Three teams tied to this outlet’s coverage area — the Arizona Cardinals, the Los Angeles Chargers and the New Orleans Saints — are each producing fantasy football headaches after Week 3, according to fantasy analysis from FantasyAlarm.com’s Howard Bender.
In Arizona, head coach Mike LaFleur pushed back on the idea of manufacturing more touches for rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who has struggled to find a consistent role. Asked by a Cardinals beat writer about getting Harrison going with easier completions, LaFleur explained the offense already has other reliable options.
“Well, just get some easy completions to get going,” LaFleur said. “And that’s fine. You also have Trey McBride, who’s one of the best underneath guys in the world. And there’s only about 60, 65 plays a game. And you’ve gotta run the ball. And you’ve got Kendrick, who works underneath pretty well too. So everyone’s kind of got their role.”
Bender said the comments suggest LaFleur isn’t focused on elevating Harrison’s involvement, and that the rookie “looks like a legitimate drop candidate” if his effort and target conversion don’t improve in Sunday’s game at San Francisco.
In California, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert remains a subject of fantasy frustration, but Bender cautioned against overreacting. He pointed to the talent on the roster and the system run by offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, whose scheme has historically produced strong vertical passing numbers once the pieces come together. Bender’s advice: be patient rather than sell low on a top-tier quarterback.
In Louisiana, Saints running back Travis Etienne Jr. has been one of the season’s bigger fantasy disappointments. Bender argued Etienne isn’t a natural fit for head coach Kellen Moore’s scheme, which requires quick decision-making and versatility as both a runner and receiver. Etienne is already losing high-value touches and passing-down snaps to veteran Alvin Kamara, limiting his fantasy upside. Bender recommended fantasy managers try to trade Etienne while his name still carries value, rather than waiting for his usage to shrink further.
Elsewhere, the Week 3 answer on Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Jr. came in decisively: he caught just one pass for 5 yards on Thursday night despite the return of quarterback Michael Penix Jr., reinforcing his standing as one of the least productive fantasy assets on rosters right now.
Bender’s broader advice for managers sitting at 0-2: exhaust trade options before cutting a player outright, but don’t be afraid to make difficult roster moves now rather than let a shaky start turn into a lost season.
