Week 3 Flex Rankings for Fantasy Football

Week 2 featured some wild games and blowup fantasy performances. Six Flex players had at least 30 points in half-PPR scoring last week. However, scoring was indeed very top-heavy when it came to Flex options. Only eight other players tallied at least 20 points, the vast majority of whom were wide receivers. Wide receivers accounted for 11 of the 14 20-plus point performances last week. Several were rookies or second-year receivers, which is a theme we have seen in recent seasons. It seems we continue to undervalue incoming wideouts every year, and a lot of them hit the ground running. Several of these young wide receivers are featured in my Week 3 Flex rankings and they should be started with confidence this week.

Running Back Notes

With several days until gameday, there are some running backs whose status for Week 3 is not yet clear. I currently have players like D’Andre Swift, Alvin Kamara, and James Conner in Flex territory, but you know the deal with these guys. If they’re playing, you’re starting them. Kamara practiced on Wednesday while Swift and Conner did not. I think Conner is the least likely of the three to suit up on Sunday. He also has the most difficult matchup among this trio. Fantasy managers should treat Swift and Kamara as RB1s if they are good to go by the weekend. Conner would probably be more of an RB2. If Conner were to miss this game, Darrel Williams and Eno Benjamin would likely team up to fill in against the Rams.

One of the feel-good stories of the first two weeks is the resurgence of James Robinson of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Well, unless you are heavily invested in Travis Etienne, I suppose. Robinson is the overall RB6 through two games, while Etienne checks in at RB36. This week, the duo will face the Los Angeles Chargers, who have allowed opposing backs to gash them at a 5.79 yards per carry clip. Robinson handled a whopping 25 touches last week, so he is the preferred option. As things currently stand, I would start Robinson as a Flex or possibly a low-end RB2. Some managers who drafted Etienne may be forced to start him depending on their roster construction. Perhaps they can hang their hats on the Chargers having allowed two receiving touchdowns to opposing backs this year. However, I do not recommend Etienne as a Week 3 Flex.

One of the players whose value has been heavily debated in recent weeks is Dameon Pierce. His draft stock soared throughout the summer, and managers were consistently drafting him in the first six rounds by the end of the preseason. Many fantasy managers were worried after Week 1 in which Pierce received just 12 opportunities compared to 22 for Rex Burkhead. However, last week we saw a stark contrast in how Houston utilized their backs. They gave Pierce 16 touches compared to just two for Burkhead. It is a frustrating position for fantasy managers to be in because the Texans have an excellent matchup this week against the Chicago Bears. Chicago is one of three teams who have allowed at least 300 yards and two touchdowns to opposing running backs this season. I ranked Pierce ahead of Burkhead, but currently have both just outside of Flex territory.

Wide Receiver Notes

Chargers star receiver Keenan Allen missed last week’s game due to a hamstring injury suffered in Week 1. Coming off a short week, there was virtually no time for Allen to heal before last Thursday’s game. Allen was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday. As is the case with Swift and Kamara, I am kind of hedging a bit with my ranking of Keenan Allen until his status for Week 3 becomes clear. If he does play, he is an obvious start against Jacksonville. Jaguars slot corner Darious Williams has earned a 41.3 grade according to Pro Football Focus so far this season. That places him 98th among 103 qualified corners.

Through two games, the Washington Commanders have two fantasy WR1s. If that isn’t strange enough, neither one of them is named Terry McLaurin. Instead, Curtis Samuel and Jahan Dotson enter Week 3 as top-12 wideouts. Samuel’s issue throughout his career has been about injuries and availability, not talent. Samuel has seen a total of 25 opportunities already this year. Based on that usage, I would start Samuel in all formats until further notice. He makes for an excellent Flex for those who are flush with wide receivers. Dotson has shown his playmaking ability with three touchdowns in his first two NFL games. However, his usage (11 total opportunities) is a bit more sporadic. I currently do not consider Dotson as a legitimate Week 3 Flex option, and I have him just outside my top 50 receivers.

McLaurin is still the Washington wideout I would prefer among the three to have going forward. But I do believe that the distance between him and the others is smaller than I had previously thought. Samuel will have a role for as long as he can remain healthy. And Dotson and Logan Thomas will continue to siphon targets away from McLaurin as well. I would not rush to sell McLaurin, but I do think he could be in for another subpar week against Darius Slay. Slay held Justin Jefferson in check in Philadelphia’s win against Minnesota on Monday night. I would still recommend starting McLaurin depending on your other options. Just temper expectations this week. Things should open up a bit for McLaurin in the coming weeks with matchups against Dallas and Tennessee on the horizon.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiving corps is in a state of flux heading into Week 3. Chris Godwin did not practice on Wednesday and will most likely sit another week. Julio Jones may be in the same boat. And of course, the NFL suspended Mike Evans after his part in the brawl on Sunday with Marshon Lattimore Aside from Evans, Russell Gage, and Breshad Perriman are the only Tampa Bay receivers to play in both games, and neither has been able to clear 50 total yards. I currently do not have any Bucs wideouts in the recommended Flex range. That may change depending on who is available come Sunday. But Tampa may just as well rely on their ground game against a Green Bay defense hemorrhaging 6.1 yards per carry to opposing backs thus far in 2022.

Tight End Notes

I have seven tight ends ranked consecutively in my Week 3 Flex rankings. I swear I did not do this on purpose, but I believe it illustrates that many tight ends outside of a chosen few are interchangeable fantasy pieces. And no, I do not consider Kyle Pitts to be among that group. Pitts’ usage and production have been bandied about as he enters Week 3 as the overall TE37 in half-PPR scoring. However, I still believe he is a must-start each week. His upside is far too high to ignore, especially given the state of the tight end position. Right now O.J. Howard and Taysom Hill are top-12 fantasy tight ends for the year. Sure, Pitts has been a disappointment so far, but his time will come sooner rather than later.

Week 3 Flex Rankings

More Week 3 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex Rankings