dennis Pitta
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10.Julius Thomas
11.Coby Fleener
12.Jimmy Graham
13.Gary Barnidge
14.Jacob Tamme
15.Jason Witten
16.Dwayne Allen
17.Hunter Henry
18.Cameron Brate
19.Jack Doyle
20.Clive Walford
Last week I actually talked up Jordan Cameron (ESPN #25, ME #18), but he left the game in the 2nd quarter with a concussion and didn't return. That kind of stinks for my pick, as he only had one catch on the day for 5 yards. I was also really down on Gary Barnidge (ESPN #8, ME #19) versus the ESPN experts, but he actually finished as a top-10 fantasy TE. So no luck with my tight end picks last week, but maybe better luck here in Week 4!
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I'm high on: Kyle Rudolph (ESPN #9, ME #5)
 I know we only have a 3 game sample, but Rudolph is the #2 fantasy TE so far this season. He has no fewer than 8 targets in each game, at least 6 fantasy points in each game, and he's found the endzone in each of his last two contests (both of Bradford's starts). I like him as a top-5 option against the G-Men at home.
I'm down on: Coby Fleener (ESPN #6, ME #11)
I know Fleener finally had a big game on Monday night, but excuse me for not wanting to forget the first two weeks of the season (and the drops he had against the Falcons too). I think Willie Snead will be back this week, and Fleener may get fewer looks (definitely fewer than the 11 against Atlanta). I think it's possible he's a top-10 fantasy TE this week in a good matchup against the Chargers, but I have plenty of other guys ranked ahead of him.
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DEF
1.Cardinals
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2.Vikings
3.Broncos
4.Texans
5.Seahawks
6.Patriots
7.Panthers
8.Bengals
9.Jets
10.Ravens
11.Steelers
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12.Rams
13.Redskins
14.Colts
15.Bills
Last week I was high on the New York Giants (ESPN #17, ME #8) and down on the Kansas City Chiefs...again (ESPN #11, ME NOT RANKED)...WRONG AND WRONG. The Giants were one of the worst fantasy defenses in Week 3, and the Chiefs were the absolute best. Well, crap. I'm still down on the Chiefs though, and I'll explain below...
I'm high on: Indianapolis Colts (ESPN #21, ME #14)
I know this isn't a great defensive unit, but since the horrible Week 1 showing against the Lions, Indy's D has actually held opponents to 22 and 16 points in their last two. Also remember this is technically an away game for the Colts, but the game is being played at 9:30am EST in London, England. The Jags beat the Bills last year at Wembley, but they got smoked in their previous two games (2014-Dallas & 2013-San Fran). I think Andrew Luck has a big game with some long drives, and I think the Colts defense will step up and get their team to 2-2.
I'm down on: Kansas City Chiefs (ESPN #10, ME NOT RANKED)
I know I sound like a broken record, but I still don't like the Chiefs this week. I know they were the beneficiary of SIX Ryan Fitzpatrick interceptions last week, but the Steelers are going to be playing angry after getting embarrassed in Philly in Week 3. They're also getting Le'Veon back, who is an obvious threat to put up points. Keep in mind that Kansas City didn't even have a sack against the Jets, and they only have 3 through 3 games (second fewest in the league). I just think they had a good week, and I wouldn't start them in Pittsburgh.
Good luck to everyone in Week 4!
(Except you, Tommy...)
Cheers,
Bart
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I'm not sure if you've noticed, but football is a rough sport. Every week brings injuries that end up impacting the fantasy landscape. Here's what we've seen so far just through just 3 WEEKS...
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