Sometimes, you have to forget memories of players who let you down in the past. This is the week for fantasy football forgiveness, a week for second chances.
Do you remember that No. 1 overall pick from several years ago who didn’t quite pan out into a high-volume passer? Well, he's back on the radar after a four-touchdown passing performance.
How about that dual-threat quarterback who just couldn't stay healthy? He's available in a good matchup as a streaming option if you lost Trey Lance for the season.
Oh, how about those tight ends who can create mismatches in the middle of the field? Anyone who rostered Dalton Schultz as a starter needs a temporary replacement because of his uncertain short-term status with a knee injury.
Along with second chances, make room for a couple of rookies who could be next in line for expanded roles.
For Week 3, we present familiar faces but also dig deep into the free-agent pool of point-per-reception leagues, highlighting eight players available in more than 40 percent of Yahoo leagues as of Thursday at 10 p.m. ET.
QB Jared Goff at Minnesota Vikings (37 Percent Rostered)
The Detroit Lions score and give up a lot of points, which means they’re likely to play in a high-scoring game with the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Through two weeks, they're tied for second in scoring while allowing the second-most points leaguewide.
Thus far, Jared Goff has thrown for 471 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. Though Detroit has the third-ranked ground attack that features running backs D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams with a splash of wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown, Goff just had a four-touchdown passing performance last week—his first since the 2018 season.
With the hot hand and a rising star in St. Brown, Goff could have a strong outing against the Vikings, who have allowed the fourth-most passing yards in the first two weeks of the season.
Detroit has scored 35 and 36 points in Weeks 1 and 2, correspondingly. The Lions may have to match those totals to keep pace with the Vikings, who have Pro Bowl playmakers in Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook.
QB Marcus Mariota at Seattle Seahawks (15 Percent Rostered)
Surprisingly, the Atlanta Falcons rank ninth in the league in scoring after posting 26 and 27 points against the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams, respectively. Quarterback Marcus Mariota could have a decent output against the Seattle Seahawks' 24th-ranked pass defense.
Even though the Falcons have moved the ball well, tight end Kyle Pitts has had two quiet outings, hauling in just four passes for 38 yards. Based on his 1,026-yard rookie campaign, he’s capable of a breakout receiving performance in any given week. Why not against a Seahawks defense that's surrendered the eighth-most fantasy points to tight ends through two weeks? If he has a big game, that bodes well for Mariota's passing numbers.
Along with Pitts' potential to post his best stat line of the season and rookie wideout Drake London's solid career start (13 receptions for 160 yards and a touchdown), Mariota can also rack up yards on the ground, which makes him a candidate to finish top-10 in fantasy scoring among quarterbacks every week.
Last week, Mariota recorded six carries for 16 yards, but he registered 12 rush attempts for 72 yards and a touchdown in Week 1 against the Saints. With two viable pass-catchers and his rushing ability, he has a favorable matchup against the Seahawks' 15th-ranked scoring defense.
RB Tyler Allgeier at Seattle Seahawks (15 Percent Rostered)
Perhaps rookie fifth-rounder Tyler Allgeier will have his time to shine in the Falcons backfield.
Last week, Allgeier tied Cordarrelle Patterson for a team-leading 10 carries. Though he only rushed for 30 yards, Atlanta's willingness to give him double-digit rush attempts bodes well ahead of a favorable matchup against the Seahawks’ 25th-ranked run defense.
Last week, Seattle gave up 189 rushing yards and two touchdowns to the San Francisco 49ers, who had a pocket-passing quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo take over for injured dual-threat signal-caller Trey Lance during the team's second offensive series. San Francisco's running backs and wideout Deebo Samuel accounted for most of the yards on the ground.
Even though Mariota and Patterson will likely contribute to Atlanta's ground attack, the Seahawks' bottom-tier run defense may allow two running backs to post decent stat lines, especially if the Falcons continue to pace within the top 10 in scoring.
This past offseason, NFL Network’s Steve Wyche said the Falcons had "high expectations" for Allgeier. Now, he has a chance to maintain a decent role and potentially command more touches with a strong performance.
RB Jordan Mason at Denver Broncos (6 Percent Rostered)
For those who don't know, Jordan Mason is an undrafted rookie out of Georgia Tech who didn't register a carry in the first two weeks of the season.
How did Mason make the sleepers list without a slither of offensive production?
