The third game of the NFL preseason is traditionally the “dress rehearsal,” the week when most teams play their starters into the second half. It’s the one week of preseason that most feels like real football, even though we’re still waiting two weeks for the games to start mattering in the schedule. So if you’re looking for final starting lineups and depth charts getting settled, look no further than the third preseason game.
Fantasy football 2017: Wide receiver sleepers to watch in preseason Week 3
The third preseason game is when the starters get the most playing time. We look at some fantasy sleeper candidates at wide receiver to watch this weekend.
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This is probably the most crucial weekend in fantasy football preparation. After this week’s games, draft season really kicks into gear as owners get their teams set up for the season-long grind ahead. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some potential sleeper candidates to watch at wide receiver this week and some final notes to take into your draft room.
The football world held its breath last week when Odell Beckham Jr. went down after a low tackle on his knee. Despite the ugly-looking injury, Beckham avoided anything catastrophic. Nevertheless, he has a sprained ankle and will probably miss a game or two to start the season. Beckham’s absence would elevate the fantasy valve of Shepard, who just came back from his own ankle injury. If Beckham misses time, Shepard will be on the WR3 radar alongside Brandon Marshall.
Williams keeps making big-time plays, including a highlight-reel catch against shutdown cornerback Xavier Rhodes last week. A former five-star recruit, Williams’ college career was derailed by a nasty broken leg, and he spent the past two years on the Seahawks practice squad. If Williams is back to pre-injury form, the Seahawks could have a massive steal on their hands, and it could give them an excuse to phase out an ineffective Jermaine Kearse.
Currently the No. 1 receiver by default with Sammy Watkins gone and Jordan Matthews injured, Jones saw six targets from Tyrod Taylor last week, turning them into three catches for 42 yards. Jones’ fantasy ceiling is limited in an offense that wants to run the ball as much as possible, but he carries some PPR potential as Taylor’s slot man.
Released by both the San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets, Ellington found a home in Houston, where he exploded for four catches and 93 yards against the New England Patriots last week.
The Texans receiver group is being held together with duct tape at this moment. Will Fuller is out indefinitely with a broken collarbone, DeAndre Hopkins is dealing with a hand injury, Braxton Miller has a sprained ankle, and Jaelen Strong is suspended for Week 1. So who knows? Maybe Ellington will be a minor fantasy asset in September? Stranger things have happened.
