Man, this September has been wild in the NFL! We’ve got Brock Purdy already making his mark in the MVP race, and Bryce Young is right there with him, quietly building a long-shot MVP campaign. Then there’s Tyler Shough, just absolutely slinging it, leading the entire NFL in passing. It’s an explosion of breakout players, and we’re only in Week 3. We’re talking serious opportunities here, folks.
Purdy and Evans Are Cooking, Cardinals Have No Defense
Brock Purdy and Mike Evans are about to go off this weekend. The 49ers are hosting their division rival, the Arizona Cardinals, and honestly, it looks like a complete mismatch. For the second week straight, the 49ers are the biggest favorites out there, and you know what that means for survivor pools. The Cardinals’ defense is just not cutting it, ranking 31st in the NFL overall and 22nd in Pass EPA/Dropback Allowed through two weeks. That’s a huge problem when you’re facing Purdy and a red-zone beast like Evans. Evans already has two red-zone targets and a touchdown this year. This guy is clutch near the goal line, pulling in 53.5% of his red-zone catches since 2021, and a ridiculous 58.1% inside the 10-yard line. This duo is primed for a monster Week 3.
Young and Coker: The Panthers’ Unstoppable Duo
But let’s talk about Bryce Young and Jalen Coker. The Carolina Panthers are flat-out scoring, averaging a crazy 35.5 points per game! Yeah, that number probably won’t stay that high all season, but don’t expect it to drop this week. They’re heading to Cleveland to face the Browns, and let me tell you, their defense is struggling. We’re talking 30th-best coverage grouping and 26th-best overall defense. They’re 18th in Pass EPA/Dropback Allowed and 27th in Success Rate Allowed. That’s a perfect storm for Young and especially for Coker. Coker’s target share this season is a mind-blowing 29%! He’s leading the team with 16 receptions on an insane 88.9% catch rate. And get this: Coker also leads all Panthers in red zone target share at 27.8%, with 5 total targets and 4 of those coming inside the 10-yard line. This connection is electric, and it’s turning heads.
Shough and Olave Are Matchup-Proof, But Watch the Weather
Then there’s Tyler Shough, who’s still leading the NFL in passing, and he’s not slowing down against a middling Raiders team. The Raiders are just below average defensively, which sets up Shough and Chris Olave for another huge day. Their connection is basically matchup-proof, logging 23 targets, 18 receptions, 268 yards, and a touchdown already. Shough is throwing for over 330 yards per game! These guys are at home, too, in what’s going to be a ridiculously loud Caesars Superdome for the Sunday late slate. You gotta love that kind of energy. Quick heads up, though: avoid the Commanders and Cowboys game. Those defenses look good on paper, but forecasts are calling for over 30 mph wind gusts and almost certain rain thanks to a nor’easter. That’s gonna mess with everyone’s numbers.
So, for Week 3, keep a close eye on these duos. Young and Coker are proving to be a legit problem for defenses, and Shough and Olave are just getting started. It’s early, but these guys are showing us exactly what they can do, and it’s exciting to see who keeps breaking out.
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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