Fantasy

9/25/22

19 min read

Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings

By Josh Larky

Below you'll find my Week 3 fantasy rankings for PPR/Half-PPR leagues. Included are my Top-32 QB Rankings, Top-50 RB Rankings, Top-57 WR Rankings, and Top-20 TE Rankings.

For each player, you can view their ranking, matchup, and implied team total, according to Vegas. For example, the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks have a Vegas game total of 42, with the Seahawks favored by two points (22 points implied for the Seahawks, 20 points implied for the Falcons). Seeing the implied point totals can help you understand which games are projected to be the highest scoring.

Top-32 QB Rankings

Rank Name Pos Team Opp Team Total
1 Josh Allen QB BUF MIA 29.5
2 Jalen Hurts QB PHI WAS 26.75
3 Lamar Jackson QB BAL NE 23.25
4 Patrick Mahomes QB KC IND 28
5 Kyler Murray QB ARI LAR 22.5
6 Matthew Stafford QB LA ARI 26
7 Kirk Cousins QB MIN DET 29.75
8 Joe Burrow QB CIN NYJ 24.75
9 Russell Wilson QB DEN SF 21.75
10 Justin Herbert QB LAC JAX 27.5
11 Carson Wentz QB WAS PHI 20.25
12 Tua Tagovailoa QB MIA BUF 24
13 Derek Carr QB LV TEN 23.75
14 Marcus Mariota QB ATL SEA 20
15 Trevor Lawrence QB JAX LAC 20.5
16 Jameis Winston QB NO CAR 21.5
17 Tom Brady QB TB GB 22
18 Aaron Rodgers QB GB TB 19.5
19 Jared Goff QB DET MIN 23.75
20 Jimmy Garoppolo QB SF DEN 23.25
21 Joe Flacco QB NYJ CIN 19.75
22 Daniel Jones QB NYG DAL 21
23 Ryan Tannehill QB TEN LV 21.75
24 Matt Ryan QB IND KC 21.5
25 Geno Smith QB SEA ATL 22
26 Justin Fields QB CHI HOU 21.75
27 Davis Mills QB HOU CHI 18.75
28 Baker Mayfield QB CAR NO 19
29 Mac Jones QB NE BAL 20.25
30 Mitchell Trubisky QB PIT CLE 16.75
31 Jacoby Brissett QB CLE PIT 21.25
32 Cooper Rush QB DAL NYG 18.5
  • There is a big three QBs at the top, as Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, and Lamar Jackson should get you 25-35 fantasy points this week.
  • Kirk Cousins have may burned you on Monday Night, but he now has a get-right date with the Detroit secondary. The Lions defense is averaging 32.5 points allowed per game. He's an excellent candidate to throw for 300 yards and three touchdowns this weekend, and his aggressive ranking reflects this.
  • Russell Wilson likely falls another couple spots in the rankings if Jerry Jeudy cannot suit up for Week 3. Wilson is suffering from not only his own poor play, but from the archaic play-calling and time management blunders of Nathaniel Hackett. Update: Both Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler appear on track to play in Week 3, which bodes well for Russell Wilson, as he'll need all the help he can get against a talented 49ers defense.
  • Justin Herbert is an incredibly risky start (if he suits up). One bad sack and he could be taken out of the game, and if you're risk-averse, I'd slot him just behind Jameis Winston in my rankings. Should Chase Daniel draw the start, I'd rank him in the Jacoby Brissett/Cooper Rush zone.
  • Carson Wentz continues to be a strong start in fantasy football. Armed with a trio of above average wideouts in Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, and rookie Jahan Dotson, Wentz has the weaponry (along with a bottom tier Washington defense) to continue to provide a decent floor and a high weekly ceiling. I currently have Wentz ahead of Tua because of slightly larger concerns with the Buffalo defense's ability to wreck a game than Philadelphia's.
  • Tua Tagovailoa is the biggest riser in this week's rankings, after throwing for 469 yards and six touchdowns in Week 2. The Buffalo defense is formidable, but Mike McDaniel's scheme is eerily similar to Kyle Shanahan's from an efficiency perspective. From 2019-2021, Jimmy Garoppolo averaged more yards per attempt than Patrick Mahomes. McDaniel is a Shanahan disciple, and through two games, Tua is averaging 8.9 yards per attempt (No. 3 in the NFL), despite being 17th in the NFL in air yards per pass attempt (7.5). Stats here courtesy of our flagship (and free) tool, The Edge.
  • Marcus Mariota is averaging nine rush attempts per game, and the Seahawks have a mediocre defense. Mariota is a high floor, but low ceiling play in Week 3.
  • Trevor Lawrence is another player that continues to rise up the rankings, despite a difficult matchup with the Chargers in Week 3. His stat line last week would have been even stronger if Jamal Agnew didn't drop a beautifully thrown deep touchdown. Lawrence has strong rapport with Christian Kirk, and the running game tandem of James Robinson and Travis Etienne has taken pressure off the second year QB.
  • Jameis Winston is coming off a 516 air yard performance in Week 2, and against the Panthers middling defense, I expect more of those to convert to yards receiving than last week against Tampa Bay. Michael Thomas, Chris Olave, and Jarvis Landry is a Top-5 WR trio in the NFL, and Alvin Kamara likely returns in Week 3, providing an overall boost to the offense.
  • Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers are both averaging ten fantasy points per game through two weeks, and neither have many healthy (or good) bodies to throw to. This game has an incredibly low Vegas game total, as both teams have formidable defenses. This is a great week to sit both of them in fantasy football.
  • Only Jalen Hurts has more rush attempts through two weeks than Justin Fields. Unfortunately, the Bears have completed just 15 total passes through two games, the lowest mark dating back to at least the year 2000. Until the Bears let Justin Fields throw more than 14 times per game, he is not start-able in fantasy football.

