Fantasy Football Big Board: Complete PPR Player Rankings for Week 3

Two weeks into the 2022 fantasy football campaign, the season has already been a roller-coaster ride.

If you rostered Lamar Jackson of the Ravens or Jalen Hurts of the Eagles at quarterback, you're probably happy with how things have progressed. Ditto for Nick Chubb of the Browns and D'Andre Swift of the Lions at running back, or Miami Dolphins teammates Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle at wide receiver.

Teams with those players are likely humming right along.

However, if you drafted Tom Brady at quarterback, you're wondering when the Golden Boy will start throwing touching passes. You're anguishing over the dismal start for Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry. Lamenting the Invisible Man act from Dallas wideout CeeDee Lamb and Atlanta tight end Kyle Pitts.

Teams with those players aren't doing so well.

However, it's still early in the season. There's plenty of time to turn around 0-2 teams and time for 2-0 teams to take a turn for the worse. You have to stay on your toes. Be vigilant. Keep your head on a swivel. You have to be prepared for the week to come.

And there's no better way to do that than with these position-by-position PPR rankings and lists of matchups to target, ones to avoid and Week 3 sleeper plays.

Week 2 wasn't at all kind to the quarterback position in fantasy football.

First, there were the injuries. The first came on the first game of the week, as Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers took a shot during L.A.'s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs that left him with fractured cartilage in his ribs. His status for Sunday's matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars is uncertain.

Things got worse on Sunday. In the first quarter of their blowout win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers lost second-year signal-caller Trey Lance to a season-ending fractured ankle. Jimmy Garoppolo will resume his role as the team's starting quarterback, but he's not close to the fantasy option Lance is.

It's not just the injuries, either. Two weeks into the 2022 season, Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has yet to throw for 220 yards or toss multiple touchdown passes in a game. The No. 2 fantasy quarterback last year, Brady currently ranks 27th at his position in fantasy points.

GOOD MATCHUPS

Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings (vs. DET) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,700]

Cousins and the Vikings offense have looked considerably better under new head coach Kevin O' Connell, and now he gets a favorable fantasy matchup—the Lions rank third in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks in 2022 and were ninth in that category last season. Put last week's meltdown aside—this game's at 1 p.m.

Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (at WAS) [DraftKings DFS Value: $7,600]

It's admittedly still early in the season, but Hurts' ability to do damage with his legs has made him one of fantasy's best values under center for the second successive season. Now he gets a Commanders defense that led the league in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks last season.

BAD MATCHUPS

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (vs. TB) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,400]

After a lousy Week 1, Rodgers rebounded with 234 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns in Week 2. However, the Packers offense is running through the Green Bay running backs, and this week brings a matchup with a Buccaneers team that hasn't been a favorable matchup for quarterbacks.

Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (vs. BUF) {DraftKings DFS Value: $6,100]

Tagovailoa was the star of Week 2 under center, shredding the Baltimore Ravens to the tune of 469 passing yards and half a dozen touchdown passes. It was a great game, but now Tagovailoa faces a much stiffer test in the league's No. 1 defense from last season.

SLEEPER

Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks (vs. SEA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,000]

Smith admittedly looked awful against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2, but the week before against the Denver Broncos Smith tossed a pair of touchdown passes. The Falcons have been kind to opposing quarterbacks dating back to last year—Atlanta allowed the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks last year and isn't faring much better in 2022.

