Fantasy Football Last Minute Lineup Changes: Week 3

Last week my starters didn’t perform exceptionally well and Melvin Gordon may have gone gangbusters on the Jaguars (due to a Woodhead injury), but I really nailed that crappy Andrew Luck performance in Denver. One for six is not great, but like Jon Snow of Winterfell I’m planning on a big comeback in Week 3.

START

Russell Wilson (QB, SEA) – vs. SF: Wilson has been underwhelming to say the least in the first two weeks of the season. Wilson has only thrown one touchdown in the first two games, but both those games he was hobbled with an ankle injury. This week Wilson admitted he was playing through a high ankle sprain last week but is feeling much better this week and has been practicing in full all week. Wilson gets right at home this week against an average Niners defense.

Tevin Coleman (RB, ATL) – at NO: Coleman (averaging 14.15 Fantasy PPG) has been on my radar the past two weeks not only because he is a fellow Indiana Hoosier alum, but his competition with Devonta Freeman in the Falcons backfield is interesting. Coleman was the Week 1 starter in 2015 before going down early in the year with an injury. This gave Freeman the opportunity to seize the starting job which he did for most of last season, but didn’t finish 2015 on a high note. Head Coach Dan Quinn has said they will split snaps very evenly throughout the season, but with Coleman proving to be a consistent weapon in the passing game he should start seeing more lucrative snaps. With all the recent injuries to starting running backs, Coleman is now a great option to take off your bench and into your RB2 or Flex position.

Tyrell Williams (WR, SD) – at IND: Philip Rivers missed his number one stud Keenan Allen last week, but dominated the Jaguars with his other options. Rivers has another favorable matchup against a poor Colts secondary. The Colts will be focused on stopping Melvin Gordon and Travis Benjamin leaving big Tyrell Williams as a great option for Rivers. Tyrell Williams is a 6’4” 200 lbs. receiver and Rivers loves to target big receivers on his deep bombs.

SIT

Terrelle Pryor (WR, CLE) – at MIA: With the injury to Corey Coleman, Terrelle Pryor becomes the Browns only real dependable deep target. This would usually mean you have to start Pryor this week. If RGIII or Josh McCown were starting I would agree, but with third round draft pick Cody Kessler making his first career start the ball may not travel past 10 yards all day. The Dolphins defense was embarrassed last week by Jimmy Garappolo and will be looking to make a statement in their first home game of the season. Kessler will most likely be dumping it to Gary Barnidge and Duke Johnson Jr. when he gets the chance to throw the ball.

Carlos Hyde (RB, SF) – at SEA: Hyde started the season by destroying the LA Rams with 88 rushing yards and two touchdowns, but when he faced a solid rush defense last week in Carolina he couldn’t do anything. The matchup this week is worse than last week. Hyde is going up against 2015’s best rush defense in Seattle this week. Seattle is only allowing an average of 64 rushing yards per game and you can bet the Seahawks will hold to their average at home against Hyde and company.

Jerick McKinnon (RB, MIN) – at CAR: McKinnon has been named the starter in place of injured Adrian Peterson this week. Most fantasy owners who were able to snatch McKinnon off the waiver wire or had the foresight to stash him deep on their bench are ready to be rewarded for their efforts. The problem is the reward isn’t coming this week with a trip to Carolina. Carolina is stifling against running backs allowing only 3.9 yards per carry. If the Carolina defense isn’t enough to scare you off starting McKinnon, then the fact he will be ceding most goal line work to Matt Asiata should.