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| Other Week 3 Game Recaps | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL at NE | CAR at DAL | CHI at SEA | CLE at BAL | DEN at OAK | GB at STL | IND at ARI | JAX at HOU |
| KC at PHI | MIA at SD | NO at BUF | NYG at TB | PIT at CIN | SF at MIN | TEN at NYJ | WAS at DET |
Week 3 Game Recap: Kansas City Chiefs 14, Philadelphia Eagles 34
Kansas City Chiefs
| QB Matt Cassel, Pass: 14 - 18 - 90 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 2 - -1 - 0 |
Matt Cassel was under pressure often in Week 3 as Philadelphia's pressure defense was in his face early and often. Without his top receiver (Dwayne Bowe) in the game and the ground game not working, the Eagles pinned their ears back and went after Cassel. He was able to pad his stats a little in the fourth quarter with a meaningless late touchdown pass to Bobby Wade with under two minutes to play. Cassel should be on fantasy benches at this point.
| RB Larry Johnson, Rush: 19 - 38 - 0 |
The Larry Johnson who took the field in Philadelphia is not the same runner that was once competing for the top RB in the NFL several seasons ago. Johnson looked sluggish and lacked a top end gear when he did get a hole, but to be fair his offensive line did him no favors. When his backup (Jamaal Charles) got his chances, the difference in quickness and speed was obvious. Johnson was hit at or behind the line of scrimmage roughly half of the time, but the combination of his diminishing skill set and his terrible offensive line makes him unstartable in fantasy football at this point.
| RB Jamaal Charles, Rush: 6 - 36 - 0, Rec: 3 - 34 - 0 (4 targets) |
Charles returned to the lineup after being inactive in Week 2. Charles was given fewer touches than Larry Johnson (10 to 19) but Charles did much more when he had his chances. Charles looked much faster, cutting quickly and getting to his top gears rapidly when catching the ball in space. Charles padded some of his numbers with plays before halftime and later in the game, along with a 26-yard catch and run on a gimmick throw from WR Mark Bradley. Charles has some fantasy value in PPR leagues and may start seeing more touches than Larry Johnson.
| WR Mark Bradley, Pass: 1 - 1 - 26 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - 22 - 0, Rec: 4 - 28 - 1 (4 targets) |
Bradley made a nice touchdown catch in the first half in Week 3, reeling in the score on a leaping grab at the left side of the end zone and tapping both feet down before falling out of bounds. Bradley led his team with catches (tied) and yards, but when four grabs and 28 yards leads the team you know that your squad had a long day. Bradley also threw a gimmick pass to Jamaal Charles in the second quarter for the longest play of the day for the Chiefs and added a 22-yard reverse. Bradley's production probably peaked this week as Dwayne Bowe should return to the lineup in Week 4 as the Chiefs host the New York Giants.
| WR Bobby Wade, Rec: 2 - 13 - 1 (4 targets) |
Bobby Wade stepped into a starting role in Week 3 against Philadelphia due to Dwayne Bowe's injury. Wade had a late catch for a meaningless touchdown in the final two minutes of the game, but he likely will have even less production once Bowe returns to the lineup. Do not even bother adding him to your fantasy roster.
| WR Terrance Copper, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (2 targets) |
Copper had one catch in Week 3 very late in the fourth quarter long after the game was decided. He has no fantasy value at this time as the fourth WR for the Chiefs.
| TE Sean Ryan, Rec: 4 - 22 - 0 (4 targets) |
Sean Ryan started at tight end for Kansas City in Week 3, but the Chiefs do not utilize the TE much in their passing attack. Ryan's four catches against the Eagles may be a season high for him and the 22 total yards illustrates how short of a route Ryan runs when he does go out for a pass.
Philadelphia Eagles
| QB Kevin Kolb, Pass: 24 - 34 - 327 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - 1 - 1 |
Kevin Kolb became the first NFL quarterback ever to top 300 yards passing in his first two NFL starts. Kolb looked poised in the pocket, unaffected by the absence of both Kevin Curtis and Brian Westbrook in the backfield. Kolb went to work by connecting several times with DeSean Jackson, including a strike over the middle to him in stride so that he could make his quick moves and elude the defense for a 64-yard touchdown. Kolb heads back to the bench after the Week 4 bye but if McNabb goes down again the Eagles should have high confidence of his ability to step in and lead the offense.
