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Fantasy Football: Week 3 Rankings

Fantasy football is supposed to be fun, right? I don’t know about you, but I can’t say I signed up for all these injuries. It’s only Week 3, and already it feels like the only thing being exercised other than the IR list is owners’ patience. Stay calm, though, the weekly rankings march on. Just an FYI, there are some guys missing this week, and a bunch more guys that COULD be missing come Sunday.

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Quarterbacks

The quarterback list basically remains unchanged this week, and in fact, it’s probably the most injury-free position going. I’m sure Jaguars fans would take a Blake Bortles injury (kidding!), but this could finally be the week we gain an understanding of who and what Cam Newton is all about. Weeks 1 and 2 have been entirely unconvincing, and so is Cam’s 59.6% completion rate. So far Brian Hoyer and Trevor Siemian have completed more passes than the 2015 MVP, and after Newton missed a wide open Christian McCaffrey in the end zone last week, it’s clear he’s simply trying to throw the ball too hard. Chalk it up to post shoulder surgery rust, but Newton and the Panthers need to show they can hang with the big dogs in the NFC when they take on the Saints at home this week.

 Rank  Player  Team  Opponent
 1  Aaron Rodgers  GB  vs. CIN
 2  Tom Brady  NE  vs. HOU
 3  Matt Ryan   ATL  @DET
 4  Drew Brees  NO  @CAR
 5  Russell Wilson   SEA  @TEN
 6  Derek Carr  OAK  @WAS
 7  Cam Newton (Q)  CAR  vs. NO
 8  Kirk Cousins  WAS  vs. OAK
 9  Dak Prescott (Q)  DAL  @ARI
 10  Ben Roethlisberger   PIT  @CHI
 11  Jameis Winston  TB  @MIN
 12  Marcus Mariota  TEN  vs. SEA
 13  Matthew Stafford  DET  vs. ATL
 14  Carson Wentz  PHI  vs. NYG
 15  Joe Flacco  BAL  @JAC
 16  Alex Smith  KC  @LAC
 17  Andy Dalton   CIN  @GB
 18  Carson Palmer  ARI  vs. DAL
 19  Philip Rivers  LAC  vs. KC
 20  Tyrod Taylor  BUF  vs. DEN
 21  Eli Manning   NYG  @PHI
 22  Sam Bradford (Q)  MIN  vs. TB
 23  Jared Goff  LAR  @SF
 24  Jay Cutler  MIA  vs. NYJ
 25  Trevor Siemian  DEN  @BUF
 26  DeShaun Watson  HOU  @NE
 27  DeShone Kizer  CLE  @IND
 28  Jacoby Brissett  IND  vs. CLE
 29  Brian Hoyer  SF  vs. LAR
 30  Blake Bortles  JAC  vs. BAL
 31  Josh McCown   NYJ  vs. MIA
 32  Mike Glennon  CHI  vs. PIT

Running Backs

There’s plenty to digest here. Week 2’s standout Chris Carson remains an interesting waiver wire option for owners, but so does Derrick Henry on the back of a big 92-yard, one-TD performance. DeMarco Murray has some injury concerns of his own, but “concern” certainly is the operative word for owners right now. Murray has managed just one run of 15 yards or more in the first two weeks and has seen just four targets in the air. As always, err on the side of “it’s still early,” but it really is becoming harder and harder to own the veteran with Henry showing promise, and other interesting players like Carson and Tarik Cohen emerging.

