UPDATE: 00:54 Saturday
It’s only Week 3, but fantasy depth is going to be tested this weekend due to the glut of early injuries.
Notable players already ruled out this week include four receivers (49ers’ Deebo Samuel, Eagles’ AJ Brown, Bears’ Keenan Allen, Vikings’ Jordan Addison), a running back (Texans’ Dameon Pierce) and a tight end (Browns’ David Njoku).
That list is likely to grow, as the list of players listed as questionable includes three top running backs (Seahawks’ Kenneth Walker, Texans’ Joe Mixon, Dolphins’ Raheem Mostert) and Niners tight end George Kittle.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and Packers quarterback Jordan Love are listed as doubtful, though the latter is much more likely to miss an additional week with a knee injury.
ORIGINAL PUBLICATION: 8:00 a.m. Wednesday
Like most football impresarios, The Loop rarely spends much time scouting goal scorers, who for the most part have relatively little influence on the outcome of fantasy contests.
Until this year.
Kickers have transformed the 50-yard field goal, once a rarity in the NFL, into the equivalent of a 3-foot putt. Through the first two weeks of the season, they have made an incredible 35 of 39 kicks from that distance. Just under 90 percent. Nine to none.
With most leagues awarding bonus points for kicks of 40 and 50 yards or more, the bonus is greater for long-distance kicks.
The most shocking statistic, however, is the four misses. Two of them came from Justin Tucker, a Baltimore player considered one of the best kickers in the league and holder of the all-time record with 66 yards.
So who are the best kickers likely to be available on your waiver lists? What about these guys?
Chris Boswell (Steelers) — The Pittsburgh veteran has made all eight of his field goals this season, half of them from 50 yards or more. And thanks to Pittsburgh’s modest offense, he scored all 18 of the team’s points in their Week 1 win at Atlanta.
Austin Seibert (Commanders) — Seibert did better than Boswell, scoring all 21 of the Commanders’ points on seven shots against the Giants last Sunday. But in his career, he’s only 2 of 6 from 50 yards out, despite hitting 72 percent of his shots from 40 to 49 yards.
Cairo Santos (Bear) — He’s also perfect this season, including three shots from 50 yards out. The Chicago veteran has gotten better with age. Over the past two seasons, he’s made 14 of 16 shots from 50 yards out. The Bears’ inconsistent offense gives him plenty of opportunities.
Evan McPherson (Bengals) — He’s best known for his 31-yard field goal in overtime that sent the Bengals to the 2021 Super Bowl. But he’s so trusted on long-distance kicks that Cincinnati has given him 30-of-50 chances over the past three years (23 of them).
Sitting stars
Eagles RB Saquon Barkley had a really bad fall that led to a loss Monday night, and the whiff of that could linger against the red-hot Saints. … San Francisco’s defense will shut down RB Kyren Williams and the decimated Rams. … Jets RB Breece Hall will face a decent New England defense, with Braelon Allen looking over his shoulder, ready to vulture TDs. … Cleveland RB Jerome Ford would be a good choice against the Giants if D’Onta Foreman hadn’t done most of the work. … Miami’s Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle won’t scare anyone in Seattle with Skylar Thompson throwing the passes. … Indy WR Michael Pittman will be quiet against Chicago. … Detroit tight end Sam LaPorta will be overshadowed again by teammate Jameson Williams in Arizona. …And two QBs who are expected to struggle again are the Colts’ Anthony Richardson against the Bears and the Jags’ Trevor Lawrence in Buffalo.
Confrontation game
It’s a big game when desperate Baltimore takes on desperate Dallas, and we expect big games from Ravens RB Derrick Henry and Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb. … Tampa receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans will be free-roaming against Denver. … We think this is the week 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk will flourish against the Rams. … The best tight end in football right now might be Vegas rookie Brock Bowers, who will feast against lowly Carolina. … The Chiefs’ Travis Kelce will start to look like himself again against the Falcons. … The Joe Burrow-Mike Gesicki combination will work well against Washington. … Derek Carr will look like a No. 1 QB again against Washington. … and Pittsburgh QB Justin Fields will further solidify his starting role by running free against the Chargers.
Injury monitoring
It’s been a rough first two weeks, and Week 3 won’t feature players like Christian McCaffrey, Isaiah Pacheco, Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, Deebo Samuel and Tua Tagovailoa. … Two top receivers, the Vikings’ Justin Jefferson and the Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown, are a bit injured but expected to play. … Green Bay QB Jordan Love and Philly wideout AJ Brown are pretty much doubtful. … The doubtful ranks include Houston RB Joe MIxon, Seattle RB Kenneth Walker III, Tampa Bay RB Rashaad White, Tennessee RB Tajae Spears, receivers Jordan Addison of the Vikings, Keenan Allen of the Bears and Tee Higgins of the Bengals, and four tight ends (Evan Engram of the Jaguars, Jake Ferguson of the Cowboys, David Njoku of the Browns and Taysom Hill of the Saints).
The Deepest Sleeper
Chances are most of you never heard of Chiefs RB Carson Steele before he scored in Sunday’s win over Cincinnati. And you may never hear from him again if the Chiefs get Kareem Hunt back, or if Clyde Edwards-Helaire returns healthy. Steele only carried the ball nine times for 27 yards in his NFL career. But he did rush for 3,780 yards and 30 touchdowns during his college stints at Ball State and UCLA. If he’s lucky, Steele could become the most famous player to come out of Ball State since David Letterman.
Thursday’s Choice
Patriots vs. Jets (-6½)
Take: Jets by 7
You can listen to Kevin Cusick on Wednesdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on Twitter — @theloopnow. You can contact him at [email protected].
