NFL Week 3 Dynasty Detour

Week 3 is now in the books, and there is much to discuss. Consequential injuries, rising and falling usage, and standout performances mean new feelings on players across the league. Here’s what we’re noticing.

-- Dynasty Detour Ryan

📝 Traffic Report

Week 3 showed us a continuation of some trends we’ve seen early this season, and a reversal of some others. Unfortunately, another week has meant more injuries to discuss as well. Let’s get into it ⬇️ 

🦅 Eagles Remember How to Fly

It was more of the same for Philadelphia in the first half of action against the Rams this weekend, as Jalen Hurts and the Eagles passing attack were unable to get anything at all going through the air. After some time in the locker room at halftime and a heated exchange between Hurts and OC Kevin Patullo on the sideline, the pass attempts downfield materialized.

Hurts and the Eagles passed for over 200 yards and 3 TDs in the second half, including healthy portions for A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert. Should we be convinced that the Birds are back?

• Jalen Hurts rushing floor, buoyed greatly by an ever-present tush push touchdown potential, makes him a continued start week to week. I think the passing attack will swing upwards, but I’m also concerned Patullo’s offense will stall for drives at a time still.

• As for the receiviers, Brown remains the red zone favorite, as well as having the potential for deep shots, YAC, and having the highest slant route percentage of anyone in the league. So long as the Eagles don’t go back to abandoning the pass again, he should be safe from here on out.

• Supporting options Dallas Goedert and DeVonta Smith could very well rise with the tide of a corrected passing attack as well, but I am still waiting to start them until we see more consistency.

🚑️ Injury Report

Last week it was the QBs, this week was the RBs. Here’s what they all mean:

• CeeDee Lamb - Lamb got rolled up on this weekend after taking a hand-off, resulting in a 2+ week recovery for a high ankle sprain. Often, these take even longer. George Pickens was and will continue to be the largest benefactor of his absence. Some tougher secondaries barely keep Pickens out of must-start territory until Lamb returns, but he’s definitely a guy I feel good about. Tight end Jake Ferguson becomes a de facto top two option for this team, and already saw quite the windfall after Lamb’s departure, totaling 13 receptions on 14 targets by the end of this one. Ferguson needs to be in lineups until Lamb comes back.

• James Conner - Out for the season with an undisclosed foot injury. Conner had already ceded some work to second year back Trey Benson, but now Benson is officially at or pretty close to bellcow status. Emari Demercado got sprinkled in but went nowhere on either of his two carries. Benson’s now a confident start for managers until he proves otherwise, and given the severity of Conner’s injury, his age, and the way the split was already heading, a good asset to own beyond this year.

• Najee Harris - Harris suffered an obvious Achilles’ injury this week that will end his year. Omarion Hampton absorbed the brunt of his workload after basically splitting 50/50 the week before. Hampton is a must-start going forward and looks to be a near-total bellcow, outside a few touches for Hassan Haskins. I don’t hate Haskins for an empty roster spot, but he’s not a guy I’m shedding assets to acquire.

• Niners QBs - Brock Purdy enters the week still battling shoulder and toe injuries that kept him sidelined this weekend. Mac Jones stepped in in relief and aggravated an existing knee injury that lands him a questionable designation as well. Purdy practiced multiple days last week and could return against Jacksonville this week. If he gets the green light he’s a confident start, if not I’m not too confident in Mac Jones, and even less so Kurtis Rourke if neither Purdy or Jones can suit up.

• Jayden Daniels - Daniels remains day-to-day according to the most recent news. A matchup against a struggling Falcons team and solid play from backup QB Marcus Mariota keeps Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel as startable even if Daniels can’t suit up. Mariota also is a serviceable option for teams in need of QB help as injuries linger.

• JJ McCarthy - McCarthy has already been ruled out for this week’s showdown in Ireland, but definitely is not far from a return. Carson Wentz will serve as the starter again against a somewhat suspect Steelers defense. Wentz has always loved to find his tight ends, so T.J. Hockenson is a somewhat exciting start in this one. Justin Jefferson needs to stay in starting lineups as well, though I’m not too keen on Jordan Addison as he makes his debut. Wentz is my favorite backup option for desperate teams this week.

• Justin Fields - Fields had some ups and downs before his Week 2 concussion, and a solid start from Tyrod Taylor started raising some questions for the Jets, but HC Aaron Glenn confirmed Fields will start if healthy. A matchup with the suffering Miami Dolphins makes either QB a start for me, and after Garrett Wilson’s performance this past week, I’m not concerned about him either.

-- Dynasty Detour Ryan

🚦 Scouting Stoplight

Reading signals and shifting gears - here are 4 players we’re going to give the green, yellow, and red light to for dynasty…

🟢 Cam Skattebo, RB NYG - 10 ATT/6 REC for 121 total yds, 1 TD | 24.1 PPR FPTS

A Tyrone Tracy injury cleared the runway for Skattebo as the workhorse, and boy did he impress.

