Player Props: Week 3
Once again I hit on four of my seven recommendations last week and with @fightingchance warning me that I need to do better I’m really feeling the pressure in Week 3 (Editor’s note: I have guys with baseball bats outside Joe’s house today if he doesn’t hit at least five of these). My reasoning always seems so sound before kickoff but then kickoff comes and…well… let’s just say I’m feeling confident that I will not go 0 for 8 this week. Wish me luck!!
Please remember that gambling is super risky and you should only use funds that you can afford to lose.
Mike Gesicki, TE, Cincinnati Bengals
Under 2.5 receptions
Bengals WR Tee Higgins is feeling great and about to make his first start of the 2024 season, QB Joe Burrow loves throwing the ball to Andrei Iosivas, and Ja’Marr Chase’s offensive snaps played percentage increased in Week 2. Where does that leave Gesicki? That leaves him with less than 2.5 catches, that’s where it leaves him!! Gesicki also has the misfortune of playing against a Commanders defense that’s given up just one catch to tight ends this season and that’s a trend that’s carried over from last season. The Commanders gave up the seventh fewest receptions to the position in 2023.
Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams
Under 63.5 rushing yards
Williams has gotten off to a slow start rushing for 50 yards in Week 1 and just 25 yards in Week 2. The Rams’ offensive line is getting healthier but I see LA playing from behind for much of the game against an angry San Francisco 49ers team coming off a loss to Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings. If that game script comes true that would likely limit Williams’ carries. He rushed for 52 yards in his only game against the Niners in his career and that range sounds about right for Week 3.
Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions
Over 0.5 rushing yards
I had to double, triple and quadruple check this over/under total when I saw it on DraftKings’ Sportsbook because this just seems too easy (I know that’s what they all say). Goff ran for seven yards in Week 1 and five in Week 2. His opponent, the Arizona Cardinals, gave up 39 rushing yards to Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen and last week Rams QB Matthew Stafford didn’t attempt a rush against them. I guess Stafford’s big fat zero rushing yard total in Week 2 and the fact that Goff isn’t too fleet of foot influenced this line, but he’s got to rush for at least one yard right? Let’s just hope he falls forward once in Week 3.
James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills
Over 62.5 rushing yards
In case you haven’t noticed the Bills have been running the ball a lot more this season and that trend actually started last season when Offensive Coordinator Joe Brady took over the team’s play calling. The Bills are running the ball 57.28% of the time this season compared to 46.47% last season and Cook has rushed for 71 yards in Week 1 and 78 yards in Week 2. He’ll be running against a Jacksonville Jaguars run defense that actually kept Miami Dolphins running backs in check in Week 1 but gave up 64 rushing yards to Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford last week. This is going to be a tough road game for the Jags. I think the Bills will play with a lead for much of the game and continue to make their rushing attack a big part of their offense in Week 3. If Cook gets 15 plus carries, which he should, he should beat the over.
Rashid Shaheed, WR, New Orleans Saints
Over 51.5 receiving yards
I want a piece of the Saints’ offense this week and Shaheed has emerged as a solid WR 1A for New Orleans this season. Shaheed has gone well over 51.5 receiving yards in each of his first two games and with a career high 17.6 ADOT so far this season, he’ll have a good opportunity to do it again in Week 3. He has a TD in each of his first two games and it wouldn’t surprise me if he made it three in a row.
Skylar Thompson, QB, Miami Dolphins
Under 195.5 passing yards
Thompson has some great weapons at WR in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle but unfortunately the Seahawks defense has given up the second fewest receiving yards to wide receivers this season. I’m expecting the Seattle D to neutralize Thompson’s weapons in Week 3 and since they’ve given up the third fewest passing yards (287) to quarterbacks this season, they’ll likely neutralize him as well. Thompson won’t only have to compete against the Seahawks’ tough pass defense this afternoon, but as Bo Nix discovered in Week 1, that 12th man in Seattle is a lot to handle for an inexperienced NFL quarterback.
Tutu Atwell, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Over 1.5 receptions
It’s going to take a collective effort from the Rams’ remaining healthy wide receivers to move the chains with Puka Nakua and Cooper Kupp out in Week 3. Atwell was targeted four times in Week 2 and hauled in three of those targets. We tend to forget that Atwell was an explosive receiver in his time with Louisville and with QB Matthew Stafford likely spreading the ball around today Atwell has a good shot of catching at least two passes this week.
Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Anytime TD scorer
With Kenneth Walker III doubtful to play in Week 3 as this article is being written and the Dolphins already having given up three rushing TDs to RBs this season, Charbonnet has a good chance to punch one into the end zone on Sunday afternoon. He’s good enough to be an RB1 on many NFL teams.