Top-50 RB Rankings

Rank Name Pos Team Opp Team Total
1 Dalvin Cook RB MIN DET 29.75
2 Jonathan Taylor RB IND KC 21.50
3 Christian McCaffrey RB CAR NO 19.00
4 D'Andre Swift RB DET MIN 23.75
5 Joe Mixon RB CIN NYJ 24.75
6 Nick Chubb RB CLE PIT 21.25
7 Saquon Barkley RB NYG DAL 21.00
8 Leonard Fournette RB TB GB 22.00
9 Austin Ekeler RB LAC JAX 27.50
10 Aaron Jones RB GB TB 19.50
11 Derrick Henry RB TEN LV 21.75
12 Najee Harris RB PIT CLE 16.75
13 Alvin Kamara RB NO CAR 21.50
14 Antonio Gibson RB WAS PHI 20.25
15 James Conner RB ARI LAR 22.50
16 Javonte Williams RB DEN SF 21.75
17 Josh Jacobs RB LV TEN 23.75
18 AJ Dillon RB GB TB 19.50
19 Miles Sanders RB PHI WAS 26.75
20 Clyde Edwards-Helaire RB KC IND 28.00
21 Cam Akers RB LA ARI 26.00
22 James Robinson RB JAX LAC 20.50
23 Jeff Wilson RB SF DEN 23.25
24 Kareem Hunt RB CLE PIT 21.25
25 David Montgomery RB CHI HOU 21.75
26 Ezekiel Elliott RB DAL NYG 18.50
27 Cordarrelle Patterson RB ATL SEA 20.00
28 Travis Etienne RB JAX LAC 20.50
29 Michael Carter RB NYJ CIN 19.75
30 Rhamondre Stevenson RB NE BAL 20.25
31 JK Dobbins RB BAL NE 23.25
32 Raheem Mostert RB MIA BUF 24.00
33 Dameon Pierce RB HOU CHI 18.75
34 Tony Pollard RB DAL NYG 18.50
35 Damien Harris RB NE BAL 20.25
36 Chase Edmonds RB MIA BUF 24.00
37 Jamaal Williams RB DET MIN 23.75
38 Breece Hall RB NYJ CIN 19.75
39 Darrell Henderson RB LA ARI 26.00
40 Melvin Gordon RB DEN SF 21.75
41 Darrel Williams RB ARI LAR 22.50
42 Devin Singletary RB BUF MIA 29.50
43 Kenneth Walker RB SEA ATL 22.00
44 Eno Benjamin RB ARI LAR 22.50
45 Nyheim Hines RB IND KC 21.50
46 J.D. McKissic RB WAS PHI 20.25
47 Kenneth Gainwell RB PHI WAS 26.75
48 Jerick McKinnon RB KC IND 28.00
49 Rashaad Penny RB SEA ATL 22.00
50 Khalil Herbert RB CHI HOU 21.75
  • Dalvin Cook has an incredible matchup in Week 3 against Detroit, and flashed the elite usage we want to see from him in Week 1 (20 carries, 23 routes, five targets). Week 2, the Vikings were shut down by the Eagles, and game script hurt him. Expect a monster performance this week.
  • D'Andre Swift's ranking assumes a return to full health in Week 3. Even though he only received six touches in Week 2, he still showed off his patented explosiveness, turning them into 87 total yards and nearly 17 fantasy points.
  • Despite a down Week 2 from Saquon Barkley in the fantasy points department, the usage was still there. 21 of 23 RB carries and all four RB targets. Dallas is a tough matchup but I have trouble fading someone with his talent profile and workload.
  • Austin Ekeler is fine, he just most likely won't live up to his mid-round one draft position. Week 1, Sony Michel received the team's only red zone carry and Zander Horvath the team's only red zone target. Week 2, Ekeler had two red zone carries and two red zone targets, though Michel and Joshua Kelley each had a red zone touch, as well. If Ekeler can't largely monopolize the team's red zone work, his weekly ceiling will be capped.
  •  Derrick Henry has a good matchup against the Raiders this week, and should get at least 20 carries in this game. However, I have concerns about Henry's explosiveness when watching him through two weeks, and the Titans' offensive line hasn't done him many favors - add in that Taylor Lewan is now likely out for the season after his injury in the Buffalo game. Henry plays alongside a highly suspect pass attack, and I don't love the floor or ceiling for him each week.
  • James Conner was limited in practice and appears on track to suit up. The matchup against the Rams is far from optimal, but Conner should see 15-20 touches in this one if active. Darrel Williams is my slight preference over Eno Benjamin if James Conner misses Week 3, and I have Darrel/Eno ranked as if Conner misses Week 3 to help you understand how I would value them. The two split carries, but Williams ran slightly more routes and received the team's lone goal line touch. Overall though, this projects to be an ugly committee for fantasy points if Conner misses time.
  • Miles Sanders had a strong Week 1 role, and that role only improved in Week 2. He had 17 of the 23 RB carries and ran the most routes on the team, and had three targets. Washington is a great matchup for Sanders, too, as they've ceded many explosive plays already this season.
  • Cam Akers is a risky player, even though I have him at RB20. He will either finish way above, or way below this mark. After a discouraging Week 1, he looked like the best RB on the team in Week 2, and was rewarded with 15 carries to Darrell Henderson's 10, and received all three of the RB targets. The two split red zone carries three to three in Week 2, but I think there's real potential for Akers to take even more of that work in Week 3.
  • James Robinson has a case to be much higher on this list. He handled 23 of the 32 RB carries in Week 2, and ran 16 routes to Etienne's 14. However, the Chargers are a tough matchup, and game script likely favors Travis Etienne in this one, hence suppressing Robinson in my rankings.
  • The basic box score doesn't reflect that Rhamondre Stevenson ran nearly three times as many routes as Damien Harris in Week 2. Harris is banged up, and highly questionable, so Stevenson is a player to monitor.
  • JK Dobbins should return to game action in Week 3, though it's unclear how many snaps he plays. New England is a tough matchup for RBs, as they've allowed only 2.9 yards per carry through two weeks. Dobbins likely sees 10-15 carries, and at most two targets. I would look for other options to start if possible.
  • I'm not enthusiastically starting any MIA RB in Week 3, but I do prefer Raheem Mostert. Mostert had nearly as many routes run as Chase Edmonds in Week 1. Then in Week 2, Mostert had more than double Edmonds' carries, ran the same number of routes, and turned that into three times as many receptions. I have only moderate confidence that Mostert is the guy in Week 3, so I am keeping them reasonably close in the rankings. Overall though, this is not a backfield you want to heavily invest in, as the team is very pass-heavy.
  • Dameon Pierce handled all 15 RB carries in Week 2, but Rex Burkhead dominated the third down work. The ceiling is capped for a player who lacks long speed and a third down role on a bad offense.
  • I prefer Kenneth Walker to Rashaad Penny. While Penny out-carried Walker (12 to six), it was Walker's first NFL game action, and Walker also ran five routes and was targeted three times. Penny did not run a route in Week 2. Penny is squeezed because of Travis Homer on third downs, Walker mixing in on early downs, and Walker getting the receiving looks on those early downs.

