Thursday Night Fantasy Football Preview Week 3

Photo By: Joe Sargent/Getty Images via dknation.draftkings.com

Week 3 is upon us! Hopefully you’re in the 2-0 or 1-1 crowd heading into Thursday Night Football, but even if you’re not don’t panic because there is plenty of football left to be played. It’s not a good feeling starting out 0-2, but you can’t smash the panic button. There are still market corrections to be had and players that will bounce back if they started slow.

* DFS Prices Come Via Draft Kings *

TNF Week 3 slates the Cleveland Browns at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers. There are plenty of fantasy options in tonight’s game, but its all a matter of who you decide to toss in before the main windows this Sunday. So let’s dive in and check out some players I think you need to pay attention to along with the Draft Kings prices for “Captain’s Challenge” games.

Jacoby Brissett (CLE) – I’m not much for Jacoby Brissett in fantasy football and most people aren’t. I’m not looking to start him unless I’m in a situation where I lost Trey Lance and need an emergency fill in. I won’t be too negative, truth is they take on a Steelers secondary that has given up the 3rd most yard through the air in 2 weeks. That doesn’t mean I’m smashing a start on Brissett, but it also means he might finish better than he currently sits at QB21. He showed some promise last week, connecting with Amari Cooper a few times, but I’m not riding the Browns passing train anytime soon. ($8,800 or $13,200 as Captain)

Mitch Trubisky (PIT) – This game stinks for fantasy when it comes to the air. I don’t want anything to do with Trubisky yet either if I’m being honest. He sits just behind Brissett as the QB22. Even though the Browns gave up a pile of yards to Flacco and the Jets last week, I think Flacco is a much better quarterback than Trubisky. Therefor I really don’t care for him as a start in fantasy football. He has barely crossed the 350 yard mark after 2 games, and I just think he is going to be dinking and dunking as I expect the Browns pass rush to be an issue. ($8,600 or $12,900 as Captain)

Photo By: David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via brownsnation.com

Nick Chubb/Kareem Hunt (CLE) – The first two weeks were kind of a ping pong game for the Cleveland Browns running backs. In week 1 you saw Kareem Hunt finish as the RB5 while Chubb finished as the RB14. Then last week you saw Chubb finish as the RB1 while Hunt finished as the RB28. To me this could very well be the story this season for the Browns backfield. However, I kind of get the feeling that this game against the Steelers is one of those you can start both of these guys and be happy with the outcome. They’ve been pretty close in usage. Last week Chubb saw 36 snaps and ran 15 routes, while Hunt saw 31 snaps and ran 16 routes. Chubb just happened to have a much better showing. The Steelers rushing defense is middle of the pack, and I fully expect both of these guys to have great games on TNF. (Chubb - $12,000 or $18,000 as Captain) (Hunt - $7,600 or $11,400 as Captain)

Najee Harris (PIT) – Najee’s usage isn’t going away anytime soon it seems, and as a fantasy manager you have to be happy about it. Last week Najee saw the 4th most targets for running backs in the league, while playing on 42 snaps and running 21 routes. He only averaged 3.3 ypc on the ground but the thing is he gets so much volume to where it almost doesn’t matter. Now this week he takes on a very tough Browns rush defense, and with the Steelers line being trash it might be a little tougher sledding for Harris. Not that the Patriots defense wasn’t difficult, because they’re 6th best in the league against the run. But the Browns are 4th best, and you might see that ypc number go closer to 3 on the nose. You’re still starting Najee, because even with the low production he still finished as the RB13 in week 2 because of the massive volume. Just be sure to temper your expectations a bit. ($9,800 or $14,700 as Captain)

Amari Cooper (CLE) – So I’ll eat crow from last week because I told you to not start Cooper on Sunday and he ended the week as the WR9. He saw 10 targets, caught 9 of them and turned it into 101 yards and a touchdown. So, that being said; I’m still not 100% sold on Cooper, I think he’s a solid WR2 or flex for this week but that’s about it. This could end up being a ground and pound game for the Browns. However, Cooper is definitely the wide receiver you are starting out of the Browns crew. Last week him and Donovan Peoples-Jones both played the same amount of snaps (54), and nearly had the same amount of routes ran (Cooper 29, Peoples-Jones 28). But the kicker here is that Cooper saw 10 targets to Peoples-Jones 1 target. I think he could be a solid DFS play for TNF. ($9,400 or $14,100 as Captain)

Diontae Johnson (PIT) – After two weeks the Pittsburgh Steelers receivers are shaping up to be exactly what I thought they would be, frustrating. After 2 games Johnson sits as the WR36. If there is a Pittsburgh receiver you are starting its this one. Over the last 2 years he has accumulated so many targets, and though so far it hasn’t accumulated to a ton of yards (112), you still want the wide receiver that sees more opportunity. Him and Claypool ran the exact amount of routes last week, but Johnson saw almost double the targets. Until Trubisky shows me a little more fire and that he can be more competent for his wide receivers I’m not really starting any of them with pride or optimism. You’re throwing Johnson in your lineup, but you’re not happy about it. I guess he’s the one you’d want for this week. ($9,200 or $13,800 as Captain)

Chase Claypool (PIT) – If you’re looking for the big splash play than Claypool is your guy. Well, he’s supposed to be anyways, but we are yet to see it this season. Claypool currently sits as the WR64, and there is no evidence the last 2 weeks that you should throw him in your fantasy lineup. He’s only seen 12 targets and had 8 catches so far. Not to mention he hasn’t even cracked 50 receiving yards this season. My only suggestion with Claypool is that he could be a sneaky dart throw in DFS, and pray that he gets a 50 yards bomb from Trubisky for a touchdown. Otherwise, I’m 100% out. ($6,200 or $9,300 as Captain)

David Njoku (CLE) – As I stated last week, I’m out on Njoku until Brissett decides to throw him the ball. At this time Njoku has only seen 6 targets in 2 games. He’s been playing a ton of snaps, seeing 63 last week, but he has been primarily blocking for Chubb and Hunt. Not to mention now they have Harrison Bryant only getting 1 less target than Njoku in week 2. Until game plans change for him, and he starts to run more routes and accumulate more targets, I don’t want any part of Njoku. ($5,200 or $7,800 as Captain)

Pat Freiermuth (PIT) – Patty Fry is what I’m going to call him because it’s easier. So get over it. I love this guy if I’m being completely honest, and he might be the sole bright spot in the Pittsburgh passing game this week and/or season. He has the third most targets among tight ends in the NFL right now, and currently sits as the TE6. He could end up being Trubisky’s security blanket for the season, and if you’re a Patty Fry shareholder you’re a happy camper. Last week he played 48 snaps, and on those snaps he ran 30 routes. That’s a massive 62.5% rate for routes ran on played snaps. With the tight end pool always being minuscule in fantasy football you absolutely need one that is going to be going out to catch the ball and not staying in to block. I love Pat this week, fire him up in all formats, and is one of my must haves in DFS for the game. ($7,000 or $10,500 as Captain)

SKOL

JD