WEEK 3 QUARTERBACK RANKINGS

1. Josh Allen, BUF (at MIA)

2. Patrick Mahomes, KC (at IND)

3. Lamar Jackson, BAL (at NE)

4. Jalen Hurts, PHI (at WAS)

5. Justin Herbert, LAC (vs. JAX) [INJURED]

6. Kyler Murray, AZ (vs. LAR)

7. Matthew Stafford, LAR (at AZ)

8. Joe Burrow, CIN (at NYJ)

9. Kirk Cousins, MIN (vs. DET)

10. Derek Carr, LV (at TEN)

11. Russell Wilson, DEN (at SF)

12. Aaron Rodgers, GB (at TB)

13. Tom Brady, TB (vs. GB)

14. Carson Wentz, WAS (vs. PHI)

15. Tua Tagovailoa, MIA (vs. BUF)

16. Marcus Mariota, ARL (at SEA)

17. Jared Goff, DET (at MIN)

18. Trevor Lawrence, JAX (at LAC)

19. Jameis Winston, NO (at CAR)

20. Matt Ryan, IND (vs. KC)

21. Justin Fields, CHI (vs. HOU)

22. Ryan Tannehill, TEN (vs. LV)

23. Mac Jones, NE (vs. BAL)

24. Jimmy Garoppolo, SF (at DEN)

25. Baker Mayfield, CAR (vs. NO)

26. Geno Smith, SEA (vs. ATL)

27. Cooper Rush, DAL (at NYG)

28. Jacoby Brissett, CLE (vs. PIT)

29. Joe Flacco, NYJ (vs. CIN)

30. Davis Mills, HOU (at CHI)

Injuries are an unpleasant fact of life in fantasy football. Nowhere is that more prevalent than at running back. It's the nature of the position—players take a beating banging away between the tackles. All that contact takes a toll.

Even so, the list of walking wounded at the position just two weeks into the season is rather ridiculous.

Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints missed Week 2 with a rib injury that leaves his Week 3 status in doubt. James Conner of the Arizona Cardinals left Sunday's overtime win in Las Vegas with a bad ankle. D'Andre Swift of the Lions played through an ankle injury of his own against the Commanders—with impressive results. Leonard Fournette of the Buccaneers played through a balky hamstring against the Saints. Damien Harris of the Patriots hobbled off the field late in Sunday's win over the Steelers with a knee injury, although he brushed it off after the game.

Now, it's by no means certain that any of these backs will miss Week 3. All may wind up playing. But given that the only back on that list who has met expectations in the early going has been Swift, it's just one more thing for fantasy managers to worry about.

If you have any of those backs rostered, keep a close eye on the injury report as we move further into the week.

Good Matchups

Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals (at NYJ) [DraftKings DFS Value: $7,600]

The entire Bengals offense was in a funk last week against the Cowboys, and Cincinnati desperately needs a win in Week 3. One way to get the offense back on track would be to feed Mixon against a Jets defense that led the league in fantasy points surrendered to running backs in 2021.

David Montgomery, Chicago Bears (vs. HOU) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,900]

Montgomery was outstanding against the Packers in Week 2, rushing for 122 yards and gaining over eight yards per carry. Another big stat line could be in the offing—Houston is 29th in the league in run defense and allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs last season.

Bad Matchups

A.J. Dillon, Green Bay Packers (vs. TB) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,000]

Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon have become the focal points for the Green Bay offense. And Jones' passing-game usage gives him some fantasy floor even in a bad matchup. But the Buccaneers have long been a tough team to run on, making Dillon a shaky Week 3 RB2 play.

Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints (at CAR) [DraftKings DFS Value: $7,000]

The Panthers got lit up by Nick Chubb in Week 1, but Carolina held Saquon Barkley mostly in check in Week 2 and gave up the second-fewest fantasy points to running backs last season. Add in Kamara's injured ribs and a sluggish start to the season, and this doesn't seem like a matchup where Kamara will bust out of his slump.

Sleeper

Darrell Henderson, Jr., Los Angeles Rams (at AZ) [DraftKings DFS Value $5,700]

Given the carry-share between Henderson and Cam Akers and the sad-sack state of the Rams run game in general, putting much faith in Henderson isn't easy. But he's looked light-years better so far this season than Akers, and the Cardinals have had issues stopping the run in the early going.

WEEK 3 RUNNING BACK RANKINGS

1. Jonathan Taylor, IND (vs. KC)

2. Dalvin Cook, MIN (vs. DET)

3. Saquon Barkley, NYG (vs. DAL)

4. Christian McCaffrey, CAR (vs. NO)

5. Nick Chubb, CLE (vs. PIT)

6. Joe Mixon, CIN (at NYJ)

7. D'Andre Swift, DET (at MIN) [INJURED]

8. Austin Ekeler, LAC (vs. JAX)

9. Leonard Fournette, TB (vs. GB) [INJURED]

10. Najee Harris, PIT (at CLE)

11. Derrick Henry, TEN (vs. LV)

12. Alvin Kamara, NO (at CAR) [INJURED]

13. Cordarrelle Patterson, ATL (at SEA)

14. Javonte Williams, DEN (vs. SF)

15. Aaron Jones, GB (at TB)

16. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC (at IND)

17. Josh Jacobs, LV (at TEN)

18. Miles Sanders, PHI (at WAS)

19. Antonio Gibson, WAS (vs. PHI)

20. Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (at NYG)

