Week 3 Fantasy Football NFC WR/TE Snap & Target Report: Is Dallas Goedert a Must Start? Which Rams can You Trust?
Morgan takes a look at important usage numbers for NFC fantasy football pass catchers coming out of Week 3.
After every week of NFL play, FantasySP takes a look at the most important usage numbers for fantasy football players.
After looking at backfields in another story, let’s look at each team’s best pass catchers next. We already looked at the AFC teams and now will cover the NFC ones.
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Eagles
Dallas Goedert erupted for 170 yards on 10 catches and 11 targets in week 3. He got extra work with A.J. Brown out and DeVonta Smith getting injured in the contest. Goedert is a good starting option in all leagues in week 4 if neither of the receivers can play.
Smith had seven catches on 10 targets last week. He’s a must start if he’s cleared to play.
Jahan Dotson only had three targets, but after logging 63 snaps, he becomes a deep league starting option in week 4 if Smith and Brown are both out. Parris Campbell and Johnny Wilson are more desperation options, but I’d trust Dotson the most out of that trio.
Cowboys
Jake Ferguson returned to the field and had six grabs on 11 targets. He’s a must start in all leagues at a weak fantasy TE position.
CeeDee Lamb had a down game, with 67 yards across four catches and seven targets. He’s still a must start in all leagues for week 4.
Brandin Cooks and Jalen Tolbert are deep league options after getting six and five targets last week. Neither are great starting options, but there’s at least potential with each for a decent fantasy outing.
Giants
Malik Nabers had 78 yards and two scores on eight grabs and 12 targets last week. He’s a must start in all leagues.
Wan'Dale Robinson had seven catches on eight targets. He’s a standard league flex option for week 4, but is a much safer play in deeper leagues.
No other Giant had over three targets, so every other pass catcher can be avoided outside the deepest of leagues.
Commanders
Terry McLaurin led a balanced pass catcher attack with six targets. He’s the only Washington receiver worthy of a start in any league type.
Tight end Zach Ertz had 38 yards on five catches and targets and is now a standard league option for week 4. He’s a better play in deep leagues though.
Luke McCaffrey had 44 yards, but on just three targets and catches. He’s a risky deep league option.
Vikings
Justin Jefferson unsurprisingly led the Vikings with six catches and eight targets. He’s a must start in all leagues.
Jalen Nailor continued to take advantage of Jordan Addison’s absence, going for 31 yards and a score on three grabs and four targets. Nailor is a deep league starting option if Addison misses week 4.
Johnny Mundt caught a touchdown, but should only be considered in really deep leagues. Every other pass catcher, outside Addison, can be avoided.
Packers
Jayden Reed had 50 yards on four catches and six targets in week 3. Things will look different when Jordan Love is back, but you can have some confidence to maybe start Reed in any format if Malik Willis is back there again.
Tucker Kraft had three targets, but just two catches and 24 yards. He’s playing plenty, but isn’t a starting option outside really deep leagues yet.
Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs had two targets each, but their fantasy values have significantly dropped with Love out. Only consider playing them if Love is back. Dontayvion Wicks looked like a potential breakout player before the season, but has hardly done anything so far - he should be avoided in all formats even if Love returns.
Bears
Cole Kmet led the team’s pass catchers with 10 catches on 11 targets. He’s a standard league starting option in week 4 at a lacking TE position.
Rome Odunze had 11 targets and six catches last week, but that was with Keenan Allen out. Odunze is a standard league option in week 4 if Allen is out again, but Odunze is a safer deep league starter.
D.J. Moore is a good standard league option still after having eight grabs on 10 targets in week 3. Keep starting him no matter what, even if your confidence in Caleb Williams isn’t high.
Lions
Amon-Ra St. Brown led the team with seven grabs and eight targets. He’s a must start in all leagues.
Sam LaPorta got injured and finished with just two targets. The injury allowed Brock Wright to get five targets. LaPorta expects to play, and he’s a must start in all formats despite a slow start, but if he can’t go, Wright is a sneaky good option in all formats for week 4.
Jameson Williams is another starting option, but after just one catch and three targets last week, is a safer start in deeper leagues.
Falcons
Drake London had six grabs on nine targets, while Darnell Mooney went for eight catches on as many targets in week 3. London is the better fantasy option, but Mooney should get standard league starting consideration - although he’s a safer deep league guy.
Kyle Pitts had five targets, two catches and 59 yards. He’ll remain a starter in all formats because of the weak TE position, but he’s hard to trust. Ray-Ray McCloud is a deep league possibility, but not a great one after just three targets last week.
Buccaneers
Chris Godwin had six grabs on nine targets in week 3. He’s played well enough to be a must start in all league for week 4. Mike Evans only had 17 yards on two catches and three targets, but still should be started in all leagues.
Tight end Cade Otton had seven catches on eight targets, but is still just a deep league guy at this point.
Panthers
Diontae Johnson went off for 122 yards and a score on eight catches and 14 targets in week 3. With Andy Dalton getting another start, you can feel a bit more confident starting Johnson in a standard league.
Adam Thielen had five targets last week, but is now on the injured reserve list. That’ll open things up for Jonathan Mingo (four targets in week 3) and Xavier Legette (three targets). Those two are just deep league options this week in my book, with Mingo getting the edge based on playing time so far.
Saints
Chris Olave had six catches and targets in week 3 and remains a must start in all formats despite an up-and-down start to the season.
Rashid Shaheed didn’t catch any of his five targets. He’s still a borderline standard league starter, but a much safer choice in deeper leagues.
Rams
Tight end Colby Parkinson and wideout Tutu Atwell had five targets each in week 3, while Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson had three each.
Parkinson is a borderline starter in standard leagues because of a weak TE position. Atwell might get some standard league starts this week, but I’d feel much better starting him in a deeper league. Robinson and Johnson are in the exact same boat.
Seahawks
Tyler Lockett had a team-leading eight targets last week, but DK Metcalf and Noah Fant finished with more yards. Jaxon Smith-Njigba fell to three targets after getting 16 in week 2.
Metcalf is a must start in all leagues. Lockett and JSN are standard league options, but better deep league starters because of the inconsistent showings so far. Fant is also a better deep league guy after his best showing of the season last week.
49ers
Jauan Jennings had 175 yards and three scores on 11 catches and 12 targets. He’ll get standard league starts this week, and should if Deebo Samuel Sr. and George Kittle are out again.
Brandon Aiyuk only had 48 yards on five catches and 10 targets. He’ll start in a bunch of standard leagues yet, but I can’t imagine any fantasy owner feels super confident in him right now.
Cardinals
Marvin Harrison Jr. went for 64 yards and a score on five catches and 11 targets last week. He’s a must start in all leagues already.
Michael Wilson had eight grabs on nine targets, but is a much better deep league starting option. Greg Dortch is also a deep league guy - he had three catches on six targets last week.
Trey McBride is dealing with a concussion, and if he’s out, all three receivers might turn in solid fantasy days. McBride is a must start despite a bit of a slow start to his season.
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