Love
LAR WR Davante Adams vs. IND CB Xavien Howard
Adams has now scored in each of his last two games and has seen at least eight targets in all three games this season. There is no doubt that WR Puka Nacua is the clear WR1 on the team, but having Adams opposite him has helped Nacua continue to operate freely. Adams has a juicy matchup against Xavien Howard, who did not play last season, and it clearly shows.
The Colts are off to a very hot 3-0 start due to an efficient offense and a fairly good defense. However, the injury bug is running rampant on this Colts secondary for the second season in a row. Howard, 32 years old, was signed off the couch and now finds himself starting in the CB2 slot. There are clear signs of rust and age, and that cannot show against a receiver like Adams. Adams has an obvious advantage this Sunday at home and could possibly help extinguish the red-hot Colts.
LAC WR Keenan Allen vs. NYG CB Dru Phillips
Shane Waldron is a menace. He had us thinking Jaxon Smith-Njigba, DJ Moore, and Keenan Allen were not good receivers. Think I’m joking? Ask Jaguars fans and Brian Thomas Jr. managers how that draft pick is working out this season. Allen has once again become the reliable target QB Justin Herbert had early in his career. He has scored in all three games this season, and he is poised to have another good game.
The Giants are looking for answers on both sides of the football after a loss against the beatable Chiefs. Specifically, the defense is giving up 252 passing yards a game despite having one of the most, if not the most, talented front four groups in the league. The way Herbert and the Chargers are playing, he may throw for 400 yards and multiple touchdowns, which bodes well for Allen. Allen is an excellent FLEX play this week.
HOU WR Christian Kirk vs. TEN Jalyn Armour-Davis
Kirk made his season debut last week against Jacksonville. He saw eight targets, of which he hauled in three for just 25 yards. The Texans are winless thus far, but if you need a “get right” game, look no further than using the Tennessee Titans to get back on track. Kirk will help take pressure off of Nico Collins.
With Jarvis Brownlee Jr. traded to the Jets, Jalyn Armour-Davis will continue to assume the role of CB2. The Colts picked apart this defense last week, but WR2 Alec Pierce hauled in four catches for 67 yards before becoming injured midway through the game. Kirk could take advantage of this abysmal Titans defense and look like the Jaguars version of Kirk.
Hate
JAX WR Brian Thomas Jr. vs. SF CB Deommodore Lenoir
Sorry, BTJ managers, but this is not going to be the week your patience pays off. Somehow, Thomas Jr. scored fewer points this past week than he did in Week 2, where he caught flak for his body language on the field. He sees plenty of targets, and the Jaguars are sitting at 2-1. However, Thomas Jr. and QB Trevor Lawrence cannot seem to get on the same page. Now, they have the tall task of facing a stout Niners pass defense.
The Niners are 3-0 without QB Brock Purdy, TE George Kittle, WR Brandon Aiyuk, and WR Jauan Jennings missing two games. A bulk of the credit for this team’s start should go to the defense authored by Robert Saleh. San Francisco is allowing 162 passing yards a game so far this season, which is good for the fifth-best in the league. The Niners are at home and will be ready for Jacksonville.
MIN WR Jordan Addison vs. PIT CB Darius Slay
Addison will appear in his first game this season after his three-game suspension to start the season. He will make his season debut in an odd way, playing in Dublin, Ireland. Yes, Pittsburgh’s secondary has not been great this season so far, but this is solely about QB Carson Wentz. It is hard to imagine that Wentz will play as well as he did in Week 3, but then again, anything can happen in these international games.
CAR WR Tetairoa McMillan vs. NE CB Christian Gonzalez
McMillan has had an active season so far in his rookie campaign. His numbers are not exactly where fantasy managers want them to be, but take into consideration the franchise and quarterback he has been dealt. We have seen the flashes from the former Arizona Wildcat that gives us the inclination that he could be great. He had his first 100-yard game in Week 2, but he saw regression in Week 3 against Atlanta despite his Panthers squad posting 30 points.
McMillan has a tall task as he more than likely will face Christian Gonzalez, who will be appearing in his first game this season. Gonzalez is a great lockdown corner when healthy and on the field. Lots of controversy has surrounded the latest injury he suffered back in July. Nevertheless, he is slated to be out there this week barring a setback, and he will be tasked with taking McMillan out of the game, which Gonzalez is more than capable of doing.