Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Details of the Script
- Sunday – 7:15 pm @ Raymond James Stadium
- Weather – Cloudy with some rain
- What Vegas is saying – Line (PHI -5.0) & Over/Under 45
Identifying the Game Script
The last time these two teams played one another was in the 2022 playoffs, where the Bucs beat the Eagles 31-15. The Eagles are coming off another big win on TNF against the Vikings. The offense looks much better than in week one. The Eagles’ defense has given up 20-plus points to their opponents, but they continue to create turnovers. I didn’t think the Eagles would face the 2-0 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in this matchup. The Bucs team is looking good on both the offense and defense. The offense is playing smoothly and well, and the defense is tough. Let’s see if that magical run ends against the Eagles.
Quarterbacks
Jalen Hurts had a big game last TNF against the Vikings. I wanted to see more rushing work in his game, and he produced with two rushing touchdowns. The Bucs are an average defense against fantasy quarterbacks. We saw Kirk Cousins in week one have a QB1 performance against the Bucs. Jalen Hurts should be able to produce big fantasy numbers in this matchup. Hurts is a QB1 in week three.
Baker Mayfield is definitely interesting, as he has finished with at least 20 fantasy points (6-point TD leagues) in both games this year. He is throwing well and not causing any turnovers for this offense. Mayfield has a terrific matchup as the Eagles allow the most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. They allowed Mac Jones 300 passing yards and three touchdowns. They also allowed Kirk Cousins 360 passing yards and four touchdowns. Mayfield has a great core around him that he can be trusted in week three. Mayfield has high-end QB2 value in this matchup.
Running Backs
The Eagles backfield is a tough one to break down for week three. The Bucs are a tough matchup as they rank in the top ten in stopping fantasy running backs. They haven’t allowed a running back over 40 rushing yards yet. DeAndre Swift had a monster game with Kenny Gainwell inactive in week two. We know that Gianwell was the guy in week one. I think you need to play it safe with these guys. I don’t like them outside a possible flex play. They could split the workload, but we have no idea. They should both be considered low-end RB3s and hope for the best. If Gainwell were to miss, Swift would jump to a low-end RB2 value. I see Swift getting the early work, with Gainwell taking over the third down and two-minute offense in week three.
Rachaad White played much better in week two than in week one. He still sees most of the work in the backfield, especially the important plays in the offense. Chase Edmonds is now out for four weeks due to an injury. Sean Tucker could see more work than he did in week two. This matchup is very tough for this backfield. The Eagles are in the top five against fantasy running backs and haven’t allowed rushers over 30 yards. White is an RB3 in this matchup. His saving grace may come in the receiving game. He does have seven receptions over his first two games. Sean Tucker is a name to watch as he could continue to see work if White struggles. Tucker is not worth a start at this time.
Pass Catchers
AJ Brown and Devonta Smith have a very favorable matchup in week three. The Bucs are in the bottom ten in stopping fantasy receivers. The only question is, who is the WR1 on this team? That is the player that the Bucs have let up a big performance to this year. Smith has looked impressive and has dominated the fantasy points over Brown this season. Brown was pissed after last week’s game, and it could be a big blowout game for him in week three. Brown and Smith are both borderline WR1 in week three. Dallas Geodert saw seven targets in week two, which is great. He only had 22 yards off those seven targets, which isn’t that great. He should still be a mid-range TE1 for this matchup.
