Week 3 Flex Rankings: The Need for Shaheed

My favorite fantasy football league that I play in is a Roto league. Yes, there are Roto leagues in fantasy football. This league counts passing yards, rushing yards, and receiving yards as categories. It also has categories for passing average, rushing average, and receiving average. A player like Brandon Aiyuk (75 receptions, 1,342 receiving yards, 17.9 yards per catch) was more valuable last year than A.J. Brown (106 receptions, 1,456 receiving yards, 13.7 yards per catch). The tradeoff of Aiyuk’s 4.2 yards per catch advantage was worth more than the extra 114 yards Brown provided throughout the season. By the way, if someone could create an algorithm to quantify this for me, I would be eternally grateful.

This format may seem strange to most fantasy players, especially those who have picked up the hobby recently. More and more leagues employ PPR scoring than ever before, and this league is sort of an anti-PPR format in that respect. But this league also paid for most of my wedding, so go ahead and scoff.

When I updated my Flex rankings before Week 1, I ranked Rashid Shaheed outside the top 100 overall. If I were doing preseason Roto rankings, Shaheed would have been higher. Shaheed flashed the ability to make big plays last year. However, consistency was an issue. Shaheed played in 15 games in 2023 and was about as “all or nothing” as you can get. He had 63 or more yards six times and scored a touchdown in five of those six. But Shaheed had 36 or fewer yards nine times and did not score in any of those games. The result was five weekly finishes inside the top 20 and 10 weekly finishes outside the top 50. Fast forward to this year. Shaheed enters Week 3 as the overall WR7 in Half-PPR scoring. But how much has his situation changed when compared to last year?

In general, Shaheed is much more involved in the Saints’ offense than he was a year ago. Shaheed played on 57.5 percent of offensive snaps last year. That number is up to 67.2 percent this season. And his 23.1-percent target share is significantly higher than last year’s 15 percent mark. At the same time, Shaheed has only run 36 routes and has been targeted nine times in two games. For reference, Amari Cooper has run 89 routes and has 17 targets.

Part of Shaheed’s lack of volume stems from New Orleans cruising to two early victories. The Saints have led by at least 16 points for the entire second half in both of their games so far. That has reduced the need to pass the ball very often. The good news is that Shaheed should see more volume going forward. The bad news is that will likely be accompanied by a corresponding decrease in efficiency. I think it is fair to say that my preseason rank of Shaheed at WR59 will probably end up being too low. But I think it is also fair to say that Shaheed will not finish the year as a WR1. Then again, with all of the injuries befalling the position, who knows?

Shaheed certainly has a matchup in Week 3 that new Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak can exploit. The Philadelphia Eagles have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers through two weeks. They also allowed the most fantasy points to the position a year ago. Kubiak is using pre-snap motion to identify mismatches in coverage. He is also using the play-action pass to take shots down the field. Such was the case with Shaheed’s 70-yard touchdown last week. I currently have Rashid Shaheed ranked as my overall WR27 and at 62 overall in my Week 3 Flex rankings.

Below you will find the rest of my Week 3 Flex rankings. As always, these are based on Half-PPR scoring. They are also subject to change between now and Sunday. I will update these rankings on Sunday morning here.

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Check out all of our Week 3 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex

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Week 3 Flex Rankings for Fantasy Football

