NFL Reactions: Week 3

-It was a rough look for Andy Dalton the vast majority of his game against Buffalo, but yet again he provided salvageable fantasy production with meaningless garbage time numbers. You love to see it, as do owners of Tyler Boyd, who demonstrated a high floor with six catches for 67 yards on 11 targets in a tough setting. With six catches for a team-leading 88 yards on 10 targets, Auden Tate may have displaced Damion Willis as the second starting outside receiver. The second-year player out of Florida State was a seventh-round pick last year and lacks explosiveness (4.68-second 40, 31-inch vertical, 112-inch broad jump), but he was reasonably productive in college and possesses a huge frame (6-foot-4, 228 pounds, 33.75-inch arms).

-Joe Mixon finally got going, catching both targets for 34 yards and a touchdown in addition to taking 15 carries for 61 yards. It was a legitimately efficient showing on the road against what might be one of the league's better defenses.

-Josh Allen started hot but struggled to maintain his momentum until a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. He finished 23-of-36 for 243 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, and perhaps most importantly maintained a hyper-efficient connection to Cole Beasley (eight catches for 48 yards on 10 targets) and John Brown (four catches for 51 yards on five targets). Rookie tight end Dawson Knox got involved with three catches for 67 yards and a touchdown -- his first since high school -- but he may have been Buffalo's TE3 if not for injuries to Jason Croom and Tyler Kroft. T.J. Yeldon lost a fumble and was safely outplayed by Frank Gore, who came through with 76 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.

-If Amari Cooper can catch six of seven targets for 88 yards and two touchdowns with Xavien Howard following him around, then he's pretty close to matchup proof. With Dak Prescott playing at a remarkably high level, Cooper is looking like one of the best picks of 2019 fantasy drafts. Although he won't play so extensively against respectable opponents, Tony Pollard (103 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, three catches for 25 yards on three targets) showed he can do whatever work is beneath Ezekiel Elliott.

-Preston Williams is the only Dolphins player of significant fantasy intrigue at the moment, as the undrafted rookie wideout saw 12 targets, catching four for 68 yards. Character concerns and a brutally poor pro day showing (4.61-second 40, 31.5-inch vertical, 116-inch broad jump at 6-foot-4, 211 pounds) led Williams to go undrafted, but he posted big volume at Colorado State last year (96 catches for 1,345 yards and 14 touchdowns on 175 targets in 12 games) and was once a five-star recruit at Tennessee. His pre-draft pedigree is actually quite high despite his undrafted status.

-Even with Royce Freeman claiming 15 carries for 63 yards (and losing a touchdown run to a dubious holding call), Phillip Lindsay was in his full form against Green Bay on Sunday, running for 81 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries while adding four receptions for 49 yards on five targets.

-Jamaal Williams saw 12 carries (49 yards) and two targets (two catches, 27 yards) to Aaron Jones' 10 carries (19 yards and two touchdowns) and single target (four-yard catch), which looks bad for Jones' job security at a glance. The game script may have something to do with it, however – seven of Williams' carries appear to have occurred in the final 17 minutes of regulation, and four on Green Bay's last drive.

-As was the rule in the prior two games, only one of Marquez Valdes-Scantling or Geronimo Allison produce in a given game for the Packers, and it increasingly appears that MVS is the better use of Aaron Rodgers' targets, turning 10 targets into six catches for 99 yards and a touchdown while Allison was a negative with minus-one yard on three targets. Rodgers likely won't reach the upside scenarios his owners hoped for if this zero-sum struggle persists between MVS and Allison, because Davante Adams (four catches for 56 yards on four targets) won't always be able to provide a huge output.

-Matt Ryan suffered through yet another rough start against the Colts, but he overcame an interception to finish 29-of-34 for 304 yards and three touchdowns. Although the Falcons lost, that kind of box score will always work for Ryan's owners. Calvin Ridley got pinched with just a six-yard catch on a single target Sunday, but Ryan's numbers propelled all of Julio Jones (eight catches for 128 yards and one touchdown), Mohamed Sanu (six catches for 75 yards on six targets), and Austin Hooper (six catches for 66 yards and two touchdowns on seven targets) to strong fantasy production.

-It still wasn't the big game his owners have agonizingly waited for, but Devonta Freeman again showed potentially meaningful progress by turning 16 carries into 88 yards, with Ito Smith taking his only carry for zero yards.

-The Colts couldn't stop Jacoby Brissett underneath, his modest depth of target offset by excellent efficiency (28-of-37 for 310 yards and two touchdowns). T.Y. Hilton aggravated his quadriceps issue but was beastly before then, catching eight of 10 targets for 65 yards and a touchdown. Marlon Mack ran admirably despite his calf injury, his 74 yards and touchdown on 16 carries likely extinguishing whatever threat previously posed by Jordan Wilkins (three carries for minus-two yards).

