5 stories to watch this weekend

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RB - Jordan Mason (MIN)

Mentioned in: Fantasy Football Start 'Em Sit 'Em: Week 3 top lineup picks (and benches) from Justin Boone

• Mason is set to take on a lead role in the Vikings offense with Aaron Jones Sr. on injured reserve (hamstring injury) and J.J. McCarthy sidelined with a high-ankle sprain. Head coach Kevin O'Connell has explicitly expressed high confidence in Mason as a 'bell cow kind of back.'

• This situation mirrors Mason's previous success when he filled in for Christian McCaffrey last season, during which he averaged 108 scrimmage yards per game over the first seven weeks. This historical performance suggests he could replicate similar production in his current opportunity.

• Mason faces a favorable matchup against the Bengals, who are currently giving up the third-most fantasy points to running backs this season. The combination of guaranteed volume and a favorable matchup positions Mason to potentially deliver top-12 running back numbers in Week 3.

• Our take: This is what you dream of as a Mason owner. I drafted and traded for him as much as possible this offseason, knowing Aaron Jones’ injury history. I love the matchup, and with Wentz in at QB, you would think they would lean on the run even more than usual.

WR - Wan'Dale Robinson (NYG)

Mentioned in: Fantasy Football Matchups to Exploit: Sleeper starts, plus players to sit/fade for Week 3

• Robinson is coming off a breakout performance with 142 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions, totaling 28.2 PPR points. His success wasn't just a one-week wonder, as he also saw significant volume (eight targets) in Week 1, converting those into six catches for 55 yards.

• The matchup against Kansas City is particularly favorable for Robinson's slot role. The Chiefs were vulnerable to slot receivers last year, allowing the second-most fantasy points to the position, and that trend has continued into 2023.

• Through two games this season, Kansas City ranks third-worst in fantasy points allowed to slot receivers, second-worst in receptions allowed, and fourth-worst in yards allowed to the position, suggesting Robinson could continue his productive streak.

• Our take: I’m a lifelong NYG fan, and a Wan’Dale breakout season was not on my bingo card for this year. Call me pessimistic, but if he has another good game this week in a good matchup, I’d be selling. He currently sits as our WR66 in our consensus rankings. Elic Ayomanor (WR51) could be a sneaky target.

RB - Jonathan Taylor (IND)

Mentioned in: Fantasy Football OL & DL Matchups: NFL Week 3 (2025)

• Jonathan Taylor has a favorable matchup against a struggling Titans defense that's currently allowing the fourth-most rushing yards (150 per game) in the NFL. The Titans' defensive line has shown significant weakness, managing only two sacks through the first two games.

• Taylor's outlook is further enhanced by the strong performance of the Colts' offensive line, which ranks 11th in quarterback pressure rate allowed and third in adjusted sack rate. This suggests they should be able to create running lanes effectively against the Titans' front.

• The matchup analysis indicates Taylor should be viewed as a high-floor play with multi-touchdown upside, particularly given how the Colts' offensive line has been controlling the trenches. Recent running back performances against the Titans (including JK Dobbins, RJ Harvey, and Kyren Williams all exceeding 60+ yards) suggest Taylor could have a productive outing.

• Our take: I slept on JT this offseason. Might be my NYG bias again, but I didn’t think this team would look good with Daniel Jones at QB (or AR). He’s looking like a top-5 RB rest of season with a legitimate shot at RB1 overall.

RB - Blake Corum (LAR)

Mentioned in: Waiver Wire Watchlist for Fantasy Football Week 3

• Blake Corum showed significant improvement in Week 2, rushing for 44 yards and a touchdown on just five carries, displaying the form that made him successful in college. This performance indicates he has fully recovered from his 2022 knee injury that affected his play at Michigan.

• While still behind Kyren Williams in the Rams' pecking order, Corum's increased involvement in the offense is noteworthy, especially considering Williams' declining efficiency (dropping from 5.0 YPC in 2023 to 4.1 YPC in 2024).

• The Rams' strong offense provides numerous opportunities, and Corum's efficient performance could lead to an expanded role. While he's not yet ready for fantasy starting lineups, his Week 2 showing suggests he's trending toward increased involvement in the offense.

• Our take: We talked about Kyren yesterday as a player who was trending down as the Rams move more towards a 70/30 split between him and Corum. If Corum can keep stacking good performances, I wonder how much more playing time he can earn. He’s currently RB55 in our consensus rankings behind guys like Najee Harris (RB47) and Tank Bigsby (RB52), suggesting he could still be acquired for pretty cheap.

RB - Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS)

🎁 2-FOR-1 SPECIAL

Mentioned in: Patrick Mahomes Goes Bombs Away And More Fantasy Football Week 3 Bold Calls

• Croskey-Merritt's fantasy outlook is concerning despite his apparent lead role following Brian Robinson Jr.'s departure. His Week 1 performance was saved only by a touchdown, followed by a disappointing RB64 showing against Green Bay's defense.

• The article highlights significant concerns about Croskey-Merritt's involvement in the passing game, noting he has yet to record a single reception this season. This limitation is particularly concerning with Jeremy McNichols expected to secure the pass-game work against Las Vegas.

• Further complications to Croskey-Merritt's value arise from potential competition in the backfield, with Chris Rodriguez expected to return to the fold in Week 3 and create additional competition for touches in Washington's offense.

Mentioned in: Close Calls: Week 3's Toughest Lineup Decisions

• Croskey-Merritt has emerged as Washington's lead back following Austin Ekeler's season-ending Achilles injury and Brian Robinson Jr.'s departure to San Francisco. This development has given him clear control of the Washington backfield heading into Week 3.

• The rookie running back is positioned for a significant workload against the Raiders, with the article projecting 15-plus carries in the upcoming matchup. The analysis suggests the Raiders' defense isn't as strong as their early 2025 numbers might indicate.

• The article favors Croskey-Merritt over Quinshon Judkins for Week 3, specifically citing the favorable matchup against Las Vegas compared to Judkins' tough matchup against Green Bay's ferocious defense.

Our take: The talk of the town this offseason. I love the story, but it felt like the hype got a little out of control and inflated his price. As a result, I faded him in all my leagues. If he smashes this week in a good matchup, I’d be really interested to see what you could sell him for. If people are treating him like a low-end RB1 or high-end RB2, I’d be selling in a heartbeat.

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