Brandon Lundberg
Oct 1, 20203 min
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We have a new number one defense trending toward 2000 PPR fantasy points allowed through three games, the Seattle Seahawks. This is not a big surprise; the Seahawks were trending towards 2k last week, ranking 2nd to the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta switches spots with Seattle, and we have a new face in the top three, the Dallas Cowboys, who are trending towards 1860 PPR points allowed through three games. Pay attention to each team's schedule. The Seahawks have faced three top ten scoring teams to open the year and will be matched up against a Miami Dolphins team that scored 31 on the Jaguars last Thursday, yet the offense didn't surpass 300 total yards. Seattle will undoubtedly have a far easier time vs. the Dolphins offense in week 4, maybe.
The Dallas Cowboys being on this list is a big concern, considering I picked them to make it to the NFC title game. Their defense is surrendering the third-most points in the NFL. They are also trending the third-highest fantasy PPR points (1860). 45% of the Cowboys total fantasy points allowed are from opposing teams WR's. But consider their first three opponents of 2020, the Rams, Falcons, and the Seahawks. The Cowboys secondary opened the season against Kupp and Woods, week two, they faced Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley, and this past week they faced D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett with Russell Wilson, who is having an NFL MVP start to his season. The Cowboys will meet the Cleveland Browns this week in what might feel like a break for their secondary compared to the last three games.
The top three players who move the chains through three games are Darrell Henderson, Alvin Kamara, and Autin Ekeler. All three backs play a significant role in the passing game for their team. Henderson shared the backfield with Malcolm Brown against the Bills. Both had 34 snaps, but Henderson led the way with 24 carries and 114 yds on the ground. Henderson also had ten first down conversions on the ground. Jared Goff only targeted Henderson three times with one catch for six yards on Sunday. Hendersons value is on the rise.
The Colts, Bucs, and Steelers are the stingiest defenses n the NFL through three games allowing the lowest total yds per play. The Steelers and Bucs defenses get a lot of publicity, but the Colts defense is beginning to show that it is real, at least until competition ramps up. Yes, it becomes easy to pad your stats against Sam Darnold and the Jets, but you can say the same about the Bucs, who just faced the Panthers and Broncos on back to back weeks. The Steelers have had the Giants and Broncos in two of their three games. The Colts did face Jags and Gardner Minshew, who completed 19-20 passes for only 173 yards but did throw three TD's. Philip Rivers's poor two-interception debut did not help the Colt defense. The Colts will face the Chicago Bears this week.
Alvin Kamara (5), Aaron Jones (4), and Ezekiel Elliott (4). There is a tie for 2nd between Jones, Elliott, CMC, and Cam Newton who all have 4 TD's. Rex Burkhead is third with 3 TD's.
JuJu Smith-Schuster (89.5%), Keelan Cole (88.2%), and DeAndre Hopkins (86.5%). DeAndre Hopkins also leads the NFL in total first downs (21) among players who are trending 75 total opportunities (combined rush att and targets).