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Week 3 in the NFL is almost in the books, and what a provocative week it has been. It seems like we were waiting forever for the season to begin, and we are already three weeks deep!
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it!”
~ Ferris Bueller

The Philadelphia Eagles won in miraculous fashion with a Jake Elliott 61-yard FG (longest FG in Lincoln Financial Field history). The newly crowned “Folk Hero of Philly” capped off what was a tight, defensive battle for most of the game that really opened up in the final quarter. Eagles are 2-0 in the NFC East… the Giants (0-3; 0-2) have a lot of work to do and may already be out of contention. The Washington Redskins handled business on Sunday night in our Nation’s Capital. More on that and the Cowboys later…

T.Y. loves him some T.Y. (7-153-1), while Diggs shockingly was picking up what Keenum was putting down (8-173-2)! Speaking of offensive explosions, TNF went from the normal snoozefest to a barn burner! You like explosions? “Don’t you dare hit our QB (Marcus Mariota) late out of bounds, Richard Sherman,” says Taylor Lewan (edited version.. c’mon man, we have kids who read our articles).

QB Aaron Rodgers passed John Elway on the all-time passing TDs list, but ALMOST lost at home to the Bengals, needing a late touchdown and overtime to seal the deal.
The concurrent theme this week was shoddy officiating. What was that mess at the half of the Steelers/Bears game?!? Sorry, I missed what happened due to a Leon Lett flashback, but Jordan Howard’s bounce back performance snapped me out of it (138-2). Refs missed Vikings’ Dalvin Cook stepping out of bounds at the four (marking the ball instead at the one yard line, which was later “fumbled” across the goal line for a touchdown), as well as a clear Golden Tate TD and comeback win for the Lions was ripped away by review. Completing the process of the catch is confusing as hell… how was that not a Sterling Shepard touchdown with three steps in the end zone and clear possession? And let us not forget Michael Thomas doing his best “Dez” impersonation with the swat offensive P.I. for a TD catch… it was not called and defensive P.I. was? Are you kidding me! I’ll take it, though, as I have MT (7-87-1) on my fantasy team of record. Nice to have ya back, son!

TAKE A KNEE

(Disclaimer: the views expressed in this section are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those held by A2Dradio and its staff.)

Of recent, this isn’t the first time the White House has entered the sporting world, thanks to the outspoken Jemele Hill and the Worldwide Leader in Bullshit! By far not a Trump supporter, but to support our President for just a second, why is he not allowed to express his views (as members of the sporting world have done via their “podium”)? I get he has a higher responsibility and often has the tact of “a child who wonders in the middle of movie.” If we are truly fighting to create an equal world where everyone has the right to express their views in a proper manner, let’s not be hypocrites here. Personally, the calling out of private citizens to be fired by the President is NOT appropriate, yet Trump should have freedom of speech while encouraging others to the same right. Just leave the term S.O.B. out, ok?!

Donald Trump: NFL Players – National Anthem

President Donald J. Trump: NFL owners should fire players for not standing for the #NationalAnthem…????????

Let the arguing begin…

Posted by A2Dradio.com on Saturday, September 23, 2017

In response to the President’s declaration, players of the NFL came together and protested league wide this weekend. It was great to see many owners like Stephen Ross, Arthur Blank and Shahid Khan standing together with their players.

Have to admit, I have come around on this issue. Taking a knee/linking arms may be the best way to stand up for what the flag, and this country, represents… as long as it’s done in unison! If we can come together as a nation and dispel what divides us as a result of these peaceful protests, then mission accomplished.

Ok, back to football…

LONDON CALLING

The Jacksonville Jaguars battled the Baltimore Ravens in their home away from home, Wembley Stadium. Ok, battled may be too strong of a word, as the Jags absolutely dismantled the Ravens and their standout defense 44-7. Will the real #1 defense please stand up? Should the Jags just move to London already? They play their best football in the UK (Blake Bortles – 4 TDs; Team Defense – 2 SCK, 2 INT, 1 FR & 186 yards allowed)! If the JAX DST is still available in your league, POUNCE!

The NFL, in its efforts to internationalize the game, are continuing to schedule games around the world. This season, there will be four games in London (Saints @ Dolphins, Cardinals @ Rams, Vikings @ Browns and the completed aforementioned game) and one game in Mexico City (Patriots @ Raiders). Worldly exposure can only be good for the game, but is it good for the players?

Sadly, a lot of NFL fans and sports broadcasters feel like this:

And Mercedes Lewis… THAT HELPED NO ONE!!!

WEEK 3 KEY INJURIES

Julio Jones (7-91-0) injured his back during Atlanta’s dramatic 30-26 win. He caught an 11-yard pass on the Falcon’s last offensive snap of the game, so it’s unclear whether he suffered the injury earlier in the game and played through it, or if he wasn’t hurt until that final play.

Prognosis: Dan Quinn doesn’t believe the injury is serious: “[Jones] said he was going to be fine. I don’t know if he could have come back in, knowing him, I know he would have tried. It didn’t sound like it was anything long, extended for him. He got the attention that he normally gets. I don’t have any updates other than I don’t think it’s anything that is going to knock him out for an extended period of time.”

Fantasy Impact: WARNING: JULIO INJURY ALERT! Continue to monitor, but throw a watch flag on Mohamed Sanu and Taylor Gabriel.

Other Injury News
• Corey Davis – Hamstring (IA)
• Jordan Reed – Ribs/Sternum (IA)
• Doug Baldwin – Groin
• Kelvin Benjamin – Left Knee (Panthers are optimistic that Benjamin didn’t suffer another tear of the surgically-repaired ACL)
• Gerald McCoy – Ankle
• Olivier Vernon – Ankle (X-rays came back negative)

NOTABLE ROOKIE PERFORMANCES

Postgame respect: #DW4 and TB12 #WeAreTexans

A post shared by Houston Texans (@houstontexans) on

Deshaun Watson (301 YD, 2 TD, 2 INT, 41 Rush) Watson almost pulled off the unthinkable (a rookie QB winning in Foxborough… it’s never happened), but was thwarted by the G.O.A.T. narrative; a last minute touchdown to Brandin Cooks who looks like he has found the map of New England.
• Kareem Hunt (172-1)
• Dalvin Cook (97-1; 5-72)
• Leonard Fournette (59-1; 3-21)
• Chris Carson (34-0; 2-18-1)

 

MNF WEEK 3 PREVIEW

Dallas Cowboys @ Arizona Cardinals (University of Phoenix Stadium, 8:30 EST): Cowboys will be looking to knock the ugly taste of Bronco decimation out of their mouth as they travel to the desert on Monday night to take on the DJ-less Cardinals. Carson Palmer and his trio of WRs (Larry Fitzgerald, J.J. Nelson & Jaron Brown) will look to feast on a banged up secondary that was already suspect. Expect Ezekiel Elliott to come out motivated, showing the world last week was a fluke. He can be an excellent fantasy asset in DFS, as Dez will be locked up on Peterson, so I can see a bunch of check downs to go with a 25-carry day.

Cardinals win 23-21

• Fantasy Projections: J.J. Nelson is in a good spot as most attention will go towards Fitz; feel confident to play him in Mon-Thurs DFS or if you need a Monday Night Miracle. Zeke, Jason WItten, Carson Palmer, Larry Fitzgerald and Cole Beasley are all in play for GPPs.