Fantasy Football Week 3
Sit Tom Brady?
Yes, but let’s start with Derek Carr first.
Two weeks into the NFL season, the Raiders have been a surprise team with their 2-0 record. One reason is the play of 30-year-old quarterback Derek Carr, who is leading the NFL with 817 yards passing. What’s more impressive is he has done that against two top defenses from last season in the Ravens and Steelers.
This week, Carr and the Raiders take on a Miami Dolphins team who has shown very little in pass coverage. During Mac Jones’ first NFL start, he threw for 281 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, and was only sacked once against Miami. Then Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes against the Dolphins the next week. That could have been more too had the Bills not gone conservative with the huge lead.
Carr is the 12th ranked fantasy quarterback this week, ahead of Matthew Stafford and some guy named Brady.
Oh yeah… Tom Brady. Ever heard of him?
The GOAT, who has thrown for nine touchdown passes and 655 yards over the first two games, should likely be riding the pine this week in your fantasy league. Why?
It’s simple! The answer is the matchup against a very tough Rams defense on the road that features the likes of Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey. The Rams have allowed only one touchdown pass through the air in wins over the Bears and Colts. It’s a tough matchup for Tom Brady this week.
Another player to consider sitting is Saints running back Alvin Kamara.
A back who is typically featured just as much in the passing game as on the ground, Kamara may not be as significant of a factor as usual. The Patriots have been stingy in the air, allowing only 184 yards per game and one touchdown. On the ground, they are allowing 113 yards per game and one touchdown. There are simply many more viable options this week in the backfield at a lower cost.
On the surface, Najee Harris appears to be a good play.
After all, he’s played in nearly every offensive snap of the first two games. He’s been a workhorse who’s had all but two running back carries for the Steelers so far this season. However, taking a closer look at the production, you’ll see a dreadful 3.2 yards-per-carry over the first two weeks.
The Bengals are decent against the run, near the middle of the pack in allowing running back points-per-game, despite facing the likes of Dalvin Cook.
Sure, Harris is likely to get plenty of opportunities, but the production probably won’t match his cost. There are plenty of other cheaper options at running back who should be just as productive, if not more productive this week.
So… Will you sit Tom Brady this week?
Don’t say you weren’t warned.