With running backs Elijah Mitchell (sprained MCL) and rookie third-rounder Tyrion Davis-Price (high ankle sprain) on the mend, The Athletic's David Lombardi believes Mason will see some action against the Denver Broncos.
Mason will likely serve as the No. 2 running back behind Jeff Wilson Jr. with wideout Deebo Samuel mixed in a run-heavy offensive attack.
Heading into Week 3, the 49ers lead the NFL in rush attempts. Even with Garoppolo back under center last week, they ran the ball 45 times for 189 yards and two touchdowns. Two running backs and Samuel can post a solid fantasy stat line with that volume.
Mason faces a tough matchup against the Broncos' fifth-ranked run defense, but he should handle a fair number of touches for the league's fourth-ranked rushing offense.
WR Nelson Agholor vs. Baltimore Ravens (8 Percent Rostered)
The New England Patriots' struggling offense gets a soft matchup against a Baltimore Ravens pass defense that just surrendered six touchdowns to the Miami Dolphins in a stunning 42-38 loss in Week 2.
After the Ravens' fourth-quarter collapse—thanks in large part to their pass defense, which ranks last in yards allowed—every manager in desperate need of wide receiver help should add a Patriots pass-catcher.
Jakobi Meyers leads New England in targets (19), catches (13) and receiving yards (150), but he's battling a knee injury and missed practice on Wednesday. Nelson Agholor has a high ceiling because of his big-play potential.
Last week, against the Pittsburgh Steelers' 30th-ranked pass defense, Agholor caught all six of his targets for 110 yards and a touchdown, which included 44- and 25-yard receptions. After a down year in 2021 (37 catches for 473 yards and three touchdowns), he's shown flashes of the field-stretcher who averaged 18.7 yards per reception with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020.
Agholor may continue to beat defenders over the top in a matchup against the Ravens, who have allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
WR Greg Dortch vs. Los Angeles Rams (10 Percent Rostered)
Quarterback Kyler Murray has built a connection with another capable wide receiver. Until three-time All-Pro wideout DeAndre Hopkins returns from his six-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy, fantasy managers should get to know Greg Dortch.
With Rondale Moore on the sideline because of a hamstring injury, Dortch has carved out a decent role for himself. The 5'7", 175-pounder has mostly lined up in the slot, but he's become a more efficient No. 2 wide receiver option than A.J. Green, who's converted 11 targets into just five catches for 29 yards with a two-point conversion. In contrast, Dortch has hauled in 11 of his 13 targets for 118 yards and a touchdown.
Fantasy managers should monitor the Arizona Cardinals' injury report and Moore's activity this week, but if he doesn’t make his 2022 season debut in Week 3, Dortch has great flex appeal in a matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, who have allowed the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
TE Irv Smith Jr. vs. Detroit Lions (51 Percent Rostered)
After a nonexistent season-opening showing in the passing game, Irv Smith Jr. hauled in five of his eight targets for 36 yards and a touchdown in Week 2. Though he dropped a pass that may have resulted in a score, fantasy managers should be encouraged by his involvement in the aerial attack.
Last week against the Philadelphia Eagles, Smith finished with the second-most targets and receptions among Vikings pass-catchers. If that pattern holds, he could have a productive day against the Lions, who rank 27th in pass defense and allow the 10th-most fantasy points to tight ends.
Smith has a chance to become a consistent second or third pass-catching option in an offense that ranks eighth leaguewide in pass attempts. Fantasy managers should add him leading up to a potential high-scoring matchup against the Lions. He's a potential keeper for the remainder of the season, too.
TE Evan Engram at Los Angeles Chargers (37 Percent Rostered)
You may remember Evan Engram from our Week 1 sleepers list. Well, he's back after a busy Week 2 in the Jacksonville Jaguars' passing attack.
Last week against the Indianapolis Colts, Engram led the Jaguars in targets (eight) and receptions (seven), racking up 46 receiving yards. Perhaps he's developed a connection with quarterback Trevor Lawrence that will keep him heavily involved in the passing game.
Head coach Doug Pederson has a favorable play-calling track record with tight ends, dating back to his time with the Eagles when he had a highly productive duo at the position in Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert.
Remember, the Jaguars signed Engram to a one-year, $9 million contract, so the coaching staff clearly had a significant role in mind for him. He could have a top-10 fantasy scoring week against the Los Angeles Chargers, who have allowed the 13th-most fantasy points to tight ends in the first two weeks of the season.
Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com for details.
Fantasy points scored against statistics are provided by FantasyPros.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
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