21. David Montgomery, CHI (vs. HOU)

22. Jeff Wilson Jr., SF (at DEN)

23. Devin Singletary, BUF (vs. MIA)

24. James Robinson, JAC (at LAC)

25. AJ Dillon, GB (at TB)

26. James Conner, AX (vs. LAR) [INJURED]

27. Damien Harris, NE (vs. BAL) [INJURED]

28. Rashaad Penny, SEA (vs. ATL)

29. JK Dobbins, BAL (at NE) [INJURED]

30. Kareem Hunt, CLE (vs. PIT)

31. Jamaal Williams, DET (at MIN)

32. Michael Carter, NYJ (vs. CIN)

33. Tony Pollard, DAL (at NYG)

34. Travis Etienne Jr., JAX (at LAC)

35. Dameon Pierce, HOU (at CHI)

36. Darrell Henderson Jr., LAR (at AZ)

37. Rhamondre Stevenson, NE (vs. BAL)

38. Breece Hall, NYJ (vs. CIN)

39. Cam Akers, LAR (at AZ)

40. Melvin Gordon III, DEN (at SF)

41. Raheem Mostert, MIA (at BUF)

42. Khalil Herbert, CHI (vs. HOU)

43. Kenneth Walker III, SEA (vs. ATL)

44. Chase Edmonds, MIA (at BUF)

45. J.D. McKissic, WAS (vs. PHI)

46. Darrel Williams, AZ (vs. LAR)

47. Kenneth Gainwell, PHI (at WAS)

48. Nyheim Hines, IND (vs. KC)

49. Tyler Allgeier, ATL (at SEA)

50. Zack Moss, BUF (vs. MIA)

One of the biggest questions facing fantasy managers in 2022 was which wide receiver might be "the next Cooper Kupp"—the next wideout to go from mid-round pick to fantasy superstar.

It's only two weeks, but if early returns are any indication, we have an answer. The Cooper Kupp of 2022 is Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit Lions. In some respects, we should have seen it coming.

After a red-hot finish to the 2021 season, St. Brown's average draft position at Fantasy Football Calculator was 16th among wide receivers and 53rd overall. This year, St. Brown came off draft boards just a tad later—at WR21.

The pair shares more than just similar ADPs in their breakout season. Kupp was a league-winning value—and St. Brown is shaping up be one as well.

After erupting for nine catches for 116 yards and two scores against the Commanders Sunday (with a 58-yard run thrown in for good measure), St. Brown became the first player in NFL history to catch at least eight passes and score a touchdown in six straight games.

Two games into the 2022 season, St. Brown is a top-five fantasy option in terms of PPR points. Given his connection with Jared Goff, there's absolutely nothing to indicate things are going to change any time soon.

Good Matchups

DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks (vs. ATL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,100]

The Seahawks' passing game hasn't exactly been lighting the world on fire. But there has been the occasional sign of life, and this week the Seahawks face a Falcons team that gave up the sixth-most fantasy points to the position last season and has allowed the third-most through three games in 2022.

Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. JAX) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,700]

With Keenan Allen sidelined by a hamstring injury, we saw the kind of numbers that Williams can post when he's the unquestioned No. 1 wideout for the Bolts. But even if Allen is back for this matchup with the Jags, it's still favorable enough to make Williams a solid WR2 start.

Bad Matchups

Julio Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. GB) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,600]

Assuming that Jones (knee) can give it a go Sunday against the Packers, he should be a trendy fantasy play with Mike Evans serving a one-game suspension after his run-in with Marshon Lattimore. But a banged-up Jones facing Jaire Alexander all day is a disappointment waiting to happen.

Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders (vs. PHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,400]

McLaurin's start to the season has been neither great nor terrible—six catches for 133 yards and a touchdown over two games. He's more WR2 than WR1 in Week 3 against an Eagles defense that gave up the fewest fantasy points in the NFC to wide receivers last season.

Sleeper

Nelson Agholor, New England Patriots (vs. BAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,100]

When last we saw the Ravens secondary, they were getting roasted like a rotisserie chicken by the Miami Dolphins. Agholor caught six passes for 110 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers, and he's the best bet of the Patriots' receivers to get behind Baltimore's defense in Week 3.