The Bucs pass catchers have a fantastic matchup this week! The Eagles allow the fifth most fantasy to wide receivers and the most fantasy points to tight ends. Mike Evans is on a mission this year, with 237 receiving yards and two touchdowns over two games. Chris Godwin isn’t blowing up but is seeing a solid 50 yards per game. They are the only ones who are producing. Evans should be a borderline WR1 in this matchup. Godwin is a low-end WR 2, and I hope he can blow up in week three. Cade Otton hasn’t been mentioned much, but he had six receptions for 41 yards in week two. As mentioned in week three, Otton has the best matchup for the tight-end position. He has sleeper appeal in week three and is a low-end TE2 with some upside.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Details of the Script
- Sunday – 8:15 pm @ Paycor Stadium
- Weather – Clear Evening
- What Vegas is saying – Line (CIN -3.0) & Over/Under 43.5
Identifying the Game Script
We have a rematch of Super Bowl LVI between the Rams and Bengals. These teams look very similar to the last time they played. Well, the Bengals played much better on offense than in week one. This Bengals team is 0-2 to start the season. The defense needs to step up after getting destroyed by the Ravens offense. The Rams lost a key division game against the 49ers, but they are still surprising. They looked great on offense for fantasy owners, and their defense played strong. This is an essential game for the two former Super Bowl teams.
Quarterbacks
Matthew Stafford seems to be returning to his old self, as he looks great this season. He has 300 yards in back-to-back games but, unfortunately, only one touchdown. The Bengals give up the fourth most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. A portion of that is because they faced mobile quarterbacks. Stafford is thriving without Cooper Kupp and should be a mid-range QB2 in this matchup.
Joe Burrow is still questionable as of today for this game. It seems likely that he won’t play on Monday night. If he does, he is a very risky start in your lineup. The possibility of reinjury would likely be high. I would consider him a borderline QB1 that I won’t want to start in week three.
Jake Browning would be the starter in this game if Burrow is out. He does come in with a difficult matchup as the Rams are top 10 vs. fantasy quarterbacks this year. They have barely allowed a 200-yard passer and one touchdown on the season. Browning broke out in his sophomore year at Washington in college. Since coming into the NFL, Browning has had one pass attempt after being a practice squad guy for four years. He’ll get his shot, but I’m not expecting much, so he is likely a sit even in superflex leagues.
Running Backs
Kyren Williams has completely taken over the Rams’ backfield. He played 76 of 80 offensive snaps in week two. He had 95% of the carries and dominated the target share in the backfield. While Williams is only running for a 3.6 YPC, he is finding ways to get the job done. He is heavily used in red zone situations, which means touchdowns. He saw ten targets in week two. If he can continue to keep that up, he is going to be great for fantasy. The Bengals have allowed over 100 rushing yards in each of the first two games. The Rams are using Williams like a weapon. He should be a borderline RB1 in week three.
Joe Mixon is in a way better matchup than he had in week two. Fantasy running backs have beaten the Rams’ run defense in the first two weeks. Mixon is still commanding most of the backfield work but splitting the third-down work with Trayveon Williams. Williams is not a threat to Mixon’s usage in the offense. If Joe Burrow is going to miss week three, the Bengals may rely on Mixon to get more work in on the ground. He is a borderline RB1 in week three.
Pass Catchers
On paper, the Bengals are considered a top-10 unit against fantasy receivers. They played mediocre passing offenses the first two weeks. The two Rams receivers have been dominant in fantasy in Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell. Nacua, as we all know, has 35 targets over his first two games. He is locked in as a high-end WR2 in week three. Atwell also has been a surprise, but he has grown into a solid NFL receiver. He has 13 receptions for 196 yards so far this year. After week one, I said I needed to see it again, and he proved it. He is a WR3/Flex option in this matchup. Tyler Higbee has a favorable matchup because the Bengals have allowed a touchdown to tight ends in both games this year. He is a decent high-end TE2 because he has been on the same page with Stafford.
The Bengals receivers are tough to evaluate in week three. The matchup with the Rams is decent, but the quarterback for the Bengals is the issue. Whether or not Burrow plays or Browning plays, you have to lower your expectations for the Bengals trio slightly. Ja’Marr Chase would likely be borderline WR1. Even coming off his big game, Tee Higgins would like to be a low-end WR2 in this game. Tyler Boyd is a WR4 play that can be boom or bust. Irv Smith Jr. has done barely anything with the Bengals. He is for sure a sit.
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