Fantasy & Betting
8/26/24
9 min read
2024 Fantasy Football Preseason Week 3 Stock Report: Players Trending Up, Down
Worry not, football fans: the last week of “meaningless” football is behind us.
Now that the NFL preseason only features three games, the next snapped ball will have regular season stakes and importance behind it.
However, the preseason's characterization as meaningless isn't entirely accurate. Certainly, the key starting position players we all know well are largely unaffected by these games, but a few guys solidified potentially fantasy-relevant roster spots this past weekend despite being deeper names.
After all, these are the names you want to keep in mind at the very end of your fantasy drafts in case these performances carry into the regular season.
Using 4for4's multi-site average draft position (ADP), which aggregates fantasy draft data from major platforms like CBS, ESPN, and Yahoo, let’s parse through a handful of important takeaways from preseason Week 3’s games:
>> READ MORE: Preseason Week 3 Winners, Losers
Preseason Week 3 Fantasy Football Takeaways
Bryce Young Looks Sharp In Lone Appearance
Bryce Young Looks Sharp In Lone AppearanceProspective fantasy managers didn’t exactly get the most prolonged look at Bryce Young on Saturday, but he made a strong impression vs. the Buffalo Bills.
After not suiting up for the Carolina Panthers’ first two preseason contests, the former Heisman Trophy winner led a 12-play, 85-yard scoring drive in his first (and last) preseason appearance. Young appeared alert and mobile on the field and put together a solid stat line along the way:
It’s not a ton of information to go off of. As such, don't make any sweeping conclusions about what to expect from Young in this new-look Dave Canales offense.
Still, the ex-Alabama standout carries an ADP price tag of QB28.
Young isn’t a name that managers in 1-QB leagues should be chasing, but those participating in season-long superflex formats? That’s where he becomes a little more intriguing.
Remember, Canales served as the Seattle Seahawks quarterback coach and passing game coordinator for several years between 2018 and 2022 before taking a one-year pitstop as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator in 2023. During that period, he oversaw the career revivals of Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield.
Does this guarantee that Young takes a massive leap forward this season? No, but his performance on Saturday and the anecdotal argument for Canales’ tutelage make for a strong sleeper argument if nothing else.
Carson Steele Could Be ‘The Real Deal’
Carson Steele Could Be ‘The Real Deal’The Kansas City Chiefs rested their key offensive starters in last Thursday’s contest vs. the Chicago Bears. Even so, that didn’t stop fantasy managers from watching an intriguing position battle unfold on-screen.
Rookies RB Deneric Prince and FB Carson Steele received extended looks early in the game across five drives, though the latter looked considerably more electric in action. The UDFA received a nod in the Week 2 preseason takeaways article, turning around to deliver a four-carry, 50-yard rushing performance that included this phenomenal highlight:
Ultimately ruled short of the touchdown on that run, Steele converted a 1-yard score on the following play to shore up the drive.
With an ADP of RB76, Steele is now a name to consider on the fringe of the 14-to-16-team redraft league radar. It’s worth noting that teammate Clyde Edwards-Helaire is the implied backup to starter Isiah Pacheco if we take his Week 3 inactive status as evidence, but that doesn’t erase Steele’s potential entirely.
Managers should feel no resistance to investing in an exciting sparkplug player in what’s arguably the NFL’s most dominant offense at such a low cost— and if he’s still on your dynasty league’s waiver wire, go ahead and change that.
Seahawks Offense Makes Strong Impression
Seahawks Offense Makes Strong ImpressionFive plays, 62 yards, and all just a tick under the two-minute mark to execute.
This is the brief yet awe-inspiring look we got into the Seahawks’ first-team offense with QB Geno Smith under center this preseason. The unit made quick work of the Cleveland Browns on their opening drive and ended by notching a 21-yard score to WR DK Metcalf:
There’s plenty of reason to be high on this Seahawks offense in 2024.
For starters, the Seahawks hired former University of Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb in the same capacity following the offseason retirement of former coach Pete Carroll and the loss of coach Shane Waldron to the Bears.
Grubb led a high-flying aerial attack at the University of Washington that ranked second in the FBS in passing yards per game (343.7) in 2023, per Sports Reference, leading to the strong possibility that Smith and company will operate similarly going forward.
This type of offensive philosophy is potential fantasy gold. From what we saw, the starting offense looks poised to capture that Huskies' magic at the professional level.