WEEK 3 WIDE RECEIVER RANKINGS

1. Cooper Kupp, LAR (at AZ)

2. Justin Jefferson, MIN (vs. DET)

3. Ja'Marr Chase, CIN (at NYJ)

4. Davante Adams, LV (at TEN)

5. Stefon Diggs, BUF (at MIA)

6. A.J. Brown, PHI (at WAS)

7. Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET (at MIN)

8. Tyreek Hill, MIA (vs. BUF)

9. Deebo Samuel, SF (at DEN)

10. Jaylen Waddle, MIA (vs. BUF)

11. Keenan Allen, LAC (vs. JAX) [INJURED]

12. Diontae Johnson, PIT (at CLE)

13. CeeDee Lamb, DAL (at NYG)

14. Christian Kirk, JAX (at LAC)

15. Courtland Sutton, DEN (vs. SF)

16. Michael Thomas, NO (at CAR)

17. Terry McLaurin, WAS (vs. PHI)

18. Amari Cooper, CLE (vs. PIT)

19. Tee Higgins, CIN (at NYJ)

20. Michael Pittman Jr., IND (vs. KC) [INJURED]

21. Mike Williams, LAC (vs. JAX)

22. Brandin Cooks, HOU (at CHI)

23. D.J. Moore, CAR (vs. NO)

24. Gabriel Davis, BUF (at MIA) [INJURED]

25. Curtis Samuel, WAS (vs. PHI)

26. DK Metcalf, SEA (vs. ATL)

27. Marquise Brown, AZ (vs. LAR)

28. JuJu Smith-Schuster, KC (at IND)

29. Allen Robinson II, LAR (at AZ)

30. Adam Thielen, MIN (vs. DET)

31. Elijah Moore, NYJ (vs. CIN)

32. Rashod Bateman, BAL (at NE)

33. Julio Jones, TB (vs. GB) [INJURED]

34. Jerry Jeudy, DEN (vs. SF) [INJURED]

35. Allen Lazard, GB (at TB)

36. Garrett Wilson, NYJ (vs. CIN)

37. Jakobi Meyers, NE (vs. BAL)

38. Drake London, ATL (at SEA)

39. Tyler Lockett, SEA (vs. ATL)

40. Hunter Renfrow, LV (at TEN) [INJURED]

41. Jahan Dotson, WAS (vs. PHI)

42. DeVonta Smith, PHI (at WAS)

43. Robbie Anderson, CAR (vs. NO)

44. Brandon Aiyuk, SF (at DEN)

45. Nelson Agholor, NE (vs. BAL)

46. Russell Gage, TB (vs. GB) [INJURED]

47. Robert Woods, TEN (vs. LV)

48. Tyler Boyd, CIN (at NYJ)

49. Greg Dortch, AZ (vs. LAR)

50. Jarvis Landry, NO (at CAR)

It's still awfully early to be panicking about slow-starting players in fantasy football leagues. There's still a long way to go, and things even out more often than not.

But where Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts is concerned, a little panic is probably justified.

It's not just a matter of Pitts' paltry stats—identical two-catch, 19-yard efforts to open the 2022 season. Pitts isn't being targeted, either. Though two games, Pitts has been targeted 10 times, including just three times last week against the Rams. That ranks second on the team, but it's still well behind rookie wideout Drake London.

As if those numbers aren't disquieting enough, Falcons head coach Arthur Smith made it clear that he's not going to force the ball in the direction of his young tight end.

"Kyle is a huge part of our offense," Smith said. "You just have to take it with context. Other guys made plays. It’s not fantasy football. We're just trying to win. We will continue to look at everything and try to get better."

At this point, there's not really anything fantasy managers can do other than roll Pitts out and hope things turn around.

But given what we've seen so far, there's no telling when (or if) that might happen.

Good Matchups

Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars (at LAC) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,700]

Engram isn't piling up the yardage over his first two games with the Jaguars. However, his 74 yards have come courtesy of 11 receptions, he's averaging six targets a game and he draws a Chargers team in Week 3 that led the NFL in fantasy points allowed to tight ends last season.

Logan Thomas, Washington Commanders (vs. PHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,500]

Thomas has quietly turned back the clock a bit over the first two weeks of the 2022 season, hauling in six catches for 82 yards and a touchdown. Now the 31-year-old gets a Philadelphia Eagles defense that surrendered the most fantasy points in the NFC to tight ends in 2021.

Bad Matchups

Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams (at AZ) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,500]

Higbee has been solid for fantasy managers so far this season, averaging six catches for 55 yards over the first two games. A slowdown may be on the horizon though—the Cardinals were dead last in the NFC in fantasy points given up to tight ends last season.

