Fantasy football stats: The worst of Week 3
Man, were there some bad games this week. I guess we gotta run ‘em back, even if it’s depressing.
Kevin C. Cox
Despite some really big fantasy days in Week 3, there were some huge disappointments. Case in point:
Montee Ball, Eddie Lacy, Frank Gore, LeSean McCoy, Darren Sproles, Shane Vereen, Joique Bell COMBINED for 14 fantasy points today.
— Daniel Kelley (@danieltkelley) September 22, 2014 That's just a start. C.J. Spiller's five-point fantasy day wasn't even a consideration for this week's Worst. Neither was Randall Cobb's two-point day, or the two-point fantasy days of Larry Donnell and Jordan Cameron.
The ones who were considered? Well, here you go:
Worst quarterbacks in Week 3
Josh McCown, TB (58 passing yards, 1 interception, 0 fantasy points)
McCown left the game Thursday night early with a sprained thumb, and it looks like an injury that will keep him out for some time. His replacement, Mike Glennon, fared only marginally better against the Falcons. The season so far has been an abject disaster for Tampa Bay, which ... frankly, is what last year was like.
Next game: Who knows? With McCown’s injury, he could be out for several weeks. Even when he returns, it’s hard to imagine using him in fantasy.
Matt Cassel, MIN (53 passing yards, 5 rushing yards, 2 fantasy points)
Similar to McCown, Cassel left his Week 3 game early with an injury, fracturing "several" bones in his foot. The injury led to the debut of rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who completed 12 of 20 pass attempts for 150 yards and added 27 rushing yards. Cassel's injury will likely have him out a while, and barring a complete disaster out of Bridgewater, he might not be getting his job back.
Next game: We don't know, and as I said above, if Bridgewater is good, Cassel might not have a next game. Basically, if he's going to be a next game, he'll be replacing Christian Ponder, because if Bridgewater holds on to the ball the whole time Cassel is out, Bridgewater will keep holding onto it.
Matthew Stafford, DET (246 passing yards, 2 interceptions, 8 rushing yards, 1 fumble lost, 3 fantasy points)
Well, no one saw that coming. A Green Bay Packers defense that allowed reasonably big games to Russell Wilson and Geno Smith in previous weeks was able to completely shut down Stafford, who, after 29 fantasy points in Week 1, has offered his fantasy owners very little in the weeks since.
Next game: The Lions take on the Jets in New York next week. Aaron Rodgers didn't have much trouble with the Jets in Week 2; Stafford's fantasy owners have to hope he can have the same luck.
Worst running backs in Week 3
Montee Ball, DEN (38 rushing yards, 6 receiving yards, 1 fumble lost, 1 fantasy point)
The season has gotten progressively worst for Ball, who put up 13 fantasy points in Week 1 before falling to eight in Week 2 and down to one point Sunday. The Broncos played much of the game from behind, meaning the team had 49 pass attempts against only 20 rushes, and Ball's fumble hurt the team's trust in him.
Next game: Denver has a Week 4 bye, then hosts the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5. Ball, who profiled as an obvious RB1 entering the season, is looking more like a No. 2 fantasy running back now. He'll need to start proving himself soon.
Eddie Lacy, GB (36 rushing yards, 9 receiving yards, 1 fumble lost, 1 fantasy point)
Eddie Lacy would pay good money to have Ball's "struggles" so far this season, I would bet. Through three games, Lacy has 151 total yards and only 10 fantasy points. In his defense, he has gone up against three of the league's best run defenses the first three weeks, taking on the Seahawks, Jets and Lions so far. Even giving him credit for that though, 10 total fantasy points is hugely disappointing.
Next game: Ever had three days of rain, then some sunshine? You like the sunshine so much more because it comes after all the awfulness. Anyway, Lacy and the Packers take on the run defense of the Chicago Bears in Week 4. Smile.
Frank Gore, SF (10 rushing yards, 1 fantasy point)
The only 49er who got significant carries Sunday was quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who carried the ball 13 times compared to only 11 for the rest of the team combined. Carlos Hyde at least found the end zone on one of his three carries, but Gore was shut out of the offense in almost every way. After 13 fantasy points a week ago, that was a disappointing performance.
