Week 3 Love/Hate

Suffered injury last week; his absence opens 36% target share for Josh Downs.

Kendall V. expresses confusion about Alvin Kamara's usage in the Saints offense. Through two games, Kamara has seen a 33% rush share, which Kendall notes is not sustainable for the rest of the season. Kendall has too many questions about whether to pick him up and advises against it. The usage pattern doesn't make sense given the Saints' offensive scheme and Kellen Moore's typical approach.

Matthew Berry rates Baker Mayfield as QB20 this week—a significant downgrade. While Berry loves Mayfield personally and respects his character, the matchup against Minnesota's elite defense is brutal. The Vikings allow the lowest completion rate to opposing QBs through two weeks. Flores brings constant pressure (72% blitz rate vs. Jordan Love week one, 78% vs. Caleb Williams week two). Mayfield ranks 26th in yards per pass attempt through two weeks and didn't look good against Cleveland. Berry is nervous about Mayfield and recommends looking elsewhere even with QB injuries.

Matthew Berry ranks Brock Purdy as a top-three QB play for Week 3 against Arizona. The 49ers offense is rolling with an implied team total of 28 points (third-highest on the slate). The Cardinals secondary is bottom-eight in yards per pass attempt and touchdown rate allowed through two weeks; cornerback Will Johnson is now on IR, leaving Arizona with one of the league's worst secondaries. Purdy is locked in, leading the league in QBR and completion percentage, and is one of five QBs to score 20+ fantasy points in each of the first two weeks. Kendall Valenzuela has him as QB4.

Matthew Berry has Brock Purdy as a top three QB play; Kendall V. rates him QB4 at FantasyLife.com. Purdy leads the league in total QBR, completion percentage, and off-target percentage; one of five QBs to score 20+ fantasy points in each of the first two weeks. Berry notes Purdy gets no respect for his rushing production—he generates more points with his legs than commonly credited. Despite the 49ers traveling extensively, Berry emphasizes Purdy's elite play transcends travel concerns.

Bryce Young is playing well for the Panthers, who are 1-0-1 and looking good. Matthew Berry notes Young is "chucking it all over the place" and Kendall Valenzuela adds that Young looks good and the Panthers have done a good job giving him the opportunity to become this version of himself. The team is described as "plucky" and not like the Panthers of old, with Young's performance being a key part of the team's success.

Kendall V. rates Bryce Young as QB15 and a viable streamer playing at Cleveland. The Browns allow passing TDs at the fourth-highest rate through two weeks and are missing Miles Garrett and Jim Schwartz's defensive play-calling. The Panthers rank top-five in pass rate over expectation, letting Bryce cook. With a thin running back room outside Chuba Hubbard, the Panthers will lean on Young's arm.

Dealing with ankle injury; didn't practice on Wednesday; impacts Malik Washington's role and upside.

Matthew Berry rates Chase Brown as RB8 this week. Brown was on Berry's preseason love list and ride-or-die finalist list. His utilization is off the charts: at least 20 touches and 15% target share in both games so far, ranking top-seven in utilization score. Berry is not scared of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense (allowing fifth-most rushing yards per game, though skewed by one big run to Travian Henderson). The Bengals offense ranks among the best in the NFL and will be in scoring position often. Berry expects the Bengals to lean run-heavy on the road.

Ranked WR5 this week; 10+ targets in both games; 53% of team air yards; 14.8 average depth of target; Raiders allow league-leading 18.7 yards per reception to opposing wide receivers; massive target share and deep-ball volume against a defense that gives up deep passes.

Ranked WR12 this week; WR8 in utilization score through two weeks; since Week 11 of last season, ninth-best WR in fantasy on points-per-game basis; no longer just go-ball routes—expanded route tree with intermediate routes and Z-position usage; Jaden Reed injury opens more volume; borderline WR1 when healthy; Packers expected to throw more due to weak ground game.

With Jonathan Brooks out 6+ weeks due to core muscle surgery, Chuba Hubbard takes over as the featured back for the Panthers. Through two weeks, Hubbard ranks 14th in utilization score and Matthew Berry has him at RB16. Hubbard has been effective and is averaging 19.1 points per game. Berry expects Hubbard to take the job and run with it, even if Brooks returns in Week 7-8, as the Panthers (1-0-1) look good with Bryce Young playing well. Hubbard should have a big workload going forward.

Ranked TE9 this week; Colts allow fourth-most yards to opposing tight ends; Nico Collins out last week and Schultz had monster game; still second-best pass catcher on Texans even if Collins returns; catch-and-fall tight end with reliable production and trust from C.J. Stroud; similar performance to last week's 25-28 fantasy points possible.

Kendall V. rates David Montgomery inside the top 20 RBs this week. The Colts allow the second-most rushing yards per game to opposing running backs this year. With Nico Collins out, Montgomery should see a heavy workload. The Colts are giving up over 5 yards per carry so far this season.

Banged up; impacts Rondae Gadsden's opportunity at tight end for Chargers.

Preferred streaming option after this week over Marcus Mariota; may get Sam Darnold back in game.

Matthew Berry recommends Emmitt Johnson must be rostered in 100% of leagues as a handcuff to Kenneth Walker. Johnson looks great and resembles a Kenneth Walker clone in many aspects. Berry pairs Johnson with Walker everywhere in his lineups, viewing him as essential insurance given Walker's injury history.

Not preferred as streaming option for next two weeks; alternative to Marcus Mariota.

Ranked WR12 this week; 27% target share (top 12 among WRs); Cleveland has allowed four touchdowns to opposing WRs (tied for most in NFL); Matthew Berry enthusiastically endorses with 'Coke heads unite' branding; accumulating targets and fantasy points early in season.

Expected to have a good game with full week of practice against Titans; viable streaming option.

