Welcome back to week three of Keeping it Real With Fantasy. After a crazy first two weeks The Lance is back and ready to give our Fantasy picks this week. In week two there were some crazy comebacks and upsets while some players went off. The third week of the NFL season is full of great matchups including the Chiefs heading to Indianapolis to take on the struggling Colts, while the Raiders & Titans have an (0-2) showdown, the Bills & Dolphins who are both undefeated face off in a divisional matchup, and two legendary QBs go head to head as the Packers travel to Tampa. The NFL hasn’t disappointed to begin the season, and that won’t change week 3.

News/Injuries:

Michael Pittman Jr (WR) – Pittman was ruled out the Saturday before week two’s matchup in Jacksonville with a quad injury.​​ The Colts felt that Pittman has made a lot of progress and has a good chance of playing this week versus the Chiefs. 

James Conner (RB) – Conner suffered an ankle injury in the Cardinals come back win versus the Raiders. The injury isn’t believed to be severe, and Conner is Questionable week three versus the Rams. The Cardinals want to see how he practices throughout the week, however, all signs are pointing to Conner missing this week’s game as the running back didn’t participate in Wednesday’s practice. 

Jerry Jeudy (WR) – Jeudy suffered a ribs injury in Sunday’s win versus Houston. However, the wide receiver missed Wednesday’s practice, but the Broncos are still hopeful the star will be able to be healthy ahead of week 3’s matchup versus the 49ers.

Starts:

Pat Freiermuth (TE) – In just two games, Freiermuth has been targeted 17 times by Steelers QB Mitch Trubisky. The tight end has 10.8 yards/reception and a touchdown catch so far. The Steelers travel to Cleveland for a rivalry matchup on Thursday night football. Tight ends have totaled over 90 receiving yards in just two games against the Browns this year, Freiermuth could have a huge game Thursday.

Rashod Bateman (WR) – Bateman was a first round pick last year for the Ravens, and he’s starting to breakout in year two. Bateman is in a less crowded offense, especially with JK Dobbins still missing time with an injury. The WR has two touchdowns, 167 yards, and a whopping 27.8 yards per reception. Bateman is a sure start this week against New England who have a mediocre secondary that might be missing their starting safety, Kyle Dugger. 

Sits: 

Miami RB’s (RB) – Miami’s backfield consists of three players who have split carries: Chase Edmonds, Raheem Mostert, and Myles Gaskin. Dolphins running backs totaled for only 18 carries all of last week in a comeback win versus the Ravens. The passing game was clicking for the fins as Tua Tagovailoa had 50 passing attempts, 469 yards, and six touchdowns. Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill combined for 361 receiving yards. It’s fair to say that Miami running backs won’t be seeing much action again week three. 

Darell Henderson Jr.  (RB) – Similarly to the Dolphins, the Rams have a super crowded, pass first offense. Henderson has only seen 23 touches in total on the season, and has 94 rushing yards. In the Rams win versus Atlanta week two, Henderson saw ten carries opposed to Akers’s 15, while Matthew Stafford threw the ball 36 times. 

Waiver Wires:

Devin Duvernay  (WR)- With the Ravens being short on receivers for yet another year, Duvernay is a breakout candidate, a playmaker with super high upside. After trading away Marquise Brown in the offseason, aside from Duvernay Baltimore has lacked a speed threat wide receiver in the offense. In the young season, Duvernay has already seen two receiving touchdowns on six targets.