The New Orleans Saints are 0-2 through two games, facing a 1-1 Minnesota Vikings team that no longer has its franchise player. That is a sad fantasy football sentence.
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 3: Vikings vs. Saints
An 0-2 theoretical contender is in the better shape of these two teams, thanks to off-the-field news. Still, there is fantasy interest.
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At 1 p.m. ET Sunday in New Orleans, both teams try to get their seasons on track. There is a large list of fantasy names to keep an eye on in the game:
Vikings
Start in every league: Blair Walsh
Start if you're desperate: Cordarrelle Patterson, Kyle Rudolph
Bench: Matt Cassel, Matt Asiata, Jerick McKinnon, Greg Jennings, Defense/special teams
The only Viking who really needs to be started is the kicker Walsh, and even he isn’t a totally sure thing; he was held scoreless in Week 2.
Adrian Peterson’s absence hurts the rest of the Vikings, too, limiting the offense’s ability to move the ball and get into scoring territory. That effect was evident in Week 2, with Patterson held to five fantasy points. He’s now the team’s best player, but he’s a flex at best. ... Rudolph hasn’t been anything special through two games; he’s a TE2.
Haha, you’re wondering if you should start Cassel in fantasy. Good joke. ... The only thing Asiata has going for him is Peterson’s absence; he just isn’t very good. ... McKinnon has yet to be a part of the Minnesota offense. He’ll rise as the season goes on, but you can’t use him yet. ... Jennings was a no-show in Week 2 after a good Week 1. ... On the road against a good offense, the Vikings’ defense is one you can’t justify using.
Saints
Start in every league: Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham, Shayne Graham
Start if you're desperate: Pierre Thomas, Marques Colston, Brandin Cooks, Defense/special teams
Bench: Khiry Robinson
Yes, the Brees owners have been really disappointed so far, with 15 fantasy points per game. But in 2013, he averaged 15.3 fantasy points per game on the road. This is what he does. He averaged 28.3 points per game at home. This Sunday is his first home game in 2014. ... After a middling Week 1, Graham reminded everyone why he was a first-round pick this season in Week 2. ... And I'm going to need the Saints' kicker to change his name, because repeatedly writing "Graham" and needing to explain who I mean gets frustrating (the Ravens, with Smith and Smith, and Broncos, with Thomas and Thomas, also need to resolve this). Anyway, the Saints should score points, so their kicker should as well.
With Mark Ingram sidelined, I expect Thomas to see a bigger boost than Robinson. He’s a high-end flex play. ... Colston had an inexplicable goose-egg in Week 2, but I still think he’s a good play in Week 3. ... Cooks is a notch below Colston, but he wouldn’t be an awful play in an emergency. ... The Saints’ defense has really disappointed so far, but I’d at least be willing to see if they can improve at home against a bad offense.
Robinson has potential, but as I said above, I think Ingram’s absence helps Thomas more. Grab him if he’s a free agent, but don’t slot him into your lineup just yet.
