Welcome to week 3. The graphs below summarize the projections from a variety of sources. This week’s summary includes projections from: CBS: CBS Average, Yahoo Sports, NFL, FantasySharks, ESPN and FantasyPros. The data for this article was collected on 09/20/16. For more details on WR gold mining and how to interpret the graphs above, see Chad’s post explaining gold mining.

Projection Table

Projection Graphs Standard Leagues

RB

Standard Scoring League Running Backs

From the graph below notice that:

  • Matt Forte, Todd Gurley, Jay Ajayi, Chris Thompson and Fozzy Whittaker are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Eddie Lacy, Thomas Rawls, Jamaal Charles, James Starks and Tim Hightower are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Todd Gurley, Tevin Coleman, Jerick McKinnon, Fozzy Whittaker and Kenyan Drake are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

WR

Standard Scoring League Wide Receiver

From the graph below notice that:

  • Travis Benjamin, Sammy Watkins, Tavon Austin, Jermaine Kearse and Markus Wheaton are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Mike Evans, Tyler Lockett, Demaryius Thomas, John Brown and Pierre Garcon are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Brandon Marshall, Willie Snead, Tajae Sharpe, Phillip Dorsett and Tyrell Williams are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

QB

Standard Scoring League Quarterback

From the graph below notice that:

  • Philip Rivers, Cody Kessler, Brian Hoyer, Paxton Lynch and Shaun Hill are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Colt McCoy, EJ Manuel, Chad Henne, Matt Moore and Luke McCown are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Blake Bortles, Brock Osweiler, Jacoby Brissett, Cody Kessler and Trevor Siemian are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

TE

Standard Scoring League Tight-End

From the graph below notice that:

  • Brent Celek, Darren Fells, Hunter Henry, Ed Dickson and Josh Hill are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Cameron Brate, Jermaine Gresham, Ed Dickson, Marcedes Lewis and Maxx Williams are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Greg Olsen, Dennis Pitta, C.J. Uzomah, Tyler Kroft and Trey Burton are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

Projection Graphs Point-per-Reception Leagues

RB

Point-per-Reception League Running Back Roundup

From the graph below notice that:

  • Matt Forte, Chris Thompson, Jay Ajayi, Fozzy Whittaker and Kenyan Drake are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Devonta Freeman, Eddie Lacy, Latavius Murray, Jamaal Charles and James Starks are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, DeAngelo Williams, Todd Gurley, Tevin Coleman, Jerick McKinnon and Fozzy Whittaker are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

WR

Point-per-Reception League Wide Receiver

From the graph below notice that:

  • Tavon Austin, Tyrell Williams, Michael Thomas, Rishard Matthews and Markus Wheaton are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Pierre Garcon, Markus Wheaton and John Brown are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Brandon Marshall, Will Fuller, Tajae Sharpe, Tyrell Williams and Michael Thomas are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

QB

Point-per-Reception League Quarterback

From the graph below notice that:

  • Philip Rivers, Cody Kessler, Brian Hoyer, Paxton Lynch and Shaun Hill are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Colt McCoy, EJ Manuel, Chad Henne, Matt Moore and Luke McCown are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Blake Bortles, Brock Osweiler, Jacoby Brissett, Cody Kessler and Trevor Siemian are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

TE

Point-per-Reception League Tight-End

From the graph below notice that:

  • Martellus Bennett, Hunter Henry, Crockett Gillmore, Ed Dickson and Josh Hill are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Jimmy Graham, Lance Kendricks, Cameron Brate, Crockett Gillmore and Marcedes Lewis are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Rob Gronkowski, Jacob Tamme, Dennis Pitta, C.J. Uzomah and Trey Burton are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

Projection Graphs Half-Point-per-Reception Leagues

RB

Half-Point-per-Reception League Running Back Roundup

From the graph below notice that:

  • Matt Forte, Chris Thompson, Jay Ajayi, Fozzy Whittaker and Kenyan Drake are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Devonta Freeman, Eddie Lacy, Latavius Murray, Jamaal Charles and James Starks are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, DeAngelo Williams, Todd Gurley, Tevin Coleman, Jerick McKinnon and Fozzy Whittaker are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

WR

Half-Point-per-Reception League Wide Receiver

From the graph below notice that:

  • Tavon Austin, Tyrell Williams, Michael Thomas, Rishard Matthews and Markus Wheaton are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Pierre Garcon, Markus Wheaton and John Brown are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Brandon Marshall, Will Fuller, Tajae Sharpe, Tyrell Williams and Michael Thomas are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

QB

Half-Point-per-Reception League Quarterback

From the graph below notice that:

  • Philip Rivers, Cody Kessler, Brian Hoyer, Paxton Lynch and Shaun Hill are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Colt McCoy, EJ Manuel, Chad Henne, Matt Moore and Luke McCown are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Blake Bortles, Brock Osweiler, Jacoby Brissett, Cody Kessler and Trevor Siemian are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

TE

Half-Point-per-Reception League Tight-End

From the graph below notice that:

  • Martellus Bennett, Hunter Henry, Crockett Gillmore, Ed Dickson and Josh Hill are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Jimmy Graham, Lance Kendricks, Cameron Brate, Crockett Gillmore and Marcedes Lewis are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Rob Gronkowski, Jacob Tamme, Dennis Pitta, C.J. Uzomah and Trey Burton are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

Projection Graphs Defense/Special Teams and Kickers

DST

Standard Scoring DST

From the graph below notice that:

  • Bengals, Vikings, Raiders, Dolphins and Cowboys are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Patriots, Lions, Colts, Jaguars and Browns are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Bengals, Buccaneers, Bears, Broncos and Jets are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

K

Standard Scoring K

From the graph below notice that:

  • Stephen Gostkowski, Blair Walsh, Sebastian Janikowski, Nick Novak and Andrew Franks are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Sebastian Janikowski, Ryan Succop, Phil Dawson, Andrew Franks and Patrick Murray are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Matt Bryant, Josh Brown, Justin Tucker, Dan Bailey and Cairo Santos are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.