By Week 3 of the NFL season usually provides a bit more clarity from our week one overreaction. This week could decide whether fantasy managers keep players on their roster who may have underperformed in the weeks prior. This article is aimed to assist fantasy owners with their last flex spot and offer insight into some players who may be flying below the radar this week. So, here are my three sneaky starts for the NFL’s slate of week three games.
Trey Sermon
Sermon has an opportunity to cement himself in this backfield after being a week one healthy scratch.
The former 3rd round pick was a high draft pick in fantasy drafts this year. I’m not here to tell you that you shouldn’t have taken him so early (even though you shouldn’t have). He is going to be a great play this week. If you still have him on your roster and didn’t drop him, plug him in.
There are almost too many reasons to go over here. During the Shanahan and LaFleur era, the 49ers dominated the Packers. Their last two matchups have been blowouts. The Packers arrive in Santa Clara, a beaten-up team. They will be without their all-pro LT David Bakhtiari and one of their best defensive players in Za’Darius Smith. Not to mention, their 2nd string tackle behind Bakhtiari, Leighton Jenkins, is officially listed as out heading into the Sunday night bout.
A shorthanded Packers team is no match for the powerhouse 49ers, particularly their running game. Injuries have hit the 49ers’ runningbacks hard to begin this season. Three of the four running backs on the initial 53-man roster will be inactive for this game. Shanahan has nowhere else to turn. Sermon will be the guy, which Trey’s sermon will unquestionably lead on Sunday night.
We may see some Trey Lance in this one, as the 49ers have one active running back who has been with the team since week 1. Trenton Cannon and Jacques Patrick, who are brand new, may see the action, but it will undoubtedly be limited. Expect some Lance in this one as well.
Cordarelle Patterson
This one may be painful for some, as putting a 30-year-old boom or bust WR/RB in your lineup may not be the most appealing to fantasy managers. But, Let me make this sneaky starts sound as appetizing as one possibly can.
In what won’t be the only sneaky start from this matchup, the struggling Falcons face off against the Giants. If Danny Dimes is legit, he’ll have himself a game on Sunday. The Falcons defense is probably the worst in the league. So the Giants should put up points, which will force the Falcons to play catchup.
That is the best possible game script for Patterson, who not only receives carries but is also the main target out of the backfield over Mike Davis. Patterson scored two touchdowns last week, one on the ground and one through the air. The volume is guaranteed, the touchdowns are a bonus, but it should be a high-scoring game, so the potential for touchdowns is certainly there.
Plug in Patterson at the end of your flex. Barring injury, you should have yourself an RB/WR 3 with upside.
Kenny Golladay
For similar reasons as Patterson, Golladay is due for a breakout game.
You played him in week one and were disappointed. Hopefully, you benched him in week 2, but many did not and were left even more disappointed. He was dropped in a lot of leagues after the underwhelming start to the season. So, he’s technically a sneaky play. He’s probably on most benches across leagues and may not see your flex this week. But he should.
The matchup is too juicy for Golladay and this Giants offense. Saquon Barkley does not have an injury designation this week and may be a full-go for the first time this season. With that potential, there is a chance we see what this Giants offense could look like at full strength and capability.
That means that getting major production from their prize free-agent signing, Golladay, is a real possibility. If Kenny is available in your league, pick him up and slide him right into your flex. If he’s on your bench, plug him in. Golladay should be a solid WR2 this week with a high, top-10 WR upside.
These are my 3 sneaky starts in fantasy this week. Check out more here.
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