RANK	PLAYER	TEAM	POS	OPP
1	Jordan Mason	SF	RB1	@LAR
2	Breece Hall	NYJ	RB2	NE
3	CeeDee Lamb	DAL	WR1	BLT
4	Bijan Robinson	ATL	RB3	KC
5	Jonathan Taylor	IND	RB4	CHI
6	Saquon Barkley	PHI	RB5	@NO
7	Ja'Marr Chase	CIN	WR2	WAS
8	Justin Jefferson	MIN	WR3	HST
9	Kyren Williams	LAR	RB6	SF
10	Alvin Kamara	NO	RB7	PHI
11	Amon-Ra St. Brown	DET	WR4	@ARZ
12	Jahmyr Gibbs	DET	RB8	@ARZ
13	Davante Adams	LV	WR5	CAR
14	Nico Collins	HST	WR6	@MIN
15	DeVonta Smith	PHI	WR7	@NO
16	Rashee Rice	KC	WR8	@ATL
17	Derrick Henry	BLT	RB9	@DAL
18	Josh Jacobs	GB	RB10	@TEN
19	James Cook	BUF	RB11	JAX
20	Brandon Aiyuk	SF	WR9	@LAR
21	Tyreek Hill	MIA	WR10	@SEA
22	De'Von Achane	MIA	RB12	@SEA
23	Aaron Jones	MIN	RB13	HST
24	Tony Pollard	TEN	RB14	GB
25	Marvin Harrison Jr.	ARZ	WR11	DET
26	James Conner	ARZ	RB15	DET
27	Mike Evans	TB	WR12	DEN
28	Garrett Wilson	NYJ	WR13	NE
29	Chris Olave	NO	WR14	PHI
30	D.K. Metcalf	SEA	WR15	MIA
31	Rachaad White	TB	RB16	DEN
32	Rhamondre Stevenson	NE	RB17	@NYJ
33	Travis Etienne Jr.	JAX	RB18	@BUF
34	Zack Moss	CIN	RB19	WAS
35	Joe Mixon	HST	RB20	@MIN
36	Zach Charbonnet	SEA	RB21	MIA
37	Drake London	ATL	WR16	KC
38	Chris Godwin	TB	WR17	DEN
39	D'Andre Swift	CHI	RB22	@IND
40	Zay Flowers	BLT	WR18	@DAL
41	Trey McBride	ARZ	TE1	DET
42	David Montgomery	DET	RB23	@ARZ
43	Malik Nabers	NYG	WR19	@CLV
44	Kenneth Walker III	SEA	RB24	MIA
45	Brian Robinson	WAS	RB25	@CIN
46	Zamir White	LV	RB26	CAR
47	Devin Singletary	NYG	RB27	@CLV
48	Travis Kelce	KC	TE2	@ATL
49	Jerome Ford	CLV	RB28	NYG
50	George Kittle	SF	TE3	@LAR
51	Amari Cooper	CLV	WR20	NYG
52	J.K. Dobbins	LAC	RB29	@PIT
53	Michael Pittman Jr.	IND	WR21	CHI
54	Stefon Diggs	HST	WR22	@MIN
55	Chuba Hubbard	CAR	RB30	@LV
56	Tank Dell	HST	WR23	@MIN
57	DJ Moore	CHI	WR24	@IND
58	Najee Harris	PIT	RB31	LAC
59	Jameson Williams	DET	WR25	@ARZ
60	Jaylen Waddle	MIA	WR26	@SEA
61	Sam LaPorta	DET	TE4	@ARZ
62	Rashid Shaheed	NO	WR27	PHI
63	Diontae Johnson	CAR	WR28	@LV
64	Javonte Williams	DEN	RB32	@TB
65	Xavier Worthy	KC	WR29	@ATL
66	Jaxon Smith-Njigba	SEA	WR30	MIA
67	Calvin Ridley	TEN	WR31	GB
68	George Pickens	PIT	WR32	LAC
69	Terry McLaurin	WAS	WR33	@CIN
70	Demarcus Robinson	LAR	WR34	SF
71	Samaje Perine	KC	RB33	@ATL
72	Courtland Sutton	DEN	WR35	@TB
73	Mark Andrews	BLT	TE5	@DAL
74	Tee Higgins	CIN	WR36	WAS
75	Kyle Pitts	ATL	TE6	KC
76	Brock Bowers	LV	TE7	CAR
77	Tyler Lockett	SEA	WR37	MIA
78	Jauan Jennings	SF	WR38	@LAR
79	Christian Kirk	JAX	WR39	@BUF
80	D'Onta Foreman	CLV	RB34	NYG
81	Dalton Kincaid	BUF	TE8	JAX
82	Khalil Shakir	BUF	WR40	JAX
83	Tyler Johnson	LAR	WR41	SF
84	Gabe Davis	JAX	WR42	@BUF
85	Jerry Jeudy	CLV	WR43	NYG
86	Ezekiel Elliott	DAL	RB35	BLT
87	Brian Thomas Jr.	JAX	WR44	@BUF
88	Ladd McConkey	LAC	WR45	@PIT
89	Carson Steele	KC	RB36	@ATL
90	Brandin Cooks	DAL	WR46	BLT
91	Austin Ekeler	WAS	RB37	@CIN
92	Dallas Goedert	PHI	TE9	@NO
93	Jakobi Meyers	LV	WR47	CAR
94	Keon Coleman	BUF	WR48	JAX
95	Jordan Addison	MIN	WR49	HST
96	Darnell Mooney	ATL	WR50	KC
97	Keenan Allen	CHI	WR51	@IND
98	Gus Edwards	LAC	RB38	@PIT
99	Jake Ferguson	DAL	TE10	BLT
100	Jaylen Warren	PIT	RB39	LAC
101	Jayden Reed	GB	WR52	@TEN
102	Tyjae Spears	TEN	RB40	GB
103	DeAndre Hopkins	TEN	WR53	GB
104	Adam Thielen	CAR	WR54	@LV
