{"id":2096,"date":"2016-09-20T22:02:50","date_gmt":"2016-09-21T02:02:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=2096"},"modified":"2016-09-20T22:02:50","modified_gmt":"2016-09-21T02:02:50","slug":"week-three-fantasy-spotlight-things-to-watch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2016\/09\/20\/week-three-fantasy-spotlight-things-to-watch\/","title":{"rendered":"Week Three Fantasy Spotlight: Things to Watch"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fantasy owners across the nation were left pondering what it is they saw in week two. There were games that didn’t deliver (here’s looking at you New Orleans Saints<\/strong> and New York Giants<\/strong>),\u00a0as well as a lot of injuries to key players. In Week two the fantasy spotlight was shining brightly on players like Kirk Cousins<\/a><\/strong>, Todd Gurley<\/a><\/strong> and Ezekiel Elliott<\/a><\/strong>. While some players did not produce, we did see some very impressive performances in week two.<\/p>\n

As we turn the page and move forward to week three in the National Football League<\/strong>, we take a look at players and teams that need to step up and build off their early season successes and failures. Who needs to make a statement week three?\u00a0What players on your fantasy team need to step up? Who needs to prove that week two wasn’t a fluke? It’s time to find out the who and why, it’s time to turn on the fantasy spotlight for week three.<\/p>\n

Week Three Fantasy Spotlight: Things to Watch<\/h2>\n

Melvin Gordon<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

The San Diego Chargers<\/strong> have scored 65 points through two games and should be undefeated if not for a second half meltdown week one in Kansas City.\u00a0Last week in the fantasy spotlight we talked about\u00a0who would step up for the injured Keenan Allen<\/a><\/strong>. Both Tyrell Williams<\/a><\/strong> and Travis Benjamin<\/a><\/strong> proved to be legit targets for Philip Rivers<\/a><\/strong>. However if one season ending injury was not enough, enter Danny Woodhead<\/a><\/strong>. The point per reception (PPR) machine tore his ACL in the\u00a0blowout win against the Jacksonville Jaguars<\/strong>. Who Steps up now?, Melvin Gordon<\/a><\/strong>. The second year running back is off to a great start in 2016<\/a>\u00a0rushing for three touchdowns and averaging over four yards per carry. Gordon has shown great\u00a0explosiveness out of the backfield and will be leaned on not only as a goal line back but as pass catching threat as well. Gordon<\/strong> is a RB1 this week against the Indianapolis Colts<\/strong> league worst run defense.<\/p>\n

Todd Gurley<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

So this may look like a reprint, however\u00a0its not. For the second week in a row Todd Gurley<\/a><\/strong> has the fantasy spotlight shining brightly on him. The Los Angeles Rams<\/strong> star running back has yet to get on track in 2016,\u00a0averaging\u00a0less than\u00a0three yards per carry and 98 total rushing yards<\/a> through two weeks. Gurley and the Rams<\/strong> travel to Tampa Bay to play the Buccaneers<\/strong> week three. While Gurley was a must sit<\/a> in week two, he is a must start in week three. It’s getting to be make or break time for Gurley and traveling across country away from the pressures of the NFC West<\/strong> could be exactly what he needs to get going.<\/p>\n

Odell Beckham<\/a> Jr<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Are you ready for Beckham\/Norman II? Last season<\/a> when Josh Norman<\/a><\/strong> and the Carolina Panthers<\/strong> played Odell Beckham<\/a> Jr<\/strong> and the New York Giants<\/strong>, it was must see television. With Norman now a member of the Washington Redskins<\/strong>, week three brings the first of two head to head battles this season. While Norman and the Redskins<\/strong> struggle early on, Beckham Jr and the Giants<\/strong> have won two straight to start the season. With 12 catches on 19 targets through two games, Beckham Jr is off to a nice start. Many people across the league expected Norman to shadow the opposing\u00a0teams number one receiver, however that has not been the case through two weeks.\u00a0Should the Redskins<\/strong> keep Norman on one side and not follow\u00a0Beckham Jr at all times, it could a long day for Washington. A stat line similar to Antonio Brown<\/a><\/strong> in week one<\/a> is not out of the question.<\/p>\n

Sam Bradford<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

What a night it was in Minnesota this past Sunday. The Minnesota Vikings<\/strong> opened their beautiful new stadium with a great victory against the hated Green Bay Packers<\/strong>. Despite the injury to All-Pro<\/strong> running back Adrian Peterson<\/a><\/strong>, the Vikings<\/strong> were very impressive in many\u00a0aspects of the game. In addition to Peterson, the defending NFC North<\/strong> Champions lost quarterback Teddy Bridgewater<\/a><\/strong> to a torn ACL in the preseason. In what many thought was a knee jerk reaction, the Vikings<\/strong> traded away a 2017 first round draft pick and a 2018 conditional pick to the Philadelphia Eagles<\/strong> for Sam Bradford<\/a><\/strong>. Despite\u00a0sitting out week one to learn the offense, Bradford thoroughly impressed against the\u00a0Packers<\/strong>. The former first round pick completed 71%<\/a> of his passes and threw for two touchdowns. Also Bradford displayed outstanding chemistry with budding star receiver Stefon Diggs<\/a><\/strong>. Although Week three presents a big challenge on the road against the Carolina Panthers<\/strong>, Bradford is worth picking up in all fantasy formats.<\/p>\n

Seattle Seahawks Offense<\/h3>\n

Has anyone seen the Seattle Seahawks<\/strong> offense? If you have please let us know. The perennial NFC<\/strong> powerhouse Seahawks<\/strong> have scored 15 points through two games to start the season. Many, including myself expected Russell Wilson<\/a><\/strong> to finish as the number one fantasy quarterback in 2016.\u00a0While that is still not impossible, Wilson and the Seahawks<\/strong> need to pick up the pace fast. There are injuries as well. Wilson has been bothered by a sore ankle. Doug Baldwin<\/a><\/strong> had an MRI on his injured knee, which came back negative, however Seattle is taking a wait and see approach with their number one wide receiver. The running game remains a question mark as well. Thomas Rawls<\/a><\/strong>, expected to take over for the retired Marshawn Lynch<\/a><\/strong> has 25 yards on 19 carries in two games. Christine Michael<\/a> <\/strong>has outplayed Rawls but has yet to find the end zone. Seattle returns home for an NFC West<\/strong> battle with the San Francisco 49ers<\/strong> this week. Normally this is\u00a0a spot where you unleash the Seahawks<\/strong> skill position players on any fantasy opponent but this week you may want to watch one first.<\/p>\n

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