Keen on Football

Keenon Krauss’ weekly fantasy football forecast

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Still better than Field Yates, Week 3 Fantasy Football Picks

“God bless fantasy football. There are many things a man can do with his time…this is better than those things.”- Pete Eckhart (The League)

Every Sunday a large portion of America invests their precious time and attention towards one thing, the NFL. Football has become a mainstay for life in    America, whether you play, watch your favorite team every week, or partake in a fantasy league. Starting this week, I’m going to be here to provide an inside opinion on the best players and match-ups (better than Field Yates’s) for each and every week of the new season, and help guide you to a championship run for the ages so you can take home that hardware. Shivakamini Somakandarkram!

 

Must Start QBs

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay: Many owners are upset about last week’s performance from Rodgers, but everyone needs to R-E-L-A-X and watch the points rain in this week against a purist Detroit Lions defense that Rodgers is used to torching. Rodgers is 11-3 in his career vs. the Lions throwing for 26 touchdowns and 3553 yards against them. Now with Jordy Nelson, his most dangerous weapon, back and picking up right where he left off two years ago the Packers are a frightening team who are poised for a deep playoff run with the former MVP at the helm.

FILE - in this Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, file photo, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) calls a play during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis. Green Bay’s struggling offense is looking to get its timing back when the Packers face the Detroit Lions in the home opener at Lambeau Field on Sunday.(AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
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FILE – in this Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, file photo, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) calls a play during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis. Green Bay’s struggling offense is looking to get its timing back when the Packers face the Detroit Lions in the home opener at Lambeau Field on Sunday.(AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)

Drew Brees, New Orleans: Some players seem to never age, this seems especially true for the Quarterback position. Drew Brees has been the definition of consistent throughout his career, entering this season at age 37 Brees has shown things aren’t changing anytime soon. Already with 5 passing touchdowns and 686 yards he is on pace for another outstanding season. This week Brees is preparing to head back to New Orleans for a shoot-out with the Atlanta Falcons. Start him with confidence.

Matt Ryan, Atlanta: Matty Ice has been on fire (pun intended) since the start of the season, already with 5 touchdowns and 730 yards in two games it’s safe to say he is a fantastic play Monday night in an almost guaranteed shoot out in New Orleans. With an improved O-Line, a backfield that has two very capable big play backs, and a improving receiving core led by the one and only Julio Jones, don’t be surprised if you see Brees and Ryan go touchdown for touchdown to end week 3.

Ryan Tannehill, Miami: After starting the new season with two extremely underwhelming matchups on the road, Ryan Tannehill has looked very strong. Last week he threw for 389 yards and added two touchdowns as well. Now he gets to head back home to Miami to play one of the worst teams in the NFL the Cleveland Browns. It’s pretty safe to trust in anyone playing the Browns so this week ride the wave and start Tannehill.

Andrew Luck, Indianapolis: San Diego has allowed on average 24 fantasy ppg to QBs this season, and this was to the likes of Blake Bortles and Alex Smith. So if, teenage mutant ninja Bortles can do it what makes you think the former #1 pick Andrew Luck can not? After a down week Luck and the Colts look to bounce back with a vengeance against the depleted injury prone Chargers. Expect the Colts to light up the Chargers all day long and Luck to throw at least 2 touchdowns, maybe even 3 or 4 if he gets lucky (expect puns to come at a premium).

 

 

Must Start WRs

Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh: AB, the hands down best receiver in NFL, the centerpiece of one of the best offenses we have seen in some time, and the highest scoring fantasy player in the league multiple years in a row. Well this guy goes against one of the worst secondaries in the league in Philadelphia Sunday. Philadelphia was torched last week by Alshon Jeffery all game giving up 96 yards to him alone. Be prepared for multiple touchdowns, an abundance of catches, enough points to single handedly win you your matchup this week, and a plethora of entertaining endzone celebrations from the former Dancing With The Stars Superstar.

FILE - In this Dec. 6, 2015, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) celebrates with wide receiver Markus Wheaton (11) after scoring on a pass reception against the Indianapolis Colts during an NFL football game in Pittsburgh. The Steelers play the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Jan. 3. (AP Photo/Don Wright, File)
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FILE – In this Dec. 6, 2015, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) celebrates with wide receiver Markus Wheaton (11) after scoring on a pass reception against the Indianapolis Colts during an NFL football game in Pittsburgh. The Steelers play the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Jan. 3. (AP Photo/Don Wright, File)

Dez Bryant, Dallas: With rookies Zeke Elliot and Dak Prescott starting to become the new center pieces in Dallas, the forgotten star Dez Bryant is still trying to re cement himself as one of the best receivers in the league. Coming off a solid week that consisted of 7 catches for over 100 yards, Dez looks to ‘Throw Up The X’ for the first time this season as he gets the horrendous Chicago Bears secondary at home. The Bears have allowed 3 touchdowns to Wide receivers already this season so the always dangerous red zone threat is in position for a busy day.

Brandin Cooks, New Orleans: Drew Brees’s favorite target, is set for a monstrous game come Monday night at home vs. the weak Falcons secondary. Week 1, Cooks dropped 2 touchdowns and 143 yards and followed it up with another 7 catches and 68 yards last week. With an excessive amount of targets each week and enough skill to become one of the best receivers in the league, Cooks is a must start this week.