 Rank  Player Team   Opponent
1  Le’Veon Bell  PIT  @CHI
2  DeVonta Freeman   ATL   @DET
3  Ezekiel Elliott  DAL   @ARI
4  Kareem Hunt  KC   @LAC
5  Melvin Gordon   LAC  vs. KC
6  Marshawn Lynch  OAK  @WAS
7  Todd Gurley   LAR  vs. WAS
8  Leonard Fournette  JAC  vs. BAL
9  LeSean McCoy  BUF  @CAR
10  Jay Ajayi (Q)  MIA  @NYJ
11  Jordan Howard (Q)  CHI  vs. PIT
12  Lamar Miller  HOU  @NE
13  Dalvin Cook   MIN  vs. TB
14  Christian McCaffrey  CAR  vs. NO
15  Carlos Hyde  SF  vs. LAR
16  C.J. Anderson  DEN  @BUF
17  Terrance West (Q)  BAL  @JAC
18  Ty Montgomery   GB  vs. CIN
19  DeMarco Murray (Q)  TEN  vs. SEA
20  Mike Gillislee  NE  vs. HOU
21  Isaiah Crowell   CLE  @IND
22  Mark Ingram   NO  @CAR
23  Jacquizz Rodgers  TB  @MIN 
24  Frank Gore  IND  vs. CLE
25  Bilal Powell   NYJ  vs. MIA
26  Jonathan Stewart  CAR  vs. NO 
27  Theo Riddick   DET  vs. ATL
28  Tarik Cohen  CHI  vs. PIT
29  Derrick Henry  TEN  vs. SEA
30  Ameer Abdullah  DET  vs. ATL
31  Chris Carson   SEA  @TEN
32  James White   NE  vs. HOU
33  Matt Forte  NYJ  vs. MIA
34  Tevin Coleman   ATL   @DET
35  Paul Perkins   NYG  @PHI
36  Chris Johnson   ARI  vs. DAL
37  Duke Johnson Jr.   CLE  @IND
38  LeGarrette Blount  PHI  vs. NYG
39  Jamaal Charles  DEN  @BUF
40  Kerwynn Williams  ARI  vs. DAL
41  Javorious Allen  MIN vs. TB
42  Rob Kelley (Q)  WAS  vs. OAK
43  Samaje Perine  OAK  @WAS
44  Darren Sproles  PHI  vs. NYG
45  Adrian Peterson    NO  @CAR
46  Andre Ellington   ARI  vs. DAL
47  Alvin Kamara  NO  @CAR
48  C.J. Prosise  SEA  @TEN
49  Shane Vereen  NYG  vs. PHI
50  Rex Burkhead  NE  vs. HOU
51  Peyton Barber   TB @MIN 
52  Giovani Bernard  CIN  @GB
53  Mike Tolbert  BUF  @CAR
54  Charles Sims  TB  @MIN
55  Marlon Mack  IND  vs. CLE
56  Jerrick McKinnon   MIN  vs. TB
57  Eddie Lacy  SEA  vs. SF
58  Charcandrick West  KC  @LAC
59  Thomas Rawls  SEA  @TEN
60  Chris Ivory    JAC  vs. BAL

Wide Receivers

There are some interesting names toward the bottom that could easily leapfrog a whole bunch of guys if things keep going their way. Jaron Brown was massive for the Cardinals against the Colts last Sunday, posting 73 yards on just four receptions. Brown was a popular sleeper pick entering the season, and John Brown’s injury certainly opens up a world of opportunity. By the way, speaking of opportunity, big props to Keenan Allen for the making the most of his. There’s not much to be said about the Chargers at the minute, but there is a lot to be made about the targets Allen is seeing. Phillip Rivers has thrown his way 19 times for 135 yards so far this season, and already, Allen is on pace for career highs. It’s great to see he hasn’t faded into obscurity after some freak injuries.

Rank  Player  Team  Opponent
1  Julio Jones    ATL  @DET
2  Antonio Brown   PIT  @CHI
3  A.J. Green  CIN  @GB
4  Mike Evans TB  @MIN
5  Odell Beckham Jr. (Q)  NYG  @PHI
6  Jordy Nelson (Q)  GB  vs. CIN
7  Michael Thomas    NO  @CAR
8  Brandin Cooks  NE  vs. HOU
9  Dez Bryant  DAL  @ARI
10  Doug Baldwin  SEA  @TEN
11  Amari Cooper  OAK  @WAS
12  Keenan Allen   LAC  @KC
13  Demaryius Thomas  DEN   @BUF
14  Larry Fitzgerald   ARI  vs. DAL
15  Terrelle Pryor  WAS  vs. OAK
16  DeAndre Hopkins  HOU  @NE
17  Tyreek Hill   KC  @LAC
18  Devante Adams  GB  vs. CIN
19  Michael Crabtree  OAK  @WAS
20  Emmanuel Sanders  DEN  @BUF
21  Alshon Jeffery  PHI  vs. NYG
22  Stefon Diggs  MIN  vs. TB
23  Martavis Bryant  PIT  @CHI
24  Golden Tate  DET  vs. ATL
25  Jarvis Landry (Q)  MIA  @ NYJ
26  T.Y. Hilton   IND  vs. CLE
27  Sammy Watkins    LAR  @SF
28  Kelvin Benjamin (Q)  CAR  vs. NO
29  Jeremy Maclin   BAL  @JAC
30  Pierre Garcon   SF  vs. LAR
31  DeVante Parker  MIA  @NYJ
32  Jamison Crowder  WAS   vs. OAK
33  Adam Thielen  MIN  vs. TB
34  Chris Hogan (Q)  NE  vs. HOU
35  Nelson Agholor  PHI  vs. NYG
36  Randall Cobb (Q)  GB  vs. CIN
37  DeSean Jackson  TB  @MIN
38  Ted Ginn Jr.   NO  @CAR
39  Jordan Matthews  BUF  vs. DEN
40  Jaron Brown   ARI  vs. DAL
41  Brandon Marshall   NYG  @PHI
42  Cooper Kupp   LAR   @SF
43  J.J. Nelson  ARI  vs. DAL
44  Marvin Jones  DET  vs. ATL
45  Eric Decker  TEN  vs. SEA
46  Terrance Williams   DAL  vs. ARI
47  Jermaine Kearse  NYJ  vs. MIA 
48  Devin Funchess  CAR  vs. NO
49  Mohamed Sanu   ATL  @DET
50  Tyler Lockett  SEA  @TEN
51  Rishard Matthews  TEN  vs. SEA 
52  Zay Jones  BUF  vs. DEN

