Fantasy football: 5 changes ahead of Week 4 you need to know about
Jen Ryan identifies five changes ahead of Week 4 that every Fantasy player needs to know about.
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We are heading into Week 4, which has us just about 25% of the way through the Fantasy season. I told you back in Week 1 not to blink or you would miss it, and I was not lying.
The reason this sport is so captivating to the masses is because of the variance and ever-changing nature of the game. This truly is the best reality show on television, and there is a new narrative every week.
Of the countless things that changed in Week 3, here are five that you need to know about.
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The Giants are a pass-first team now
Danny Dimes, come on down! Giants fans rejoiced to see Jones throw for two touchdowns and run for two more in Week 3. By now you have read at least a hundred times about Jones' two rushing touchdowns eclipsing Eli Manning's career rushing touchdown.
Jokes aside, this team took a serious blow when Saquon Barkley succumbed to a high-ankle sprain in the first half that could sideline him for up to eight weeks by some reports. If the Giants are out of contention, did we see the last of Barkley for this season?
Is Wayne Gallman going to step in and absorb the volume Barkley typically sees? The answer to that question is no. The Giants are going to be more pass-happy over the next few weeks than we have seen in years. The rookie quarterback threw the ball last week (36 attempts, 23 completions, 336 yards) and will be expected to throw going forward. The Giants defense is abysmal and pounding the rock without Barkley is not going to put points on the board.
Upgrade Evan Engram's ceiling to that of a skyscraper. Sterling Shepard's stock is also on the rise, and the Giants welcome back Golden Tate next week.
Terry McLaurin is a STUD!
This was a question last week and is an affirmative statement this week. This kid really is a stud, kicking off his career with at least five receptions, 60 yards and a touchdown in three straight games. McLaurin has seen 19.7% of the team's targets, 31% of their red zone targets, and 50% of their targets from ten yards out.
He isn't just seeing the volume, but he is seeing it in areas of the field that are incredibly valuable and he is incredibly efficient with his opportunities.
There is no way he is still on waivers, unless of course you play in some obscure three-team league. Make a bold move for McLaurin via trade before the Redskins hand the keys over to his pal from college, Dwayne Haskins.
Mark Ingram is the running back the Ravens paid him to be......in terms of Fantasy production, at least. With Lamar Jackson running the ball frequently and Gus Edwards stealing some carries in garbage time, Ingram only accounts for 39% of the team's attempts. His production has him currently sitting as the RB5 in PPR leagues, averaging over 20 Fantasy points per game. He has five rushing touchdowns, all of which have come from within ten yards.
Two 100-yard rushing yard games, two games with at least 30 receiving yards, 14 carries per game average are just a few of the stats on Ingram's three game resume with the Ravens. Not bad for a player who was being drafted as the RB21 this offseason.
Greg Olsen is still Carolina's WR1 with a TE designation
At 34-years old, Olsen leads Carolina in receiving yards (221) and receiving touchdowns (2). Olsen has seen no less than seven targets in a game this season, and has had 12 catches for 185 yards over the past two weeks. Only Christian McCaffrey has more Fantasy points than Olsen in this offense.
Olsen is another player who is crushing his preseason ADP, being drafted as the TE15 but through three weeks is the TE5. He has more points than Zach Ertz and George Kittle. He did not miss a beat without Cam Newton in Kyle Allen's debut last week and that will carry on this week and beyond.
First round receivers are on the outside looking in
A handful of receivers with high stock have gotten off to a slow start this season:
DeAndre Hopkins - ADP: 8th overall, PPR Rank: 38th overall
Davante Adams - ADP: 10th overall, PPR Rank: 102nd overall
Odell Beckham - ADP: 11th overall, PPR Rank: 34th overall
These are not the only receivers with a high draft stock struggling. JuJu Smith-Schuster (ADP: 17th overall), Kenny Golladay (ADP: overall), Brandin Cooks (ADP: overall) and Julian Edelman (ADP: overall) are all outside of the top-50 in scoring.
Now is not the time to panic on these players, if anything it is the time to buy low on them. Take advantage of someone else in your league pressing the panic button and send out trade offers. This is a short season, but it is also a long season.
Written by Jen Ryan
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