Thankfully Week 3 of the NFL saw far fewer injuries than the previous one, but with stars like Julio Jones and Davante Adams sitting out, it allowed players such as Allen Lazard and Brandon Aiyuk to shine for their teams in Week 3 action.
We have also seen a few rookies already performing above expectations at this early stage in their first seasons. CeeDee Lamb has had at least 5 catches in each game to start the year, the big bodied Tee Higgins brought down 2 touchdowns from Joe Burrow against the Eagles, and Justin Jefferson, who didn't exceed 3 catches or 44 yards in either of his first two games, exploded against Tennessee for 175 yards receiving on 7 receptions with a touchdown.
Although there are still plenty of injuries around the league that are of concern to fantasy managers, some of the unexpected performances in Week 3 should give you hope that your season is not over even if your first round draft pick's is. Let's start off with a player who scored the second most fantasy points at the wide receiver position this past week.
(Rostered % from Yahoo! Fantasy Football on 9/28/2020)
Justin Jefferson WR Minnesota Vikings (30% rostered)
The Vikings' first round draft pick in the 2020, Justin Jefferson, entered the pro ranks as the presumptive replacement for Stefon Diggs who was traded to the Buffalo Bills in the offseason. The rookie was not able to impress in training camp and started off the year behind Olabisi Johnson on the depth chart. It didn't take long for Jefferson to have his aforementioned breakout performance, and his 7/175/1 line should be enough to establish him as the second receiving option across from Adam Thielen for the remainder of the season.
Justin Jefferson: 93.8 PFF grade in Week 3. Third-highest single-game grade by a rookie WR since 2006. https://t.co/1EvY3xsG5v— PFF (@PFF) 1601312522.0
While he is only showing a 30% ownership rate currently, he will be one of the hottest waiver wire pickups going into Week 4, so if you need help at WR put your claim in now and cross your fingers. Kirk Cousins has already thrown 6 interceptions and had a horrid Week 2 against the Colts, but if Jefferson can become a reliable option, he finished as the QB15 in 2019 and QB13 in 2018 with the duo of Thielen and Diggs at his disposal. If you need a backup QB and Cousins is available, Jefferson may give him the boost he needs to get his season back on track.
Brandon Aiyuk WR San Francisco 49ers (28% rostered)
The rookie out of Arizona State missed the first game of the year and was eased back into action in Week 2 against the Jets. The 49ers have so many injuries on both sides of the ball, but offensively they were without starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, their top two options at running back in Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman, and star tight end George Kittle this past game against the Giants. Aiyuk provided the shot in the arm that San Francisco needed as they demolished New York on their way to a 36-9 route on Sunday.
Brandon Aiyuk goes untouched for the 19-yard TD run! #FTTB 📺: #SFvsNYG on FOX 📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app:… https://t.co/WoevkEKnan— NFL (@NFL) 1601233725.0
The first round selection contributed 70 yards on 5 receptions to pair with 31 yards on the ground including a touchdown. The versatility that a player like Aiyuk brings to an offense as creative as Kyle Shanahan's should already be causing nightmares for defensive coordinators across the league. Once San Francisco starts to get some players returning from injury, Aiyuk may take on a bigger role in this offense being used as a Swiss army knife. Shanahan may look for mismatches he can create against opponents and get the ball into his speedy receiver's hands in a variety of ways.
Myles Gaskin RB Miami Dolphins (47% rostered)
Gaskin played in seven games for Miami in 2019 and was efficient in his limited usage, but after the Dolphins acquired Jordan Howard and Matt Breida in the offseason, nobody would have expected it would be Gaskin who would be leading their backfield. Howard and Breida will eat into goal line carries for Gaskin, but if the trend of seeing Gaskin take the majority of their offensive snaps, he must be owned in all formats at this point.
