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

“The View Across The Pond” aims to focus on the key points to call out from a given week. You’re not going to find “can confirm Breece Hall is still an RB1” in this article. Instead, we try to comment on what’s changed, notable developments, etc. 

General comments on the week:

• This is an unpredictable game. You can only make decisions based on what has happened and the info you have to hand. You cannot predict the randomness factor, however there is something to be said for putting yourself in a position to be lucky (see Jauan Jennings, Cam Akers). 
• The important thing is to evaluate your decisions and say: ok, what is it that caused me to evaluate this correctly, or what did I miss or evaluate incorrectly that lead to a decision that did not go well. You will not be able to succeed with this every time, sometimes things just can’t be predicted, a random bounce, a bad ref call, etc. But this is the game 
• Offences have been generally struggling a lot so far. Hopefully this is just an extended slow start and we start to see teams get it going as we head into October 

LAC (2-1) @ PIT (3-0)

• 20-10 steelers
• Herbert played on a high ankle sprain again, no palmer 
• Still Justin fields
• Would have been really nice to see this game with a healthy Justin Herbert, but I think we can officially say the chargers are legit. Herbert left this one re injuring it
• QJ may be a real thing, albeit needs a healthy Herbert. Dobbins did reasonably well considering the matchup 
• Fields has to be the starter going forward for the steelers, he’s the best thing for them right now. It’s not great for fantasy, but it’s great for them
• Steelers d is elite, I think chargers d is a good unit too
• Austin is a one off 

HOU (2-1) @ MIN (3-0)

• 34-7 Vikings 
• No mixon or Addison 
• The Vikings are legit, book it. Sam darnold (have a day!) is officially in the streaming conversation
• I want to see the Vikings away from home against someone other than the giants, but I think we need to be scared of this defence 
• Nailer has value whilst Addison is out 
• Better days ahead for Texans, they just faced an elite d I think
• Cam Akers coming through in a pinch, usable whilst Nixon and pierce are out 

PHI (2-1) @ NO (2-1)

• 15-12 eagles
• No aj brown or taysom hill, lattimore returns for saints 
• A very weird game. But this happens when two good teams face off sometimes - both Ds stepped up, both offences made some plays 
• Both QBs disappointed in this one, relative to expectation - but I think they’ll both be better. Eagles need brown back though 
• Don’t read too much into Dallas goedert…a couple random big plays, the absence of aj brown. DeVonta smith got a concussion here too. That being said, if they’re both out again he’s a volume option
• Olave came through, shaheed did not - they’re still both viable, shaheed nearly got a TD 
• Think this saints d is legit 
• Barkley have a day!

DEN (1-2) @ TB (2-1)

• 26-7 broncos
• Bucs d banged up going into this one 
• The broncos were playing a junior college defence in this one with all the injuries. The Bucs just gave this game to them as well as that, I’m not sure if it was over confidence or what
• I do not think this broncos offence has  turned a corner. Fade all of them still
• For the bucs o, this wasn’t the easiest defensive matchup, and their own defence did them no favours. 
• I think we have a changing of the guard in the backfield with Bucky Irving 
• Evans will be better, he got Surtain-ed. If you have a receiver playing Surtain, bench them 

GB (2-1) @ TEN (0-3)

• 30-14 packers
• No love again 
• Willis revenge tour on the nfl continues, it may go on hiatus now though (or maybe they don’t rush love back?). Just goes to show what having a good offensive coach can do for your team
• I don’t think we learned anything here. We know the packers are a good team, and the titans show flashes of good and bad.
• Packers defence have a day 
• Jacobs will be better, tough run d
• Pack d shut down the titans run game, wouldn’t be too concerned with pollard 
• Ridley got erased by Alexander, Hopkins had a decent day. I wouldn’t expect this to be a common occurrence 

NYG (1-2) @ CLE (1-2)

• 21-15 giants 
• De Shaun Watson facing possible suspension for latest lawsuit 
• No njoku 
• The browns got embarrassed. This was a joke by the browns. Are you kidding me? You just lost to this giants team who lost to the commanders?
• It was nice to see Amari cooper get going, that’s about the only positive for the browns. 
• I think the browns would do better with Winston in at qb at this point 
• This browns backfield is quickly becoming one to avoid, or at least one without much upside
• We may have to consider the possibility that Singletary and nabers may have some regular value. They’re not guaranteed to be consistent, but the giants may be settling in a bit 
• Gutted if you needed the Singletary TD, but that’s the right football move 

CHI (1-2) @ IND (1-2)

