DYNASTY | ROOKIES
Devon Achane puts up 200 yards rushing and four touchdowns. CJ Stroud gets his first lighting it up with Tank Dell. And Sam LaPorta is one of the top tight ends in the league. Week three was another great one for rookies.
QUARTERBACKS
CJ Stroud is already a top-10 fantasy quarterback. He is working with a talented but unsettled wide receiver crew and a first-year offensive coordinator. Neither Anthony Richardson nor Bryce Young played due to injuries.
CJ Stroud, Texans
Week 2: 20-30, 280 yards, 2 TDS | 3 carries, 14 yards
2023: 78-121, 906 yards | 10 carries, 35 yards
In a sign that the Ohio State QB curse may be breaking, Stroud has looked fantastic so far. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Stroud is the first quarterback in NFL History to have at least 900 passing yards, four pass touchdowns, and zero interceptions in his first three career starts. Despite not having a star, his receivers have had big games. He also isn’t afraid to use them all, having passed the ball to at least eight different receivers in each of his first three games.
Anthony Richardson, Colts
2023: 30-47, 247 yards | 13 carries, 75 yards, 3 TDs
Bryce Young, Panthers
2023: 42-71, 299 yards, 2 TDS, 2INTs| 5 carries, 51 yards
RUNNING BACKS
Devon Achane dominated, and Zach Charbonnet and Kendre Miller jumped from the radar to the stat sheet.
Devon Achane, Dolphins
Week 3: 18 carries, 203 yards, 2TDs | 4 catches, 39 yards, 2TDs
2023: 19 carries, 208 yards 2TDs| 5 catches, 43 yards 2TDs
Nothing needs to be said about Achane. He had an incredible week three and won’t be going away any time soon. I wasn’t a big fan going into the season due to his size, but he has landed in the perfect location, and Mike McDaniel will find ways to scheme him into open space. Achane scored four times and played just 30 snaps.
Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions
Week 3: 17 carries, 80 yards | 1 catch, 2 yards
2023: 31 carries, 139 yards | 10 catches, 59 yards
Gibbs dominated the carries with David Montgomery out. Montgomery will probably be back next week against the Packers, but Gibbs will still get his share of touches both on the ground and through the air.
Chris Brooks, Dolphins
Week 3: 9 carries, 66 yards
2023: 9 carries, 66 yards
When you score 70 points, guys I have never heard of make it in the top RB group. Brooks is in a position to get more carries in a backfield that likes to share. The UDFA from BYU is likely to be a wildcard every week.
Bijan Robinson, Falcons
Week 3: 10 carries, 33 yards | 4 catches, 27 yards
2023: 39 carries, 213 yards | 14 catches, 102 yards, 1 TD
Bijan had a down week and still had 60 total yards. The Falcons ran the ball just 20 times to 38 passes, which is not typical for a run-heavy group. Tyler Allgeier still got seven carries and three targets, as well.
Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks
Week 3: 10 carries, 33 yards | 4 catches, 27 yards
2023: 39 carries, 213 yards | 14 catches, 102 yards, 1 TD
Kenneth Walker is having an outstanding season, but Charbonnet finally broke out a bit. Nine carries and two targets with one catch. He has increased his snap counts each week from 12 to 19 to 32.
The Rest of Week 3
- Roschon Johnson, Bears – 8 carries, 38 yards | 1 catch, 11 yards
- Kendre Miller, Saints – 9 carries, 34 yards | 1 catch, 0 yards
- Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos – 5 carries, 15 yards
- Tyjae Spears, Titans – 4 carries, 6 yards | 4 catches, 3 yards
- Tank Bigsby, Jaguars – 2 carries, 10 yards, 1 TD
- Emanuel Wilson, Packers – 2 carries, 6 yards | 1 catch, 6 yards
- Emari Demercado, Cardinals – 2 carries, 2 yards
- Sean Tucker, Buccaneers – 2 carries, 1 yard
WIDE RECEIVERS
It takes around 58 yards per game to get to 1,000 yards. Last year, just 21 receivers did it, including only two rookies. So far, five rookies are on pace to meet the mark (Puca Nacua, Nathaniel Dell, Marvin Mims, Jordan Addison, and Zay Flowers). Nine have already eclipsed 100 yards receiving.
