By Nan Jiang
After a crazy Sunday slate, here are the players to look out for on the wire next week. Reminder, the percentage of ESPN players that have each player rostered is in parentheses.
Quarterbacks
C.J. Stroud (TEX, 11.2%)
Stroud has quickly become this rookie class’ top QB in the first three weeks. Coming into the year, we all assumed the Texans would be fighting for a top pick, but it seems like the offense has some fight in it. Stroud has a decent wide receiver trio to work with, and it may be hard to believe, but the entire Texans offense seems to be fantasy viable this season. Stroud and the Texans are facing a harder defense in Pittsburgh next week, but with the momentum carried over from the W in Jacksonville, there is hope for the Texans to put up big numbers next week.
Jordan Love (GB, 47.6%)
Jordan Love has quietly been the QB4 up til now, and that shows no signs of letting up. Love objectively had the worst game of his season Sunday against New Orleans, but still finished with 24 fantasy points. All this is happening without star halfback Aaron Jones and the team’s WR1, Christian Watson. The return of Jones and Watson, combined with easy defenses in Vegas, Denver, and Minnesota make Love a good streaming option at QB following their TNF matchup with Detroit.
Running backs
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC (6.8%)
The Chiefs had one of the most uninspiring offensive gameplans in the NFL but against the Bears they switched it up by using CEH again. The result? 41 points. It’s hard to say who the lead back in KC will be with Isaiah Pacheco very much still in the picture, but with such an offensive revival coming with the backfield swap, it would make sense for CEH to have a bigger role in the Chiefs offense from now on.
De’Von Achane (MIA, 16.1%)
Will the Dolphins ever score 70 points again? Probably not. And for the time being, Achane still sits behind Raheem Mostert in the depth chart. However, his four touchdown, 230 yard game makes it impossible for the coach to completely blank him in the game plan next week. I wouldn’t be starting him and waiting for 50 points, but he’s a solid stash option for a budding Dolphins team.
Wide receivers
Tank Dell, TEX (23.3%)
The Texans can’t seem to go wrong with whichever receiver they decide to make that week’s WR1. For the last two weeks, Dell has been a huge part of the Texans game plan, and with C.J. Stroud playing some amazing football, Dell’s stock is definitely on the rise. The duo will gain more chemistry as the season goes on,
Adam Thielen (CAR, 54%)
Thielen has had himself a huge last two weeks. He seems to be the wideout that Bryce Young relied on the most so far this season, and although they haven’t been winning, Thielen has produced results. Last week, he hauled in 11 out of 14 targets for 145 yards and a score. The veteran faces a weak Minnesota defense next week, and has an opportunity to have another big game.
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