-Lamar Jackson struggled as a passer against the Chiefs, dependent on desperation throws just to complete 22-of-43 attempts for 267 yards. He flashed major rushing ability with 46 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, at least, and perhaps his struggles can be attributed somewhat to Mark Andrews (three catches for 15 yards on seven targets) playing through a foot limitation. Marquise Brown only caught two passes for 49 yards, but he remained heavily involved with nine targets.

-Mark Ingram (16 carries for 103 yards and three touchdowns) and Gus Edwards (seven carries for 53 yards) may be benefiting from Jackson's building reputation, but they both ran explosively on their own parts. Ingram should be one of the better picks this year if he can just stay healthy.

-Pat Mahomes is basically infallible, but it also looks like Mecole Hardman (two catches for 97 yards and a touchdown on five targets) and Demarcus Robinson (three catches for 43 yards and one touchdown on four targets) both have strong chemistry with the quarterback. Great as he might be, Tyreek Hill's absence simply seems immaterial to Mahomes.

-Darrel Williams (nine carries for 62 yards, five catches for 47 yards) did a great job when LeSean McCoy's ankle flared up, but McCoy had his own success with 54 yards and a touchdown on eight carries and three catches for 26 yards and a touchdown on three targets. Both runners had tons of space to work with – Williams' 4.7 speed didn't hurt him any but will in less favorable settings. Damien Willaims (knee) has various questions facing him, but the incumbent starter's drastic speed advantage would likely have resulted in even bigger production in the same situations.

-Dalvin Cook is probably the only running back with a chance to match Christian McCaffrey as a fantasy back this year, another automatic output with 16 carries going for 110 yards and a touchdown against the Raiders, four catches for 33 more yards on five targets otherwise. Cook's dominance is almost becoming a concern for Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs shares – Kirk Cousins threw just 21 passes, the favorable matchup negated by a blowout game script where the defense and run game do most of the lifting.

-Count me as a J.J. Nelson truther, at least if the competition is Ryan Grant and Hunter Renfrow. The tiny but blazing fast Nelson popped up for four catches for 36 yards and a touchdown on five targets. Tyrell Williams didn't disappear entirely (three catches for 29 yards and one touchdown on three targets), but the increasingly impressive Darren Waller was the star for Oakland on Sunday, catching 13 of 14 targets for 134 yards.

-Sony Michel can only cash in on his first-round pedigree for so long, especially if we see any more games like New England's against the Jets on Sunday. Michel's nine carries went for just 11 yards and one touchdown, whereas previously presumed RB3 Rex Burkhead ran for 47 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, adding six catches for 22 yards on seven targets.

-Julian Edelman left early with a chest injury of evidently minimal concern, catching seven of 10 targets before then for 62 yards and a touchdown. Josh Gordon (six catches for 83 yards on 11 targets) and Phillip Dorsett (six catches for 53 yards and a touchdown on seven targets) also remained heavily involved, though James White sitting out had to help. Tom Brady and the Patriots passing game in any case look automatic.

-Kyle Allen (19-of-26 for 261 yards and four touchdowns) was golden in his first career start, two touchdowns going to Greg Olsen (six catches for 75 yards on seven targets), one to Curtis Samuel (five catches for 53 yards on seven targets), and one to D.J. Moore (one catch for 52 yards on two targets). The matchup couldn't have been much better, but Allen gets an 'A' grade anyway.

-Kyler Murray had a brutal game against the Panthers, withstanding eight sacks while completing 30-of-43 passes for just 173 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. It's somewhat encouraging that he finally started running, turning eight carries into 69 yards, but that may merely be a desperation indicator. David Johnson appears destined to disappoint this year, his 11 carries going for just 37 yards, though offset somewhat by nine targets into six catches for 28 yards and a touchdown.

-Daniel Jones was excellent in his first start, staring back at a Tampa road shootout with 28 yards and two touchdowns on the ground to go with 23-of-36 for 336 yards and two touchdowns through the air. It sucks that Saquon Barkley suffered a high ankle sprain, but Giants fans would trade a month of Barkley in exchange for the assurance that Jones offers the team long-term hope. Perhaps Giants fans can view it that way.

-Evan Engram looks like the best fantasy tight end pick of 2019, his six catches for 113 yards and a touchdown on eight targets setting the standard for the Giants on Sunday. Sterling Shepard was right behind, though, his nine targets going for 100 yards and a touchdown on seven catches. Rookie Darius Slayton was an interesting introduction to the game plan, as the burner out of Auburn caught three passes for 82 yards on five targets.

