Money Makers and Heart Breakers Week 3
Week 3 is here, Week 3 is here! I think I might still be reeling from all the injuries in Week 2. If you follow my UNtangling the Wire article a couple of the names early on here are already familiar to you. Pick them up plug them in.
If you follow me on Twitter, you will see a longer thread of who is a Money Maker and who will be a Heart Breaker. The beauty of the article is you get to see more of the why someone is more likely to produce or not to produce each week.
Money Maker – I think this player will perform well this week and be better than expectations
Heart Breaker – These players will not have a good week
Quarterbacks
💰 Money Makers
Gardner Minshew – The Dolphins defense has been torched by both Cam Newton and Josh Allen in the first two weeks of the season to the tune of 72% completion rate, as the opposing QBs combined for 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. The Dolphins have 3 sacks and on 7 quarterback hits combined in Weeks 1 and 2. Gardner Minshew is currently the QB9, he is going to feast in Week 3. Minshew has been spreading the ball around and has thrown for 3 touchdowns in Week 1 and another 3 in Week 2. Minshew Mania is going to run wild on you!
Ryan Tannehill – Who has two top 15 finishes in Weeks 1 and 2 of this season. Ryan Tannehill, that’s who. He just had a four touchdown game last week and is now going up against a Vikings defense that has given up 578 yards, five touchdowns and only one interception in the first two weeks of the season. You can expect Tannehill to continue his tear in Week 3. (Bonus – Tannehill is only $7,400 on FanDuel)
Ryan Fitzpatrick – In Week 2 Fitzmagic threw for 328 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Jaguars are a generous team to quarterbacks. They gave up 363 yards and a touchdown to Philip rivers in Week 1 and followed that up by allowing Ryan Tannehill to throw for 239 yards and 4 touchdowns. There will be some magic in that beard this weekend.
Other quarterbacks I like in week 3:
There is the obvious: Russell Wilson, Dak Prescott, Kyler Murray and Lamar Jackson
The not so obvious: Mitch Trubisky and Carson Wentz
NOTE: Kyle Larson also mentions some of the above in the Stream Option for Week 3.
💔 Heart Breakers
Deshaun Watson – Deshaun Watson is finding it difficult in the passing game since losing DeAndre Hopkins. The Houston passing game looked relatively average in the first two weeks. Looking at another average day with about 250 yards and a touchdown. It just feels wrong thinking of Deshaun Watson as mediocre.
Josh Allen – In Week 2, Josh Allen and the Bills passing attack had a great matchup against the Dolphins. In Week 3, they get the Rams. Yikes. The Rams have yet to give up 300 passing yards to a quarterback this season. In addition, Los Angeles has only given up one passing touchdown. Things get a little more difficult for the Bills passing game so look for the run game to rule for them in Week 3.
Derek Carr – Against the Saints, Carr had 282 yards and three touchdowns. You would think that type of play would make me want him as a money maker. Well, Derek Carr only had one game with 3 touchdowns all of last season. The Patriots are actually very good against the pass and rank as the 11th against quarterbacks this season. Look for Carr to struggle a bit this week.
Others quarterbacks to avoid: Kirk Cousins, Danny Jones, Baker Mayfield, Dwayne Haskins
Running Backs
💰 Money Makers
Dalvin Cook – In Week 3, Dalvin Cook gets to play the Titans defense that is giving up an average of 5.15 yards per carry. Cook is handling 80% of the running back workload for the Vikings and you can expect him to perform at an exceptionally high level in against the Titans defense. Cook has scored in each week so far this season and that will continue in week 3. (Bonus – Dalvin Cook is a bargain at $8,600 on FanDuel)
Austin Ekeler – The touches have been there for Austin Ekeler in the first two weeks and the yards have been as well. But one thing that has been missing is the touchdowns. At least this week Ekeler gets the worst run defense in the entire league, the Carolina Panthers. Look for Ekeler to find the end zone this week as well as pile up yards. (Bonus – Ekeler is a great value at $7,00 on FanDuel)
Joshua Kelley – Ekeler is not the only running back that is producing for the Chargers. Kelley is averaging 62 yards a week rushing right now and is the goal line back. The one-two punch for the Chargers should both produce good numbers this week against the Panthers. (Bonus – Joshua Kelley is a steal at $5,900 on Fanduel)
Other running backs to play:
The obvious: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chris Carson, Alvin Kamara, Ezekiel Elliott and Miles Sanders
The not so obvious: Leonard Fournette, Nick Chubb, Mike Davis, and Jerick McKinnon
💔 Heart Breakers
Joe Mixon – Imagine that I have Mixon as a heart breaker. In Week 3, Mixon runs up against an Eagles defense that is only allowing 3.71 yards per carry. I would be surprised if this is the week that Mixon finally breaks out. My apologies to those who picked him in round two but you can expect more mediocre play from Mixon in Week 3.