Albert Okwuegbunam, Denver Broncos (vs. SF) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,500]

After hauling in five catches for 33 yards in Week 1, Okwuegbunam didn't catch either of his two targets in Week 2 against the Houston Texans. With the San Francisco 49ers and their stout defense coming to town Sunday night, "Albert O" is an "N-O."

Sleeper

Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (vs. BAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,200]

That Henry has "sleeper" status two weeks into the season is indicative of how well things aren't going in 2022—he has just two catches for the season and was targeted only once last week against the Steelers. But Baltimore was a top-five matchup for tight ends in 2021—and Hunter is overdue to have a good game.

WEEK 3 TIGHT END RANKINGS

1. Travis Kelce, KC (at IND)

2. Mark Andrews, BAL (at NE)

3. Darren Waller, LV (at TEN)

4. Kyle Pitts, ATL (at SEA)

5. George Kittle, SF (at DEN) [INJURED]

6. Dallas Goedert, PHI (at WAS)

7. Zach Ertz, AZ (at LAR)

8. T.J. Hockenson, DET (at MIN)

9. Dalton Schultz, DAL (at NYG) [INJURED]

10. Pat Freiermuth, PIT (at CLE)

11. Gerald Everett, LAC (vs. JAX)

12. Tyler Higbee, LAR (at AZ)

13. Dawson Knox, BUF (at MIA)

14. Hunter Henry, NE (vs. BAL)

15. Albert Okwuegbunam, DEN (vs. SF)

16. Evan Engram, JAX (at LAC)

17. Cole Kmet, CHI (vs. HOU)

18. Logan Thomas, WAS (vs. PHI)

19. Mike Gesicki, MIA (vs. BUF)

20. Tyler Conklin, NYJ (vs. CIN)

21. Noah Fant, SEA (vs. ATL)

22. Irv Smith Jr., MIN (vs. DET)

23. Hayden Hurst, CIN (at NYJ)

24. Robert Tonyan, GB (at TB)

25. David Njoku, CLE (vs. PIT)

26. Cameron Brate, TB (vs. GB)

27. O.J. Howard, HOU (at CHI)

28. Taysom Hill, Saints (at CAR)

29. Kylen Granson, IND (vs. KC)

30. Austin Hooper, TEN (vs. LV)

Before the season started, I talked up the Cleveland Browns as an excellent streaming option to open the season. The reason why had less to do with the Browns defense themselves than the teams they were playing—Cleveland opened with a four-game stretch of what appeared to be favorable matchups.

Yeah. Um. About that. Oops?

After giving up 31 points to the Jets on Sunday (a game in which the Browns had just a single sack and a single takeaway, which happened on the same play), the Browns rank outside the top 25 fantasy defenses in most scoring systems. Not only have the Browns allowed 55 points, but the team has just two takeaways and five sacks.

And yet, here we are again, with the Browns sixth in this week's defense rankings. The Pittsburgh offense has been less-than-imposing to date this season. The offensive line is a mess. And playing at home against their most heated rivals in primetime should (hopefully) bring out the best in Myles Garrett and company.

It's not a play without risk. But streaming defenses involves gambling at least a little.

Good Matchups

Greg Joseph, Minnesota Vikings (at DET)

The Detroit Lions have the look of an improved team in 2022. But that improved team is allowing 30 points per game ahead of a matchup with a Minnesota Vikings offense looking to rebound after a clunker in Philadelphia. Joseph should see no shortage of opportunities in Week 3.

Los Angeles Chargers (vs. JAX) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,900]

The Jaguars put it on the Indianapolis Colts last week and look to be a better team than last year's three-win squad. But this is still the team that allowed the most fantasy points to defenses last year going up against a Chargers defense that isn't short on impact players.

Bad Matchups

Ryan Succop, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. GB)

It seems silly to be worrying about a Buccaneers team that has won both its games handily this season. But the Tampa offense has struggled to move the ball, the team is banged up at wide receiver and the Packers were a bad fantasy matchup for kickers last season.

New England Patriots Defense (vs. BAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,500]

The Patriots have been one of the more consistently productive fantasy defenses in the NFL over the past several seasons. That said, the Ravens are a matchup nightmare given Lamar Jackson's rushing ability and the team's penchant for long touchdowns.

Sleeper

Carolina Panthers Defense (vs. NO) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,600]

This isn't a can't-miss fantasy play by any stretch—the Carolina defense hasn't been awful in 2022, but they haven't been good, either. But last week against the Buccaneers, Jameis Winston and the Saints turned it over five times, and the possibility of another "bad Jameis" game makes the Panthers worth a dice-roll.

