RADIO
Perhaps more than any other, the NFL is a league that experiences ups and downs at a rapid pace. With only 16 games, there’s little room for error and seemingly endless opportunities for improvement. Experienced fantasy players know it happens every year.
A player gets hot and sees an increased role, while others struggle and fight to stay relevant. Here we’ll showcase those who have taken important steps forward and those who have taken steps back. Here are the risers and fallers following week three of the 2016-17 NFL season.
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Post-Week 3 Fantasy Football Risers
RISER - Trevor Siemian (QB, DEN)
With his performance this week, Trevor Siemian became the first quarterback in NFL history with 300 passing yards, four touchdowns, and zero picks in his first road start. The Northwestern alum came alive against the Cincinnati Bengals as the leash was eased on his arm, causing him to let loose. While many expected Siemian to simply manage the Broncos offense while the defense carried the load, his performance in Week 3 proves that he’s able to put up numbers in fantasy.
This week, with a pair of quarterbacks on bye, Siemian is an intriguing option as a starter. The Broncos will be taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are fresh off surrendering a whopping 37 points against the Rams. Siemian, at best, should garner serious consideration as a backup fantasy quarterback at this point.
RISER - Christine Michael (RB, SEA)
Entering 2016, following the retirement of Marshawn Lynch, the Seattle Seahawks had a running back competition for the starting gig. The competitors were Thomas Rawls, who was incredibly impressive last year before succumbing to injury, and Christine Michael, a four-year veteran who had struggled to fulfill his potential. The latter won the battle, starting Week 1 before Rawls started Week 2. Rawls exited his Week 2 game due to injury, however, and Michael was once again at the forefront. While the competition seemed to be heading in Michael’s favor beforehand, his Week 3 performance made it certain.
After rushing for 60 yards on 10 carries in Week 2, he rushed for 106 on 20 carries, recording two touchdowns and even making seven catches in Week 3. He busted out for 41 yards and a touchdown on his very first carry of the game. Perhaps the biggest thing Michael has going for him heading into Week 4’s matchup against the New York Jets is the delicate state of his quarterback. Russell Wilson suffered an MCL sprain during Week 3’s victory over the San Francisco 49ers. While Wilson obviously won’t start if he can’t move well enough, Michael is guaranteed to take on a bigger role in the game, regardless of who takes the snaps for Seattle.
RISER - Marvin Jones (WR, DET)
While last week we chronicled the continuous decline of Golden Tate early into this new season, this week we’ll focus on Marvin Jones, his teammate who’s been a steal thus far. In his first year with the Lions following a four-year tenure with the Cincinnati Bengals, the 26-year-old has improved weekly, culminating in his 205-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Green Bay Packers in Week 3.
He currently leads the league with 408 receiving yards, over 80 yards more than his closest competition. We could very well be seeing a star in the making here, as Jones is clearly the number one wideout on his team. This week, the Lions’ division will work to their advantage as they take on the lowly Chicago Bears. Jones is an absolute must-start at this point, and fantasy football managers who own him should simply sit back and enjoy the show.
Post-Week 3 Fantasy Football Fallers
FALLER - Blake Bortles (QB, JAX)
24-year-old Blake Bortles was widely expected to take the next step this year, coming off his outstanding 2015 season that saw him finish second in touchdowns and break several franchise passing records. After all, the Jacksonville Jaguars have what many expected to be a young, exciting offense. That hasn't quite worked out this year as they currently rank 26th in total yards per game. At the forefront of this early disappointment has been Bortles, who would be leading the league in interceptions were it not for Ryan Fitzpatrick’s meltdown against the Chiefs.
Bortles ranks 12th in passing yards, but has five touchdowns to his six pickoffs. This clearly points to a decision-making problem, and now he finds himself in a dire situation. With the Jaguars at 0-3, the playoffs that were once thought of as a possibility appear to be out the window. Bortles does have a chance to turn these early struggles around, however. Over the next three weeks, he’ll face the Colts, Bears, and Raiders, who each feature underwhelming defensive units. Bortles could garner a fantasy football benching heading into this week, but a bounce back performance is a distinct possibility in the ensuing two weeks.
FALLER - Randall Cobb (WR, GB)
Once Jordy Nelson was lost for the 2015 season, Randall Cobb was thought of as the natural replacement to lead the wide receivers unit, but it didn't pan out quite as planned. Veteran James Jones ultimately finished as the team leader in receiving yards and Cobb suffered a big regression from his career-best 2014 season. Three games into 2016, it appears the 26-year-old hasn’t quite patched things up yet as he has gotten off to a disappointing start.
Cobb has yet to record a touchdown and only managed to make one catch this past week, albeit for 33 yards. He now has 12 receptions on the season for a measly 132 yards. This week his owners will have no choice but to bench him since this is his bye, but there should be hesitation on when to remove him from the bench. Yes, he’s still clearly the number two wideout on the team, but Davante Adams is not far behind and has recorded a pair of touchdowns already.
FALLER - Seattle Seahawks (D/ST)
The Seattle Seahawks’ defense still figured to be a top three unit heading into the 2016 season, but they haven’t displayed that on the field just yet. The defense has only recorded one interception on the year, not yet recording a fumble recovery or touchdown. While they’re only allowing an average of 12.3 points per game, the lack of turnovers and scoring has made them the early defensive bust of the fantasy football season.
Obviously the Seahawks shouldn’t be dropped by any means, and they probably shouldn’t even be benched, but this is an early concern for owners who expected big things from them yet again. After this upcoming Week 4 matchup with the Jets, they face the Falcons, Cardinals, and Saints, who all possess worthy offenses. Owners may want to work on their backup defense situation, because it might be needed sooner rather than later.