Top-57 WR Rankings

1 Cooper Kupp WR LA ARI 26.00
2 Justin Jefferson WR MIN DET 29.75
3 Stefon Diggs WR BUF MIA 29.50
4 Davante Adams WR LV TEN 23.75
5 Ja'Marr Chase WR CIN NYJ 24.75
6 Tyreek Hill WR MIA BUF 24.00
7 Jaylen Waddle WR MIA BUF 24.00
8 Michael Pittman WR IND KC 21.50
9 Amon-Ra St. Brown WR DET MIN 23.75
10 A.J. Brown WR PHI WAS 26.75
11 Tee Higgins WR CIN NYJ 24.75
12 Christian Kirk WR JAX LAC 20.50
13 Courtland Sutton WR DEN SF 21.75
14 Deebo Samuel WR SF DEN 23.25
15 Diontae Johnson WR PIT CLE 16.75
16 Michael Thomas WR NO CAR 21.50
17 Gabe Davis WR BUF MIA 29.50
18 Elijah Moore WR NYJ CIN 19.75
19 Marquise Brown WR ARI LAR 22.50
20 Garrett Wilson WR NYJ CIN 19.75
21 Drake London WR ATL SEA 20.00
22 CeeDee Lamb WR DAL NYG 18.50
23 Brandin Cooks WR HOU CHI 18.75
24 Keenan Allen WR LAC JAX 27.50
25 Jerry Jeudy WR DEN SF 21.75
26 Allen Robinson WR LA ARI 26.00
27 Mike Williams WR LAC JAX 27.50
28 Rashod Bateman WR BAL NE 23.25
29 Juju Smith-Schuster WR KC IND 28.00
30 D.J. Moore WR CAR NO 19.00
31 Adam Thielen WR MIN DET 29.75
32 Terry McLaurin WR WAS PHI 20.25
33 Curtis Samuel WR WAS PHI 20.25
34 Amari Cooper WR CLE PIT 21.25
35 Russell Gage WR TB GB 22.00
36 Allen Lazard WR GB TB 19.50
37 DK Metcalf WR SEA ATL 22.00
38 Chris Olave WR NO CAR 21.50
39 Jakobi Meyers WR NE BAL 20.25
40 Jarvis Landry WR NO CAR 21.50
41 DeVonta Smith WR PHI WAS 26.75
42 Treylon Burks WR TEN LV 21.75
43 Tyler Lockett WR SEA ATL 22.00
44 Darnell Mooney WR CHI HOU 21.75
45 Greg Dortch WR ARI LAR 22.50
46 Robbie Anderson WR CAR NO 19.00
47 Tyler Boyd WR CIN NYJ 24.75
48 Jahan Dotson WR WAS PHI 20.25
49 Sterling Shepard WR NYG DAL 21.00
50 Noah Brown WR DAL NYG 18.50
51 Brandon Aiyuk WR SF DEN 23.25
52 Marquez Valdes-Scantling WR KC IND 28.00
53 Scott Miller WR TB GB 22.00
54 D.J. Chark WR DET MIN 23.75
55 Josh Palmer WR LAC JAX 27.50
56 Chase Claypool WR PIT CLE 16.75
57 Corey Davis WR NYJ CIN 19.75
  • Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle just had a historic performance in Week 2, and are the two clear focal points of the hyper-efficient MIA offense.

  • Michael Pittman likely returns from injury in Week 3, and the team desperately needs him. He should be force-fed in this game, as the Colts should trail the Chiefs early and often. Pittman had 13 targets in Week 1, and turned that into a 9-121-1 stat line.
  • Amon-Ra St. Brown is undeniable, and after being my WR10 in Week 2, he now slots in at WR9. He now has back-to-back games with 12 targets and over 20 fantasy points.
  • Christian Kirk is another big riser, as he's cemented himself as the go-to option in the Jaguars passing game. They'll need to throw a bunch against the Chargers to keep the game competitive, so expect a heavy dose of Kirk throughout. He should flirt with double digit targets in this game, like he did in Week 1.
  • Elijah Moore has disappointed through two games, but he's still running significantly more routes than Garrett Wilson, and we know his talent profile. It's only a matter of time before the WR1 on the pass-happiest team in the NFL (Flacco has averaged 51.5 pass attempts per game!) has a massive performance.
  • Garrett Wilson looks like a total league winner, and if his routes tick up to Elijah Moore levels in Week 3, I'll likely swap them in my Week 4 rankings. Wilson just parlayed 14 targets (on only 36 routes) into a 8-102-2 stat line, complete with five red zone (two in the end zone) targets.
  • Drake London has been nearly as impressive as Garrett Wilson, and has led the team in targets both weeks. After Pitts bested him in air yards in Week 1, London nearly quadrupled Pitts' total target depth in Week 2, while pouring in over 20 fantasy points.
  • Keenan Allen and Mike Williams' rankings reflect my skepticism about Justin Herbert suiting up, and are where I'd rank them if Chase Daniel were named the starter. Obviously if Herbert plays, you confidently start both. However, I think many HeroRB and ZeroRB teams can find a way to manage without either in their lineups this week. Additionally, Keenan Allen is a true game-time decision.
  • Jerry Jeudy was limited in practice Friday, and this puts him on track to return in Week 3. KJ Hamler also returned to practice, so the Broncos should once again have an above average receiving trio in Week 3.
  • Rashod Bateman has not seen elite target volume (only 12 through two games), but he has already racked up nearly 200 air yards. He is seeing high-value targets, and the Ravens passing offense should once again be leaned on in Week 3, with JK Dobbins still not ready to return to game action.
  •  Juju Smith-Schuster, after an elite Week 1 for usage, took a major step back in Week 2. His average depth of target went from over ten yards to below two yards, and his targets dropped from eight to three. Right now, Travis Kelce looks like the only fantasy asset on the Chiefs who should deliver at least ten fantasy points each week.
  • DJ Moore, along with the entire Panthers offense, is struggling. Baker Mayfield looks terrible, and the Panthers are running fewer plays per game than every team not named the Seahawks or the Bears.
  • Adam Thielen has a nice get-right game in Week 3, playing against Detroit. While his yardage came primarily in garbage time in Week 2, he did end up leading the Vikings in yards receiving in Week 2.
  • Terry McLaurin is competing with Jahan Dotson for intermediate and deep routes, while Curtis Samuel has the short area of the field locked down for himself. This give Samuel a great weekly floor, and McLaurin is at risk of falling behind Samuel in the weekly rankings if this trend continues.
  • Allen Lazard had a weak first game of 2022, but I want to see more than a one-game sample from him before docking him considerably in my rankings. He only had three targets, though Sammy Watkins led the team with four in Week 2. Lazard is a low floor, high ceiling option for Week 3.
  • You've probably heard by now about Chris Olave and his 300+ air yards from Week 2. A big game is incoming at some point, and I want to be out ahead on talented rookies with high draft capital and high-volume, downfield roles.
  • Treylon Burks *can* crack your starting fantasy lineup this week in deeper leagues, though he may still be another week or two away from consistent fantasy relevance. Burks led the team in targets in Week 2 with six, despite only running 17 routes. He should reach 25-30 routes per game within the next couple weeks, and expect WR2/WR3 production once that happens.
  • Noah Brown now has 14 targets through two weeks, and at least 68 yards in both games. While Michael Gallup is expected to return in Week 3, I would expect him to highly limited in Week 3.
  • Scott Miller is a desperation flex play in deep leagues. As of right now, Mike Evans is suspended, and Chris Godwin and Julio Jones are hurt.  It should be Russell Gage and Scott Miller as the main WRs in 2-WR sets in Week 3.

