🐺 Wolf Sports Weekly

The NFL's topsy turvy start

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Wolf Sports
September 24, 2024

There are just five unbeaten teams (Chiefs, Bills, Steelers, Vikings, Seahawks) remaining after three weeks in what’s been a parity-filled start to the 2024 NFL season.

🏈 NFL Week 3 recap

The Ravens are on the board with their first win of 2024, holding off a great comeback attempt by the Cowboys to win 28-25. Baltimore rode Derrick Henry, who ran 25 times for 151 yards and two touchdowns while looking like he won’t slow down for his age-30 campaign. King Henry’s 12th career 150-yard, two-touchdown rushing performance is tied for second-most of such games in NFL history, behind only Jim Brown (13). Lamar Jackson said, “He did what kings do. Derrick Henry.” On the Cowboys side, they at least battled and will look to get back to .500 when they take on the Giants this Thursday night.

The Vikings secured another impressive win, shutting down C.J. Stroud and the Texans, 34-7. Sam Darnold threw four touchdowns to four different receivers, and Minnesota intercepted Stroud twice. Minnesota’s defense became the third unit since 1990 to record five sacks in each of their first three games in a season, joining the 2000 Buccaneers and the 2001 Saints.

In what lived up to the expectations as a gritty defensive battle, the Steelers beat the Chargers, 20-10, to improve to 3-0. Pittsburgh is the first team since 2009 to win each of their first three games and allow ten or fewer points in each game. Meanwhile, Justin Herbert left the game with an aggravation of his high-ankle sprain, but he hopes to play in a Week 4 matchup with the Chiefs.

The Eagles slowed down the red-hot Saints, getting a big upset win at New Orleans. It wasn’t pretty offensively on either side of the ball in the 15-12 contest that was 3-0 Saints through three quarters, but the Eagles’ fourth quarter was headlined by Saquon Barkley’s 65-yard touchdown run where he hit the fastest speed for a ball-carrier on a run play this season. And TE Dallas Goedert was key on the game-winning drive, with a 61-yard reception on third-and-16. Barkley and Geodert were the first RB-TE duo to each hit 150 yards in the same game since 1997.

In the first MNF doubleheader of the season, Josh Allen threw four first-half touchdowns and Damar Hamlin recorded his first career interception as the Bills demolished the Jaguars, 47-10; and the Commanders stunned the Bengals on the road to send Cincy to 0-3. The Washington-Cincinnati game was the first since 1940 with no turnovers or punts, and it was basically put out of reach on a dime from Jayden Daniels, who set the rookie single-game record with a 91.3 completion percentage, to Terry McLaurin—putting the Commanders up two possessions late.

Other Week 3 results:

  • Jets 24, Patriots 3: New York totally dominated on TNF, with 400 yards of offense compared to 139 yards for New England. Aaron Rodgers (27/35, 281 yards, two touchdowns) looked excellent, and the Jets defense racked up seven sacks.

  • Giants 21, Browns 15: Giants rookie WR Malik Nabers might have had the play of the week on the first of his two touchdown catches at Cleveland. The LSU product is clearly an elite talent, and he became the youngest player in NFL history with two touchdown receptions in a game (21 years, 56 days old). On defense, the Giants had nine different players record at least half a sack, looking more like the pass rush they were hoping for entering 2024.

  • Broncos 26, Buccaneers 7: Tampa Bay was another team that looked great through two weeks then didn’t perform in Week 3, with Denver coming out on the road, jumping to a 14-0 first-quarter lead, and never looking back. It was the first career win for rookie QB Bo Nix, who had a Houdini-like run and looked more comfortable in his third start.

  • Packers 30, Titans 14: Green Bay’s defense dominated with eight sacks and three turnovers forced including a pick-six by CB Jaire Alexander. Facing his former team in his second consecutive start with Jordan Love (knee) out, QB Malik Willis totaled 275 yards and two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) and again hit a 120+ quarterback rating while operating Matt LaFleur’s attack.

  • Colts 21, Bears 16: Colts QB Anthony Richardson (two interceptions) appears to be pressing and trying to do too much at times, but Indy rode Jonathan Taylor (23 carries, 110 yards, two touchdowns) to get on the board for a victory. Chicago can’t find a ground game, and QB Caleb Williams was 33/52 for 363 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in the loss.

  • Seahawks 24, Dolphins 3: It was ugly in Miami’s first game without QB Tua Tagovailoa, but the Seahawks are a very difficult place to play. Now 3-0 under new HC Mike Macdonald, Seattle is the first team since the 1979 Steelers to start 3-0 while allowing under 150 pass yards in each game.

  • Panthers 36, Raiders 22: Carolina’s decision to start veteran Andy Dalton at quarterback led to Dalton becoming the first QB to throw for 300+ yards and three touchdowns in a game this season. He played at a high level, but the Raiders did not play well at all in their home opener—and Vegas HC Antonio Pierce notably said players made some “business decisions” after the game.

  • Rams 27, Cardinals 24: Front-flipping Rams RB Kyren Williams scored three touchdowns in a comeback win by the Rams, overshadowing a fantastic three-touchdown performance from 49ers WR Jauan Jennings on the other side. Brock Purdy, who had a great performance, suffered his first career divisional loss (8-1).

