By Luke Moehle

 

I will be analyzing the key matchups favoring or opposing your teams’ fantasy football members based on positional matchups, weekly health reports and other factors that may aid or impair their fantasy performance.

 

The Quarterbacks:

Top Point Scorer: Patrick Mahomes- Kansas City Chiefs

 

The reigning AFC Offensive Player of the Week will see a favorable matchup against the 49’ers this Sunday. Mahomes will play his first game at home in front of the loudest crowd in all of football. San Francisco has allowed the seventh most points to quarterbacks so far. I see “Show Time” going for a season high in yards, but throwing his first interception of the year.

• 330+ yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT

 

Start ‘Em: Matt Ryan – Atlanta Falcons

 

After receiving much negative national attention from his week one performance versus the Eagles, Ryan bounced back by completing over 75% of his passes and connecting for two touchdowns. He faces a Saints defense that has been passed all over during the first two weeks.

• 300+ yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

 

Sit ‘Em: Carson Wentz – Philadelphia Eagles

 

If Wentz is your best option, then it is worth a shot this week. He proved to be a very solid quarterback in 2017, and I believe his fantasy outlook is bright. Unfortunately, he is coming off a knee injury that held him out the remainder of last season. I fear that if after taking a hit something does not feel quite right for Carson Wentz, Doug Pederson will go to his trustworthy backup for one more week.

 

The Running Backs:

Top Point Scorer: Alvin Kamara – New Orleans Saints

 

Second year running back, Alvin Kamara, out of the University of Tennessee has been a fantasy owner’s dream since entering the National Football League. This week he faces off against the Atlanta Falcons, a team that allowed 14 catches for over 100 yards last week to Christian McCaffrey.

• 80 yards rushing, 1 TD & 7 catches, 55 yards receiving, 1 TD

 

Start ‘Em: Dion Lewis – Tennessee Titans

 

2018 seems to have assured the new era of running back is not only moving the ball on the ground, but also through the air. Lewis has been the leading receiver out of the backfield as well as edging out counterpart Derrick Henry in rushing yards. The Jacksonville Jaguars have seen many teams try to beat them by dishing the ball off to the running back which is what should be the Titans’ philosophy this week.

• 65 yards rushing, 1 TD & 4 catches, 30 yards receiving

 

Sit ‘Em: Adrian Peterson – Washington Redskins

 

Adrian Peterson is a hit or miss prospect for the foreseeable future due to the fact that Chris Thompson is doing the heavy lifting. Thompson, who is a safe start, catches most of the passes out of the backfield. As a fantasy manager, it is just too difficult to shove Peterson into the lineup.

 

The Wide Receivers:

Top Point Scorer: Julio Jones – Atlanta Falcons

 

Arguably the best receiver in the league will see an advantageous matchup when he lines up against the worst defense against wide receivers, the New Orleans Saints. Ryan’s favorite target will outmatch the Saints and have an extremely dominant day.

• 9 catches, 115 yards, 1 TD

 

Start ‘Em: Pierre Garcon – San Francisco 49’ers

 

Lousy is one word that I would use to describe the Kansas City Chiefs’ secondary play so far. Despite facing two potential Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger during the first two weeks, Garoppolo is going to get his yards. Garcon could certainly see a season high in targets this week, making him a good fringe player to start.

• 6 catches, 85 yards, 1 TD

 

Sit ‘Em: Sammy Watkins – Kansas City Chiefs

 

Watkins looked exceptional last week, but I am not ready to count on him quite yet. In a Chiefs’ offense with weapons like Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, he constantly sits in a struggle for targets. If Mahomes finds Watkins like he did in week two, his fantasy upside could be enough to start him in week four.

 

The Tight Ends:

Top Point Scorer: Zach Ertz – Philadelphia Eagles

 

Ertz has to be one of the happiest guys in the NFL right now. He is coming off a stellar week two performance and he has his quarterback coming back. Ertz and Wentz connected on many occasions during the 2017 season. For a quarterback that is just getting back into the flow of things, a tight end is generally his best fall back option.

• 6 catches, 80 yards, 1 TD

 

Start ‘Em: George Kittle – San Francisco 49’ers

 

For a second straight week, Kittle lands on my start list. Steelers tight end, Jesse James, took the Chiefs for a ride last Sunday for 138 yards and a touchdown. Now, I do not see George Kittle putting up those numbers, but look for him to put together some startable numbers.

• 4 catches, 65 yards, 1 TD

 

Sit ‘Em: Tyler Eifert – Cincinnati Bengals

 

Eifert has not quite found his groove yet this season and it does not appear that it will happen this week against the Panthers. Carolina has not let a slot receiver find the end zone in weeks one or two. Eifert’s seven targets this season look to be a fantasy nightmare.