(The Fantasy 5 is a quick-hit wrap-up of some of the biggest news topics of the day for fantasy football players, giving you advice you need to set your lineup or pick your DFS roster.)
Week 3 was about as wild as they come. Getting to see both Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers lead game-winning drives is always a treat, but they weren’t the only teams putting up fireworks. We should have known after the Thursday night 80-point matchup between the Rams and 49ers that we’d be in for quite the week. Variance certainly came into play as we saw some absurd things happen. Week 4’s Packers–Bears matchup brought us back to reality, with Green Bay winning soundly 35-14 in Lambeau. Let’s hope the rest of Week 4 goes according to plan and we can find ourselves on the winning side of our fantasy matchups.
Here’s a look at the some of the key pieces of fantasy news to know heading into the weekend games.
1. Is Chris Thompson the real deal?
Over the past three weeks, Thompson has scored 15.6, 25.6, and 30.8 fantasy points. He currently reigns as the No. 3 fantasy running back in PPR leagues. He has played on just 43.1 percent of the team’s offensive snaps averaging just nine touches per game. NINE. He’s scored four times in three games after scoring just eight total touchdowns over the past three years. The team is adamant about using a bruising-type back in either Rob Kelley or Samaje Perine outside of third and receiving downs. Thompson just isn’t seeing the requisite volume or snaps to warrant anything more than flex consideration. I’d be looking to sell high on Thompson if I owned him in any season-long or dynasty leagues. His value may never be higher than it currently sits right now.
2. The Falcons and Chiefs are the only teams to start 3-0.
We weren’t sure heading into the season exactly how the new Falcons team would look in 2017. They were coming off a disappointing Super Bowl loss, getting a new offensive coordinator from the college ranks, and were moving into a brand-new stadium facility. Kudos to Dan Quinn for keeping the team on the straight and narrow. Through the first three weeks, Atlanta stayed undefeated and ranked top-five in points scored. They’ve found themselves on the winning end of two close games playing in Chicago and in Detroit, and beat the Packers soundly at home. Atlanta had limited turnover on their roster and it shows — this team has Super Bowl aspirations written all over it.
The Chiefs are the only 3-0 team on the AFC side. They’ve successfully defeated the Patriots in Foxborough (47-27) and Philadelphia at home (27-20), and beat the Chargers on the road (24-10). Kansas City has the largest plus/minus between points scored (93) and points allowed (57) at +36. Tyreek Hill and rookie Kareem Hunt are both scoring at will from all over the field and the defense has been rock solid allowing the seventh-fewest points per game. The Chiefs are also adamantly taking care of the ball allowing just one turnover through three games. Andy Reid has all three phases of this squad playing spectacularly to start the season.
3. Are any of Detroit’s running backs fantasy-viable?
It’s tough to play any running back for the Lions at this stage of the season. Ameer Abdullah leads the team in running back touches (52), but is playing on just 45.4 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. Theo Riddick leads the group with receptions (13) and is the only one to score a touchdown (1). Dwayne Washington leads the team in touches inside the 10-yard line (3), getting those valuable scoring opportunities we covet. It’s an unplayable hodgepodge of spreading the ball around. To make matters worse, the Lions lead the league in no-huddle percent (41.9 percent), but are passing 59.2 percent of the time. They now face a Minnesota defense in Week 4 that has yet to allow a running back touchdown and is giving up the fewest fantasy points to the position. Week 4 looks like a strong fade of all Detroit backs and Week 5 against Carolina doesn’t get much easier. I’d be looking to sell Abdullah before their Week 6 matchup against the Saints if you can find any buyers in season-long leagues.
4. Ty Montgomery with broken ribs?
Montgomery exited Week 4’s matchup with the Bears quite early after what initially was ruled as broken ribs. However, recent reports show it may not have been as serious as initially thought:
Turns out Packers RB Ty Montgomery’s rib injury is not as bad as GB thought, per source. Montgomery is day to day and could play vs. Dallas.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 29, 2017
If Montgomery finds himself able to suit up in Week 5 after the Packers’ extended time off, then it becomes a difficult situation for fantasy owners to play out. Spending a decent portion of your FAAB makes sense if Montgomery is out for extended time, but if he comes back and plays around 30 percent of the team’s snaps in Week 5, would it be worth throwing significant money at either Jamaal Williams or Aaron Jones for just a part-time role? Given the confidence that Schefter had to report this update, I’d rather save my FAAB for someone else down the line than for a part-time player. The Packers play the Cowboys (15th-most fantasy points allowed to RBs) and the Vikings (32nd) the next two weeks before a cupcake matchup against the Saints. I’ll be saving my FAAB money for later.
5. It’s now or never for Cam Newton
Okay, I’ve said the same exact thing regarding Newton earlier this season, but after seeing what Deshaun Watson was able to put up against the Patriots, I understand those that are holding out the slimmest of hopes for Newton in Week 4. Newton has been an absolute fantasy disaster to open the season. He’s been the QB16, QB21, and QB27. After leading all quarterbacks in average depth of target last season (11.0 yards), he’s down to 20th at 8.4 yards. Whether it’s by design — prioritizing short targets to Christian McCaffrey over deep shots to Ted Ginn on the outside and Greg Olsen in the seam — or by injury (shoulder), Newton just doesn’t look the same as a passer. His lack of rushing (14 attempts through three games) is also hampering his fantasy productivity. If Newton can’t get it done this week against a Patriots defense that’s allowing the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks to start the year, then it might be time to call it quits on starting Newton for a while until we see any kind of rejuvenation.
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