I Don't know about you...

By Martin Richardson

…But the Chiefs are 0-2!

That’s enough of that, even if it is really catchy.

Week 2 brought about some big Fantasy performances from the likes of Tucker Kraft, Malik Nabers and even Russell Wilson. Daniel Jones looks like an Eli Manning doppelgänger down in Indianapolis and Davante Adams is rolling back the years now that he isn’t tethered to Aaron Rodgers. And those Philadelphia Eagles continue to frustrate everyone with the tush push and how to cope with that every week.

But what can week 3 offer Fantasy players that would eclipse the epic game down in Dallas? I can tell you one thing though, if you have either JJ McCarthy, Jayden Daniels or Joe Burrow in your team, Russell Wilson certainly made a case to be a starting streamer if you need one.

Now, the obvious place start to start would be with the impact of those injured QB’s but there is no way anyone is dropping Justin Jefferson or Ja’marr Chase, even if it is Carson Wentz and Jake Browning at the helm of their respective teams.

So, let’s take a look at some Fantasy players who perhaps need to make the step up in week 3 and need to make a case that they have the staying power for those crucial Fantasy matchups.  

TERRY MCLAURIN:

13 targets, 7 receptions, 75 yards, 0 TDs

Imagine my surprise that a ‘Hold-Out-Hold-In’ doesn’t lead to a fantastic start when it comes to production in the NFL at the start of a new season. With 13 targets and 7 receptions for less than 80 yards, McLaurin has not exactly been the WR1 the Commanders need, or the explosive WR Fantasy players hoped they had snagged in their drafts. Now, he did get more targets in his second game, so there is a chance that this is on an upward trajectory as the season progresses.

Looking at what lie ahead, on paper, a week three match up against the Raiders poses a potential ‘get right game’ for someone like McLaurin, given how they played in week 2 against the Chargers. What is worth noting is that Raiders are allowing 256 passing yards per game, so maybe this is the week for McLaurin to have one of those bigger games we’ve all fallen victim to over the years However, with news coming out on Friday that star QB Jayden Daniels is out this week at least, meaning back up Marcus Mariota will now be suppling McLaurin with those targets, which is less than ideal. Add to this that the continued production of veteran TE Zach Ertz has perhaps meant he’s a more a reliable outlet, there certainly are more reasons to be concerned about Terry McLaurin going forward.

nico collins

14 Targets, 6 receptions, 77 yards, 1 TD

This one hurts.

This hurts so much.

I love Nico Collins. I won a championship with Nico Collins in 2023, I would never trade away Nico Colins when the vultures started circling for him in 2024. But in 2025, something isn’t right down in Houston. The Rams defense held him to a mere 25 yards and the Bucs kept him to 52, albeit with a touchdown in there too. But this is not the big game yardage that we have come to know and love about Nico Collins. There was talk of him breaking into the Top 3 of Fantasy WR this year and he is ranked just inside the top 50 at the moment.

At present, Collins’ numbers are not good, but what is a concern is that he has a 33% catch rate, which is not a great return for someone who probably cost Fantasy drafters a premium pick.

The only solace is that he goes up against a Jags defense that was porous to say the least when they came up against a Bengals team lead by Jake Browning, no matter how much Browning tried to gift it to the Jags with those interceptions. Browning had over 240 yards and two touchdowns, so given that Collins is still the top WR in Houston, and CJ Stroud is head and shoulders about Bengals back up Browning, Collins could be in for a strong showing. Irrespective of his current output, Collins is still getting the lion’s share of the targets so he, like Terry McLaurin, may be in for a bounce back week.

THE LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

With so much talent for Fantasy players on the roster, after two weeks there has been  a bit of an inquest into just how valuable some of the Fantasy players really are. I think in some case it has been harsh, but there is also a case that Geno Smith needs to pull it all together sooner rather than later.

ASHTON JEANTY

Embed from Getty Images

I genuinely saw an article that led with the idea that Jeanty may be and NFL bust. After two games. That is incredible. What a take that is. No way is this kid a bust. His first two games have been against a Patriots team that has a decent history when it comes to defense with a new HC that is making steady improvements. After that game, where he got a touchdown don’t forget, Jeanty played against a Chargers team that looks a legitimate contender in these early games.  Add to this the fact the Raiders have got a new QB with Geno Smith, a new RB in Jeanty himself and a new OC trying install their own offense, all whilst the looking shadow of Tom Brady watching over them, it isn’t really a shock that Jeanty and the Raiders may need a little time to get going?

Bust talk? Wow. Calm down everyone.

Jeanty comes into week 3 to face a Commanders team that allowed 84 yards and touchdown to Josh Jacobs in week 2. Plus people seem to forget that Jeanty can catch the ball as well as be the power back, so when you se how much Tucker Kraft went to town on the Commanders with over 120 yards and touchdown, should the Raiders decide to use Jeanty in the passing game, he could be unleashed in a way that scares the Commanders defense. That being the case, I’m not sure I want this to happen because I’m going up against him in my match up, so I hope I’m not manifesting too much future success in the short term.

BROCK BOWERS

Fantasy players across the land were scared when they saw reports that Bowers took a hit and got injured in week 1 against the Patriots in the 4th quarter. Then the Fantasy Gods gave those same fans the good grace of a Questionable designation that led to a him playing against the Chargers. But he was hurt. He shouldn’t have played. Bowers looked like he didn’t want to get hurt more, and even after all the Geno Smith mishaps, and he didn’t look great, Bowers was not himself. Decisions to keep Bowers in the game, even when it was so far gone, didn’t seem to make long term sense when you think about where the Raiders are after two games.

Now, one of the biggest aspects of Bowers game that was discussed in the offseason was that if he gets touchdowns, he could well be considered an elite level TE and fantasy player. Here we are at week 3 and we are still waiting for him to get his Red Zone opportunity. Don’t get me wrong, he has the yards (mainly in week 1) but Fantasy players will be hoping that sooner, rather than later, Bowers makes an appearance in the end zone.

jakobi meyers

Finally, I want to take a minute to talk about a Fantasy contributor who would have been that mid round steal, or even a potential sleeper if you played your cards right in your draft. I feel really sorry for Meyers in 2025. He had a deceptively good season last season, clocking over 1000 yards and showing he could be the WR1 for the Raiders. But he, like Bowers, has yet to register a touchdown in 2025. Perhaps the difference here is that Meyers is being used in that frustrating chunk play style. He is averaging over 11 yards a reception, so when he gets the ball, he is moving the chains for the offense, but unless he gets into the endzone, Meyers will not make the Fantasy relevant leap to be more than a WR3 or FLEX in a deep league type player.

MARTIN RICHARDSON

NFL/FANTASY FOOTBALL ANALYST

A Yorkshireman living in Lancashire, Martin is a massive NFL fan but his heart belongs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Also a huge Fantasy Football enthusiast and spends far too long crunching the numbers! Follow him at @MRBucsFan31

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