• Production - After two weeks of lackluster production, Skattebo broke out against a stingy Kansas City defense. He now has 2 TDs on the season, and looked electric while getting involved in the run and pass game. Peyton Hillis better watch out.

• Situation - The Giants offense is bad, but a potential IR stint for Tracy gives Skattebo a HUGE opportunity to prove himself as the lead back. With his ability to catch passes - 8 targets vs KC - his buy window might not be open for too much longer.

🟢 Quinshon Judkins, RB CLE - 18 ATT for 94 yds, 1 TD | 16.5 PPR FPTS

After a tumultuous offseason, Judkins has shown why the Browns drafted him in the second round ⬇️ 

• Production - In a stacked RB class, Quinshon Judkins has been the most impressive, despite missing Week 1! Judkins has been the most efficient rookie runner so far, piling up 155 rushing yards on far fewer carries than Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton. Despite the lighter workload, he ranks fifth in the entire NFL in rushing yards over expected (+56), well ahead of every other rookie back. That efficiency places him in elite company, outperforming veterans like Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Bijan Robinson.

• Situation - With a short offseason combined with Dylan Sampson and Jerome Ford on the roster, I wasn’t sure what kind of volume we’d see from Judkins early on. The answer: A LOT. In the second game of his career, he took 18/19 carries. The only knock on Judkins would appear to be passing work, where Sampson and Ford are getting the majority of the attention.

🟡 Caleb Williams, QB CHI - 298 pass yards, 4 TDs | 29.1 FPTS

Caleb just posted the best game of his career, but I’m not ready to crown the Prince of Chicago just yet… ⬇️ 

• Production - Ben Johnson and co. finally got rolling, to the delight of Caleb fantasy owners. Caleb is now the number 2 QB on the season with 7 TDs and 700+ yards. Despite the early season success, I want to pump the breaks before we restore Caleb to his pre-rookie year hype. Week 1 he had a strong fantasy output, but didn’t put on the best real-life performance. Week 2 was another mixed bag, with more bad than good. He then showed out against a Cowgirls defense that gave up 450 passing yards to Russell Wilson. Let’s pump the breaks until we see it against some real competition.

• Situation - Caleb is surrounded by young weapons that have the potential to form one of the stronger supporting casts, however the O-Line is a little dicey. Fortunately for fantasy owners, the Bears defense isn’t great, which begs for shootouts and more Caleb points.

🟢 Jake Ferguson, TE DAL - 13/14 rec, 82 yards | 21.2 FPTS

While I may not have as convincing an argument as Trump linking Tylenol use to Autism, I like to think that targets have a causal relationship with fantasy success. And if your tight end - in this economy - is getting 14 targets in a game, that is considered must start:

• Production - Would it surprise you to know that Ferg is the TE1 on the season… averaging 15 PPG? He’s looking like one of Dak’s favorite options, as he’s seen back to back weeks with double digit targets.

• Situation - With an injury to CeeDee that will likely keep him out a few weeks, Ferguson will keep this momentum going as a must start tight end. This Dallas team will be trailing early and often with their porous defense, leading to Dak airing it out (avg 42 pass attempts per game).

If you’re a contender in need of some TE help, look to add Ferguson for a mid 2nd. The situation can’t get much better than it is right now.

-- Dynasty Detour Tom

🚘 Fast Lane Fun Facts

Ahead of Monday night’s game, I pulled together 10 fun facts that made me check my mirrors on what we thought we knew.

1. Rome Odunze already has 4 TDs this season and is currently the WR2 on the season.

2. Geno Smith, despite being 1-2, has the 2nd highest passing yards so far this season (831), only trailing Justin Herbert (860).

3. Ricky Pearsall is 3rd in the league in receiving yards (ahead of Ja’Marr Chase (5th), CeeDee Lamb (11th), and Justin Jefferson (17th)), despite only playing one game with starting QB Brock Purdy.

4. Brian Thomas Jr. has 7 catches on 25 targets. 

5. Chris Olave leads the entire NFL in targets…Jake Ferguson is 3rd. 

6. Travis Etienne has more PPR fantasy points on the season (47.1) than Saquon Barkley (45.3).

7. Juwan Johnson (TE2) has more touchdowns, targets, receptions and fantasy points than Brock Bowers (TE8).

8. Tony Pollard leads running backs in snap percentage (89%). The next closest are Jonathan Taylor, Josh Jacobs and Alvin Kamara (82%). 

9. Spencer Rattler is averaging more fantasy points per game (15) than Dak Prescott (14) and Bo Nix (13.5).

10. Daniel Jones on pace to pass for 4,624 yards. That would be 3rd in the entire NFL last season. His previous best in a season was 3,205.

Ten fun facts in the books, and plenty of storylines on the road ahead. See you soon Detour fam.

-- Dynasty Detour Jesse

We’re officially in the swing of things, so be sure you follow us for all the must see events and reactions of every week. Follow us @dynastydetour on Instagram and X/Twitter to get our reactions and opinions in between write-ups, as well as email us with any questions at [email protected]. See you out on the road 🚘️.