C.J. Stroud has been slinging the rock like crazy, with 120 pass attempts already through three weeks, more than all but one other quarterback in the league. That kind of volume has racked up 794 passing yards, three touchdowns, and blessedly, zero interceptions. But let’s be real, the Houston offense has felt a little…off, a little slow, like it’s missing that spark. Well, get ready, because Nico Collins looks like he is back on track to return this week, and that, my friends, is a game changer.
Stroud’s Unleashed Weapon and a Giving Defense
Seriously, there might not be a wide receiver in the whole league who means more to his offense than Nico Collins does for Houston. He gives Stroud that true downfield threat, a guy who can absolutely win on the outside and force defenses to account for him on every single snap. Getting him back couldn’t be happening at a better time, either. We’re talking about a Dallas defense that has been a fantasy goldmine for quarterbacks, giving up 23.5 fantasy points per game through three weeks. That’s the third-highest mark in the entire league! And it gets better: opposing QBs haven’t even needed to scramble against them. Teams have been consistently tearing them apart through the air, stressing that secondary like crazy with explosive plays. This is exactly the kind of matchup where you gotta bet on Stroud’s insane passing volume finally exploding into a monster fantasy performance. I’ve got Stroud ranked as my QB11 with a projected 18.7 fantasy points, pushing him into that low-end QB1 conversation. Houston is already throwing the football at one of the highest rates around. You add Collins back into that mix, going against this Dallas secondary, and man, this passing attack is about to open up in a big way.
Jones Sr. Dominates Backfield, Miami Can’t Stop The Run
Over in Minnesota, there was a real head-scratcher preseason about who would control that backfield, right? Well, Jordan Mason hitting injured reserve gave us our answer loud and clear: Aaron Jones Sr. has taken control, no question. Through three games, Jones has already piled up 52 carries for 203 yards and a touchdown, plus another five catches for 34 yards. But what really grabs your attention? Over the last two weeks alone, the dude’s handled 40 carries and cleared 90 scrimmage yards in both games. That’s the kind of consistent workload you want before you even glance at the opponent. And then you glance at the opponent: Miami. The Dolphins have been absolute Swiss cheese against running backs, allowing a massive 29.3 PPR points per game through three weeks, another third-highest mark in the league. Opposing backs have already steamrolled them for 293 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, and another 95 yards through the air. I’m not pounding the table because my ranking is wildly different from the consensus here, I’ve got Jones at RB15 and so does everyone else. What I *do* like, though, is how clean this setup is. Jones has the workload, he’s been productive with it, and he gets a Miami defense that’s been bleeding fantasy points to the position. Start him as a strong RB2 this week.
This week, keep an eye on these two. If Stroud and Collins connect like we know they can, and Jones Sr. keeps eating up yardage against a struggling run defense, you’ll be glad you paid attention. Get ready for some fireworks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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