AFC South Preview & Predictions: Week 3

By Joanne Kong

Twitter: @kongfu4u  AFC South

My husband always tells me I’m too reactionary with my fantasy team.  After the week of games end, I’m ready to cut half my team, replace them with 2^nd or 3^rd options available and pray that the first stringers get injured.  Terrible, I know.  At 0-2, can you blame me?  Desperation begins to kick in when your team underperforms when you’re slated to win.  Players that were supposed to be superstars turned out to be duds.  And that’s true in the NFL itself as well as fantasy football.  There’s just no sure things in fantasy or reality.

Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1)

Jacksonville Jaguars @ New England Patriots

The Jaguars might have surprisingly pulled out a win against the Miami Dolphins in week 2, but they’ll need to make a deal with the devil (which I hope they make) to take the win in week 3 against the Patriots (2-0).

The Patriots won’t underestimate the Jaguars.

In week 2, the Jaguars had an equal amount of passing and rushing attempts.  And although quarterback Blake Bortles only completed 18 out of the 33 attempts, he did manage to find the endzone for 2 passing TDs.  With that said, the Patriots allowed the Buffalo Bills to score 32 points (2 rushing TD and 3 passing TD).

Tom Brady and the Patriots take every opportunity to demolish their opponents.  In week 2, the defense sacked quarterback Tyrod Taylor 8-times for a total loss of 53 yards.  Week 3 will be no different.  It’s only a matter of whether the Jaguars will be able to keep up.

Tom Brady should put up similar numbers to week 1 and 2 – 400 yards and at least 3 passing TD.

It will be hard for the Jaguars to cover tight end Rob Gronkowski.  You can expect Gronkowski to get the majority of targets and at least 2 TD.  Juilian Edelman should be heavily covered, but that won’t prevent him from scoring a TD.  Brady will sprinkle the generosity throughout the field in Sunday’s game.  Aaron Dobson should also get a TD, or at the least see more targets in light of his performance in week 2, 7/8 receptions for 87 yards.

In week 2, running back Dion Lewis had more receiving yards than rushing yards, expect Lewis to do the same, getting a TD in week 3 for the Patriots.

The Patriots are towards the bottom when it comes to run defense, expect T.J. Yeldon to get the majority of the carries, as well as score TD.

If the Jaguars did their homework for the week, Bortles can expect heavy coverage in week 2 top scorer, Allen Robinson, and instead will look down field for Allen Hurns, who caught 4//4 receptions for 68 yards.  Expect, Hurns to score a TD in Sunday’s game.

What does it mean?

It will take a blessing from Pope Francis for the Jaguars to win at Gillette Stadium.  Celebrate while you can Patriot fans, the end will come… eventually.

Tennessee Titans (1-1) & Indianapolis Colts (0-2)

Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans

Andrew Luck won’t let the Colts go 0-3 for the season.  He played a ridiculously bad game in week 2, but so did everyone else on the Colts.  GET IT TOGETHER!

The Titans and the Colts both suffer from mediocre defenses due, in part, to defensive injuries in week 3.  The Colts cornerback Greg Toler (neck injury) and cornerback Darius Butler (hip injury) will both be out for Sunday’s game.  Vontae Davis is listed as questionable with a concussion but is expected to play.

The Titans Cornerback Jason McCourty was at practice this week for the first time since going out with a groin injury in training camp.  It’s unclear whether McCourty will be in Sunday’s game, but the Titans have played two weeks without him.

Expect Andrew Luck to put up better numbers in week 3.  Donte Moncrief and T.Y. Hilton are Lucks top receivers, expect heavy coverage, but that doesn’t mean they won’t score.  Both receivers should have a TD under their stats in week 3.

Colts running back Frank Gore will need to step up his game and prove his value to the team.  He’ll need to find the whole and try to hold onto the ball in week 3 if the Colts are going to have any success in their running game.  Look for Frank Gore to have 1 TD in week 3.  It’s redemption for the ball he fumbled at the goal line in week 2.

It was hard to believe how out of sync the Titans looked in week 2, although they were able to score 2 TD in the second half, it was a little too late.  COME ON…Johnny Manziel… really?  Week 3 is a divisional game and he’ll need to prove that he can beat teams with veteran quarterbacks behind center.  It’s uncertain why the Titans looked so bad in week 2, but it’s certain that they won’t underestimate the Colts.

Look for a shoot out of a game.  I’m predicting high scores and Luck and Mariota try to bring home the win.

The Titans rookie Dorial Green-Beckham will have a bigger role in week 3, as Kendell Wright and Justin Hunter stay covered.  It wouldn’t be surprising if the rookie caught his second TD in week 3.  Also expect tight-end Anthony Fasano to handle the majority of the work load, scoring a TD, since no one in the NFL can cover the tight-ends this year.

Houston Texans (0-2)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Houston Texans

DeAndre Hopkins was diagnosed with a concussion Wednesday, but it looks like Hopkins will clear for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as he participated in Friday’s practice.  Which means, Ryan Mallett will have the entire offense working during week 3.  The Buccaneers came out with a win in week 2, and rookie Jameis Winston played confidentially passing for an average distance of 9.9 yards.  The Buccaneers are looking for a win in week 3, but their be disappointed.

Keep an eye out for Texans wide receiver Cecil Shorts III, who had the most targets in week 2 but caught only half.  Shorts will need to step it up to for the Texans to take home a win as DeAndre Hopkins, who has been the primary scoring option over the past two weeks, and Nate Washington, who’s been a major contributor to the Texans offense in receiving yards, will be heavily covered by the Buccaneers defense.  Expect Hopkins to score a TD in week 3.  With a weak rushing offense, you can expect Mallett to be scrambling down field, looking for his wide receiving core.  Chandler Worthy should have his first TD in the NFL.

Winston has been playing it safe with the passing game.  The Buccaneers played a run heavy game in week 2, 14 out of 21 completed passing attempts and 35 rushing attempts.  Expect the same in week 3, but the Texans will have to think quickly on their feet when facing Winston and his offense as plays tend to change, luckily Austin Seferian-Jenkins will out for week 3.  Vincent Jackson and Louis Murphy will be heavily targeted, as Houston will try and limit Mike Evans’ game changing opportunities, but what the Texans will need to look for is Winston himself.

Look for a defensive TD for the Texans in week 3, 2 passing TD by Ryan Mallet.

The Texans should win week 3, becoming 1-2.