Throughout the NFL regular season, we'll meet here on Thursdays to break down the film from a fantasy football perspective. I'm looking for trends and tendencies on both side of the ball to give fantasy managers a jump when they set their weekly lineups. Schemes matter. So does offensive deployment in weekly matchups. And remember, the game tape always tells us a story.
Looking ahead to Week 3, I've focused on a couple receivers who are seeing volume and winning on schemed throws. Plus, there are running backs to discuss in here, and a dual-threat quarterback who has yet to break out this season. As always, we'll finish with three players to potentially put on your fantasy radar when you're watching the games this weekend.
All references to fantasy scoring are for PPR leagues, unless otherwise noted.
Week 3 upgrades
Tutu Atwell, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Atwell has logged at least 15 fantasy points in each of his first two games. The volume is there, too, as he's seen at least eight targets each week. Plus, Sean McVay is setting up Atwell with pre-snap motion to get him free access off the ball. Atwell has caught seven passes and averaged 18.1 yards per catch when being deployed off motion. Remember, Atwell is a true burner who can get up to top speed quickly when attacking the second and third level of the field. So, he brings explosive-play ability here as a complement to Puka Nacua in the Rams' route tree. And with the way Matthew Stafford is driving the ball on tape right now, Atwell is an upside WR3 this week versus the Bengals.
Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints
Thomas is healthy and playing a defined role in the Saints' offense. He has posted back-to-back games with double-digit fantasy production. The detailed route-running looks on point here, too. Thomas now has logged two straight weeks with at least eight targets, and he's produced 12 receptions on the season. A bump in red zone usage would elevate Thomas in the lineup, as he's seen only three targets inside the 20-yard line this season. But you can bet on Thomas as a reliable short-to-intermediate target for Saints quarterback Derek Carr. He's a WR3 in PPR formats for me on Sunday versus the Packers in Lambeau Field.
Jaylen Warren, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Warren's usage is starting to climb, as he saw 10 offensive touches -- compared to Najee Harris' 11 -- in the Monday night win over the Browns, including four receptions for 66 yards. And Warren plays with more juice than Harris. You can see that on the tape. He can get to the perimeter in the run game, and the receiving targets create upside. Even with Harris still operating as the lead back for the Steelers, you can roll with Warren as a deeper-league flex play for the Week 3 matchup versus the Raiders.
Players I have questions about in Week 3
Dameon Pierce, RB, Houston Texans
I love the running style of Pierce: urgent and physical. He can get going on a downhill path, dropping the hammer on second-level defenders. But the production just isn't there right now for Pierce, behind a banged-up offensive line, on a Houston team that is throwing with volume to compete. Pierce is currently sitting at just 2.7 yards per carry on the season and he's yet to post more than seven fantasy points in a game. Plus, with low usage as a receiver (four receptions, 13 yards), managers aren't getting a bump in scoring. I dropped Pierce down this week as a flex play versus the Jags. We have to see more from that Texans run game.
Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Commanders
This is about the Week 3 matchup for McLaurin and Commanders quarterback Sam Howell versus the Bills defense. McLaurin did boost his fantasy totals in Week 2 (16.4 points) with a touchdown grab on an end zone post route against the Broncos. He played above the rim there. Big-time finish. However, through the first two weeks, McLaurin has caught only seven passes on 10 targets. He'll still be in my lineup this week, but only as a WR3/flex play against Buffalo's defined, split-safety coverages.
Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears
Fields is still locked in as a starter for me in one of my home leagues, but the numbers and the tape over the first two weeks of the season do create some concern. Fields has struggled to cut it loose as a passer, missing opportunities on schemed concepts. And the rushing totals are down, too, as Fields has only four designed carries thus far. With opposing defenses forcing Fields to hand the ball off on zone-read concepts, the Bears will have to design rushes for the quarterback that take out the "read" aspect. Fields has failed to top the 15-point mark this season and the matchup versus the Chiefs defense isn't an easy one -- with a lot of late movement, disguise and pressure.
Players to monitor in Week 3
Kadarius Toney, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
After a rough Week 1 game where Toney had multiple focus drops, he caught all five of his targets for 35 yards in the Week 2 win over Jacksonville. We're not looking at high-end numbers here, but I still roster Toney in multiple leagues as a bench stash because of his dynamic ability and potential deployment as a motion/movement player in Andy Reid's offense. Let's see if the volume can jump a bit in Week 3 against the Bears.
Luke Musgrave, TE, Green Bay Packers
I'm still looking for an upside tight end to claim off waivers in a couple leagues, so let's watch Musgrave on Sunday versus the Saints. In his first two pro games, Musgrave has caught five of seven targets for 75 yards. Those numbers don't set off alarms, but we have to focus on the skill set here. Musgrave is a good mover who can work all three levels of the field.
Jonathan Mingo, WR, Carolina Panthers
Mingo has caught just five of 13 targets for 43 yards through his first two pro games. However, in a Panthers wide receiver room that lacks speed and big-play ability, I'm curious to see his development as he gets more reps. Mingo can play through contact at all three levels of the field, and he has the physical profile to break tackles after the catch. He's a player to watch over the next couple of weeks.