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- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
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Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 3: Smartest Matchups to Exploit, Sleeper Plays and More
- Updated: September 20, 2016
As sure as the Cleveland Browns finding a way to blow a game, the top matchups in fantasy football once again led owners to victories in Week 2.
Cam Newton thrashed San Francisco (29 points), Derek Carr lit up Atlanta (24), Melvin Gordon ran wild on Jacksonville (17) and Kelvin Benjamin embarrassed San Francisco (22), to name a few.
It was the same story for sleepers, with Mike Wallace torching Cleveland (16) and Sam Bradford holding his own against Green Bay.
Week 3 offers the same predicament—owners who get an early start on the best matchups and sleepers of the week put themselves at a major advantage.
QB
Top Matchup Play: Aaron Rodgers, GB (vs. DET)
Owners should not give up on Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers yet.
It is no secret Rodgers and the Packers continue to have some problems on the offensive side of the ball, Jordy Nelson in the lineup or not. He has scored 22 and 16 points in two games this year, looking more than anything like he needs a good matchup to get going.
Thank goodness for the Detroit Lions.
Detroit coughed up four touchdowns and 35 points in Week 1 before another two scores and 16 points in Week 2. Last year sans Nelson, Rodgers totaled 606 yards and four touchdowns against the Lions over two games.
Expect a major bounce-back.
Sleeper: Joe Flacco, BAL (at JAC)
It might seem weird to think of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco as a sleeper, but so it goes for a guy owned in just 26.3 percent of leagues.
Flacco has had a timid start to the season, scoring just 12 and 16 points through two weeks. A game against the Jacksonville Jaguars figures to be his first major outing of the season, though, especially with the defense coming off a week in which it gave up four touchdowns and 23 points to San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers.
Flanked by a strong wideout duo of Steve Smith Sr. and the explosive Mike Wallace, Flacco will post his best performance of the year, perhaps becoming a big waiver-wire add. Owners in the know can get ahead of the curve.
RB
Top Matchup Play: Melvin Gordon, SD (at IND)
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It seems little can stop San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon.
After a somewhat disappointing rookie campaign, Gordon has started off hot this year, scoring …
