Fantasy football sizzlers, fizzlers: De'Von Achane delivers stellar game no one saw coming
The fantasy football era has never witnessed an NFL team putting up as many points as the Miami Dolphins did on Sunday. Last week's top fantasy sizzler, Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert, scored four touchdowns and still didn't even get top billing on his own team in the record-setting rout.
While injuries are still causing fantasy managers headaches, they're also opening up opportunities for other players to step forward.
These players saw their fantasy values increase or decrease most based on their performances in Week 3:
NFL WEEK 3 WINNERS, LOSERS: Dolphins put rest of league on notice, Raiders can blame coach for loss
Sizzlers
RB De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins: Mike McDaniel's offense put on a clinic against the Denver Broncos, posting the NFL's first 70-point game since 1966. Achane, a third-round pick from Texas A&M who played just five snaps over the first two weeks, capped a four-touchdown day with a 67-yard scoring scamper in the fourth quarter and finished with 203 rushing yards. But with little warning, his stellar performance came while he was on most fantasy teams' benches.
WR Tank Dell, Houston Texans: Dell was good for five grabs, 145 yards and a touchdown on seven targets, setting a franchise rookie record for receiving yards in a game. The rookie has scored in back-to-back weeks, with at least five catches in each outing. Dude, go get yourself this Dell.
RB Melvin Gordon III, Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens keep taking hits in the backfield, losing J.K. Dobbins, Justice Hill and Gus Edwards in consecutive weeks. That's left Gordon and Kenyan Drake to handle the backfield chores for the time being. After Drake put the ball on the ground, it looks like Gordon (55 total yards on Sunday) will be the next man up.
WR Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers: Thielen didn’t quite jell with No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young in the two games the rookie started. But with Andy Dalton under center, the veteran re-emerged as a fantasy threat, posting 11 grabs, 145 yards and a score on 14 targets. Dalton might get another start vs. Minnesota in Week 4 when Thielen gets a crack at his former team.
QB Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints: With Derek Carr knocked out of the game with a sprained AC joint, Winston stepped in and completed 10 of 16 passes for 101 yards with no miscues. Like Thielen, if Winston gets the start nod in Week 4 vs. Tampa Bay, he’ll get to face his former team.
Fizzlers
RB Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons: There appeared to be plenty of touches to go around in the Falcons' first two games, as Allgeier and Bijan Robinson were both very productive. While Robinson still managed 60 total scrimmage yards vs. Detroit, Allgeier disappeared with just 29 total yards. A tough matchup against the Jaguars in London is unlikely to get Allgeier back on track.
RB AJ Dillon, Green Bay Packers: Dillon had a golden opportunity to start the past two weeks with Aaron Jones inactive. However, he's posted some rather paltry numbers, totaling 88 rushing yards on 26 carries, while catching just one pass in two games. If he gets the nod in a short week Thursday, he’ll face another top-notch defense in the Lions.
RB Joshua Kelley, Los Angeles Chargers: Like Dillon, Kelley hasn't done much with Austin Ekeler sidelined for the past two games. He was bottled up for 12 yards on 11 carries in Minnesota in Week 3, and he barely factored into the pass game. Isiah Spiller could see more action at Kelley's expense if Ekeler is sidelined again in Week 4.
WR Allen Lazard, New York Jets: Lazard signed with the Jets so he could catch passes from former teammate Aaron Rodgers. We all know how that worked out. With Zach Wilson at quarterback, Lazard has seven grabs for 108 yards in three games and hasn't sniffed the end zone.
TE Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears: There was hope Kmet would be a borderline low-end TE1, but the Bears offense has been a complete dumpster fire. The former Notre Dame player opened with five grabs for 44 yards, but his catch, yardage and target totals have each decreased in each game since.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football stock watch: De'Von Achane up, Josh Kelley down