-It would probably be safe to say that Matthew Stafford will struggle if he doesn't get at least one of Kenny Golladay or T.J. Hockenson going in any given game. Marvin Jones stepped up Sunday (six catches for 101 yards and one touchdown on nine targets), but Golladay and Hockenson combined for just three catches for 18 yards on 12 targets as Stafford labored to 201 yards and a touchdown on 32 attempts. Kerryon Johnson salvaged his day somewhat with a goal-line touchdown dive, but 36 yards on 20 carries gives him a brutal 126 yards on 48 carries through three games. If his average of 2.6 yards per carry isn't disturbing enough, his total of just six targets should do the trick. Darrell Bevell needs to do better if the Lions intend to keep winning.

-It was a game of dizzying ups and downs for Miles Sanders and Nelson Agholor, both struggling to hold on to the ball at some times while making momentous, explosive plays at others. Agholor lost a fumble while otherwise catching eight of 12 targets for 50 yards and two touchdowns, and Sanders was credited with two fumbles (one lost) as he totaled 126 yards from scrimmage (4.1 YPC, two catches 73 yards on four targets). There's additional good news for both in the fact that their competition failed to step up at their expense, with Jordan Howard totaling just 37 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries while rookie second-round pick J.J. Arcega-Whiteside struggled for the second game in a row, dropping a game-winning touchdown target on the last play. Carson Wentz's box score might not look great (19-of-36 for 259 yards and two touchdowns), but his pass catchers let him down Sunday.

-Deshaun Watson initially struggled against the Chargers on Sunday but caught fire late, eventually finishing 25-of-34 passes for 351 yards and three touchdowns. Jordan Akins was the unlikely primary beneficiary of Watson's big day, turning five targets into three catches for 73 yards and two touchdowns.

-Bill O'Brien traded a third-round pick for Duke Johnson, and in 53 snaps allocated two carries and three targets toward him. Carlos Hyde was ineffective (19 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries) but is clearly favored by O'Brien.

-Philip Rivers continues to manage difficult conditions, completing 31-of-46 passes for 318 yards and two touchdowns. Austin Ekeler fell off a bit, totaling only 81 yards from scrimmage, but seven catches kept him helpful in PPR scoring. With 13 catches for 183 yards and two touchdowns on 17 targets, Keenan Allen appears a real threat to outproduce all of Davante Adams, Odell Beckham, Michael Thomas, and Juju Smith-Schuster this year.

-Although the San Francisco defense might be decent, Mason Rudolph more so seemed disastrous in his first career start, completing 14-of-27 passes for 174 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, though Juju Smith-Schuster provided nearly half of that after the catch on his 76-yard touchdown. Rookie third-round pick Diontae Johnson saw six targets, catching three for 52 yards and a touchdown while James Washington's four targets went for two catches for 14 yards. James Conner (13 carries for 43 yards) might be subjected to a lost season as Pittsburgh weathers its quarterback issues.

-Jimmy Garoppolo took eight hits, but it probably doesn't rationalize two interceptions and a lost fumble. Raheem Mostert also lost a fumble, casting some disappointment over his otherwise good showing (12 carries for 79 yards). Matt Breida continued to lead the backfield (14 carries for 68 yards), though Jeff Wilson played saboteur again with two short touchdown carries.

-Perhaps he'll fail to build on it, but Dante Pettis developed some momentum with four catches for 20 yards and a touchdown on five targets. It seems like Pettis, Deebo Samuel (three catches for 44 yards on four targets), and Marquise Goodwin (two catches for 41 yards on two targets) appear to be fighting over the same limited usage.

-Alvin Kamara was incredible despite adverse conditions, catching nine of 10 targets for 92 yards and one touchdown and 16 carries for 69 yards and a second touchdown. Michael Thomas too survived the Teddy Bridgewater starting debut, catching five of seven targets for 54 yards and a touchdown. Bridgewater (19-of-27 for 177 yards and two touchdowns) wasn't great for his part, though avoiding turnovers is something at least.

-The universe is constantly trying to show Pete Carroll and Brian Schottenheimer the error of their ways, but they stare through this benevolent presentation, steely gazing into an imaginary plane where the team that throws the fewest passes always wins. The world they wish for doesn't exist, but Russell Wilson continues to present overwhelming proof that the team limits him at its own peril. With 406 yards and two touchdowns through the air, 51 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and no turnovers, Wilson is just about as good as it gets when his team lets him play.

-Chris Carson and his fumbling issues are part of the previously mentioned plea the universe continues to make to Carroll. Can you run your ball-control offense when the running game is an equal turnover risk to the passing game? Sunday's outcome was a brutal case study for the Seahawks, with Carson's third lost fumble in three games proving the margin of victory, the ensuing defensive touchdown providing the Saints with the six points they won by. C.J. Prosise offers an alternative as a receiver (five catches for 38 yards on five targets), but with four carries for five yards Prosise might not threaten Carson as much as Rashaad Penny might when he returns from injury.