Lions Keep Fueling Fantasy Scores; Maye Struggles Again in Patriots' Loss

Detroit's third high-scoring game in three weeks led fantasy Week 3, which featured big days from Geno Smith and Jaylen Warren and another rough outing for Drake Maye.

Three weeks into the NFL season, Detroit games have become dependable sources of fantasy scoring. The Lions opened with a 31-30 overtime victory over New Orleans, dropped a 41-31 shootout to Buffalo in Week 2 and edged the New York Jets 31-24 on Sunday, a game in which both teams went over their projected totals. Apart from a Week 5 bye, Carolina, Arizona and Green Bay are next on Detroit's schedule over the following month.

Jahmyr Gibbs carried the Detroit offense with 164 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns, two on the ground and one through the air. The rest of the production was muted: Amon-Ra St. Brown managed four catches for 19 yards, and Jameson Williams (4-49) and Sam LaPorta (3-44) did not score. Jared Goff remained efficient, averaging 8.4 yards per attempt with a 122.5 passer rating.

Detroit's defense has been equally generous to opposing quarterbacks, especially through the air. Josh Allen accounted for five total touchdowns against the Lions the previous week, and Tyler Shough posted a sixth-place finish at the position against them in Week 2. On Sunday, Geno Smith threw for 321 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover and ranked second among quarterbacks in Week 3 scoring at press time.

Several Jets benefited from the favorable matchup. Garrett Wilson converted 13 targets into 10 receptions, 107 yards and a touchdown, while rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq finished 7-105-1. Adonai Mitchell was scratched with a finger injury, and Breece Hall exited with a thigh injury after 55 total yards, prompting New York to all but discard its running game against a Detroit secondary depleted by injuries.

New England's difficult stretch continued with a 35-6 loss to Jacksonville. Drake Maye was intercepted twice, lost a fumble, absorbed three sacks and produced no touchdown drive. Missing top receiver A.J. Brown, the Patriots saw Mack Hollins (6-87) as the only downfield producer, while TreVeyon Henderson (8-23) and Rhamondre Stevenson (7-22) found no traction on the ground. New England also committed nine penalties in a penalty-heavy week across the league.

The downturn follows a season in which Maye nearly won the MVP. The report pointed to the previous No. 10 in Foxboro, Mac Jones, who won 10 games and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting as a starter before fading; he is now San Francisco's backup. No relief is immediate, as the Patriots travel to Buffalo in Week 4, where heavy passing volume is expected as they try to match Josh Allen's offense.

Cincinnati's offense stayed productive in defeat, with Joe Burrow directing 27 points that the Bengals defense could not preserve. Chase Brown handled 15 touches, and Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins combined for 15 catches, 188 yards and two touchdowns on 19 targets. Mike Gesicki (3-37-1) may merit tight end streaming consideration in October, but the target tree remains narrow. Cincinnati faces Jacksonville in Week 4.

Jaylen Warren gave Pittsburgh 176 total yards in that game, though a holding call nullified one long run and kept him out of the end zone. Aaron Rodgers passed for 292 yards and three touchdowns while targeting 10 different teammates, none with more than three receptions. DK Metcalf (3-31-1) scored against a blown coverage, Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek caught the remaining touchdowns, and Darnell Washington (3-67) outscored Pat Freiermuth (2-30). The Steelers visit Cleveland in Week 4.

Cleveland tight end Harold Fannin Jr. topped the position in Week 3, turning nine targets into seven catches for 51 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Carolina. After producing through Cleveland's unsettled quarterback situation a year ago, he again commanded a heavy share of the targets and the work near the goal line.