Week 3 Combo Plays
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A surprising tandem emerged as a top combo play in Week 2, with Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Bradford hooking up with WR Stefon Diggs on nine of 10 targets for 182 yards and a touchdown. Bradford finished his first game as a member of the Vikings with 286 passing yards and two touchdown passes.
The top combo of the week was Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton and WR Kelvin Benjamin. Newton threw four touchdowns, with two of those going to his No. 1 receiver.
Two weeks into the season, more and more stats are being gathered and gaining in relevance. These help us pick out the top plays for Week 3:
Alex Smith and Jeremy Maclin, Chiefs (vs. Jets)
Jeremy Maclin's 21 targets rank 2nd-most in NFL. 61.9% of those targets have come against PFF's top-5 graded CBs. Corpse of Revis this week.
— Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB) September 19, 2016
The demise of Revis Island has been widely discussed. As part of his struggles, the Jets have allowed opposing No. 1 receivers to average 9.5 targets and 100 yards per game. They rank 20th in FootballOutsiders' DVOA against No. 1s.
Revis, who has a ProFootballFocus grade of 36.2 through two weeks, is expected to cover Maclin, as he has other top receivers so far this season. Maclin has a PFF grade of 69.5 thus far, but he has been limited by the play of QB Alex Smith. Maclin has been targeted on 25.9 percent of Smith's attempts this season; TE Travis Kelce ranks second on the team with just 14 targets.
The Jets rank ninth in DVOA against tight ends, likely limiting Kelce's upside for a third consecutive week. Salary and ownership will be down on Smith, following Week 2's disastrous performance. Even with an implied total of just 23 points, Maclin's high target share makes this a viable stack against the Jets' ninth-ranked rush defense.
Cam Newton and Kelvin Benjamin, Panthers (vs. Vikings)
A much more expensive duo, ownership here will be significantly higher as well. Newton and Benjamin shredded the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2, aided by an increased pace dictated by opposing head coach Chip Kelly. The Panthers now lead the league with 73 offensive plays per game. The Vikings play at a much slower pace, averaging just 59 plays through two games.
Benjamin has shown no limitations in his return from a torn ACL. He is receiving a 28.8 percent target share from Newton and has scored three of the five touchdowns thrown by his quarterback. Minnesota will again be without No. 1 CB Xavier Rhodes. At 6-foot-5, Benjamin is seven inches taller than CB Terence Newman and five inches taller than Trae Waynes.
Without Rhodes, the Vikings rank 16th in DVOA against No. 1 receivers. They're allowing averages of 10.7 targets and 74.5 yards per game. Green Bay Packers WR Jordy Nelson caught five of 11 targets for 73 yards and a touchdown in Week 2.
Aaron Rodgers, Jared Cook and Davante Adams, Packers (vs. Lions)
Rodgers' struggles are about to become a thing of the past. He returns home to Lambeau Field, where he completed 61.6 percent of his passes and threw 17 touchdowns to just four interceptions last season. The Packers' implied team total of 28 points, according to Vegas odds, is the highest of the week.
The Lions have already allowed four TDs to tight ends this season, after allowing a league-high 12 in 2015. They rank 23rd in FootballOutsiders' DVOA grades and have allowed 7.4 targets and 62.5 yards to tight ends in 2016.
Cook has clearly been the Packers' No 1 tight end. He has played 33 offensive snaps to Richard Rodgers' 25 through two weeks. Adams' struggles in catch rate persist, but he has received 14 targets, averaging 12.7 yards per reception. He has already matched his touchdown total from a year ago. Pair Rodgers with his No. 3 and 4 options for a low-owned three-way stack.