• 21-16 colts
• No Keenan Allen, no Buckner for colts d, downs plays first game 
• Shane Waldron should not be an nfl offensive coordinator. I can see potential in this bears offence, but he’s holding them back. 
• Avoid bears running backs, there’s some value in the receivers. Caleb can play, just needs an online and an oc to help him
• I think we’re seeing with Richardson what normally happens when DCs get some tape on young QBs. Perhaps he hasn’t been quite as electric as he was last year too. He has the feeling of very early Josh Allen - which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s just where he’s at
• Jonathan Taylor have a day 
• This Colts receiving corps is going to be inconsistent 
• Some ugly picks in this game by both qbs - it’s a learning curve 

CAR (1-2) @ LV (1-2)

• 36-22 panthers
• Andy dalton first start 
• We expected some sort of a bounce for the panthers with Dalton being named the starter, but I don’t think anybody could have been expecting this 
• Is this schroedingers raiders? I don’t think we’re going to be able to easily predict this team week to week. Nothing has changed in terms of player relevance, but it’s clear they’re just going to be inconsistent.
• Might not be long before AOC takes over for Minshew
• Don’t read too much into this explosion of competency by the panthers all of a sudden. It’s an encouraging sign, and I think this makes diontae, hubbard and thielen (health pending with hamstring) relevant, but they’re still not likely to be consistently good options 

MIA (1-2) @ SEA (3-0)

• Thompson first start, no mostert or walker 
• I think this game went mostly how we were all expecting (fearing?) it would. Seattle were competent as has been on display from the first 2 games, any hopes of Skylar Thompson being able to capably run this dolphins offence were dashed. Tim Boyle might even be an upgrade with the Thompson injury 
• For Seattle, as you were. 
• Miamis defence started this game dreadfully again, but they finally picked it up as the game went on. This so far still seems like a fairly good D to target though 
• For the offence, we’re nearing all hands on deck panic stations. I’m surprised that Mike McDaniel hasn’t been able to weave his wizardry and make this offence even competent so far. I want to believe he’s going to revive the great run offence from last year, and that Hill can be supported and fed - but I’m officially concerned. I wouldn’t touch anyone outside of ahcane and hill in this offence right now 

BAL (1-2) @ DAL (1-2)

• 28-25 ravens 
• Both teams seemingly simultaneously wanted to win and lose. The ravens were in a position to walk away with this one, the cowboys played their way back into it. Ravens may have a D issue
• Cowboys still finding their feet on offence. No one is a confident start outside of Lamb right now on this team, and probably Ferguson. Dowdle is the back to own, but he needs a bit more usage/some goal line potential to be relevant.
• Aubrey is GOAT. 
• Ravens O still feels a bit clunky, but there’s value here - it might just be Lamar, Henry and Flowers though. Any hopes of Likely being a thing are dead, and Andrews’ value is on life support 

DET (2-1) @ ARI (1-2)

• 20-13 lions
• Bit of a weird game, both offences struggled to fully assert themselves in this one. 
• Your Lions came through for you for the most part, except LaPorta - who is now dealing with an ankle sprain. It’s been about as bad a start to the year for him as it could be, you’d like to think he’ll turn it around but you’re probably going to need more patience.
• MHJ came through again but Cards generally struggled here. I would think better times are ahead
• This Cards D may not be quite as trash as we all thought, credit to Gannon for that. 

SF (1-2) @ LAR (1-2)

• 27-24 Rams
• No kittle or Deebo, no kupp and weakened o line 
• Like…what? The Rams should have had no business winning this game coming into it. But credit to them, they hung in there, had a good game plan and executed. The niners injuries too are likely catching up with them, but they’re definitely not firing on all cylinders right now
• Kyrens value remains, he is the complete engine of this offence without Puka and Cupp. He’s a great player, but didn’t think he’d be capable of being a one man band, but that’s probably helped by McVay. It’s pretty much him or bust for the rams
• Aiyuk’s slow start continues, he will heat up. Credit to you if you were opportunistic and streamed Jennings, he might be usable next week if Samuel and Kittle sit again, but don’t get too excited over him. Mason remains solid, and Purdy the streamer returns 

KC (2-0) @ ATL (1-1)

• 22-17 chiefs
• No Pacheco of course 
• Falcons gave it a good crack, but the Chiefs are inevitable. If Kirk can regain his mobility this Falcons offence could really take off, but their potential is capped until that point in time. And the Chiefs continue to get it done, which should surprise no one
• As you were with the Falcons. Mooney might be a nice option if you’re in a pinch at receiver 
• Steele should do an admirable job of filling in for Pacheco, but this Chiefs offence is going to continue taking turns in fantasy relevance. Except rice, you can count on him. It might be time to put Kelce out to pasture though