David Johnson – It will be tough going for the entire Houston offense in Week 3 against the Steelers defense that is allowing only 18 points per game. The Steelers defense has only allowed 76 yards on the ground this season. Melvin Gordon did get a touchdown last week to give him a good week. Barring a touchdown, it will be tough going for David Johnson this week.
Other running backs that will cost you in Week 3: David Montgomery, Lions Running backs, Patriots running backs
Wide Receivers
💰 Money Makers
Allen Robinson – Averaging 9 targets a game and playing against the Falcons this week. The Falcons have been absolutely destroyed through the air the first two weeks of the season. The Falcons defense has given up huge games to the Cowboys and Seahawks wide receivers. This is a game where you can look at ARob getting right in a nice match up where he will most likely have 100 yards and/or a touchdown. (Bonus – Allen Robinson is a smash at $6,900 on FanDuel)
Kenny Golladay – Welcome back, Kenny G! Last week Terry McLaurin lit up the Cardinals defense for 7 receptions, 125 yards and a touchdown. The Lions and Matthew Stafford love the downfield passing game. Look for the connection between Golladay and Stafford to take off against Arizona. (Bonus – Kenny Golladay provides nice value at $7,500 on FanDuel)
Marquise Brown – Brown leads the Ravens in targets and air yards and the Chiefs were shredded by Will Fuller for 8 receptions and 112 yards in Week 1 and Keenan Allen had 7 receptions for 96 yards in Week 2. Brown has top 10 upside in Week 3 against the defending champs.
Other wide receivers to play:
The obvious: Adam Thielen, Deandre Hopkins, Cowboys and Seahawks wide receivers
The not so obvious: – Isaiah Ford, Terry McLaurin and Tre’Quan Smith
💔 Heart Breakers
John Brown – The Bills play the Rams, who have yet to give up 100 yards to a wide receiver or even a touchdown. Brown has started the season hot with a touchdown in each of the first two games, but it gets a little tougher for him this time out.
Robby Anderson – The surprise wide receiver for the Panthers has been Robby Anderson. He has had over 100 yards in each of the first two games. The Chargers have yet to give up 100 yards to a wide receiver this season and average the second lowest yard per reception in the league at 6.0 yards per pass attempt. This is the week Robby Anderson will comes back down to Earth.
Other wide receivers will cost you: Keenan Allen, AJ Green, Tyler Boyd, Eagles wide receivers
Tight Ends Week 15
💰 Money Makers
Mike Gesicki – Last week, Mike Gesicki had 11 targets for 8 receptions, 130 yards and a touchdown against the Bills. He is playing against the Jaguars this week. The Jaguars have struggled to defend the middle of the field. Last week Jonnu Smith and Adam Humphries destroyed the Jags over the middle to a combined total of 9 receptions for 132 yards and 3 touchdowns. Gesicki is going to have one hell of a game this week.
Tyler Higbee – Might look like chasing touchdowns after Tyler Higbee had three in Week 2 but it is not. If you read about Gesicki above then you know that the Bills are currently soft in the middle of the field where tight ends do their thing. Tyler Higbee is a solid play this week (Bonus – Tyler Higbee is worth a swing at $6,100 on FanDuel)
Jonnu Smith – Last week, Jonnu Smith had 4 receptions for 84 yards and 2 touchdowns. Next up is a Vikings defense that allowed Mo Allie -Cox to have 5 receptions for 111 yards in Week 2. With A.J. Brown still on the shelf I find it near impossible to sit Jonnu this week. His floor is probably comparable to what Allie-Cox got in Week 2. Put Jonnu in your line up. (Bonus – Jonnu is a nice value at $5,600 on FanDuel)
Other tight ends to play:
The obvious Mark Andrews, Travis Kelce Zach Ertz and Darren Waller
The not so obvious: Dallas Goedert, Drew Sample, Noah Fant and Logan Thomas
💔 Heart Breakers
T.J. Hockenson – The Cardinals defense has face 2 very good tight ends this season, George Kittle and Logan Thomas, and has only given up a total of 8 receptions and 70 yards in total. Hockenson has been involved in the passing game but the Cardinals are not the team that let tight ends run all over them last season anymore.
Hunter Henry – The Panthers held Daren Waller to 45 yards in week 1 and OJ Howard to 11 yards in Week 2. The Chargers are going to run and run and run. If you have another option at tight end I would turn to it.
Other tight ends that will cost you: Chris Herndon, Tyler Eifert, and Dalton Schultz
Thanks for checking out our Money Makers and Heart Breakers column. For more great content from the Undroppables, follow us on Twitter, follow @MikeReedyFF for more great content, and visit back soon for Mike’s weekly UNtangling the Wire (waiver wire) article.
