Welcome to week 3!

Custom gold-mining charts (that are specific to your league settings) are now available in our app. They are calculated slightly differently -using the top and bottom deciles for the error bars instead of the pseudomedian confidence interval. Visit our app and set up an account to input your league settings.

The graphs below summarize the projections from a variety of sources. This week’s summary includes projections from: CBS: CBS Average, Yahoo Sports, ESPN, NFL, FFToday, NumberFire, FantasyPros, FantasySharks, FantasyFootballNerd and FleaFlicker. The data for this article was collected on 09/20/18. 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:

  • Alvin Kamara, James Conner, Corey Clement, Jay Ajayi and Tarik Cohen 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.
  • Alvin Kamara, Christian McCaffrey, Phillip Lindsay, Chris Thompson and Bilal Powell 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, Tevin Coleman, Corey Clement, Jay Ajayi, Sony Michel and Rashaad Penny 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:

  • Julio Jones, Odell Beckham, JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeSean Jackson and Kenny Stills 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.
  • Adam Thielen, Nelson Agholor, Emmanuel Sanders, Demaryius Thomas 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, Mike Evans, Allen Robinson, Josh Gordon, Marquise Goodwin and Alshon Jeffery 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:

  • Case Keenum, Sam Bradford, Josh Allen, Marcus Mariota and Blaine Gabbert 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.
  • Tom Brady, Alex Smith, Russell Wilson, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Derek Carr 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, Jimmy Garoppolo, Mitchell Trubisky, Sam Bradford, Marcus Mariota and Blaine Gabbert 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:

  • Rob Gronkowski, Travis Kelce, Zach Ertz, Jimmy Graham and Will Dissly 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.
  • Jordan Reed, Kyle Rudolph, O.J. Howard, Tyler Eifert and Charles Clay 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, Trey Burton, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Jesse James and Jake Butt 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:

  • Alvin Kamara, James Conner, Corey Clement, Tarik Cohen and Ito Smith 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.
  • Alvin Kamara, Christian McCaffrey, Kenyan Drake, Carlos Hyde and Bilal Powell 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, Corey Clement, Sony Michel, Jay Ajayi, Ito Smith and Kyle Juszczyk 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:

  • Odell Beckham, DeSean Jackson, Kenny Stills, Marquise Goodwin and Josh Gordon 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.
  • Nelson Agholor, Demaryius Thomas, Randall Cobb, Pierre Garcon and Dede Westbrook 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, A.J. Green, Allen Robinson, Mohamed Sanu, Marquise Goodwin and Josh Gordon 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:

  • Case Keenum, Sam Bradford, Josh Allen, Marcus Mariota and Blaine Gabbert 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.
  • Tom Brady, Alex Smith, Russell Wilson, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Derek Carr 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, Jimmy Garoppolo, Mitchell Trubisky, Sam Bradford, Marcus Mariota and Blaine Gabbert 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:

  • Rob Gronkowski, Zach Ertz, Jimmy Graham, Nick Boyle and Dallas Goedert 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.
  • Antonio Gates, Chris Herndon, Virgil Green, Rhett Ellison 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, Rob Gronkowski, Trey Burton, Jesse James, Jake Butt and Dallas Goedert 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:

  • Alvin Kamara, James Conner, Corey Clement, Tarik Cohen and Ito Smith 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.
  • Alvin Kamara, Christian McCaffrey, Kenyan Drake, Carlos Hyde and Bilal Powell 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, Corey Clement, Sony Michel, Jay Ajayi, Ito Smith and Kyle Juszczyk 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:

  • Odell Beckham, DeSean Jackson, Kenny Stills, Marquise Goodwin and Josh Gordon 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.
  • Nelson Agholor, Demaryius Thomas, Randall Cobb, Pierre Garcon and Dede Westbrook 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, A.J. Green, Allen Robinson, Mohamed Sanu, Marquise Goodwin and Josh Gordon 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:

  • Case Keenum, Sam Bradford, Josh Allen, Marcus Mariota and Blaine Gabbert 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.
  • Tom Brady, Alex Smith, Russell Wilson, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Derek Carr 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, Jimmy Garoppolo, Mitchell Trubisky, Sam Bradford, Marcus Mariota and Blaine Gabbert 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:

  • Rob Gronkowski, Zach Ertz, Jimmy Graham, Nick Boyle and Dallas Goedert 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.
  • Antonio Gates, Chris Herndon, Virgil Green, Rhett Ellison 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, Rob Gronkowski, Trey Burton, Jesse James, Jake Butt and Dallas Goedert 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:

  • Bears, Jets, Patriots, Cowboys and Rams 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.
  • Bengals, Buccaneers, Chargers, Colts and 49ers 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, Browns, Jets, Panthers, Texans and Saints 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:

  • Mason Crosby, Sebastian Janikowski, Brandon McManus, Caleb Sturgis and Jason Myers 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.
  • Justin Tucker, Brandon McManus, Brett Maher, Aldrick Rosas and Greg Joseph 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, Sam Ficken, Cody Parkey, Sebastian Janikowski, Caleb Sturgis and Phil Dawson 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.