2024 - The View From Across The Pond: Week 3 MNF Recap

And to put the final bow on Week 3, the LOC Fantasy Show is here to recap the MNF games of Week 3 before we fully turn the page to Week 4. Look out for our TNF preview article tomorrow (Thursday 26th Sept), and of course our Flagship preview podcast show on Friday 27th Sept. Don't forget to follow us on socials and YouTube, subscribe to the podcast, and if you come across us on the fantasy subreddit say hey and drop us a question! If you have any questions for the Preview Show, a player and a story to submit for 20 questions, or a question you want highlighted in the recap article, send it to us on social media or email locfantasyshow@gmail.com. Now, onto the recaps.

JAC (0-3) @ BUF (3-0)

• 47-10 Bills.
• Boy oh boy. This was like watching the Harlem Globetrotters play against the Washington Generals. Buffalo were just simply doing whatever they wanted in this game. Like, literally - the score would have probably been the same even if the Jags didn't take the field. It would appear the trade of Stefon Diggs has elevated this Bills team to another level. Without any ego in the locker room, this offence is thriving on a diverse array of a supporting cast alongside superstar QB Josh Allen, and it's completely working for them. Allen is just taking what he's given, which is exactly what you want your MVP level QB to be able to do. The Bills defence is defying expectation after losing White and Milano too, which of course helps. 
• For the Jags, it's just not clicking right now. Defensively they're not overly talented or imposing, whereas they do have a lot of talent on the offensive side of the ball, but it's like a car in limp mode. There's value to be had here if they can snap out of the trance they're in, but there's not much to suggest that's going to happen anytime soon.
• Fantasy wise for the Bills, Allen has firmly shrugged off my preseason worries that he may not even be a top 5 fantasy QB this year. I'm now more feeling I'd be more surprised if WASN'T QB1 overall. Cook remains an RB1 option, and whilst Shakir and Kincaid will disappear at times, they're still going to be solid options for your team. Stick with this defence in all but the worst matchups too. 
• And for the Jags, Lawrence is firmly off the streaming radar until he picks it up or has a plum matchup. You have to stick with Etienne but he's just an ok RB2 at the moment (Bigsby doesn't appear to be a threat, but this could possibly be linked to his week 2 injury). I'd sit all receivers in this pass game at the moment, BTJ and Kirk are both holds (though Kirk is circling the drain for being roster worthy at this point - but it was positive to see him more involved, at least. Perhaps his prospects will improve with more time passing since his offseason calf injury).

 WAS (2-1) @ CIN (0-3)

• 38-33 Commies.
• Raise your hand if you had the Bengals losing this one? Nope ok. Raise your hand if you had the Bengals starting 0-3? Still nothing - thought as much. Look, the week 1 choke job against the Pats is firmly in the rear view mirror for the Bengals, but I think this team's issues have been laid bear through three games. We all knew this offence would improve from Week 1, and they have done, putting in a good shift in Arrowhead and putting 33 on the board in this one. But their defence blows. Good for fantasy, not so much for the Bengals. 
• For the Commanders, that's two wins on the bounce now - a week after only scoring field goals they impressively hung 38 on the board. They will be inconsistent, that's just the gig with rookie QBs, but they're going to have their highs like in this one. Continue to start all your players against the Commanders though, their defence is even worse than the Bengals. 
• Fantasy wise for the Bengals, Burrow will still be a good option going forward, Chase is obviously elite. Chase Brown got a bit more involved in this one, but Moss is still the back to own here - he's still only a matchup dependant flex play though. When Higgins gets up and running a bit more he should return to fantasy value, the hope would be he becomes a WR2, but I'd treat him a bit more cautiously than that until we see him perform (though a matchup in Week 4 against the Panthers may be too tempting to pass up). If you waited to draft a tight end, look to Gesicki - he's probably a weekly starter with the current tight end landscape. Lastly, if you're in a deeper league you may want to take a look at Iosivas. His return takes a dent with Higgins returning, but we've seen before Tyler Boyd have some value when all 3 receivers were healthy, and with no Mixon around and a poor defence this may be enough to up the pass volume in this offence and make him a potential flex worthy play. 
• For the Commanders, if you've got Daniels you're good. He'll be up and down, but just roll him out there. My love for Brob knows no bounds, he's usable every week (outside of tough matchups). McLaurin will be inconsistent - you may just want to play him in favourable matchups until Daniels develops some more chops in the passing game. Ekeler got a concussion in this one, he's not going to be reliably usable anyway (but this is great news if you're a Brob owner in week 4).