  • Lions 20, Cardinals 13: The highlight from Detroit’s win was a rare hook-and-ladder that was spectacularly executed between Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs. David Montgomery and Gibbs combined for 39 carries with the Lions controlling the game on the ground.

  • Chiefs 22, Falcons 17: Kansas City’s defense came through again and got a fourth-and-inches stop with the Falcons looking to go ahead with under a minute remaining in the game. Chiefs WR Rashee Rice (12/110/1) continues to emerge as a star player in Andy Reid’s offense.

🔥 Top fantasy performers in Week 3

  • 49ers WR Jauan Jennings: 41.0 points

  • Eagles RB Saquon Barkley: 31.6 points

  • Bills QB Josh Allen: 30.92 points

  • Rams RB Kyren Williams: 30.6 points

  • Ravens RB Derrick Henry: 29.9 points

(point totals are for half PPR scoring)

🤕 Too many injuries

Injuries around the league continue to mount early this season. The latest injury news includes:

Also, 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey traveled to Germany to see a specialist for his Achilles tendinitis. 49ers TE George Kittle (hamstring) missed last Sunday but is hopeful to practice this week.

📰 More NFL news and notes

Rest in Peace: Dolphins legend Mercury Morris, a member of the 1972 unbeaten Miami Dolphins, passed away at 77.

The NFL suspended Chargers star S Derwin James one game for repeated player safety violations including his hit on Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth in Week 3.

Lions HC Dan Campbell was forced to sell his house and move due to security concerns after fans found his address and harassed him following last season’s NFC title game loss.

The Ravens are signing DE Yannick Ngakoue and also signed RB Justice Hill to a two-year contract extension.

The Chiefs brought back RB Kareem Hunt, who is starting on the practice squad, after Isiah Pacheco’s leg injury. Veteran DL Lawrence Guy signed with the Bengals. And the Jets added veteran DB Jalen Mills to the practice squad.

This week’s Consigliere Corner with Fantasy Consigliere hits on the top five in this week’s waiver wire rankings in fantasy leagues:

1. Bucky Irving, TB RB
Bucky Irving turned 12 touches into 84 yards in the loss to Denver, and he’s now up to 6.2 yards per carry while starter Rachaad White is averaging just 2.1 yards per carry. If still available, Irving needs to be added immediately as the top claim of Week 4.

2. Mike Williams, NYJ WR
Continued success for Allen Lazard (3/48/1 last week) is slightly concerning, but Williams caught three passes for 34 yards in the win over New England, and he got a couple of jump-ball opportunities in the end zone that will start hitting soon. Williams remains a hold based on his talent and upside.

3. Romeo Doubs, GB WR
Doubs was quiet on Sunday, but he had 50+ yards in each of the first two games and should get Jordan Love (knee) back this week to open up the passing attack. Also, the breakout candidate has easily led the Green Bay wideouts in snaps in each of the first three weeks.

4. Braelon Allen, NYJ RB
The play of Allen has allowed him to go from premium handcuff to legitimate standalone FLEX—as he’s seen nine touches for 56 yards and two touchdowns and 14 touches for 68 yards over the past two weeks. When you consider his RB1 potential if Breece Hall were to ever miss time, Allen is a must own in all formats. 

5. Carson Steele, KC RB
Steele’s first career start went very well with 18 touches for 74 yards on 62% of the snaps played, but the thing pushing him back a few spots is the looming presence of Kareem Hunt and Clyde Edwards-Helaire to make it more of a committee along with Samaje Perine. Plus, Isiah Pacheco sounds likely to return in several weeks after some uncertainty about his status.

Other Sports Updates

⭐️ Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani became the first 50-homer, 50-stolen base player in MLB history in emphatic fashion with one of the greatest performances in the history of sports: 6-6, 3 HR, 5 XBH, 10 RBI, 17 TB, 2 SB.

🏈 College football highlights:

  • Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter forced a fumble to beat Baylor after the Buffs had a Hail Mary to force OT.

  • No. 6 Tennessee defeated No. 15 Oklahoma in the Sooners’ first SEC matchup.

  • No. 18 Michigan came back to beat No. 11 USC in the fourth quarter, 27-24.

  • No. 12 Utah defeated No. 14 Oklahoma State on the road, 22-19.

  • No. 7 Missouri (dropped to No. 11 in the latest AP poll) held on in double OT against Vanderbilt.

  • BYU handled Kansas State in a ranked matchup.

😕 LSU star LB Harold Perkins Jr. is out for the season due to a knee injury.

⚾️ In other MLB news, we’ve hit the final week of the regular season with the Dodgers, Phillies, Yankees, Brewers, and Guardians all clinching playoff spots so far.

👏 Charlie Blackmon has retired from the MLB after a 14-year career, all with the Rockies.

🔴 The Reds fired manager David Bell a year after giving him a contract extension through 2026.

😳 The Nationals demoted All-Star SS CJ Abrams after he pulled an all-nighter at a Chicago casino.

🐺 Found on wolfsports.comWeek 2 fantasy awards