As we do each week, let’s take a look at the football players who performed well despite being mostly unowned.
One quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, and one tight end will be highlighted every week. The player must be owned in less than 25 percent of ESPN fantasy football leagues to be eligible.
QB - Sam Darnold, Panthers (9.0%) - 304 passing yards, 11 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns
Now in his fourth season, Darnold already has set a career-high in 2021 with his three rushing touchdowns. He has gone over 300 yards passing in two straight games after not reaching that threshold in any of his previous 18 outings.
Sam Darnold is now tied for the league lead in rushing TDs. pic.twitter.com/12Ub0t8fGO
— NFL (@NFL) September 24, 2021
RB - Peyton Barber, Raiders (7.3%) - 111 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 3 receptions, 31 receiving yards
It was widely assumed that Kenyan Drake would receive the lion’s share of carries once Josh Jacobs would be out for Week 2 with an ankle injury (also missed Week 3). Instead, Barber had received 36 carries the past two games compared to Drake’s 15.
#Raiders' Peyton Barber finished with 23 carries for 111 yards. Had five carries for 60 yards going to the RT's side. Longest gain on that side went for 27 yards with two missed tackles. Yards after contact was 55. RT Alex Leatherwood's pass blocking was graded a team-best 75.9.
— Anthony Galaviz (@agalaviz_TheBee) September 27, 2021
RB - Giovani Bernard, Buccaneers (12.3%) - 9 receptions, 51 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
While Bernard is a running back by trade, he has yet to have a rushing attempt through three games (had 124 with the Bengals last season). His 33 offensive snaps in Week 3 according to Pro Football Reference were more than his 23 combined in the first two weeks.
Report: Giovani Bernard day to day with MCL sprain. https://t.co/hiZR2mzj9c
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 28, 2021
WR - Emmanuel Sanders, Bills (23.2%) - 5 receptions, 94 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns
It wasn’t a lack of volume that caused somewhat pedestrian numbers through two weeks for Sanders, quarterback Josh Allen just struggled to connect with him (14 targets, six receptions, 100 yards). Sanders was able to get the scoring going in Sunday’s game in both the first and second half with his touchdown catches.
🚨NEW @Cover1 Roundup Podcast🚨
— Rob Quinn (@RobQuinn619) September 28, 2021
-Josh Allen finds his groove
-Matt Milano playing like an All-Pro
-Emmanuel Sanders “does everything right”
-More key takeaways from #Bills huge win
📺: https://t.co/PBbAwGg47G
🍎: https://t.co/42F0GXBMEE
🟢: https://t.co/pv2shl8ZVq pic.twitter.com/FUTrDPRMkh
WR - Kendrick Bourne, Patriots (0.4%) - 6 receptions, 96 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
It was a career-best game for the fifth-year receiver after totaling just three catches for 27 yards in his first two games this season. His previous best in receiving yards prior to Week 3 was 86.
Kendrick Bourne had a big day while Dont’a Hightower and Jonathan Jones struggled.
— Ryan Spagnoli (@Ryan_Spags) September 27, 2021
Taking a look at the winners and losers from Sunday’s 28-13 loss at Gillette Stadium HERE: https://t.co/5ieQQ4AAFt
TE - Dalton Schultz, Cowboys (2.5%) - 6 receptions, 80 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns
Monday night marked the first time in Schultz’s 46 career games in which he scored multiple touchdowns. His two scores in Week 3 came from 19 and 22 yards out.
Thrust into his @dallascowboys #1 tight end role, Dalton Schultz has been more than up to the task as he took in a pair of touchdowns that helped his team top the Eagles 41-21 on Monday night. As a result, he becomes the most recent TE on this list of superb contributors for DAL pic.twitter.com/nVyAomuFUf
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) September 28, 2021