Myles Gaskin: - 11 touches - 52 yards Jordan Howard - 1 carry - 1 yard - 1 TD Gaskin managers: https://t.co/LP6wVDfAEJ— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF Fantasy Football) 1600995195.0
He's proven to be an effective pass catcher, and his 22 carries on Thursday night confirms that coach Brian Flores sees him as their best all around back. With so many running backs banged up right now, adding Gaskin to help patch up the holes in your lineup is a no brainer.
Allen Lazard WR Green Bay Packers (48% rostered)
There's a lot to like about the 6'5" second year pro. He seems to be establishing a rapport with Aaron Rodgers, he's scored a touchdown in two out of three games in 2020, and his main competition for starting snaps is Marquez Valdes-Scantling, whose reception count has gone down in consecutive weeks, finishing with only 1 catch on Sunday night. While I do think that Lazard has done enough to earn a starting role with the Packers, I want to temper your expectations for the rest of the season first.
Note to self: Add Allen Lazard in fantasy.— Ian Rapoport (@Ian Rapoport) 1601258773.0
Once Davante Adams returns from his hamstring injury, he should see his normal target share again which just leaves table scraps for the rest of the pass catchers in the offense. Also, Aaron Jones is still going to remain a focal point of Matt LaFleur's offensive game plans moving forward eating up 20-25 touches per game. But if you need a WR to plug into your flex, or are looking for depth at the position if you're worried about existing or potential injuries, you could do much worse than Lazard.
Honorable Mentions
Andy Isabella WR Arizona Cardinals (1% rostered) - For the second week in a row Isabella has been notable in fantasy. He had a 54 yard reception in Week 2 and finished with 2 touchdowns in Week 3. He will never be a target magnet in this offense, but if coach Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray continue to find him in space, Isabella appears to be earning the trust of his team.
Rex Burkhead RB New England Patriots (11% rostered) - With James White still away from the team on bereavement leave following the death of his father, Burkhead has been asked to step into his role. Rex produced against the Raiders and finished with a classic James White stat line to honor his teammate. He finished with 7 receptions, 98 total yards, and 3 total touchdowns. It's unknown when or if White will return this season. If you have stock in White, you may want to pick up Burkhead as a precaution.
Carlos Hyde RB Seattle Seahawks (18% rostered) - Hyde has been fine this year as the primary backup to Chris Carson. We saw Carson go down late in the game against the Cowboys, and it's believed to be a mild knee sprain. The oft injured Carson's situation will be closely monitored, and if he were to miss significant time Hyde would be thrust into starter touches.
Tee Higgins WR Cincinnati Bengals (5% rostered) - Higgins had his best game so far as a pro this past week compiling 40 yards on 5 receptions including 2 TDs. Tyler Boyd has again been the Bengals' best receiving option, but as A.J. Green has continued to struggle to shake off over a year's worth of rust, it may be opening the door for Higgins to establish himself as Joe Burrow's second option over the pro bowl veteran.- fantasy-football - Find Bet ›
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Andrew Wiggins and Jayson Tatum
In Game 5 of the NBA Finals, the Warriors defended the home floor to take a 3-2 lead in the finals over the Boston Celtics. Largely, this is because Boston was careless with the basketball. The Warriors tallied nine steals and forced 18 turnovers by the Celtics. In contrast, the Warriors only got the ball stolen twice and turned the ball over just six times Monday night. While Stephen Curry was guarded ferociously and was held to just 16 points on 7-of-22 shooting (and 0-9 from downtown), his teammates stepped up.
Andrew Wiggins had another huge double-double, scoring 26 points (12-23 FG) and hauling in 13 rebounds. Finally, if the Celtics hope to win in Game 6, they will need to stay awake in the fourth quarter. Over the last two games, Boston has fallen asleep at the end of the game while the Warriors managed to sneak away with two consecutive victories.
Let's take a look at some of tonight's best bets for this huge NBA Finals Game 6.