105	Evan Engram	JAX	TE11	@BUF
106	Rico Dowdle	DAL	RB41	BLT
107	Joshua Palmer	LAC	WR55	@PIT
108	Raheem Mostert	MIA	RB42	@SEA
109	Alexander Mattison	LV	RB43	CAR
110	Chase Brown	CIN	RB44	WAS
111	Jordan Whittington	LAR	WR56	SF
112	Taysom Hill	NO	TE12	PHI
113	Isaiah Likely	BLT	TE13	@DAL
114	Ty Chandler	MIN	RB45	HST
115	Jaleel McLaughlin	DEN	RB46	@TB
116	Hunter Henry	NE	TE14	@NYJ
117	Rome Odunze	CHI	WR57	@IND
118	Bucky Irving	TB	RB47	DEN
119	Wan'Dale Robinson	NYG	WR58	@CLV
120	Josh Reynolds	DEN	WR59	@TB
121	Ray-Ray McCloud III	ATL	WR60	KC
122	Quentin Johnston	LAC	WR61	@PIT
123	David Njoku	CLV	TE15	NYG
124	Colby Parkinson	LAR	TE16	SF
125	Romeo Doubs	GB	WR62	@TEN
126	Dalton Schultz	HST	TE17	@MIN
127	Miles Sanders	CAR	RB48	@LV
128	Andrei Iosivas	CIN	WR63	WAS
129	Elijah Moore	CLV	WR64	NYG
130	Michael Wilson	ARZ	WR65	DET
131	Pat Freiermuth	PIT	TE18	LAC
132	Mike Gesicki	CIN	TE19	WAS
133	Allen Lazard	NYJ	WR66	NE
134	Mike Williams	NYJ	WR67	NE
135	Jahan Dotson	PHI	WR68	@NO
136	Jalen McMillan	TB	WR69	DEN
137	Darius Slayton	NYG	WR70	@CLV
138	Rashod Bateman	BLT	WR71	@DAL
139	Jalen Tolbert	DAL	WR72	BLT
140	Zach Ertz	WAS	TE20	@CIN
141	Tyler Allgeier	ATL	RB49	KC
142	Curtis Samuel	BUF	WR73	JAX
143	Alec Pierce	IND	WR74	CHI
144	Adonai Mitchell	IND	WR75	CHI
145	Antonio Gibson	NE	RB50	@NYJ
146	Noah Fant	SEA	TE21	MIA
147	Cade Otton	TB	TE22	DEN
148	Braelon Allen	NYJ	RB51	NE
149	Justice Hill	BLT	RB52	@DAL
150	Greg Dortch	ARZ	WR76	DET
151	Tyler Conklin	NYJ	TE23	NE
152	Tutu Atwell	LAR	WR77	SF
153	Greg Dulcich	DEN	TE24	@TB
154	Xavier Legette	CAR	WR78	@LV
155	Christian Watson	GB	WR79	@TEN
156	Tyler Boyd	TEN	WR80	GB
157	Josh Downs	IND	WR81	CHI
158	Cole Kmet	CHI	TE25	@IND
159	Jamaal Williams	NO	RB53	PHI
160	Demario Douglas	NE	WR82	@NYJ
161	Juwan Johnson	NO	TE26	PHI
162	Marvin Mims Jr.	DEN	WR83	@TB
163	Johnny Mundt	MIN	TE27	HST
164	Jalen Nailor	MIN	WR84	HST
165	Chigoziem Okonkwo	TEN	TE28	GB
166	Dontayvion Wicks	GB	WR85	@TEN
167	Ray Davis	BUF	RB54	JAX
168	Hayden Hurst	LAC	TE29	@PIT
169	Tank Bigsby	JAX	RB55	@BUF
170	Jonnu Smith	MIA	TE30	@SEA
171	Trey Benson	ARZ	RB56	DET
172	Ja'Lynn Polk	NE	WR86	@NYJ
173	Chris Conley	SF	WR87	@LAR
174	Justin Watson	KC	WR88	@ATL
175	K.J. Osborn	NE	WR89	@NYJ
176	Jonathan Mingo	CAR	WR90	@LV
177	Khalil Herbert	CHI	RB57	@IND
178	Kyle Juszczyk	SF	RB58	@LAR
179	Kalif Raymond	DET	WR91	@ARZ
180	Dyami Brown	WAS	WR92	@CIN
181	Tre Tucker	LV	WR93	CAR
182	Emanuel Wilson	GB	RB59	@TEN
183	Devaughn Vele	DEN	WR94	@TB
184	Foster Moreau	NO	TE31	PHI
185	Van Jefferson	PIT	WR95	LAC
186	Blake Corum	LAR	RB60	SF
187	Britain Covey	PHI	WR96	@NO
188	Kylen Granson	IND	TE32	CHI
189	Dameon Pierce	HST	RB61	@MIN
190	Tucker Kraft	GB	TE33	@TEN
191	Gerald Everett	CHI	TE34	@IND
192	Luke Musgrave	GB	TE35	@TEN
193	Ja'Tavion Sanders	CAR	TE36	@LV
194	Luke McCaffrey	WAS	WR97	@CIN
195	Theo Johnson	NYG	TE37	@CLV
196	Will Dissly	LAC	TE38	@PIT
197	Michael Mayer	LV	TE39	CAR
198	Noah Brown	WAS	WR98	@CIN
199	Ty Johnson	BUF	RB62	JAX
200	Tyquan Thornton	NE	WR99	@NYJ
201	Noah Gray	KC	TE40	@ATL
202	Tommy Tremble	CAR	TE41	@LV
203	Tyrone Tracy	NYG	RB63	@CLV

Make sure to check out all of our Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!