Week 3 Bold Predictions: Another Big Week for Jonathan Taylor

It's time for the Week 3 bold predictions piece.

As always, I strive to be as technically wrong but directionally right as possible.

For my full thoughts on the characteristics of a fearless forecast, see my Week 1 NFL bold predictions piece, but each week I want to make 3-5 predictions that are improbable and yet also actionable.

In a word: Bold.

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I think of this piece as a companion to my weekly rankings and my weekly projections, which will reflect any updated opinions I have after I submit this article.

For more of my player analysis, check out my Week 3 Freedman's Favorites series (via my Fantasy Life author page).

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Abbreviations I might use are at the end of the piece.

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Let's get to it: The Oracle's Week 3 bold calls!

The Oracles Week 3 Bold Predictions

Trey Hendrickson (Bengals) vs. Vikings

Since 2023, first-team All-Pro EDGE Trey Hendrickson has an NFL-high 37 sacks.

2023: 17.5
2024: 17.5
2025: 2.0

These are the guys who immediately trail him on the list.

While he doesn't have quite the hype of other elite pass rushers—perhaps because the defense he's on has underwhelmed for the past few seasons—Hendrickson certainly belongs in their cohort.

So on one side of this matchup, we have one of the league's consummate sack artists.

And on the other side, we have this injury situation:

QB J.J. McCarthy (ankle): OUT Week 3
LT Christian Darrisaw (knee): OUT Weeks 1-2
Backup LT Justin Skule (concussion): Exited Week 2
C Ryan Kelly (concussion): Exited Week 2

With McCarthy out and backup QB Carson Wentz in, the Vikings might call more pass plays than they did in Weeks 1-2—and that would mean more sack opportunities for Hendrickson.

And although he's a veteran, Wentz still takes more sacks than you might expect for a guy in his 10th NFL season.

Here are the league-wide sack rates since 2020:

2025: 6.8%
2024: 6.9%
2023: 7.1%
2022: 6.7%
2021: 6.2%
2020: 5.9%

Over that same period of time, Wentz has an 8.2% sack rate. Over the past three years, that number has bumped up to 9.1%. And last year it was an awful 17.4%, which is right in line with what we've seen out of McCarthy so far (18.0%).

It's very possible—perhaps probable—that Wentz no longer has the athleticism to escape from and maneuver in the pocket when pressured, and I expect him to be pressured behind this offensive line.

Last week—despite attempting just 21 passes—McCarthy took six sacks and was pressured on 33.3% of his dropbacks.

Without Darrisaw, the Vikings' OL is vulnerable—and Darrisaw is still working his way back from last year's season-ending knee injury. While he's returned to practice, he missed Weeks 1-2 and didn't manage even a questionable tag before being ruled out, which makes me think he's unlikely to suit up for Week 3.

And that's a massive problem for the Vikings—because their swing OT and starting C are both in the concussion protocol.

Hendrickson lines up almost exclusively on the right to rush the passer … and that means—assuming Darrisaw and Skule are both out—he could be going against third-string OT Walter Rouse, a 2024 sixth-rounder with just 12 offensive snaps.

Bloodbath.

Bold Prediction: Hendrickson has a career-best 5+ sacks.

Dak Prescott (Cowboys) at Bears

The Cowboys are playing fast and throwing the ball (per FTN).

Pace: 25.1 seconds per snap (No. 4)
Pass Play Rate: 64.0% (No. 7)

You put that together, and it means QB Dak Prescott is No. 1 in the league with 59 completions and No. 3 with 86 attempts.

The Cowboys are +1 road dogs, so I expect them to rely on the pass game in their usual fashion, and they're facing the Bears, who could be without three defensive starters in their back seven.

No. 1 CB Jaylon Johnson (groin): Exited Week 2, doubtful
Slot CB Kyler Gordon (hamstring): OUT Weeks 1-2
LB T.J. Edwards (hamstring): OUT Week 1, exited Week 2

In Week 1, the Bears allowed Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy to pass for 143 yards and two TDs in his first NFL start … and based on how he has looked this season … that's not a strong defensive performance.

In Week 2, they allowed Lions QB Jared Goff to pass for 334 yards and five TDs.

The season is young, but through two games, the Bears are No. 30 in defensive dropback EPA (0.342) and No. 31 in defensive dropback SR (56.1%, per RBs Don't Matter).

Given that the Cowboys' defense can't stop anyone, I expect the offense to stay aggressive for most of this contest—and that means Prescott slinging the rock against a defense both bad and injured.

He passed for 361 yards and two TDs last week.

Why can't he get more this week?

Bold Prediction: Prescott throws for 400+ yards and 3+ TDs.

Jonathan Taylor (Colts) at Titans

Jonathan Taylor is the No. 8 RB in Utilization Score (87, per our Fantasy Life Utilization Report), which is nothing special—but that's primarily because he has lost significant goal-line work to TD-vulturing QB Daniel Jones.

But in terms of raw usage, what we've seen out of Taylor this year has been elite. On a per-game basis, he's the No. 1 RB in snaps (56.5) and rush attempts (21.5) and the No. 8 RB in routes (25.5).

Last week, he was literally the only Colts RB to get a touch.

With that kind of dominant usage, it's not a surprise that Taylor has an NFL-high 313 scrimmage yards (236 rushing, 77 receiving). As -3.5 road favorites, the Colts will likely continue to lean on the ground game, and they're No. 3 in the league with a 52.5% rush rate.

With 20+ opportunities in both games this year, Taylor should once again be featured heavily by the Colts—and I love his matchup.

The Titans could be without run-stuffing NT T'Vondre Sweat (ankle), and they've been terrible against the run this year, respectively ranking Nos. 31 & 32 in defensive rush DVOA (22.5%) and EPA (0.155).

Last year in two matchups with DC Dennard Wilson's unit, Taylor had 29-218-3 rushing.

Given what we've seen out of Taylor, the Colts, and the Titans this year, there's a chance he could hit those marks in Week 3.

Bold Prediction: Taylor has 200+ yards and 2+ TDs from scrimmage.

Abbreviations

Fantasy Points per Game (FPPG)
Against the Spread (ATS)
Over/Under (O/U)
Team Total (TT)
Moneyline (ML)
Return on Investment (ROI)
Adjusted Yards per Attempt (AY/A)
Expected Points Added (EPA)
Success Rate (SR)
Completion Percentage Over Expected (CPOE)
Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA)
AirYAC (Air Yards + Yards After Catch)
Weighted Opportunity Rating (WOPR)
Average Depth of Target (aDOT)
Short Down and Distance (SDD)
Long Down and Distance (LDD)