| QB Jeff Garcia, Rush: 3 - -2 - 0 |
The wheel of quarterbacks stopped on Jeff Garcia in the fourth quarter, but pay no attention to his guest appearance. Garcia merely cleaned up the game in the final five minutes once the game was well decided.
| QB Michael Vick, Pass: 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - 7 - 0 |
Michael Vick was in the game for several snaps (11 plays to be exact) but he was used in multiple spots and formations. He was a "Wildcat QB" at times but as a receiver on other occasions. Most of the time he was employed as a decoy, but he did have two pass attempts on the run and also a carry. Fantasy-wise, Vick has no value whatsoever as he's a change of pace QB for the Eagles and is not moving the offense when he is given his few chances.
| QB Donovan McNabb |
McNabb was inactive as the Eagles wisely chose to rest him in Week 3. With Philadelphia's bye week to follow, McNabb now has two more weeks to get ready for the Week 5 game against Tampa Bay.
| RB LeSean McCoy, Rush: 20 - 84 - 1, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (2 targets) |
McCoy got his first ever NFL start and looked very quick out of the backfield, showing cuts between the tackles and exploding to the corner when he got his touches. McCoy also had several direct snaps, running a modified Wildcat offensive formation that allowed him to read the offensive line and dart where the hole appeared. McCoy scored his first career touchdown off of a direct snap, diving in from five yards out in the first quarter. Westbrook is likely back as the starter in Week 5 after the bye week, but McCoy could steal some touches and is a great handcuff in case of a Westbrook injury.
| RB Brian Westbrook |
Brian Westbrook was inactive, a wise move for the Eagles considering that he was less than full strength and with Philadelphia having Week 4 off. If it had been a playoff game or a better opponent, Westbrook likely would have suited up -- but now he has two weeks to get ready for a nice matchup with Tampa Bay in Week 5.
| WR DeSean Jackson, Rec: 6 - 149 - 1 (10 targets) |
Jackson showed no signs of a groin injury against the Chiefs in Week 3, once again leading all Eagles in targets, catches and yards. He was even healthy enough to return punts against Kansas City. Jackson was open consistently over the middle against the Chiefs, breaking open for long gainers all afternoon. His biggest play came in the second quarter on a short slant pass over the middle where Jackson split two defenders and burst past the safety for a 64-yard touchdown. Jackson is elevating his game and could easily be considered a fantasy WR1 at this early point of his career.
| WR Jeremy Maclin, Rush: 1 - -1 - 0, Rec: 4 - 33 - 0 (6 targets) |
Jeremy Maclin did not show much explosion in Week 3 against Kansas City. Maclin started in place of the inactive Kevin Curtis (knee injury) but did not do more than grab a few short passes over the middle or on the sideline for 5-11 yards at a clip. Maclin had a target at the goal line but Kevin Kolb threw behind him on a crossing route, which not only cost Maclin his first NFL touchdown but left him open for a hard shot from the safety in the back that likely hurt him enough to slow him down for the rest of the game. Maclin now gets two weeks to learn more of that complicated playbook and shake off that hit.
| WR Jason Avant, Rec: 2 - 14 - 0 (4 targets) |
Avant was the slot receiver again for the Eagles in Week 3, notable because Kevin Curtis was inactive. His role is a possession receiver over the middle or on shorter passes. Avant had a nice grab but lost the ball and fumbled early in the game. He was fortunate that the ball rolled out of bounds so the Eagles kept the ball. Avant is a complimentary receiver for Philadelphia and does not see enough targets to warrant fantasy consideration.
| WR Reggie Brown, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (2 targets) |
Brown had one short catch against the Chiefs in the second quarter, but he was only active due to Kevin Curtis' knee injury.
| WR Kevin Curtis |
Kevin Curtis was inactive in Week 3 with a knee issue. He will take two weeks off due to the Eagles' bye week and try and get ready for the Tampa Bay game in Week 5.
| TE Brent Celek, Rec: 8 - 104 - 1 (9 targets) |
Celek had an outstanding game once again for the Eagles, grabbing nearly every ball that came his way (8 out of 9 targets). Celek is a sizeable target and takes a great deal of punishment when he catches the ball over the middle, but it takes big hits to bring him down. Celek had his second consecutive 100+ yard game, closing his performance with a 35-yard grab down the middle of the field for a touchdown. Celek is a favored target in the Eagle offense and should continue to see numerous targets even when Donovan McNabb returns in Week 5.