We were pretty accurate last week in this column. If you stuck with Tee Higgins and Nico Collins this past week, you reaped the benefits. So, this week, let's see if we can win you your wideout battle by Identifying 2023 Fantasy Football Week 3 Trends Through Air Yards.
Let's get to it.
Identifying 2023 Fantasy Football Week 3 Trends Through Air Yards
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Kyren Williams is a Legit Fixture in the Rams Offense—For Now
Kyren Williams being the #Rams franchise RB isn't as impossible as you think... pic.twitter.com/uQtg1Q1K7F
— JAKE ELLENBOGEN (@JKBOGEN) September 19, 2023
What with the Cam Akers doghouse/trade block news making headlines on Sunday, Kyren Williams was one of this week's marquee waiver names. And for good reason: He's currently Fantasy's RB2 in PPR leagues, and is averaging 22.7 points per game.
Small sample size, but these are Ekeler-/McCaffrey-esque numbers here to begin the 2023 season. What's more, is he's pacing all running backs in targets with 12 total on the season. Those opportunities have yielded him 25 total air yards. Which, admittedly, does not sound like a lot. But, believe it or not, it's second among running backs to Tyjae Spears's 49.
We know the Matthew Stafford and the Rams command an efficient short passing game, so Williams's aDOT of 2.08 is neither exactly eye-popping nor surprising. He is, however, commanding a nothing-to-sniff-at 13.51% target share.
We can assume this offense will look a heck of a lot different when Cooper Kupp returns, what with the emergence of Puka Nacua in the passing game as well. But, for now, Williams is a bit of a PPR darling.
You might consider trading him for a more season-long stable RB2, given that his value might never be higher. But, really, is there such a thing as a stable RB2, anymore?
Tight End Trends Worth Monitoring
Packers continue to heavily utilize rookie TE Luke Musgrave whose athleticism pops with the ball in his hands.
The second-round pick out of Oregon State has been a key component of the passing attack. pic.twitter.com/u6iRRTFgXF
— Seven Rounds in Heaven (@7RoundsInHeaven) September 17, 2023
Let's get some quick hits here for some tight ends, as I'm sure many of you out there are licking your lips for any and all inside baseball on this wasteland of a position.
Yes—we are all tired of Kyle Pitts. The gap between his rumored talent and his production is enough to make you think that the talent just might not be all there yet. And then, of course, there's the run-heavy Falcons offense that doesn't aid his Fantasy output at all.
But he does rank fifth among tight ends, currently, in air yards with 94 total. Ridder is trying to get him the ball, but it's just not working out so far. The looks he's getting are monster, too: he ranks in the top-ten at the position with a 11.75 aDOT. All to say: maybe try to trade for him?
Surprisingly, Zach Ertz leads all tight ends in air yards with 130. As Joshua Dobbs and the rest of the Cardinals offense seem to be finding their identity, Ertz is a primary part of that. Hold onto him.
Lastly, buy in on Luke Musgrave if you still can. The window is closing. He ranks fourth overall in TE air yards, just above Pitts, with 96. Jordan Love has shown us that he can get the ball to his receivers. Musgrave is going to get his. So go get him.
Kendrick Bourne Breakout Incoming?
Deebo Samuel's 9.3 avg YAC laps the field of WRs with 100+ recs since 2021 per @FTNData:
Deebo Samuel 9.3
Ja'Marr Chase 6.5
Cooper Kupp 5.9
Kendrick Bourne 5.7
Jaylen Waddle 5.7
Jerry Jeudy 5.6
Juju Smith-Schuster 5.5
Brandon Aiyuk 5.5
Chris Godwin 5.5pic.twitter.com/T3tRjaoXCd— Scott Spratt (@Scott_Spratt) September 22, 2023
I know I said that any Patriots wideout is worthless, and that Hunter Henry is the only Patriot worth rostering.
But I was wrong. Kendrick Bourne's 313 air yards are far and away second in the league.
What does this mean? He's clearly Mac Jones's favorite high-value target, save for maybe Hunter Henry, with whom Jones has connected on two touchdown passes so far.
Definitely look to trade someone whose production so far has been fool's gold for Bourne; he's a clear fixture in Belichick's air game and, if two weeks are any indication of what his volume should be like, he's going to get his.
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