Fansided

Falcons at Saints: 5 best fantasy options

By John Buhler

Sep 11, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) celebrates his second quarter touchdown catch against the Oakland Raiders at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) celebrates his second quarter touchdown catch against the Oakland Raiders at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next

The New Orleans Saints host the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football in Week 3. Here are the five guys from this game to start in your fantasy league.

The last game of Week 3 might be one of the most exciting, as the New Orleans Saints (0-2) host their arch rival in the Atlanta Falcons (1-1) for an NFC South rivalry game on Monday Night Football.

These two teams hate each other and this should be a high-scoring affair in the Big Easy. Neither team has elite defensive personnel, but do have themselves offenses more than capable of winning shootouts. Like most games in this rivalry series, the team with the ball last will win the game, as it should be decided by only one score.

This is a game to keep an eye on in Week 3 for your fantasy team. Both NFC South teams have dynamic players on the offensive side of the ball that are going to help you win this week. Here are the five players from the Falcons/Saints game to start on your fantasy football team.

Aug 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) runs the ball against the Washington Redskins in the first quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) runs the ball against the Washington Redskins in the first quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Aug 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) runs the ball against the Washington Redskins in the first quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

5. Devonta Freeman

Falcons Pro Bowl running back Devonta Freeman has been relatively quiet the first two weeks of 2016. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did a stellar job of slowing the Falcons’ rushing attack in Week 1. In Week 2 against the Oakland Raiders, it was Tevin Coleman that did most of the damage in the Falcons backfield.

Look for Freeman to have a big day against a weak Saints defense on the ground. ESPN.com leagues project Freeman to garner only 10.5 points, but NFL.com leagues seem him as a better play in Week 3 with 16.10 projected points.

What a lot of people are overlooking with the 2016 Falcons is that they may have a top-five offense this season. Atlanta has one of the best offensive lines in football. Center Alex Mack is a welcomed addition to Kyle Shanahan’s zone blocking scheme. Tackles Jake Matthews and Ryan Schraeder are one of the best tandems at setting the edge. Atlanta is weakest at guard, but are still are still versatile in both pass protection and run blocking.

Freeman showed in year two that he can be a featured back in the NFL He usually plays his best ball in the second half once the opposing defense tires. Expect him to have 125 all-purpose yards and one of the Falcons’ many touchdowns in this one.

Home/New Orleans Saints