Fantasy football add, drop, targets and avoids advice for NFL Week 3, focusing on Chris Carson, JJ Nelson and Jordan Howard.
Carson Now the Top Dog in Seattle
Coming into the season, it looked like Seahawks fans would be treated to some kind of combination of Thomas Rawls, Eddie Lacy and C.J. Prosise. After their Week 2 win over San Francisco, it looks as though there is a fourth name to add to the mix. With Thomas Rawls still recovering from an ankle injury and Eddie Lacy a healthy scratch (he’s now all but forgotten in fantasy), it was 24-year-old Chris Carson who led the backfield with 20 carries for 93 yards. C.J. Prosise seems locked into the passing-down role, but with Lacy now out of the picture and Rawls not at 100%, Carson should be treated as the primary starter for the Seahawks. While it’s fair to speculate on whether or not the Seattle offensive line will provide any room to run for any back, it’s the role and the usage that matters here.
Recovering Cardinals Turning to Unlikely Receiver
With the Cardinals offense reeling after the loss of David Johnson, an unlikely name has risen to the top of the fantasy priority list. Assumed third (if not fourth) wide receiver J.J. Nelson has easily been the most productivity offensive weapon for the Cardinals through two weeks, tallying 10 catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns. Veteran Larry Fitzgerald is still the number one option on the depth chart, but he lacks the speed and field-stretching abilities that Nelson brings to the table. With John Brown still dealing with injuries in addition to a sickle cell trait that is an ever-looming concern, Nelson is going to have a firm role in an offense that is going to be entirely dependent on the pass with it’s best runner on the shelf for most of the season.
Injuries and Uncertainty May Doom Howard
Jordan Howard was drafted as a late-round-one, early-round-two feature back, and to this point he has been the ultimate draft bust. With rookie Tarik Cohen coming on as the pass-catching option and some sort of arm injury holding him back, Jordan Howard has gone form RB1 to desperate flex play in just two weeks. While I don’t see him being phased out of the offense given how successful he was last year, it’s incredibly tough to start Howard currently. He should be able to regain some of his former glory should Cohen go down with an injury or if his production fades, but for the time being you can’t ignore Howard’s loss of role and completely ineffectiveness through two games. It’s not quite time to consider dropping or trading him, but it is time to seriously consider whether or not you have a better running back option that you can start this week.
NFL Pickups of the Week
Ed Dickson, TE, Carolina Panthers – With Greg Olsen out with a broken foot for the foreseeable future, backup tight end Ed Dickson will see the majority of snaps at tight end for the Panthers. He has a tasty matchup against the Saints in Week 3.
Trevor Siemian, QB, Denver Broncos – Siemian has proven himself a capable backup QB for fantasy purposes with six touchdowns through the first two weeks. He gets the Bills in Week 3, and the Broncos will likely have to throw to move the ball.
Jermaine Kearse, WR, New York Jets - Kearse is separating himself as the only fantasy-viable pass-catcher on the Jets roster, and with 11 catches and two touchdowns through the first two weeks he should carry flex value going forward.
