Fantasy Football: ''Neither A.J. Brown nor DeVonta Smith belong in your fantasy lineup" — Tale of the Take, Week 3

Week 2 of the fantasy football season delivered a little more clarity, but it also reminded us how fast things can shift. Chargers receivers once again played very well, Harold Fannin Jr. nearly cracked the top 10, and while James Conner and Kayshon Boutte didn't completely hit, at least touchdowns softened the blow.

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That's the beauty of this game - we ride the process, adjust when needed and take what the matchups give us. Week 3 brings new information, tougher calls and opportunities that could decide early season momentum. Let's get to the takes.

Don't force Quinshon Judkins or Cam Skattebo into lineups just yet

The tale of the take: Both Quinshon Judkins and Cam Skattebo gave us sparks last week. Judkins ran with confidence, showed the burst we expected and looked like a future cornerstone for the Browns. Skattebo gave the Giants exactly the type of physicality they've been missing. Both are names to circle, but names on the radar don't always translate into auto-starts.

Judkins faces a nightmare assignment with the Packers. Their front is suffocating, ranking second in overall rushing efficiency and top five in nearly every split you can think of. With Joe Flacco at quarterback, the Packers defense won't be stressed vertically, which means Judkins will see loaded boxes and little daylight.

Skattebo's situation is slightly different but no easier. He'll square off against a Chiefs defense that has been stingy against rushing efficiency, even if raw yardage totals look gettable. The Giants simply haven't proven they can run the ball consistently, and while Skattebo brings effort and juice, it's not enough to overcome a unit that thrives at winning at the line of scrimmage.

Both rookies have bright futures, but Week 3 isn't where you press them into lineups.

Caleb Williams' get-right spot vs the Cowboys

The tale of the take: The Bears and Cowboys are set for a 50.5-point total with Dallas favored by just 1.5 on the road. Translation: Points are coming. Neither defense has shown they can stop much of anything. Dallas has been picked apart through the air, Chicago has been gashed everywhere, and both quarterbacks have enough weapons to turn this into a high-scoring affair.

Caleb Williams has been uneven to start the season. He's been strong in first halves, sluggish in second halves but this matchup against a zone-heavy Cowboys defense lines up perfectly for him to settle in. Rome Odunze has looked like the real deal, D'Andre Swift has flashed and DJ Moore has popped in spurts throughout their two games. It hasn't all come together yet, but this is the kind of spot where the Bears offense can finally click.

On the other side, Dak Prescott has been efficient, CeeDee Lamb is steady as ever, George Pickens finally got it going versus the Giants and Jake Ferguson has turned into a legitimate chain-mover. Add Javonte Williams, who's stacking volume and touchdowns, and you've got a balanced attack that should stress Chicago's defense all night.

This game feels like a turning point for both teams. Start your Cowboys, start your Bears and expect fireworks.

Jonathan Taylor will be the RB1 in Week 3

The tale of the take: Jonathan Taylor reminded everyone in Week 2 why he's still one of the most dangerous backs in the league. Against Denver, he ran 25 times for 165 yards, added 50 more through the air and scored on a receiving touchdown. He forced 10 missed tackles, ripped off three chunk runs of 10-plus yards and looked every bit like the engine of Indianapolis' offense.

Now he draws the Tennessee Titans, who rank dead last in rushing efficiency and have been bullied inside. The Colts are favored by 4.5, which sets up a game script that keeps Taylor heavily involved. His dominance out of 11 personnel is another weapon. He has nearly 200 yards already from that set, the most of any running back in football.

Daniel Jones has played well enough, but this week, in his first road game of the season, doesn't require him to be the hero. Taylor is the identity, and against a defense that has had no answers for the run, he carries a legitimate chance to finish as the overall RB1 in Week 3. This is a smash spot, plain and simple.

Troy Franklin is here to stay

The tale of the take: Courtland Sutton still matters. He's leading the Broncos in snaps and routes, and that usage holds weight. But the early breakout story is Troy Franklin, and through two games, his involvement looks legitimate. He's second on the team in snaps and routes, and he's leading Denver in targets at 7.5 per game. That's not fluky production, that's a steady opportunity.

What Franklin brings to the table is exactly what this offense has been missing. His speed forces defenses to respect the deep ball, his playmaking creates chunk plays and he's already shown he has chemistry with his quarterback. Sutton continues to do the heavy lifting as a steady veteran presence, but Franklin's role is growing alongside him, and that's a positive development for the Broncos offense.

The matchup against the Chargers won't be easy, and it's fair to temper expectations for Week 3. Still, the usage and early signs are too real to ignore.

Franklin may not be the unquestioned top option yet, but he's carving out a role that makes him a name fantasy managers should start taking seriously.

You can't start an Eagles wide receiver in Week 3

The tale of the take: This one hurts, because the talent is undeniable. A.J. Brown can flip a week on his own, and DeVonta Smith is as polished as they come. But none of that matters if the opportunities aren't there, and right now, they're not.

Through two weeks, both Brown and Smith are averaging just 4.5 targets per game.

Brown is out there plenty; he has over 90% of the snap share but he's only running about 23.5 routes. That's not WR1 usage. That's not even WR2 usage. And the issue goes deeper than just individual numbers.

The Eagles are dead last in pass rate at 40%, and they're second to last in passing yards per game. At the same time, they lead the NFL in run rate and rank seventh in rushing yards per game. This offense wants to run, and it's leaning into that identity hard. Against a Rams defense that's been disruptive up front and stingy through the air, Week 3 isn't the spot to hope for a breakout.

The long-term talent is still there, and eventually the Eagles will adjust. But in Week 3, neither A.J. Brown nor DeVonta Smith belong in your fantasy lineup. The volume simply isn't trustworthy.