But if you’re worried this optimism is solely based on less than two minutes of play in a preseason game, don’t be. Smith can deliver in a higher-volume pass attack and has been one of the league’s most underappreciated passers during the past two seasons.
Among 49 quarterbacks who’ve attempted at least 200 passes since 2022, Smith ranks fifth in completion percentage (67.4), sixth in passing yards (7,906), 10th in passer rating (96.8), and 14th in passing success rate (47.7 percent).
Don’t forget the veteran when you’re looking for a QB2 in Superflex. Smith’s ADP of QB23 is a ripe value in drafts right now. But if Smith isn’t your cup of tea, his pass-catchers Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett both stand as WR41 and WR51, respectively and can be found regularly after the seventh round of drafts.
Even the most expensive of them all, Metcalf, is an intriguing discount at WR21 in the fourth round
Investing in this Seahawks offense may be a cost-effective and fruitful move in 2024.
Akers Might Be Worthy Of Fantasy Attention
Akers Might Be Worthy Of Fantasy AttentionThere’s still quite a ways to go before getting too excited about this one, but now may be a good time to start thinking about Cam Akers again.
The fifth-year runner wrapped up an impressive summer with seven carries for 53 rushing yards in Saturday’s exhibition vs. the Los Angeles Rams, a performance that likely solidified his roster spot after appearing as low as fifth on the team’s depth chart this preseason.
In total, Akers recorded 24 carries for 112 rushing yards in three preseason games. This impressive chunk play against the Rams stands out as a strong highlight among his attempts:
And to think this man has already torn both of his Achilles tendons at just 25 years old.
Simply making the Texans’ roster would be a remarkable renaissance against the odds for Akers, but the potential for him to be fantasy-relevant is even more exciting. Teammate and presumed RB2 Dameon Pierce accomplished essentially nothing (eight carries for nine rushing yards) this preseason and did little to inspire confidence last season.
Among 49 RBs who recorded at least 100 carries in 2023, Pierce ranks last in rush success rate (37.9) and 41st in rushing yards per game (29.7), per Stathead.
Does this crack the window for Akers to be the primary backup to Joe Mixon before the season’s end? Certainly, but don’t act now if you’re in a 10 or 12-team redraft league.
Keep Akers in mind as a name to watch on the waiver wire to begin the season and keep track of his journey. It could blossom into a great story in time.
Additional thoughts from The Week 3 Slate:
- The Pittsburgh Steelers only had QB Russell Wilson play one drive with the starters on Saturday vs. the Detroit Lions. The veteran connected with WR George Pickens on his lone two passes before leaving the matchup, handing the reins to Justin Fields. It’s reasonable to take this as a sign that coach Mike Tomlin feels comfortable with Wilson as QB1, but no definitive announcement has come down on that front. At ADP QB31, Wilson is virtually free in fantasy drafts.
- Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard played most first-team snaps in Saturday’s action. Teammate Miles Sanders snuck in a few times but primarily spent his time with the backups following the A-team’s lone drive. Second-round draft pick Jonathon Brooks will eventually lead this backfield upon return from his college ACL injury, but Hubbard (RB41, 12th-round pick in ADP) seems secure in the early-season gig as the Panthers’ lead runner.
- None of the Los Angeles Chargers’ starting offense appeared in Week 3 vs. the Dallas Cowboys. A surprise player included in that group is rookie RB Kimani Vidal. The former Troy product performed well (11 carries, 49 rushing yards, two receptions) in the team’s Week 2 showdown vs. the Los Angeles Rams and, at least implicity, has secured a roster spot. It’s unclear where he stands relative to veteran counterparts Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins in the backfield pecking order, but it’s worth finding out at an RB59 price tag in current ADP for managers in deeper leagues.
- San Francisco 49ers RB Jordan Mason looked sharp on Friday vs. the Las Vegas Raiders, racking up 42 rushing yards and a score on eight carries. The former Georgia Tech back has made a strong case for the backup job to Christian McCaffrey after a solid preseason. Consider Mason as an intriguing handcuff option at ADP RB72.
- This one has no fantasy relevance, but buckle in if you’re a fan of wild plays. Baltimore Ravens QB Devin Leary very nearly connected with WR Dayton Wade late in the second quarter vs. the Green Bay Packers on what would’ve been one of the craziest ricochet touchdowns in recent memory. Just watch and enjoy:
