Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings

I will update these rankings throughout the week up until Sunday at 1 PM ET for injuries or other reasons. [Note: these are for standard (non-PPR) leagues, but you can simply move guys up or down based on how many passes they are expected to catch]

 

QUARTERBACK

1. Tom Brady (v HOU)

2. Aaron Rodgers (v CIN)

3. Cam Newton (v NO)

4. Drew Brees (@ CAR)

5. Matt Ryan (@ DET)

6. Derek Carr (@ WAS)

7. Philip Rivers (v KC)

8. Matthew Stafford (v ATL)

9. Russell Wilson (@ TEN)

10. Kirk Cousins (v OAK)

11. Ben Roethlisberger (@ CHI)

12. Carson Palmer (v DAL)

13. Jay Cutler (@ NYJ)

14. Marcus Mariota (v SEA)

15. Jameis Winston (@ MIN)

16. Dak Prescott (@ ARI)

17. Alex Smith (@ LAC)

18. Jared Goff (@ SF)

19. Deshaun Watson (@ NE)

20. Trevor Siemian (@ BUF)

21. Carson Wentz (v NYG)

22. Andy Dalton (@ GB)

23. Tyrod Taylor (v DEN)

24. Josh McCown (v MIA)

25. DeShone Kizer (@ IND)

 

Tom Brady is the clear top option against a banged-up Houston secondary, as Aaron Rodgers seems more likely to be without Jordy Nelson than Brady to not have Gronk… Cam Newton and Drew Brees should be in a shootout this week, and maybe the Saints defense will fix Newton’s issues with inaccuracy… Philip Rivers will be better equipped against the Chiefs this year with Keenan Allen healthy… I’ve been low on Kirk Cousins and the Redskins offense, but Sunday night against Oakland is a good spot… Carson Palmer has disappointed for two straight weeks, but he’s averaging 300 yards per game and I think he’s worth one more shot for streamers… Jay Cutler has a bunch of weapons and the Jets don’t have the players to defend them… Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston should be on the bench in difficult matchups… Deshaun Watson will have to score points against the Patriots, but rookie quarterbacks usually struggle against Bill Belichick.

 

 

RUNNING BACK

1. Le’Veon Bell (@ CHI)

2. Jay Ajayi (@ NYJ)

3. Ty Montgomery (v CIN)

4. Melvin Gordon (v KC)

5. Kareem Hunt (@ LAC)

6. Todd Gurley (@ SF)

7. Ezekiel Elliott (@ ARI)

8. Christian McCaffrey (v NO)

9. Devonta Freeman (@ DET)

10. Carlos Hyde (v LAR)

11. LeSean McCoy (v DEN)

12. C.J. Anderson (@ BUF)

13. Dalvin Cook (v TB)

14. Isaiah Crowell (@ IND)

15. Marshawn Lynch (@ WAS)

16. Tevin Coleman (@ DET)

17. Jordan Howard (V PIT)

18. Ameer Abdullah (v ATL)

19. Leonard Fournette (v BAL)

20. Jonathan Stewart (v NO)

21. Mike Gillislee (v HOU)

22. Javorius Allen (@ JAC)

23. Joe Mixon (@ GB)

24. Chris Carson (@ TEN)

25. Lamar Miller (@ NE)

26. Mark Ingram (@ CAR)

27. Derrick Henry (v SEA)

28. Frank Gore (v CLE)

29. James White (v HOU)

30. DeMarco Murray (v SEA)

31. Tarik Cohen (v PIT)

32. Robert Kelley (v OAK)

33. Chris Johnson (v DAL)

34. Darren Sproles (v NYG)

35. Chris Thompson (v OAK)

36. Jacquizz Rodgers (@ MIN)

37. Jamaal Charles (@ BUF)

38. Samaje Perine (v OAK)

39. Matt Forte (v MIA)

40. Alvin Kamara (@ CAR)

41. Duke Johnson (@ IND)

42. D’Onta Foreman (@ NE)

43. Theo Riddick (v ATL)

44. Adrian Peterson (@ CAR)

45. Bilal Powell (v MIA)

46. LeGarrette Blount (v NYG)

47. Thomas Rawls (@ TEN)

48. Jalen Richard (@ WAS)

49. Terrance West (@ JAC)

50. Shane Vereen (@ PHI)

 

Le’Veon Bell said he feels like an “explosion” is coming soon; it will probably be this week… Jay Ajayi ran like a beast in the Dolphins’ season opener, and they should be able to pound the ball and handle the Jets… Despite the 3.1 yards per carry, Ty Montgomery has proven to be an elite RB1… Congratulations if you drafted Kareem Hunt… I’ve seen a lot of people say Todd Gurley is overrated leading up to the season; that’s just crazy… Christian McCaffrey gets a boost with Greg Olsen (foot) out for several weeks, and he’s an RB1 in both standard and PPR leagues against New Orleans; Jonathan Stewart can be in lineups as an RB2/FLEX… Carlos Hyde looks like a matchup-proof RB1/RB2, and he should be getting more than the 24 combined carries over the first two weeks after going for 124 yards in Seattle… Isaiah Crowell should get fed against the Colts with DeShone Kizer struggling mightily; he’s a solid RB2… Tevin Coleman and Ameer Abdullah aren’t featured backs but they are both good enough players to warrant RB2 status in a probable high-scoring game… Leonard Fournette could find little room to run against the Ravens in London… Keep an eye on the injury report for Chicago, but I have a hard time putting Jordan Howard outside of RB2 territory if he’s active… DeMarco Murray is probably the safer fantasy play after Mike Mularkey said he remains the starter, but Derrick Henry is going to see the field; both are FLEX options against Seattle… It could be more of a James White game than Mike Gillislee game against the Texans’ stout front, but Gillislee’s touchdown upside makes him a better standard-league option… Javorius Allen is probably Baltimore’s best all-around running back… A change at offensive coordinator will hopefully see the Bengals commit to Joe Mixon.

 

 

WIDE RECEIVER

1. Antonio Brown (@ CHI)

2. A.J. Green (@ GB)

3. Julio Jones (@ DET)

4. Brandin Cooks (v HOU)

5. Keenan Allen (v KC)

6. Jordy Nelson (v CIN)

7. Michael Thomas (@ CAR)

8. Amari Cooper (@ WAS)

9. Demaryius Thomas (@ BUF)

10. DeVante Parker (@ NYJ)

11. Larry Fitzgerald (v DAL)

12. Sammy Watkins (@ SF)

13. Davante Adams (v CIN)

14. Kelvin Benjamin (v NO)

15. Odell Beckham Jr. (@ PHI)

16. Golden Tate (v ATL)

17. Michael Crabtree (@ WAS)

18. Mike Evans (@ MIN)

19. Jamison Crowder (v OAK)

20. J.J. Nelson (v DAL)

21. Pierre Garcon (v LAR)

22. DeAndre Hopkins (@ NE)

23. Tyrell Williams (v KC)

24. Alshon Jeffery (v NYG)

25. Dez Bryant (@ ARI)

26. Tyreek Hill (v LAC)

27. Doug Baldwin (@ TEN)

28. Martavis Bryant (@ CHI)

29. Stefon Diggs (v TB)

30. Chris Hogan (v HOU)

31. Emmanuel Sanders (@ BUF)

32. Danny Amendola (v HOU)

33. Jeremy Maclin (@ JAC)

34. Jarvis Landry (@ NYJ)

35. Terrelle Pryor (v OAK)

36. DeSean Jackson (@ MIN)

37. Adam Thielen (v TB)

38. T.Y. Hilton (v CLE)

39. Nelson Agholor (v NYG)

40. Devin Funchess (v NO)

41. Cooper Kupp (@ SF)

42. Jermaine Kearse (v MIA)

43. Eric Dekcer (v SEA)

44. Marvin Jones (v ATL)

45. Kenny Golladay (v ATL)

46. Rashard Higgins (@ IND)

47. Paul Richardson (@ TEN)

48. Marqise Lee (v BAL)

49. Jaron Brown (v DAL)

50. Ted Ginn (@ CAR)

51. Kendall Wright (v PIT)

52. Mohamed Sanu (@ DET)

53. Brandon Marshall (@ PHI)

54. Chris Conley (@ LAC)

55. Geronimo Allison (v CIN)

56. Rishard Matthews (v SEA)

57. Cole Beasley (@ ARI)

58. Sterling Shepard (@ PHI)

59. Kenny Stills (@ NYJ)

60. Taylor Gabriel (@ DET)

 

A.J. Green should get peppered with targets after voicing his displeasure following Thursday night’s loss to Houston and his offensive coordinator getting fired the next day… Brandin Cooks is going to have a huge game soon, and I think this is the week… Jordy Nelson needs to be in lineups if he’s active… Michael Thomas should be back to his WR1 ways after two tough matchups to start the season… DeVante Parker is really going to be playing in the “Monster Bowl” after the season… I’m giving Larry Fitzgerald another week of a WR1/WR2 ranking, but he’s going to be demoted to low-end WR2 status if Arizona’s offense can’t get on track against a banged-up Dallas defense… Sammy Watkins has caught all seven of his targets so far this year; hopefully he will get some deep chances on Thursday night… New York’s offensive line might not even give Eli Manning time to throw in Philadelphia, so Odell Beckham Jr. is a mere WR2 with the concern about playing limited snaps again, too… Golden Tate should benefit from the Lions having to score against Atlanta… Mike Evans is probably a WR2 for the next four weeks against elite cornerbacks… Jamison Crowder could be a problem for the taller Oakland corners; Terrelle Pryor probably won’t be… Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen would be downgraded if Bradord sits again… I have Chris Hogan ranked as if Danny Amendola won’t play… DeAndre Hopkins is expected to be the guy New England doesn’t let beat them, but his volume leaves him as a FLEX play… Devin Funchess and Rashard Higgins are both good pickups for anyone needing a wideout to plug in their lineup for Week 3.

 

 

TIGHT END

1. Rob Gronkowski (v HOU)

2. Travis Kelce (@ LAC)

3. Zach Ertz (v NYG)

4. Hunter Henry (v KC)

5. Jimmy Graham (@ TEN)

6. Delanie Walker (v SEA)

7. Kyle Rudolph (v TB)

8. Jack Doyle (v CLE)

9. Vernon Davis (v OAK)

10. Eric Ebron (v ATL)

11. Jared Cook (@ WAS)

12. Coby Fleener (@ CAR)

13. Austin Hooper (@ DET)

14. Julius Thomas (@ NYJ)

15. Jason Witten (@ ARI)

16. Charles Clay (v DEN)

17. Jesse James (@ CHI)

18. Martellus Bennett (v CIN)

19. Cameron Brate (@ MIN)

20. Evan Engram (@ PHI)

21. Benjamin Watson (@ JAC)

22. Ed Dickson (v NO)

23. David Njoku (@ IND)

24. Austin Seferian-Jenkings (v MIA)

25. Virgil Green (@ BUF)

 

Rob Gronkowski is the top tight end option even if he’s limited, but it early indications sound like he should be OK… Zach Ertz had 93 yards in Week 1 and 97 yards in Week 2, but 53 of those came on a lucky bounce; still, he’s a top-three option as Carson Wentz’s most-trusted target… Jordan Reed is a high-risk, high-upside option on SNF… Hunter Henry really turned it on after Antonio Gates broke the touchdown record for tight ends, so he should be a big part of the offense from this point on… Hopefully Bradford is back soon for Kyle Rudolph… Jack Doyle is probably the best waiver wire streamer for those fighting injuries or ineffectiveness at the position… Eric Ebron and Austin Hooper are quality starts in a game with a high point total… Vernon Davis is worth a look with Reed’s toe and chest injuries… Martellus Bennett has been a disappointment through two weeks, and the Packers already started giving Richard Rodgers more playing time in Week 2.

 

 

DEFENSE

1. Baltimore Ravens (@ JAC)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (v NYG)

3. Denver Broncos (@ BUF)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (@ CHI)

5. Los Angeles Rams (@ SF)

6. Jacksonville Jaguars (v BAL)

7. Miami Dolphins (@ NYJ)

8. Seattle Seahawks (@ TEN)

9. New York Giants (@ PHI)

10. Tennessee Titans (v SEA)

11. New England Patriots (v HOU)

12. Indianapolis Colts (v CLE)

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

14. Green Bay Packers (v CIN)

15. Minnesota Vikings (v TB)

16. Arizona Cardinals (v DAL)

17. Buffalo Bills (v DEN)

18. Kansas City Chiefs (@ LAC)

19. Cleveland Browns (@ IND)

20. Dallas Cowboys (@ ARI)

 

 

KICKER

1. Justin Tucker (@ JAC)

2. Stephen Gostkowski (v HOU)

3. Matt Bryant (@ DET)

4. Mason Crosby (v CIN)

5. Matt Prater (v ATL)

6. Giorgio Tavecchio (@ WAS)

7. Dan Bailey (@ ARI)

8. Graham Gano (v NO)

9. Cairo Santos (@ LAC)

10. Brandon McManus (@ BUF)

11. Will Lutz (@ CAR)

12. Blair Walsh (@ TEN)

13. Dustin Hopkins (v OAK)

14. Cody Parkey (@ NYJ)

15. Chris Boswell (@ CHI)