Top-20 TE Rankings

Rank Name Pos Team Opp Team Total
1 Travis Kelce TE KC IND 28.00
2 Mark Andrews TE BAL NE 23.25
3 Darren Waller TE LV TEN 23.75
4 Kyle Pitts TE ATL SEA 20.00
5 George Kittle TE SF DEN 23.25
6 Dallas Goedert TE PHI WAS 26.75
7 Zach Ertz TE ARI LAR 22.50
8 Tyler Higbee TE LA ARI 26.00
9 Gerald Everett TE LAC JAX 27.50
10 T.J. Hockenson TE DET MIN 23.75
11 Logan Thomas TE WAS PHI 20.25
12 Irv Smith TE MIN DET 29.75
13 Dawson Knox TE BUF MIA 29.50
14 Albert Okwuegbunam TE DEN SF 21.75
15 Pat Freiermuth TE PIT CLE 16.75
16 Evan Engram TE JAX LAC 20.50
17 David Njoku TE CLE PIT 21.25
18 Hayden Hurst TE CIN NYJ 24.75
19 Juwan Johnson TE NO CAR 21.50
20 Tyler Conklin TE NYJ CIN 19.75
21 Cole Kmet TE CHI HOU 21.75
  • Despite two down weeks, I'm still not giving up on Kyle Pitts, as he's running a lot of routes, and the Seahawks defense does not match up well on him. This is still a big four at the top, with Travis Kelce sort of in a tier of his own each week.
  • George Kittle was added to these rankings on Thursday, as it now appears he will play against Denver this weekend. It's unclear how much he'll mix into game action, but I assume he'll be a full-go. I'd say he's in his own tier, between the big four up top, and the rest of the underwhelming mid-range TE1 options. The switch from Trey Lance back to Jimmy Garoppolo should help all pass-catchers in this offense, but Kittle has been a frustrating fantasy football start the past several years due to his elite blocking abilities.
  • Dallas Goedert and Zach Ertz form the next tier, as Goedert has at least 60 yards in both games, while Ertz is fresh off an 11 target performance, where he caught eight balls for 75 yards, and had three red zone targets (two of them in the end zone).
  • The two Los Angeles TEs, Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett, are the next tier. Higbee has at least nine targets in both games, and should be a weekly fantasy starter at least until Van Jefferson returns. Everett has a great role with the Chargers, and has seen red zone targets in both weeks. Everett looks like a WR with the ball in his hands, and half of his Week 2 yardage came after the catch.
  • Evan Engram is my favorite stash among the guys towards the bottom of my rankings. The No. 2 receiving role in Jacksonville is up in the air after Christian Kirk, and Engram led the team in Week 2 with eight targets and seven receptions. He has relegated Dan Arnold to only a few routes per game, and is still probably the fastest starter among the receivers on offense.

These Week 3 fantasy rankings will be updated throughout the week. Make sure to check this post each day this week as the news hits.

Tags: 2022 NFL season, fantasy, Fantasy Football See More

Josh Larky

Josh Larky is the Director of Fantasy and Gambling at The 33rd Team.  He joins us with a unique blend of educational and professional experience.

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