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    • The Top 10: Week 3
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    The Top 10: Week 3

    Seren Anwen Posted on

    The Top 10: Week 3

    Photo: USA Today Sports

    The Top 10: The Cliffs Notes

    • The Saints have the personnel, coordinator and strategy to be a top fantasy offense, with Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Alvin Kamara and Derek Carr all providing fantasy value.
    • Kyler Murray targeted Marvin Harrison Jr. early and often. The Rams’ zone defense was far too weak, but you have to give the Cardinals credit for making Harrison a starter – at least until we see a Bills-like coverage.
    • Read my Friday feature, “The Replacements,” for weekend finds like Jalen Nailor and Alec Pierce.
    • Thanks to his route running, Andrei Iosivas is a good long-term candidate for the position of a fantasy starter.
    • Will Levis is tough and brave, but his unpredictable decisions are a big problem.
    • Treylon Burks could contribute to a team, but not if he is expected to be a primary receiver. He lacks the ingrained techniques that primary receivers in the league have, and those are difficult to acquire this late in a player’s career.
    • Breece Hall showed all the techniques at the catch point that Burks lacked. It’s no wonder he’s recognized early in the Jets’ passing offense.
    • Caleb Williams didn’t crumble as a decision-maker despite the immense pressure on Sunday night. He’s probably going to be a bust this year, but he impressed an evaluator like me, who is used to seeing rookie QBs fall apart in a way that Williams didn’t, in a low-key way.
    • For now, the Colts run defense is a great opponent.
    • Cody Alexander explains the nuances of the ever-evolving chess game between NFL offense and defense. Good read.
    • 10 more fantasy-relevant points I learned in Week 2

    1. One year (and one OC) earlier in the Saints offense

    I was perhaps a year – and an offensive coordinator – too early in the Saints’ offensive success. I began last year’s Gut Check by examining New Orleans’ personnel and concluded that this group could become one of the most productive offensive teams in the league.

    My premise:

    • The use of Rashid Shaheed, especially as a fielder, would cause too much difficulty for the defense.
    • Shaheed’s versatility allowed the Saints to utilize more two-tight end formations to improve the running game and keep opposing defenses off balance.
    • Derek Carr would thrive behind an offensive line that Matt Bitonti ranks as a top-10 unit, especially as a vertical passer with a play-action component.

    The premise fell apart in Week 1 because left tackle Trevor Penning wasn’t ready for the NFL. The Saints had to give Penning too much help, which hampered the offense. Peter Carmichael’s scheme also lacked much movement, making it even more predictable.

    In the offseason, Klint Kubiak, a student of Kyle Shanahan (and Gary Kubiak), comes into play. Kubiak has made a much-needed update to the Saints’ scheme, and what we’re seeing is an offense that’s scoring the points I predicted last year.

    The Saints tore apart a good Cowboys defense on Sunday because Kubiak put too much pressure on Dallas by skillfully using his talent. Give Derek Carr time to throw, and he’s a competent fantasy starter capable of supporting 2-3 fantasy options in the passing game if you count Kamara as the third man.

    Combined with a good Saints defense, New Orleans is the favorite to win the NFC South division, and fantasy GMs can expect top-24 WR performance from Olave and Shaheed and top-5 RB value from Kamara.

    Last week, I recommended benching Harrison until Murray proved he would prioritize Harrison in the passing game. It took less than a quarter of the Rams’ game to become clear that Murray, who had told the media it wasn’t his job to force the ball on Harrison, had gotten the memo.

    I like to imagine the “memo” as a conversation between Murray and Drew Petzing that went something like this…

    Petzing: It may not be your job, Kyler, but it’s my job to make it your job. Feed Marv.

    Murray: But coach, what if he is not completely free?

    Petzing: Feed him.

    Murray: What if is in brackets here…

    Petzing: Feed. Him.

    Murray: What happens if he comes under pressure on the line?

    Petzing: FEED HIM!

    Murray: (sighs and rolls her eyes)

    Petzing: Let’s face it, Kyler. You’re the football equivalent of a black hole player in impromptu plays on the basketball court. Once you get the ball, nobody sees it. You backed up a player with one of the league’s top 24 pass receiving performances during your three successful NFL seasons.

    First, even though DeAndre Hopkins had too much class to say he didn’t ask for a transfer, what veteran with your track record as a decision-maker would want to work with you?

    This is your chance, Kyler. If you see so much as a flash of red on the perimeter or a hint of our bird, rip it away. Hell, if you tell me you saw red and it was a bandage or a wrap on an LA cornerback, I’m not going to throw you under the bus.

    Feed Marvin. Let me hear it from you.

    Murray: What?

    Petzing: I need to hear it. You can’t stay out of the way forever, like you’re in a bag that you were responsible for destroying, by the way. Be the sun, Kyler, not a black hole.

    Fast forward to Sunday…

    I don’t have to tell you that Harrison should be in your lineup going forward, but the Rams’ zone coverage was weak and they miscounted Harrison several times during his scoring spree as the first quarterback.

    LA didn’t seem nearly as prepared for the Cardinals’ passing game as Buffalo did in Week 1. Buffalo also used a bit more man coverage with a defender playing over Harrison than what we saw from LA.

    Harrison looked like the player we saw at Ohio State, and that’s a promising player.

    There’s still a healthy risk that opponents will force Murray to prove he prefers Harrison regardless of coverage, and LA’s performance represents a good way to end the season.

    Still, we might be better off being too optimistic about Harrison now that Murray has done what we hoped.

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    Seren Anwen
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