Jarvis Landry, Miami: Jarvis Juice, the always reliable LSU product is a ppr monster, and this week he has a great chance to burn the laughing stock of the NFL the Cleveland Browns. If you’re a Browns fan and you are reading my fantasy advice, I wanna apologize for constantly talking about how awful your team is but face it your team is the worst. Coming off a week where he caught 10 balls for 135 yards against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Jarvis has Elite WR1 status this week especially in a points per reception league.

Travis Benjamin, San Diego: After the Chargers superstar wide receiver Keenan Allen tore his ACL Week 1, things looked very grim for the season. Newly signed Travis Benjamin was forced to step up and become the man and most important weapon in the Chargers pass heavy offense led by gun-slinging Philip Rivers. Fresh off a 2 touchdown performance last Sunday, Benjamin now gets the lackluster Colts defense whose secondary has been getting exposed recently. In the first two weeks the Colts defense has allowed 39 and 34 points, and has been especially vulnerable to the deep ball. It just so happens Travis Benjamin’s greatest strength is his big playmaking ability commonly displayed on the deep ball.

 

 

Must Start RBs

Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas: The explosive rookie out of Ohio State, has seen at least 20 carries in his first two NFL games against division rivals New York Giants and Washington Redskins. He found pay-dirt in each of those games and has looked every bit worth the fourth pick in last year’s NFL draft. This week he gets the appealing Chicago Bears defense at home in a game most Ezekiel fantasy owners are drooling over. Expect Elliott to find the endzone and rack up the yards all day long.

Mark Ingram, New Orleans: The 6th year back from Alabama has started the season off slow with less than 15 carries in both games and still no touchdowns. For most owners who took this guy in the second or third round they are beginning to panic but I’m here to tell you that Ingram will breakout this week and finally provide you with that second or third round value you expected of him on draft day. As I have said in this article multiple times, the Atlanta Falcons are not a good defensive football team. They struggle against the run along with the pass and give up a ton of points. So a balanced offensive attack like the New Orleans Saints is a nightmare for that defense and expect Ingram to have a big day.

New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) runs the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) runs the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Todd Gurley, LA: Just like Mark Ingram, Todd Gurley breakout superstar of last season has had a relatively slow start to his second season. After being one of the top picks in almost every fantasy draft this August and the top back on most draft boards, it’s been strange seeing a player with as much skill and talent as Gurley struggle to start the new season. The fact that a Pop Warner team could the throw the ball more effectively and consistently then the LA Rams does not help out Gurley to much either and certainly could be a main cause for his lack of production, but the good news is the Buccaneers have allowed an average of 19.5 fantasy points to opposing backs this season. So this week could very well be all about Todd Gurley and his pure dominance.

Melvin Gordon, San Diego: One of the biggest surprises so far this season has been the prominent rise of the second year back from Wisconsin Melvin Gordon. The Chargers back has scored 3 touchdowns and ran for 159 yards in 2 games on 38 attempts this season. San Diego hasn’t seen someone start a season with this kind of production since a guy named LaDainian Tomlinson was around. And if you’re not aware who LT is just know he was really really good. So anytime your name is being thrown around with his you are doing something right. This week Gordon gets a struggling Colts defense that has had a very hard time containing backs so far this season. Expect Gordon to run all over the Colts and find the endzone at least once or twice.

Theo Riddick, Detroit: Theo Riddick isn’t a household name YET but trust me in the next couple of weeks that will change rather quickly. Now the lead-back in Detroit Riddick has a very good chance to become one of the highest scoring backs in the league for the next few weeks. Usually the third down passing back for the Lions Riddick has shown great skill and talent in the open field the past few seasons when targeted there is a 90% completion rate to Riddick pretty solid chance this guy is catching the ball when thrown too. If you are in a points per reception league this guy should be started with ease this week and if you don’t have him and he is available or you think you would be able to make a move for him I highly advice you doing that.

 

Must Start TEs

Jordan Reed, Washington: Jordan Reed has the talent and ability to be the best TE in this league. Yeah I said it the best. When healthy, Jordan Reed absolutely feasts on opposing defenders on a weekly basis. Last year Jordan Reed had 87 catches and found the endzone 11 times in only 14 games. Reed is ridiculously good and is rightfully Kirk Cousins favorite target. If you have Reed or can get Reed do anything in your power to get him because when Reed plays he scores points and he doesn’t just score some points he scores points in bunches. This week will be no different as he takes on his division rival Giants in a game with huge implications. Expect Cousins to be looking Reed’s way early and often.

Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed (86) pulls in a pass under pressure from Dallas Cowboys free safety Byron Jones (31) during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
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Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed (86) pulls in a pass under pressure from Dallas Cowboys free safety Byron Jones (31) during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Dennis Pitta, Baltimore: After Missing the greater part of the last two seasons, Dennis Pitta is back. And you already know the Pitta/January Joe connection is back in full effect as well. A popular pickup last week Pitta did not let anyone down that invested in him. You can trust him to play well again coming off of an outstanding  game where he was not only targeted 12 times. He takes on the Jacksonville Jaguars who have had their struggles against opposing Tight Ends.

 

 

Sneaky Streamer Start

Marcus Mariota, Tennessee: The second year back from Oregon, has shown strides early on in this season already. Coming fresh off a game where he threw for two touchdowns and looked extremely accurate he now gets an Oakland Raiders defense that has allowed over 30 points in both of their first two games this season. I’m predicting Mariota to throw for another two touchdowns and maybe even rush for a touchdown as well. If you are an owner of Brady, Dalton, or even Tyrod Taylor you might want to think about picking up Mariota and starting him with confidence this week.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
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Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)