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MARKET

QUARTERBACKS

LAMAR JACKSON: QB1?

Lamar Jackson continues to make his case for a huge, guaranteed contract. He is leading the NFL in passing TDs (10) and passer rating (119.0), and is tied for 4th in the entire NFL in rushing yards (243). He's the QB1 in fantasy, and it's not close. 

• If you take away Lamar's rushing numbers, he'd be the QB5.

• If you take away his passing numbers, he'd be the RB11.

Lamar Jackson is betting on Lamar Jackson, and dominating. 

• Justin Herbert struggled in Week 3, but cut the guy some slack. He's playing through a rib cartilage fracture. Good news? It should significantly improve the next few weeks.

• Jalen Hurts is averaging 6.7 designed carries per game, per @GrahamBarfield.

• Kyler Murray has just seven designed carries total, per @FantasyPtsData. 

Dak Prescott got the stitches from his thumb removed and a Week 5 return seems likely. No need to Rush Dak back, with Cooper (Rush) getting dubs!

RUNNING BACKS

Next Man Up

Khalil Herbert gashed the Texans  for 157 yards and 2 TDs, finishing as RB1. He is now 6th in the NFL in rush yards, tied for 2nd in rushing TD's, 3rd in YPC and 2nd in yards before contact. ELITE numbers. If Montgomery is forced to miss time, Herbert becomes an elite fantasy option. Trade for him right now.

• Jamaal Williams finished as RB2 after D'Andre Swift left the game with a shoulder injury. Williams is a must-start who averaged 16+ fantasy points whenever the primary back.

• James Robinson is the only NFL player to have a rushing TD in every single game this year. Pain Etienne owners. What could've been.

• Nick Chubb is leading the NFL in rush yards (341), rushing attempts and TDs, while averaging 5.5 YPC. He's the fantasy RB1 on the year. It's as if no one watched his hype video this offseason (video).

Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson Jr shared an even 50/50 snap percentage, but Akers share of RB carries has increased from 56% since Week 1. Akers is not a bad buy low.

Nathaniel Hackett has been a terrible coach for the Broncos - only giving Javonte Williams 46% of the snaps (despite Williams averaging 5.36 YPC) tops the list of examples. Javonte will not see his full potential when splitting work & losing up goal line carries to the ghost of Melvin Gordon. 

WIDE RECEIVERS

Fly Eagles Fly

After a catchless Week 1, Devonta Smith has gone nuclear. 15 catches for 249 yards and a TD in two games for the Eagles WR2. Along with the highest single game grade of any WR (92.5). Smith had a career high 169 receiving yards last week. When asked about his mindset when going up for 50-50 balls he said, "my ball or nobody's". He's got that DAWG in him.

And maybe Smith isn't the Eagles WR2? His 29.2% target share and 38.7% air yards share both lead the team since Week 1.

• Curtis Samuel out-targeted Terry McLaurin in every game this season. Ouch. The Commanders are making Samuel the focal point of the offense, just as we all expected...

• Chris Olave leads the entire NFL in air yards (603) over the past two weeks. The crazy part? There's only one other player over 400. And Week 3 was his second week with 13 targets. Buy.

• Marquise Brown saw an insane 17 targets in Week 3, is 6th in the NFL in Air Yards + YAC) per game (140.7) and is WR2 overall in total routes run. Until DeAndre Hopkins returns, Brown should be a target monster. But sell high, before Hopkins is back.

Time to panic on DJ Moore. Despite playing 98% of snaps, Moore only had 1 catch for 2 yards. He is WR 60 on the season. Baker & Matt Rhule combine to give Panthers WRs a scary low floor. Don't buy low, instead read this article from The Athletic that explains why the Panthers’ passing game problems start with Baker Mayfield. But the receivers, DJ Moore in particular, aren’t getting open much, either.

TIGHT END

Move over Travis, there's a new TE1 in Town

Mr. Mark Andrews torched New England and fantasy teams everywhere in Week 3. Andrews leads all TE's in air yards by a sizeable margin and has been Lamar Jackson's first read 40.6% of the time, 2nd in the NFL behind only Cooper Kupp. The same Cooper Kupp that broke records last season. If you can buy Andrews for any disappointing RB (Najee, Henry, Mixon, Kamara, DO IT!).

George Kittle's first game back: 4 catches and 28 yards. This follows a similar pattern as 2021: the 49ers pay him to be a 6th offensive lineman. Not to be a receiving threat. Wait for him to have a big game and sell high on name value. 

CONTENT

Y'all got any more of that content?

Quality reads/listens for your fantasy fix - all without paywalls:

1. SportsGrid: Week 4 Waiver Wire Podcast

2. PFF: Rest of Season Rankings Following Week 3

3. FantasyPros: Fantasy Football Usage Report

4. TheFantasyFootballers: Fantasy Football Target Trends for Week 4

QUICK SLANTS

• Undefeated QB Tua Tagovailoa is questionable for Thursday night's game with a back/ankle injury. Not sure how he was able to finish last week's game after taking a hit to the head on the turf (video).

• Tests on Amon-Ra St Brown's ankle were "encouraging" and it is not believed to be serious. You brilliant a**holes who drafted him in the 6 or 7th can exhale.

• It was confirmed that Sterling Shepard tore his ACL in Monday night's game. Sad news for a talented player who can't stay healthy.

• Keenan Allen is expected back at practice this week, a positive sign he could play in Week 4.

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Jake Eddie, Matt & Coach Wehler.

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