The NFL season is three weeks deep and has already delivered plenty of surprises. The same is true for fantasy football. Some players have fallen short of expectations, while others have exceeded them.
One universal truth in fantasy football is that you can’t always predict who’s going to break out. This year, three players have showcased that notion perfectly.
Kirk Cousins’ Revival
One of the biggest storylines of the young season is the Las Vegas Raiders starting 3-0. Much of their success can be attributed to the play of Kirk Cousins.
Cousins signed with the Raiders in April after spending the last two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. He was expected to serve as a veteran presence for rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, with many believing he would only play a few games.
However, Cousins has put the league on notice, becoming a startable QB in fantasy football. He’s currently the ninth-ranked quarterback in fantasy, averaging 19.7 points per game. He’s even above players such as Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow, and Bo Nix.
Cousins went undrafted in many fantasy leagues, but he is now creating a lot of interest on the waiver wire. He even made NFL history, becoming the first quarterback to throw three passing touchdowns in each of his first three games with a new team. It’s safe to say he will be keeping the starting job in Vegas for the time being.
Cousins isn’t the flashiest quarterback in the league, but he will consistently put up points. If your fantasy team is in need of a QB, Cousins would be a great addition.
Chuba Hubbard Back As The RB1
In 2024, Chuba Hubbard finished as a top 15 running back in fantasy football. A year later, he finished as the 38th-ranked running back. His poor fantasy performance was due to fellow running back Rico Dowdle taking the majority of the carries.
Over the summer, Dowdle left the Carolina Panthers in the offseason to join the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, there was still some uncertainty with Hubbard, as former second-round pick Jonathan Brooks was coming into the season finally healthy.
The uncertainty is no longer there, as Hubbard has established himself as the RB1 in the Panthers’ backfield. That role should remain his moving forward, with Brooks now on injured reserve due to a core muscle injury that will require surgery.
Hubbard is the running back nine in fantasy, averaging 17.7 points per game in PPR formats. He has excelled on the ground and in the air, recording nine receptions for 77 yards and two touchdowns.
Fantasy owners were drafting Hubbard as a borderline RB2, but he is now a trustworthy RB1. In fact, his production could continue to rise as injuries begin to mount across the Carolina offense.
Christian Watson’s Breakout
Since entering the league in 2022, Christian Watson has shown signs of what he can be, but has never been a reliable option for fantasy owners. This was mainly due to injuries and competition in the wide receiver room.
Now Watson is finally healthy, and with the subtractions of Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks, he is the clear WR1 for the Green Bay Packers.
After signing a 4-year, $110.5 million contract extension in the offseason, Watson was expected to have a major role in the Packers’ offense. However, nobody could’ve predicted what was coming.
Watson is currently the No. 3 wide receiver in fantasy and is averaging over 20 PPG. He’s recorded a touchdown in every game so far, including a two-touchdown performance in week one.
What should attract fantasy owners even more is how many looks he’s getting. He has 29 targets on the season, the sixth-most in the NFL this season among wide receivers from weeks 1-3. Watson has completely surpassed expectations so far, finally becoming a player that fantasy football managers can be comfortable starting every week.
Leave a comment