Please Note: All betting odds were correct today as of 2:00 pm EST from Caesars Sportsbook
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Best Bets of the Night
Golden State Warriors at Boston Celtics -4 (GSW Leads 3-2)
NBA Finals Best Bet #1: Boston Celtics -4 (-110)
It’s difficult to envision the Boston Celtics collapsing in the fourth quarter in three consecutive games. The Celtics may briefly watch the tape from Game 5 but they are going to have to shake it off and move forward immediately. Boston’s carelessness with the basketball Monday night should produce a much-needed wake-up call that will allow the team to make smarter passes and take fewer risks on offense against a Golden State defense that has surged over the last two games.
While Steph will likely score more than 16 points in Game 6, Jaylen Brown must have a bounce-back performance after going 5-of-18 for 18 points in Game 5. Though the Celtics shot above 40% from the field on Monday night, they turned the ball over at an uncharacteristic rate, finishing the night with 18 turnovers. Some of those were unforced errors while the Warriors earned nine steals as well.
At home in Game 6, the Celtics will play better and bring this 2022 NBA Finals series to a blockbuster Game 7 at the Chase Center. For NBA fans wishing for a seven-game series in the 2022 Finals and bettors looking to cash in on Game 6, Boston will win by at least four points at home in a win-or-go-home scenario. Jayson Tatum has yet to play his best basketball this series with Andrew Wiggins playing lethal defense but tonight will be the night that he finally drops 30+ points. Although Steve Kerr seems to think his squad is ready to close out the series, he may have to think again given how well Boston has bounced back from losses this postseason.
Don’t forget that the Celtics were in a three-game to two-game deficit against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals yet found a way to come out victorious. They may not be able to win two straight against Golden State but it’s tough to imagine the Warriors defeating the Celtics in three consecutive matchups. Boston wins by a few possessions: 110-104.
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NBA Finals Best Bet #2: Over (O/U) 210 Total Points (-110)
Though only 204 points were scored between both teams in Game 5 (BOS 97 - 107 GSW), Game 6 will be a higher-scoring contest for multiple reasons. First, Jaylen Brown will have a bounce-back night. After being held to 18 points on 27.8% shooting from the field on Monday, Brown will almost certainly play more efficiently and score more in Game 6. Additionally, Boston had way fewer scoring opportunities due to their whopping 18 turnovers. Ima Udoke will make sure his starters take care of the ball in a game that can decide Boston’s fate. Marcus Smart and Al Horford have come up huge as role players but Tatum needs to really shift into an entirely new gear. Don’t be surprised if that happens tonight.
The story through Games 4 and 5 has been the same. Golden State has stepped it up on defense, managing to out-rebound the Celtics in both contests. Robert Williams III might have something to say about that tonight. In Game 6, the Celtics should be more cautious with the ball and therefore have more opportunities than they did over the last two contests. Meanwhile, the Warriors are always expected to drop at least 105+ points.
NBA Player Props
Golden State Warriors at Boston Celtics -4 (GSW Leads 3-2)
Prop #1: Andrew Wiggins To Record a Double-Double (+225)
Throughout these NBA Finals, Andrew Wiggins has been on an absolute tear. Just over the last two contests where he finished both with double-doubles, he’s recorded 29 rebounds and 43 points. He has adapted his style of play and is spending more time down low in the post to help the Warriors out on the glass. Wiggins is putting significant pressure on Robert Williams III, Al Horford, and Jayson Tatum to rebounds the ball more efficiently. Not only is Wiggins keeping his scoring numbers up, he’s drastically improved on the defensive end to record 49 rebounds (9.8 rebounds per game in the Finals) through the first five games of this series. Wiggins’ shift to focus on rebounding and keeping the pressure down low has worked brilliantly for the Warriors over the last two games, both of which they won. In Game 6, expect him to continue to do what has been working, giving him a great chance to produce a third consecutive double-double in the NBA Finals. Perhaps he can even win the NBA Finals MVP Award if he continues to play at this level. Wiggins has been the true x-factor for the Dubs in this series.