Next game: The 49ers host the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4. Gore is no longer a sure-fire must-start running back, but you have to figure he'll get back on the good side next week a bit.
Worst wide receivers in Week 3
Keenan Allen, SD (17 receiving yards, 1 fantasy point)
Allen now has 12 catches and 119 receiving yards through three games, awful numbers for last year’s best rookie wide receiver, with more than a thousand yards. Allen went in the early teens among wide receivers in fantasy drafts, and he hasn’t come close to returning value on that pick through three weeks.
Next game: The Chargers host the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday afternoon. Basically, this is his last chance at proving his initial worth, considering the weakness of his opponent next week.
Larry Fitzgerald, ARI (34 receiving yards, 1 fumble lost, 1 fantasy point)
Quarterback Drew Stanton didn’t even appear to look Fitzgerald’s way until deep in the second half, though the receiver did end up with seven targets on the game Michael Floyd and John Brown both easily outpaced Fitzgerald’s contributions, even before you factor in the veteran’s lost fumble. Through three games, Fitzgerald has only 107 receiving yards.
Next game: Arizona has a much needed (considering Fitzgerald’s struggles and quarterback Carson Palmer’s injury) bye in Week 4, followed by a road game at Denver in Week 5. Palmer’s status will determine a lot, but that looks like a good chance for Fitzgerald to reestablish himself.
Sammy Watkins, BUF (19 receiving yards, 1 fantasy point)
I guess I’ll keep driving this particular car, but it’s hard to put a lot of blame when Watkins struggles on the receiver himself -- he was targeted eight times Sunday, catching only two of them, and a lot of those “targets” were targeted fairly poorly. Watkins’ quarterback situation means his value has a definite cap on it, even after the receiver put up 17 fantasy points in Week 2.
Next game: EJ Manuel will still be quarterbacking the Bills next Sunday at Houston, so while Watkins might have a big game, but planning on that will be tough.
Worst tight ends in Week 3
Antonio Gates, SD (8 receiving yards, 0 fantasy points)
This just feels mean. After Gates had a career-renaissance game in Week 2, with three touchdowns and 27 fantasy points, he was almost completely silenced in Week 3, targeted only once in the Chargers' game against the Bills. Considering Gates and Allen's entries on this list, Danny Woodhead getting injured and Ryan Mathews already being hurt, the fact that the Chargers won by 12 on Sunday is pretty incredible.
Next game: Once again, San Diego plays Jacksonville in Week 4, and that's a good time for all concerned. No. 2 tight end Ladarius Green is going to have occasional games where he outproduces Gates, as he did Sunday, so that's always something to watch out for.
Dennis Pitta, BAL (12 receiving yards, 1 fantasy point)
This also feels mean, for much different (and worse) reasons than Gates. Pitta left Sunday’s game early with what appears to be a right hip dislocation and possible fracture. Pitta missed most of last season with a similar injury, and there’s every chance this will end his season.
Next game: At this point, we just have to hope the 29-year-old Pitta even has another game in his career. Fingers crossed.
Zach Ertz, PHI (14 receiving yards, 1 fantasy point)
The Eagles' offense Sunday was very odd. Nick Foles had a huge game, as did Jeremy Maclin and Jordan Matthews, but that was it. Darren Sproles and LeSean McCoy had only five fantasy points between them. Riley Cooper had 34 yards. And Ertz, who had 21 fantasy points in Weeks 1 and 2 combined, was held to two catches and 14 yards.
Next game: Ertz had played himself into must-start territory among tight ends. We’ll give him a one-week reprieve, but if he can’t show something next week at San Francisco, the worries might increase.
Worst defense/special teams in Week 3
Jacksonville Jaguars (44 points allowed, 2 sacks, -7 fantasy points)
There's not much to say here. The Jaguars' defense is terrible, and it let Andrew Luck and the Colts go wild Sunday. Is there reason to think it will improve? It's hard to see one.
Carolina Panthers (37 points allowed, 1 sack, -7 fantasy points)
And on the flip side of things, this was totally unpredictable. The Panthers had the fourth-most fantasy points among all defenses entering Week 3, but the Steelers destroyed them on the ground and through the air. Things should get better, but that was weird.
