Ahhhhhhhh. Another eight hours and counting of NFL football under the belt. I keep thinking that one of these Sundays I am going to wake up and want to do something else, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon.

It is easy to feel that way when you make it through a day without any injuries and a healthy point total as well. But, if you are a Jonathan Stewart, Doug Martin, Arian Foster, Thomas Rawls, Danny Woodhead, or Adrian Peterson owner, Week 2 served as a reminder of what a cruel mistress the fantasy game can be.

Fortunately, the quarterback and tight end positions made it through the week without any marquee names going down. Jimmy Garoppolo was driven into the ground on his throwing shoulder and is likely going to be out a few weeks. With Brady back in Week 5, Garoppolo can be safely dropped in all formats. Speaking of backup quarterbacks with shoulder injuries, Cleveland’s Josh McCown is already out for Week 3 and will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis going forward. As I am typing this Jay Cutler is walking back to the locker room with an apparent throwing hand injury. No word on the seriousness of the injury though.

Week 3: Workin’ the Wire

I recommended Ryan Fitzpatrick last week in this section and he went off against the Bills. He is still available in roughly half of the leagues, but won’t be for long. If you are in a pinch at quarterback he is someone you should own, and possibly be playing. The Jets have a legit offense with arguably the best receiving duo in the game with Marshall and Decker.

I was impressed Sunday night with Sam Bradford. I am not saying that you need to rush to your waiver wire and grab him just yet, but he is someone to monitor. With Peterson down, volume should not be a problem for Bradford.

Ryan Tannehill’s 389/2/2 caught my eye. I realize a good chunk of that was accomplished in the second-half when they were in catch-up mode against a softer style defense than what he was facing in the first half. At the end of the day, the numbers all count the same. He threw for 300+ yards six times last year. In the right matchup he is worth a look.

Hopefully you got on board with Dennis Pitta last week, because after his 9/102 game on Sunday he will not be a cheap acquisition. Flacco has a great rapport with Pitta and he should be considered a low-end TE1 for the rest of the season.

Another tight end I like going forward is Jacob Tamme. He has been highly involved in the passing attack of the Falcons through the first two weeks. He has received eight targets in each game. I could see the Falcons involved in some shootouts this year.



Start’em

Philip Rivers @ IND

No Allen. No Woodhead. It doesn’t matter for Rivers. He will find a way to produce quality numbers regardless of who his weapons are. More importantly in this contest, is the health of the Indianapolis secondary. Five members (Davis, Robinson, Butler, Cromartie, Melvin) of the secondary are currently banged up. While it is too early to determine their availability for this week coming up, it is safe to say that they will likely be playing short-handed at one or more positions. I look for Rivers to take full advantage of a banged up secondary and a front that has generated only two sacks on the young season.

Blake Bortles vs. BAL

The Jaguars are rushing for 58 yards a game at 3.2 yards a clip. When Ivory returns he may give the ground game a much needed shot in the arm, but there is no guarantee that he is back in Week 3. The offense’s ability to move the ball rides on the right arm of Blake Bortles. He has attempted 39 and 50 passes in his first two games. With the Jags young defense still finding their way, don’t be surprised if Bortles is in throw mode early and often in this one.

Coby Fleener vs. ATL

Okay, hear me out on this one. I know I said last week that I was steering clear of Fleener until he showed some more comfort and consistency in the Saints offense. Well I am throwing that out of the window, because the matchup on MNF against the Falcons is too juicy to let go. Through two games, the Falcons have allowed an average of 16 points to opposing tight ends including three touchdowns. Despite Fleener’s inefficiency, Brees stuck with him sending eight targets his way in Week 2. This is the week he breaks out, get on board!

Jordan Cameron @ CLE

I mean this isn’t exactly as big as when LeBron made his return to Cleveland, but Jordan Cameron is heading back to his old stomping grounds. Actually, most of the people in the stands probably won’t even remember Cameron’s time in Cleveland. With all the concussions that Cameron sustained, he might not either. At any rate the Browns have allowed more receptions and yards to opposing tight ends than any other team. Cameron had a quiet Week 1. But he was more involved last week collecting seven targets and finding the end zone. Keep him in mind if you are strapped for cash and looking for a cheap tight end option in DFS.

Sit’em





Jameis Winston vs. RAMS

Is it because of the four interceptions last week? Partially, but I am more concerned about the matchup over everything else for Winston this week. The Rams are holding opposing quarterbacks to just 12 fantasy points per game over the first two weeks, and have allowed only one touchdown pass. I still believe in Winston for the season, but I am looking elsewhere this week.

Carson Palmer @ BUF

Sometimes you just have to go with your gut…

West coast team coming east for a kick.

Bills have four extra days to prepare.

Bills 0-2 in an early season must win game

Defense got embarrassed last week.

I have watched enough football to know that this is a spot where the Bills show up. They have a solid pass rush and have got to the opposing quarterback five times on the season. Carson Palmer is like a statue in the pocket. They should be able to heat him up and force some errant throws.

Clive Walford @ TEN

Walford posted a strong 6/50/1 on seven targets against the Falcons in Week 2. Here is my problem with that line. The touchdown was a 31- yard reception on a blown coverage. If we take that away it turns into 5/19. What kind of routes is this man running that he isn’t even averaging four yards per reception on? The Raiders are an up and coming offense, but Walford is at best the third option in the passing game. I believe Walford can be a useful option given the right matchup, but the Titans have only allowed eight receptions to opposing tight ends this year and zero touchdowns. Keep Clive on the bench this week.

Vance McDonald @ SEA

So guess who the second leading scorer among all fantasy tight ends is…

McDonald is the only tight end in the league to find the end zone in each of the first two weeks. A dive further into the numbers shows that McDonald has lived off his touchdown production in the early going of the 2016 season. He has a total of three receptions, one of which was a 75-yard touchdown. If you are hunting for a tight end this week don’t be the guy that goes to the waiver wire and “sorts by fantasy points year to date” and picks up whatever the top option is or you will be starting McDonald this week.

Dennis Pitta @ JAX

I do like Pitta going forward, but not this week against the Jaguars. The Jacksonville defense has struggled on the whole, yet have done a nice job on opposing tight ends. They have allowed only five receptions to opposing tight ends, including holding Antonio Gates to just three catches for 15 yards last week. Don’t get it twisted. The Jags defense has struggled mightily, but so far most of the air damage has gone to receivers.

Stack Play: Rivers to Gates

I talked about the issues that the Indianapolis secondary is experiencing earlier. Travis Benjamin lit them up last week. That same defense will give allow Gates room to get down the middle of the field for a few big plays. The countdown is on for him to reach the all-time tight end touchdown record and he will get one closer this week.

Good luck in Week 3, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @barkballin with any tough roster decision you might be facing.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(Click the RED link below to listen)

Major League Fantasy Football Radio: Join Ej Garr, Corey D Roberts, and Bryan Luhrs live Sunday September 25th, 2016 from 11am-12:30pm EST for episode #69 of Major League Fantasy Football Radio. This is a live broadcast and we take callers at 323-870-4395 press 1 to speak with the hosts. We will be breaking down key matchups, discussing fantasy start/sit, some DFS, and handicapping as well.

Bryan is the owner os Real Deal Dynasty Sports, a writer with MLFS, and a frequent guest on our radio shows.

You can find our shows on I-Tunes. Just search for Major League Fantasy Sports in the podcasts section. For Android users go to “Podcast Republic,” then download that app, and search for “Major League Fantasy Sports Show”

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