Prop #2: Jaylen Brown Over 24.5 Points (-110)
After a rough shooting night in Game 5 where Brown only converted on five of his 18 shots from the field, he should wake up and score 25+ points in Game 6 at TD Garden. While you may want to stick away from three-point shooting props involving brown right now, he’ll hit the over in points tonight at the TD Garden. Brown has only scored over 24 points in one of five games this series (27 points in Game 3) but the Celtics do much better when Brown and Tatum perform like the perennial All-Stars that they are.
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Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
In Game 4 of the 2022 NBA Finals, Stephen Curry and the Warriors executed exactly where they didn’t in Game 3 to tie up the series 2-2. Notably, Golden State dominated down low Friday night after being outrebounded and suffocated by the Celtics in Game 3. As a team, the Warriors recorded 16 offensive boards for a total of 55 rebounds for the night. For instance, Draymond Green struggled Wednesday night to finish the night with only four rebounds and three assists before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
In Game 4, Draymond dominated down low for eight rebounds, eight assists, and four steals without getting himself into foul trouble (only three PFs for Green in Game 4 after fouling out in Game 3).
Best Bets of the Night
Game: Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors - 4 (-110)
Similar to Game 3, both teams shot the ball rather evenly. The Warriors finished the night with 44% shooting from the field, and 34.9% from downtown. The Celtics converted 40% of the field goal attempts and 39.5% of their shots from deep. One factor which helped Golden State keep up with the Celtics throughout the game was terrific rebounding. Andrew Wiggins stepped it up off the glass to produce a 17-point and 16-rebound double-double. What really caused the Celtics to lose in Game 3 was a complete offensive collapse in the fourth quarter.
With seven minutes remaining in the game, the Celtics had a 91-86 lead over Golden State. That means Boston was outscored 21-6 in the second half of the fourth quarter to lose Game 4 107-97. With Golden State back home, expect their offense to shoot better than they did on the road and secure a home victory in Game 5.
Bet: Golden State Warriors -4 (-110)
Throughout the 2022 NBA Playoffs, the Warriors shot 49.4% from the field and 40.7% from downtown in 11 games played at home. For their nine road games, the Warriors were less efficient on average averaging 47.2 FG% (2.2% less efficient from the field) and 34.9% (-5.8% less efficient from 3PT range). The numbers reveal clearly that for the 2022 NBA Playoffs, the Warriors have been more efficient scoring. With the prospect of taking a 3-2 lead over the Celtics, its likely that Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have another big night in front of the home crowd.
Bet: Over (O/U) 212.5 Total Points (-110)
While only 204 points were scored in Game 4, expect Game 5 to be a much higher-scoring game. In addition to the Warriors shooting much better from the field, the team seems to have found some efficiency against the bigger Celtics down low. These two factors could push the Warriors to score 120+ points in Game 5. In turn, Jayson Tatum who scored 23 points (8-23 FG) will bounce back to have a 30+ point game. Both he and Steph are scoring big these NBA Finals.
While the defense was the main story of Games 3 and 4 at the TD Garden, scoring buckets will be the principal feature of Game 5 at the Chase Center. With him and Stephen Curry averaging more than 34 PPG through these finals, you can count on Game 5 in Golden State to be a high-scoring game.
NBA Player Props
Game: Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors - 4 (-110)
Prop: Jayson Tatum, Over 26.5 Points
Jayson Tatum, like the rest of the Celtics, started hot but finished ice cold. If it wasn’t for the fourth quarter where Tatum shot the ball multiple times unsuccessfully. This negatively impacted his shooting numbers from Game 4 where he finished the night with 23 points (8-23 FG) converting only 34.9% of his shots taken. After a disappointing Friday night, Tatum will shoot more efficiently in Game 5. Since he still scored 23 points on an off-night, you can count on Tatum to score 30+ points in Game 5 even if the Warriors defeat the Celtics.
Prop: Andrew Wiggins, Over 6.5 Rebounds
One of the major adjustments made by the Warriors in Game 4 was boosting their presence off the glass. Andrew Wiggins recorded 16 of Golden State’s 55 rebounds Friday night.
