Week 3 saw a 17-point underdog in the Buffalo Bills easily take care of business in a 27-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings. According to ESPN, it was the biggest upset in 23 years by the points spread.
Not surprisingly, two Bills players make the Week 3 list of fantasy football stars who were likely unowned. In order to make the list, the player must have been owned in less than 25 percent of ESPN fantasy leagues entering their game.
Quarterback
- Josh Allen, Bills (196 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown, 39 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns)
Most thought Allen, the seventh overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, would look overmatched against a vaunted Vikings defense.
Buffalo pulled out a surprising upset victory over Minnesota which saw him score his two rushing touchdowns and one passing touchdown in the first 18 minutes of the game. Clutch Points writes on how Allen claimed that he had no idea they were such huge underdogs entering the game.
Running backs
- Wendell Smallwood, Eagles (56 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 3 receptions, 35 receiving yards)
With running backs Jay Ajayi and Darren Sproles both out for the Eagles in Week 3, both Corey Clement and Smallwood saw a large uptick in playing time. Smallwood's 56 rushing yards were the fourth most of his 24 career games, and he scored on a four-yard run late in the fourth quarter which gave Philadelphia the lead for good.
- Chris Ivory, Bills (56 rushing yards, 3 receptions, 70 receiving yards)
It wasn't announced until Sunday morning that LeSean McCoy would be unable to play in Week 3. So after just five carries on 10 yards in Buffalo's first two games, Ivory toted the rock 20 times on Sunday. His 70 yards receiving included a 55-yard catch-and-run.
Wide receivers
- Tyler Boyd, Bengals (6 receptions, 132 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 5 rushing yards)
Boyd is likely to be one of the most-added players for Week 4 after two straight productive games. He also made this list after Week 2. He now has 12 catches for 223 yards and two touchdowns in his last two outings. In 10 games last season, he only had 225 receiving yards.
- Albert Wilson, Dolphins (2 receptions, 74 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 52 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown)
Wilson wasn't necessarily targeted a lot by Ryan Tannehill, but two huge plays (both coming in the fourth quarter) get him on the list. First, on a double reverse he threw a pass to Jakeem Grant that he took the distance for 52 yards. Late in the game, he had a 74-yard touchdown reception that iced the win for the Dolphins.
Tight end
- Vance McDonald, Steelers (4 receptions, 112 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown)
McDonald finished last season with just 14 catches for 188 yards in 10 games. He had three catches for 26 yards in his season opener in Week 2. An awesome stiff arm led to a 75-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter of a Steelers win on Monday Night Football.