Kendall V. likes Jared Goff against the Jets as a QB receiving votes. Goff has multiple touchdown passes in seven of his last nine home games. The Jets rank bottom-10 in pressure rate this season, allowing Goff a clean pocket to pick them apart at home.

Injury status uncertain; conversation centers on whether he even returns for the year; his injury opens more volume for Christian Watson and other Packers receivers.

Kendall V. rates Jalen Warren as RB24 this week. Rico Dotson did not practice Wednesday and was wearing a boot on his right foot, likely to miss the game or be limited. Since the start of last season, when Jalen Warren gets at least 15 touches (expected this week against Cincinnati), he averages almost 15 fantasy points per game (14.8 to be exact).

Panthers RB Jonathan Brooks is expected to have surgery to repair a core muscle injury and will land on injured reserve for at least six weeks. In the last three seasons since being drafted in 2024, Brooks has played only five games. Kendall Valenzuela notes he has not yet been great in the NFL. Matthew Berry recommends dropping Brooks in leagues without an IR spot, as he will miss two months and there are other injured players (like Nico Collins) who may be better IR stashes. Even when Brooks returns in Week 7-8, he will need time to prove himself before being fantasy-relevant again.

Kendall V. likes Jordan Love in Thursday night against the Falcons. Teams facing Atlanta average over 38 pass attempts per game. Green Bay has one of the higher implied team totals at 24 points, and Kendall notes Atlanta has a pretty good run defense, so the Packers will "let Jordan Love cook." Kendall recommends stacking Love with Watson and Golden.

36% target share after Alec Pierce injury last week; running 40%+ of routes from perimeter (no longer just slot); Texans have strong corners but slot is the place to attack Houston; versatile usage expanding beyond slot role.

Kendall V. expresses enthusiasm for Kenneth Walker's performance but notes the pace he's on feels unsustainable. Matthew Berry counters that Walker is "loaded for bear" and on a mission to prove himself and shake the injury tag after getting paid. Berry emphasizes he has Walker in "a lot" of lineups this year and pairs him everywhere with Emmitt Johnson as a handcuff, viewing Johnson as a Walker clone in many aspects.

Ranked WR42 this week; 21% target share through two games; all short/near-line-of-scrimmage targets; slot/gadget role; Caleb Douglas dealing with ankle injury (didn't practice Wednesday); more upside in comeback mode against Chiefs than usual.

Good streamer option moving forward (not this week vs. Seahawks); 25% target share with Terry McLaurin over last eight games; not the answer for streaming this week but preferred long-term over Geno Smith or Drew Lock.

Status uncertain for Week 3; if out, Dalton Schultz becomes a must-start; if he returns, Schultz remains second-best pass catcher on Texans.

Ranked WR10 this week; 36% target share (third in NFL); five straight games with 16+ fantasy points dating back to last year; plays slot role in Liam Cohen offense (productive with Wondell Robinson at Kentucky, Chris Godwin in Tampa); Patriots ranked 31st in defensive pass DVOA against WR1s; likely to see volume as Jaguars throw to keep up.

Matthew Berry had Mahomes as QB14 in preseason due to concerns about running ability post-shoulder surgery (25% of fantasy points came from legs last year), Rice's injury, and Kelsey aging. However, Berry now rates Mahomes as a top-five QB play this week, noting he's "running, throwing, looks like 15 out there." Against Miami, which allows passing TDs at the second-highest rate in the NFL and has the 31st-ranked pressure rate, Mahomes will have time to pick apart the defense. Quarterbacks facing Miami are completing 78% of passes (highest in NFL through two weeks). Berry frames the Chiefs as reasserting dominance: "we still run this town."

Kendall V. rates Quinshon Judkins inside the top 20 RBs this week. Through two weeks, Judkins has seen almost 80% of the Browns' running back touches—a massive workload. The Panthers allow over 170 rushing yards per game and 6+ yards per carry. Kendall doesn't expect the Panthers to blow out Cleveland, so Judkins won't be game-script dependent. Judkins has a 13.5% target share, which isn't crazy but shows he's not nothing in the passing game.

Kendall V. rates Ramondre Stevenson as RB28 this week against Jacksonville and places him in the hate column. Kendall goes back and forth on Stevenson and defers to Matthew Berry's take, suggesting concerns about fumbling issues or a potential shift to Travion Henderson in the Patriots backfield.

Ranked RB28 this week; fumbled last week and received only five touches (30% snap share); workload now much closer to Travion Henderson's than expected two weeks ago; Jacksonville allows just 3.2 yards per carry and 55 rushing yards per game to opposing backs (among league lowest); low-end RB3 for the week despite being ranked ahead of Henderson.

Ranked outside top 30 this week; Marcus Mariota has 25% target share with McLaurin over last eight games, so connection exists; but Seattle Seahawks allow fewest fantasy points to opposing WRs (league-low 7.9 yards per reception); Commanders have lowest implied team total (17 points); tough matchup expected to shut down McLaurin.

Kendall V. notes that Trevor Etienne (pronounced the traditional way, unlike Travis Etienne) is hurt and out for the game against Pittsburgh. He's in the Saints backfield mix but unavailable this week.

Matthew Berry rates Travis Etienne Jr. (referred to as "Travis A. Chan" in the broadcast) as RB26 this week, though Kendall V. has him at RB30. Through two games, Etienne has seen under 50% of Saints running back snaps and plays under 40% of snaps on third down—this despite Alvin Kamara being back for only one game. Kendra Miller is also in the mix. Berry views Etienne as touchdown-dependent flex and would avoid the Saints backfield entirely if possible. The three-headed committee is described as "a mess."

Matthew Berry expresses discomfort with starting Etienne despite New Orleans' good pace of play; the offensive situation remains confusing and unreliable for fantasy purposes.