Through the first four games of the NBA Finals, Wiggins has recorded a total of 34 rebounds. That means Wiggins is averaging 8.5 rebounds per game in the 2022 NBA Finals. Especially because the Warriors know how effective he was producing much-needed rebounds in Game 4, Wiggins will look to have a similar presence down-low in Game 5.
Boston Celtics, NBA Finals Game 3
In Game 3, both teams shot almost equally well from the field and from downtown. However, Boston took more shots from the field and dominated off the glass to take Game 3 116-100. Boston’s defensive energy was on full display Wednesday night as they outrebounded and drew countless fouls from the Warriors. Boston’s defense was the story of Game 3. Will Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry overwhelm the Celtics in Game 4?
Let’s take a look at some of tonight’s best bets for Game 4 of the 2022 NBA Finals.
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Best Bets of the Night
Game: Golden State Warriors at Boston Celtics Game 4 (BOS Leads 2-1)
In Game 3, both teams shot virtually as efficiently from the field. The Celtics converted 48.3% of their shots (43-89 FG) from the field and went 37.1% from downtown. Golden State finished the night with a 46.2 FG% (36-78 FG) as a team, converting 37.5% from beyond the arc. The main reason for the Celtics’ victory was fantastic defense. For instance, Robert Williams III who isn’t 100% healthy, played 26 minutes to produce 10 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks. The Celtics dominated the Warriors off the glass to record 47 rebounds as a team with 15 of them recorded on the offensive end. In contrast, the Warriors totaled 31 rebounds on the game and only had six offensive rebounds. In addition, the Warriors committed 23 personal fouls allowing the Celtics to go to the line 24 times (Celtics were 17-24 FT) and had 16 turnovers as a team. For the Warriors to bounce back in Game 4, they will need to be more aggressive down low and less sloppy on the floor.
Bet #1: Golden State Warriors, +4 (-110)
The Warriors shot the ball well in Game 3, but were simply overwhelmed by the Celtics defense and the energy at the TD Garden Wednesday night. Golden State recorded 39 combined turnovers (16) and personal fouls (23) which demonstrates how sloppy they were with the basketball. This gave Boston a possession advantage throughout the game, ultimately allowing the Celtics to take 11 more field goal attempts and finish the night with seven more made FGs than the Warriors. Offensive efficiency is not the issue for the Warriors. Rather, they will need to ramp it up on defense in Game 4 to make the game interesting. Draymond Green fouled out of the contest after being shut down all night. Green was held to just two points, four rebounds, three assists, and two turnovers in 35 minutes on the floor before getting a sixth personal foul in Game 3.
Bet #2: Over (O/U) 215 Total Points (-110)
Though the Warriors were held to 100 points of offense on Wednesday night, they shot the ball well. Golden State was limited as a team for FGAs as a result of Boston’s defense. In Game 4, Golden State will have an answer to put up more points on the board than they did in Game 3. In turn, the Celtics will keep things interesting. Expect this Game 4 to be a high-scoring contest. Both teams have been scoring big throughout these playoffs, and that doesn't seem to be changing right now during the Finals.
NBA Player Props
Game: Golden State Warriors at Boston Celtics Game 4 (BOS Leads 2-1)
Prop #1: Klay Thompson, Over 19.5 Points
Klay Thompson started the night shooting very well but cooled down towards the end. He went five for a whopping 13 attempts from downtown Wednesday night. He finished the night 7-of-17 from the field for 25 points. This comes after a terrible Game 2 performance where Klay went 4-of-19 from the field and only one-of-eight from beyond-the-arc. Tonight, Klay will shoot better tonight after an average Game 3 performance and bad Games 1 and 2.
Prop #2: Jaylen Brown, Over 2.5 Threes
Jaylen Brown has been knocking his shots from downtown as of late. In the last two games, he’s recorded at least three threes. He’s gone 7-of-17 (41.1%) from downtown through Games 2 and 3 combined. In the second of two home games at the TD Garden, it’s likely that Brown knocks down at least three buckets from beyond-the-arc tonight in Game 4.
