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Week 3 is here and we're back with another edition of our fantasy football bold predictions. Today's list is going to include Kyle Pitts, Joe Burrow and Dameon Pierce.
For those who are not familiar, each week of the NFL season we'll be providing some fun player predictions for fantasy football. While we wouldn't expect for these things to happen, we also feel it's within the range of outcomes.
These bold predictions are meant to be fun, potentially edgy, and should not alter your strategy for setting fantasy football lineups. I hope you enjoy, and thanks for reading. Good luck RotoBallers!
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Kyle Pitts...
Finishes as the TE1
Every Kyle Pitts manager feels the pain through the first two weeks of this season. His consecutive 2 catches-for 19-yard performances has his fantasy managers in panic mode, with even some debating if they should drop the disappointing tight end. Everyone needs to take a deep breath. Even with his stock down to the lowest we will probably ever witness, his upside alone is enough to continue having Pitts in your every-week lineup.
Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith is not doing Kyle Pitts any favors. His quote, “It’s not fantasy football. We’re just trying to win.” perpetuates the dilemma for Pitts managers. However, as we peak into Week 3, the light should shine for Pitts and his fantasy managers. The good news is that his usage of 93 percent of snaps last week continues to rise and should propel to realize his full potential.
It is criminal that Arthur Smith seems incapable of utilizing Pitts but can allow rookie wide receiver Drake London to shine by finishing at least five receptions and 70 receiving yards in both games this season. Maybe it is the result of Pitts drawing frequent double teams and bracketing the former Gator tight end.
Pitts arrived with extreme expectations in his rookie season and exceeded them and his Week 3 matchup versus the Seattle Seahawks will remind us all. The Seahawks defense is a bottom-tier defense and that was before they lost safety Jamal Adams. Pitts and the Falcons faced two of the top defenses in their first two weeks against the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints.
Arthur Smith will realize it might be a good idea to get the ball to your most talented player and the squeaky wheel with the noise around Pitts will propel him to surpass the best game of his rookie campaign of nine catches for 119 yards and a score. Pitts and his fantasy managers get right all the way up to earning the TE1 in Week 3.
Joe Burrow...
Finishes as a Top-3 QB
The Super Bowl hangover seems real. With their 0-2 start, the Cincinnati Bengals face a critical Week 3 matchup against the New York Jets. The offseason improvements on the offensive line have not produced immediate dividends. Joe Burrow is the most sacked QB in the league. Burrow has been sacked 13 times in 2 games. His play has suffered and is tied for second for the most interceptions (four) this season.
The Bengals have too much firepower not to see Burrow produce with the elite quarterbacks. This will be a get-well week for the Bengals' offense. In Week 1, Lamar Jackson threw for 213 yards and three touchdowns in the Baltimore Ravens 24-9 blowout win. The Jets pulled out a miraculous comeback win against the Cleveland Browns in Week 2. The Jets' defense gave up 30 points to the Browns including 229 yards and a score to Jacoby Brissett.
In a must-win situation, Joe Burrow and the Bengals' offense pull out the victory by exposing the Jets defense to the tune of Burrow showcasing Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Joe Mixon on his way to a top-three quarterback.
Dameon Pierce...
Breaks out in Week 3 with his first 100 yard game and first touchdown
Dameon Pierce was an afterthought with his arrival as a fourth-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans. However, Pierce was a hot commodity in early fantasy drafts after shining in training camp and preseason games.
Notwithstanding his earlier production, veteran head coach Lovie Smith did not trust the rookie to begin this season as a starter. Instead, Lovie Smith turned to veteran journeyman Rex Burkhead to take the lead role to start this season and shockingly played well enough to be a hot trendy addition for fantasy managers after Week 1. In typical Rex Burkhead fashion, that was fool's gold, and now eyes are back on the rookie to take over the lead role in Houston.
In Week 2, Pierce had 15 rushing attempts for 69 yards (4.69 yards per carry) against the Denver Broncos as the proverbial torch was being passed over to Pierce.
Pierce now has an excellent matchup this week when the 0-1-1 Texans travel to Soldier Field to take on the 1-1 Chicago Bears. The Bears are being decimated by running backs in their first two games, allowing five yards per carry and a league-worst 189.5 rushing yards per game. In a game with putrid offenses, the 39-point over total screams inept offenses and a focus on the running games.
The Texans would be wise to showcase their rookie running back and allow him to shine in a winnable contest. Therefore, the bold prediction is that Pierce runs with the Texans' RB1 role to his first 100-yard rushing game and first NFL touchdown to help lead the Texans to their first win of the 2022 season.
Chris Olave...
Is the next rookie wide receiver to explode
The NFL has welcomed a prime rookie wide receiver class this season, and we have already witnessed the breakouts of Drake London and Garrett Wilson. However, Week 3 will deliver another former Buckeye breakout performance by New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave.
Fantasy managers should be excited about Olave. Olave ranks first in Air Yards (321) and Deep Targets (7) among all wide receivers through two games. He leads the Saints wide receivers in snaps through two weeks and has produced eight catches on 16 targets for 121 yards.
His fantasy production has been respectable, but the breakout is on the horizon and given his big-play ability, Olave is ready to explode in Week 3.
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