Tight Ends

Once you get past the initial anger of Greg Olsen’s injury, you’ll realize this cloud has a silver lining. If you’re stuck on the waiver wire, Jack Doyle is one of your options. He posted 75 yards last week against the Cardinals, a team that completely shut down tight ends last season. David Njoku is also a name to watch. The Browns lost Corey Coleman to a broken hand (again) on Sunday. With Kenny Britt looking out of sorts, Njoku could be in for some serious targets.

 Rank   Player  Team  Opponent
1  Travis Kelce  KC  @LAC
2  Rob Gronkowski (Q)  NE  vs. HOU
3  Jordan Reed (Q)  WAS  vs. OAK
4  Zach Ertz  PHI  vs. NYG
5  Jimmy Graham (Q)  SEA  vs. SF
6  Kyle Rudolph  MIN  vs. TB
7  Delanie Walker  TEN  vs. SEA
8  Coby Fleener  NO  @CAR
9  Martellus Bennett  GB  vs. GB
10  Evan Engram  DET  vs. ATL
11  Jack Doyle  IND  vs. CLE
12  Austin Hooper  ATL  @DET
13  Jared Cook   OAK  @WAS
14  Jason Witten  DAL  @ARI
14  Tyler Eifert (Q)  CIN   @GB
15  Charles Clay  BUF  vs. DEM
16  Cameron Brate  TB  @MIN
17  Hunter Henry   LAC  vs. KC
18  Julius Thomas  MIA  @NYJ
19  Jesse James   PIT  @MIA
20  Antonio Gates  LAC  vs. KC
21  Zach Miller    CHI  vs. PIT
22  Ben Watson  BAL  @JAC
23  David Njoku  CLE  @IND
24  George Kittle  SF  vs. LAR
25  O.J. Howard   TB  @MIN

Defense/ST

Two AFC South teams took a big hit this week as the Texans and the Jaguars fall from the Top 10. Instead, we welcome back the Rams, as they take on the 49ers on Thursday. San Francisco allowed four hits last week against the Seahawks, but Brian Hoyer still managed to throw for a lousy 99 yards. This could be a big day for the 28% of owners invested in the Rams.

 Rank  Team   Opponent
 1  Denver Broncos   @BUF
 2  Seattle Seahawks  vs. TEN
 3  Baltimore Ravens  @JAC
 4  Oakland Raiders  @WAS
 5  Kansas City Chiefs  @LAC
 6  Pittsburgh Steelers  @CHI
 7  Carolina Panthers  vs. NO
 8  Arizona Cardinals   vs. DAL
 9  Jacksonville Jaguars  vs. BAL
 10  Los Angeles Rams  @SF

Kickers

No one’s safe anymore. Justin Tucker missed a field goal last week, but you still have to like him against the Jaguars D/ST. I’m gradually growing more and more impressed with Dan Bailey. He kicked four field goals last week, two of which were from 40 yards or more. Blair Walsh also jumps into the Top 10 against the Titans. He did miss an extra point last Sunday, though, the same old kryptonite that cost him a job in Minnesota last season.

Rank  Player  Team  Opponent
 1  Justin Tucker  BAL  @JAC
 2  Matt Bryant  ATL  @DET
 3  Dan Bailey  DAL  @ARI
 4  Stephen Gostkowski  NE  vs. HOU
 5  Mason Crosby  GB  vs. CIN
 6  Will Lutz  NO  @CAR
 7  Matt Prater  DET  vs. ATL
 8  Blair Walsh  SEA  @TEN
 9  Graham Gano  CAR  vs. NO
 10  Giorgio Tavvechio  OAK  @WAS
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