Tank Dell, Texans
Week 3: 5 catches, 145 yards, 1 TD
2023: 15 catches, 251 yards, 2 TDs
Is Tank Dell wide receiver one in Houston? With a QB who looks like a stud? He led the team in targets, catches, and yards. I don’t think enough can be said about how important that is with a rookie Quarterback. His size will always lead to doubts, but he is on pace for 1400 yards.
Michael Wilson, Cardinals
Week 3: 2 catches, 86 yards
2023: 7 catches, 161 yards
Wilson’s stats are a bit inflated with a late 69-yard catch, but I assume the Cardinals will be playing from behind in many games and passing a lot. He is averaging 23 yards per catch and solidified a starting role.
Marvin Mims, Broncos
Week 3: 3 catches, 73 yards
2023: 7 catches, 195 yards, 1 TD
Mims had another big day with a long catch of 38. He has just nine targets on the year but has turned that into seven catches at a 27.9 average. The Broncos offense and Mims are probably hit-and-miss, but he is on pace for 1000 yards this season.
Puka Nacua, Rams
Week 3: 5 catches, 72 yards
2023: 30 catches, 338 yards
Nacua had a down week with five catches for 72 yards. He is on pace for over 1900 yards and 170 catches. Unsustainable numbers, especially when you consider Cooper Kupp is coming back, but they show just how amazing he has been.
Jayden Reed, Packers
Week 3: 3 catches, 63 yards
2023: 9 catches, 148 yards, 2 TDs
Reed has had back-to-back solid weeks. The Packers WR group is messy, with Christian Watson out and Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks finding success. When Watson returns, it will be interesting to see where the ball goes.
The Rest of Week 3
- Rashee Rice, Chiefs – 5 catches, 59 yards
- Josh Downs, Colts – 8 catches, 57 yards
- Jordan Addison, Vikings – 6 catches, 52 yards
- Zay Flowers, Ravens – 8 catches, 48 yards
- Dontayvion Wicks, Packers – 4 catches, 45 yards
- Jonathan Mingo, Panthers – 3 catches, 21 yards
- Demario Douglas, Patriots – 1 catch, 15 yards
- Quentin Johnston, Chargers – 2 catches, 10 yards
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks – 1 catch, 10 yards
- Trey Palmer, Bucs – 1 catch, 8 yards
- Tyler Scott, Bears – 1 catch, 6 yards
- Charlie Jones, Bengals – 1 catch, 6 yards
- Jake Bobo, Seahawks – 1 catch, 5 yards, 1TD
- Derius Davis, Chargers – 1 catch, 3 yards
TIGHT ENDS
Just two tight ends had more than 11 yards receiving but two grabbed the first passes of their career.
Sam LaPorta-Lions
Week 3: 8 catches, 83 yards, 1 TD
2023: 18 catches, 185 yards, 1 TD
LaPorta is already one of the top TEs in the NFL. He leads the league in receiving yards and is tied for second in catches. Having a former tight end as your head coach has to help.
Luke Musgrave-Packers
Week 3: 6 catches, 49 yards
2023: 11 catches, 124 yards
Musgrave has taken control of the TE spot in Green Bay with 75% of snaps in week one, 88% in week two, and 86% in week three.
The Rest of Week 3
- Nate Adkins, Broncos – 1 catch, 11 yards
- Brenton Strange, Jaguars – 2 catches, 7 yards
- Dalton Kincaid, Bills – 2 catches, 3 yards
Mike Williams is out opening the door for Quentin Johnston to get many more snaps. Alvin Kamara is back, likely stifling Kendre Miller some. We could see the first start of Aidan O’Connell’s career if Jimmy Garoppolo is out.
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