Check out Marc Caviglia’s fantasy football rankings and hot takes on the Week 3 team defense matchups:
- The Indianapolis Colts defense has played well this season and is in an excellent position to post another big week. The Colts defense ranks 3rd overall in standard scoring fantasy football leagues and has recorded 7 sacks while forcing 3 turnovers in two games. Led by Darius Leonard (16 tackles) the defense should have no trouble taking advantage of a bad New York Jets offense. DeForest Buckner has been a force up front for Indianapolis, as the free agent signee has 9 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Justin Houston and Denico Autry have done an excellent job of pressuring the quarterback as well. Indy is a top-5 play in Week 3 and is a must start in all league sizes.
- I’m buying stock in the Arizona Cardinals defense in Week 3. They are giving up 17.5 points per game so far and have forced two turnovers while recording seven total sacks through two games. Solid enough to be a top-10 fantasy unit thus far and against the Detroit Lions you can expect for some solid production. The Lions have allowed 5 quarterback sacks on Matthew Stafford and we all know Stafford becomes a gunslinger when playing from behind, which usually leads to some big plays for opposing defenses. Look for the Cardinals offense to push the pace and make the Lions have to throw the football and for Budda Baker, Jordan Hicks, Chris Banjo and De’Vondre Campbell to make some big plays.
- While the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens are two team defenses worthy of being in your lineup most weeks, you should avoid them at all costs in Week 3. The two offensive juggernauts face off against each other on Monday Night Football and with an Over/Under of 54 total points you can do the math and realize the defenses will be a non-factor. If you own one of these defensive units, don’t drop them but find a way to get a better streaming defense into your lineup in Week 3.
- Yes, the San Francisco 49ers are banged up on both sides of the football, but their Week 3 matchup with the New York Giants is still a mismatch on paper. Football guru Peter King was talking on the radio the other day how players No. 11-20 on San Francisco are still better than the top-10 players for the Giants and I have to agree with King. Daniel Jones has thrown 3 interceptions and been sacked 7 times in just two games and the Giants offense averages just 14.5 points per game. Factor in the season-ending injury to Saquon Barkley and you have a lot of uncertainty for an already inept offense. This is an excellent spot for the 49ers defense, even without Nick Bosa and Richard Sherman, to record their first 10-plus fantasy point performance.
Rankings are based on the following scoring:
2 point per interception
2 point per fumble recovery
1 point per sack
2 points for safety
6 point for defensive/return touchdown
