Week 2 of the NFL season gave us a ton of fantasy surprises. From Eddie Royal leading all receivers in fantasy points to Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson combining for just one more point than Jake Locker, a lot of us had the early part of our fantasy season turned upside down.
We are now entering the third week of the season with expectations that things might start settling back down to normalcy. Well, if you discount one major trade that took place on Wednesday.
As it is, here are eDraft's 10 fantasy football players to avoid in Week 3.
Trent Richardson, Running Back, Indianapolis Colts
Why not start with the newest member of the Colts? Richardson will have had two days of practice with a new team and a new scheme before going up against what will be an angry San Francisco 49ers defense on Sunday. While the 49ers are clearly banged up in the front seven, there is absolutely no reason Richardson should make much of a fantasy impact in Week 3. In fact, you might want to consider sitting him completely. Promote your RB2 to RB1 and so on. As Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area indicated, five rushes for 12 yards is probably the level of success we are looking at here. Fret not Colts' fans, T-Rich will be primed to make a major impact in a few weeks. It just won't be this soon.
Projected Statistiscs: Seven attempts, 23 yards and zero touchdowns
DeAngelo Williams, Running Back, Carolina Panthers
Despite starting 0-2, the New York Giants are giving up less than 100 rushing yards per game through two weeks. According to Pro Football Focus, they grade out as the second-best rush defense in the NFL at this point. While Williams has had major success on the ground as Carolina's primary running back, we can fully expect the Panthers to take advantage of a weak pass defense and let Cam Newton air it out in this one. Don't expect much from the veteran running back in Week 3.
Projected Statistics: 14 attempts, 45 yards and zero touchdowns
Joe Flacco, Quarterback, Baltimore Ravens
Opposing quarterbacks might have had success against the Houston Texans to the tune of six touchdowns and just one interception in the first two games, but Philip Rivers and Jake Locker only combined to throw for 312 yards in those two games. Houston is still doing a great job defending the deep pass with its primary issues being on the intermediate ones. The good news for fans in Texas is that Flacco doesn't have anyone to make consistent catches on the shorter routes. Instead, Baltimore relies on Torrey Smith beating defenses deep. That's just not going to happen in this one. Adding more fuel to the fire is the possibility that Ray Rice may not play, which means the screen game goes out the window (more on that below).
Projected Statistics: 23/36, 247 yards, one touchdown and one interception
Ray Rice, Running Back, Baltimore Ravens
As I indicated before, Rice might not be ready to go this weekend. Reports indicate that he'll be a game-time decision. Even if a hobbled Rice is able to see action, we can expect Bernard Pierce to get more touches in this one. It goes without saying that Rice's fantasy value is limited because of that. Most fantasy owners are relying on Rice as a RB1, which means that they're going to have to add a RB3 option from the FLEX position or sit Rice completely. Don't expect much from the veteran in this one, even if he does play.
Projected Statistics: 11 rushes, 35 yards and zero touchdowns
Arian Foster, Running Back, Houston Texans
Speaking of the running back by committee approach, Ben Tate has had more success on the ground than Foster thus far this season. Tate has put up 148 yards on 18 attempts with Foster going for just 136 yards on 37 attempts. Besides the fact that Tate's average of nine attempts per game limits Foster's fantasy value, the indicators seem to suggest that Tate will play more of a role moving forward.
Houston goes up against a Baltimore Ravens run defense that has yielded a total of 130 yards on 43 attempts, which equates to three yards a rush. Needless to say, we can't expect anywhere near decent RB1 production from Foster in Week 3.
Projected Statistics: 16 attempts, 55 yards, two receptions, 11 yards and zero touchdowns
Matt Ryan, Quarterback, Atlanta Falcons
Pro Football Focus ranks the Miami Dolphins' pass defense sixth overall in the NFL through two weeks. Considering that they went up against Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts last week, that's a mighty fine feat. With Steven Jackson slated to be out a minium of two weeks and Roddy White still slowed down by injury, Ryan is going to find it tough sledding on the road in South Beach this weekend.
While the veteran has put up nearly 700 passing yards and four scores, he has done so against the likes of the New Orleans Saints and St. Louis Rams, both of whom don't possess the coverage ability of the Dolphins. Overall, opposing quarterbacks have thrown just two touchdowns compared to four interceptions against Miami's defense this year. With Brent Grimes ranked as the best overall cover corner by Pro Football Focus, look for Julio Jones to actually struggle making a major impact in this one. That will further limit Ryan's success through the air.
Projected Statistics: 26/40, 310 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions
C.J. Spiller, Running Back, Buffalo Bills
By his standards, Spiller has yet to get it going this season. He's averaging just 72 rushing yards per game and is the 28th-ranked fantasy running back through two weeks. It's not going to get much easier going up against a New York Jets' defense that's allowed just 119 yards on 49 attempts (2.4 yards per carry) this season. If Buffalo is going to have any success on offense this week, it's going to be through the air with Robert Woods and Stevie Johnson creating mismatches on the outside. Its simply not beating the Jets defensive line in the trenches.
Projected Statistics: 18 attempts, 55 yards, four receptions, 24 yards and zero touchdowns
Ben Roethlisberger, Quarterback, Pittsburgh Steelers
We really do have to start feeling bad for Big Ben. He has absolutely nothing to work with on the offensive side of the ball. Alex Smith actually tallied more rushing yards last week than the Steelers have all season. His offensive line is a complete wreck and his receivers aren't stepping up. Don't expect this to change in Week 3 against a stout Chicago Bears defense that has intercepted three passes and forced six total turnovers in two games. If Pittsburgh is unable to get anything going on the ground here, a real possibility, Roethlisberger will be forced into making mistakes by trying too hard in the passing game. It really is that simple.
Projected Statistics: 25/42, 267 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions
Terrelle Pryor, Quarterback, Oakland Raiders
A young quarterback making just his second career road start against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football. No, that's not exactly a recipe for success. While I like what Pryor has shown thus far this season, the stage is just going to be too big for him. Where he might get some rushing yards due to Denver's lack of speed along the defensive line, he's going to be forced into a shoot out with Manning. Pryor just isn't at the point in his career where that's going to end successfully. Expect a major struggle from the Raiders and their young quarterback in this one.
Projected Statistics: 19/39, 203 yards, nine attempts, 45 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions
Every Single Member of the Jacksonville Jaguars
This should just about sum up what we can expect from Jacksonville's offense against the Seattle Seahawks in the Pacific Northwest this weekend. That's all!