Week three of the NFL season is in the books, which means we have a ton of new dynasty information to break down. That said, let’s dive right into the Top 10 dynasty football takeaways from week three.
Takeaway #1: De’Von Achane Looks Like a Hidden Gem
After a 51.3-point performance, it looks like Achane could be a gem from your rookie drafts. He doesn’t have the size to be an every-down back, but keep in mind that he put up this performance with fewer snaps than Raheem Mostert.
De’Von Achane was nothing short of SPECTACULAR in his Season Debut ‼️💨 #FinsUp
— Bobby Shouse (@B_Shousejr) September 24, 2023
– 22 Touches
– 233 Total Yards
– 4 TDs
– 10.6 Yards Per Touch pic.twitter.com/0JlSu2tu9l
Achane was drafted in the second round of most rookie drafts, but he could be a valuable dynasty asset going forward. If Achane can stay in the Dolphins’ offense, he could have a great career, as it seems like Miami is the best situation for a running back. Although Achane may not be on the same level as these elite backs, he has a ton of upside on a week-to-week basis.
#2: Elijah Moore Continues His Underrated Start to the Season
The Browns have had a rough start to the season, and Amari Cooper is still the WR1, but Moore has looked great so far. It seems like everyone was super high on Moore and his potential in the off-season, but now that he’s shown it, he’s barely getting any recognition.
Even though Moore is averaging 8.1 PPG, he’s done a great job commanding volume and shown he’s the number two target in this offense. He is averaging 8.3 targets per game, so his fantasy production should increase going forward.
#3: Sam LaPorta Is an ELITE Dynasty Tight End
LaPorta doesn’t care that it’s usually a bad idea to take a rookie tight end in your dynasty draft; he’s gone out there and dominated. If you’ve drafted LaPorta, he’s increasing a ton in value, which is extremely rare among rookie tight ends.
After a 22.4 week three performance, LaPorta is averaging 14.2 PPG this year. While I don’t expect this pace to continue, it looks like he will finish as a TE1 in his rookie year, making him a top-tier dynasty asset.
#4: Kenneth Walker Remains a Top Dynasty Running Back
Walker’s dynasty stock took a massive hit after the Seahawks drafted Zach Charbonnet in the second round of the NFL draft, but so far, Walker has looked great. Even though Walker should lose some touches as Charbonnet becomes more involved in this offense later in the season, it’s clear that Walker is a phenomenal talent.
What a day for Kenneth Walker! 👀
— High Point Sports (@HPointSports) September 24, 2023
pic.twitter.com/FNdYJcS5U2
Walker finished with 30.6 points in week three, bringing his season average to 19.9 PPG. After a rough week two on a YPC basis, he had his second game of the season with over 5 YPC. The talent is there with Walker, and while his upside is limited in the long term, he should still be viewed as a top dynasty back.
#5: Marvin Mims Is on the Rise
Even with his second-round draft capital, Mims was overlooked in this rookie draft class. However, due to a multitude of injuries, he was thrust into this Broncos offense right away.
Although Mims hasn’t been a focal point of this Broncos offense, he’s shown his potential with back-to-back 20-point games. Mims already looks like a fantastic deep threat, and if he can improve his overall game, he’ll be a rookie draft steal.
#6: Deshaun Watson Is Back (Kinda)
After a rough road back, Watson has finally shown some promise. While it was against the Titans, Watson looked excellent this week with 21.8 points. Watson completed 81.8% of his passes and threw for 289 yards along with two touchdowns.
While these aren’t top-five quarterback numbers, it’s a good sign that Watson looks like a QB1 after months of struggling. I’m not ready to declare that he is just as good as he was in his prime, but this week was a massive step in the right direction.
#7: Adam Thielen Is a Must-Have for Contenders
After another great week, Thielen is showing why he is a must-have for contenders. While Thielen is coming off a 31.5-point game, his price is still low because he’s 33 years old. These numbers will go down, but Thielen has shown a ton of upside based on his target share in the offense.
Adam Thielen today 145 YDS 1 TD 🥵pic.twitter.com/STa1LP3POU
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) September 24, 2023
Thielen is still a good player and the number-one target on an awful Panthers offense. While Bryce Young is still the long-term quarterback this year, and he’s looked bad, the Panthers are always playing from behind. This increased passing volume plays into Thielen’s strengths, making him a must-have for contenders.
#8: Jordan Love Is Legit
Heading into the season, there were many questions surrounding Love. Before this season, he had started in three career games, so it was fair to be skeptical of him. That said, the former first-round first-round pick has looked amazing so far, averaging 22.5 PPG.
What’s even more impressive is that Love has done all this without his number one target, Christian Watson. Once Watson finally comes back, Love should keep getting better.
#9: Contenders Need to Trade Garrett Wilson
If you’re a contender, I’m sorry, but you need to trade Wilson. I understand that he’s still a phenomenal talent who should bounce back in 2024. That said, if your championship window is this year, you have to sell him for a top veteran.
Zach Wilson and this Jets offense look terrible, and things don’t look like they’ll be changing anytime soon. Garrett Wilson is a great player, but because of how bad this offense is, he was only able to muster 9.8 points in week three. This theme will continue this year, so you need to sell him right now.
#10: Zay Flowers is a Top Dynasty Wide Receiver
Flowers has taken over as the wide receiver one in this Ravens‘ offense, leading him to fantasy success. Even though the Ravens are a low-volume passing offense, Flowers’ involvement has allowed him to average 14.3 PPG through his first few games.
The future looks bright as Flowers has already surpassed Mark Andrews in targets. Flowers has 26 targets through three games, almost double Andrews, who has 13. This youth and immediate production automatically make Flowers a top dynasty wide receiver.
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