The five biggest fantasy football takeaways from Week 3 of the 2016 NFL season.
The greatest reality television show was on full display on Sunday and it did not disappoint. There were some performances that had us all scratching our heads and others asking ourselves, “how did I not see that coming?” But isn’t that the world of fantasy football?
Now comes the part where we try to make sense of it all. Looking back over Week 3 of the season and seeing what’s relevant and what we need to be discussing.
Here are the five biggest fantasy football takeaways from Sunday.
Sep 25, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) slides to avoid the tackle of Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (91) and free safety Jalen Mills (31) during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
5. High Powered Offenses Faltered
I wouldn’t have been shocked to see offenses like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals and the New York Jets to score around 24 points yesterday. However, for all three teams to combine for 24 points was not only shocking, but also disappointing.
Numerous fantasy owners expected an abundant amount of yards, touchdowns, and points from multiple players on each of these three teams yesterday and understandably so. In Week 1 the Steelers put up 38 points against the Washington Redskins. In Week 2 the Cardinals and Jets combined for 77 points in their victories.
Yet, only two touchdowns came from the combined 24 points yesterday. Both of those touchdowns were scored by Cardinals running back David Johnson. Essentially, everyone other than Johnson on all three teams severely fell short.
We can expect weeks like these to occur here and there over the course of the season. But boy does it hurt when they happen.
Sep 25, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Chicago Bears running back Jeremy Langford (33) can not make a catch in the first quarter against Dallas Cowboys safety Barry Church (42) at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
4. Injury Bug Isn’t Done
Last week we saw a lot of key fantasy football running backs go down with injuries. This week was nowhere near as bad, but there were a couple more victims.
Eagles running back Ryan Mathews‘ day was over after only two carries and -5 yards on Sunday. Now Mathews was not carted off during the game. There wasn’t even any talk about x-rays or an MRI for Mathews. Yet, it has to be assumed the Eagles starting back is dealing with an injury. Why else would he not play in the final three quarters?
Mathews is not a newcomer when it comes to NFL injuries. Between 2010-15 Mathews has missed 23 games due to injury. The likelihood he is dealing with an injury now shouldn’t be a surprise.
Now, somebody that was carted off to the locker room was Bears running Jeremy Langford. Anytime a player is carted off it is not a good sign although at the moment it does not look like it’s a season-ending injury. However, the injury could keep Langford out for next week’s contest against the Detroit Lions and beyond.
Both of these running backs’ injury status should be updated either today or tomorrow. So keep one eye on that and the other on the waiver wire.
Sep 25, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters (22) celebrates after intercepting a pass in the end zone during the second half against the New York Jets at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 24-3. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
3. Defense Wins Championships
Fantasy football is mostly all about the offensive players. So maybe the saying “defense wins championships” isn’t as fitting compared to actual NFL games. Yet, there’s a good chance if you owned a certain defense this week, they propelled you to a victory.
Yesterday the Kansas City Chiefs D/ST was able to force eight turnovers and scored two touchdowns. According to ESPN standard scoring, the Chiefs D/ST scoring performance this week (32 points) is tied for first along with Detroit Lions receiver Marvin Jones.
The Minnesota Vikings D/ST managed to force three turnovers and scored a touchdown of their own. The biggest takeaway away from this was they accomplished this against Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers. Keep in mind, last week they shut down Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers offense. The Vikings are an every-week starter and should be the early favorite to finish the year as the No. 1 D/ST unit in fantasy.
If you had the courage (or lack of options) and started the Buffalo Bills, it certainly worked out for you. The Bills D/ST forced five turnovers and scored a touchdown. On most weeks, this performance would have been good enough to make the Bills the top D/ST for the week. But the Chiefs and Vikings took it to another level.
Sep 25, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) reacts after being injured in the third quarter in a game against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks won 37-18. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
2. Seattle Seahawks
When it comes to fantasy football, the Seattle Seahawks are a roller coaster that’s making the stress levels of owners go all the way up (and nothing can stop them, they’re all the way up).
Just when it looked like Russell Wilson was going to have a big day (finally), he leaves the game with another leg injury. Sure his 243 passing yards and one touchdown was okay, but he could have easily finished with 300 yards and multiple touchdowns if he stayed in the game.
More from NFL Spin Zone
Christine Michael decided to have himself a day. The former Texas A&M Aggie finished with 111 total yards and two touchdowns. This performance should help establish him as the Seahawks starter, but you just know Thomas Rawls isn’t going away. If there’s a two-game stretch where Michael underwhelms and Rawls goes bananas, would it be a surprise if he takes his job back?
I’ll admit that I pretty much wrote off tight end Jimmy Graham. His patellar tendon injury is one of the worse kind of injuries a player can suffer in the NFL. Many players haven’t been the same and are forced into early retirement because of it. A fantasy football TE1? Please. Graham wasn’t even a TE3 in my book when I prepared for drafts in August/September. After two weeks I felt pretty good in my assessment of him.
Yet, in Week 3 he looked pretty good and healthy when he finished with six receptions, 100 yards, and a score. Other than his lost fumble, it was a great day for him. Hats off to Graham for overcoming long odds to recover from his injury as quickly as he did and to play the way he is. I hope he can build off this performance and continue to produce because this is one instance where I won’t mind eating crow every Sunday.
Sep 25, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Terrelle Pryor (11) is tackled by Miami Dolphins free safety Reshad Jones (20) during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
1. Pryor Does it All
Sometimes fans and even NFL coaches can overcomplicate the game. Sometimes it’s as simple as getting the ball into the hands of your best playmakers and letting them eat. On Sunday, the Cleveland Browns made a point to get the ball into wide receiver Terrelle Pryor‘s hands by any means necessary and just let him do his thing.
Throwing the ball? Yeah. Running the ball? Sure. Catching the ball? Duh.
Pryor finished Sunday with 200 total yards on the dot. Heading into Monday Night Football, he’s the third-highest scoring receiver in fantasy for Week 3. He had five passing attempts, four rushing attempts, eight receptions, and his 14 targets were a team and game high. Is this something we can expect every week from the Browns? I hope so.
Pryor has struggled making an impact in the NFL after spending his entire college career as a quarterback. Yet, he’s managed to stay in the league since entering in 2011 because he just has unworldly athletic ability.
Now he not only looks like a NFL caliber receiver but he looks like an impactful one too. The Browns should have won yesterdays game (tisk tisk Cody Parkey) and Pryor was a big reason for that. Pryor is a hell of a weapon for the Browns and they need to exhaust all options with him. The only thing he didn’t do yesterday was throw the ball to himself.
Maybe they’re saving that for next week.
This article originally appeared on 