WEEK 3 KICKER RANKINGS

1. Justin Tucker, BAL (at NE)

2. Matt Gay, LAR (at AZ)

3. Tyler Bass, BUF (at MIA)

4. Evan McPherson, CIN (at NYJ)

5. Daniel Carlson, LV (at TEN)

6. Dustin Hopkins, LAC (vs. JAX)

7. Matt Prater, AZ (vs. LAR)

8. Ryan Succop, TB (vs. GB)

9. Harrison Butker, KC (at IND) [INJURED]

10. Greg Joseph, MIN (vs. DET)

11. Brandon McManus, DEN (vs. SF)

12. Younghoe Koo, ATL (at SEA)

13. Cade York, CLE (vs. PIT)

14. Wil Lutz, NO (at CAR)

15. Jake Elliott, PHI (at WAS)

16. Robbie Gould, SF (at DEN)

17. Mason Crosby, GB (at TB)

18. Riley Patterson, JAX (at LAC)

19. Nick Folk, NE (vs. BAL)

20. Greg Zuerlein, NYJ (vs. CIN)

21. Jason Sanders, MIA (vs. BUF)

22. Ka'imi Fairbairn, HOU (at CHI)

23. Chris Boswell, PIT (at CLE)

24. Randy Bullock, TEN (vs. LV)

25. Austin Seibert, DET (at MIN)

WEEK 3 DEFENSE RANKINGS

1. Dallas Cowboys (at NYG)

2. San Francisco 49ers (at DEN)

3. Buffalo Bills (at MIA)

4. Chicago Bears (vs. HOU)

5. Cleveland Browns (vs. PIT)

6. Philadelphia Eagles (at WAS)

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. GB)

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (at CLE)

9. Baltimore Ravens (at NE)

10. Los Angeles Chargers (vs. JAX)

11. Denver Broncos (vs. SF)

12. New Orleans Saints (at CAR)

13. Cincinnati Bengals (at NYJ)

14. Kansas City Chiefs (at IND)

15. Los Angeles Rams (at AZ)

16. New York Giants (vs. DAL)

17. Carolina Panthers (vs. NO)

18. Minnesota Vikings (vs. DET)

19. Green Bay Packers (at TB)

20. New England Patriots (vs. BAL)

21. Arizona Cardinals (vs. LAR)

22. New York Jets (vs. CIN)

23. Las Vegas Raiders (at TEN)

24. Detroit Lions (at MIN)

25. Atlanta Falcons (at SEA)

Before we get to the top 100 players overall for Week 3 (a list that can aid fantasy managers in making "flex" decisions), we have the obligatory caveats and whatnot.

The caveat is that this list doesn't include any quarterbacks. If your league has a "superflex" spot, you will almost always want to insert a quarterback—especially in a season where guys like Jared Goff of the Lions, Marcus Mariota of the Falcons and Carson Wentz of the Commanders have all displayed a degree of fantasy relevance.

The whatnot is this—calm down. It's only natural to become anxious if the season doesn't start the way you want. No one wants to open the year 0-2. Believe me, I have more teams in that boat than I care to admit. I have huffed. And puffed. And exhausted my rather extensive vocabulary of expletives.

What I'm not going to do is panic.

There's no shortage of underperforming players around the NFL. The top of the running back rankings has featured more shudders than smashes. But in an era with shorter preseasons where starters barely play (if at all), it shouldn't be a surprise that some offenses haven't hit their stride yet. They will. The pendulum will swing back the other direction.

Benching a dud until he shows some signs of life is one thing. But selling them in a trade for 30 cents or the dollar or dropping them outright is a move that's apt to backfire.

Don't let a slow start push you into a move you'll regret in a month.

WEEK 3 "FLEX" RANKINGS/TOP 100 OVERALL

1. Jonathan Taylor, RB, IND (vs. KC)

2. Cooper Kupp, WR, LAR (at AZ)

3. Justin Jefferson, WR, MIN (vs. DET)

4. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, CIN (at NYJ)

5. Dalvin Cook, RB, MIN (vs. DET)

6. Davante Adams, WR, LV (at TEN)

7. Stefon Diggs, WR, BUF (at MIA)

8. Saquon Barkley, RB, NYG (vs. DAL)

9. A.J. Brown, WR, PHI (at WAS)

10. Christian McCaffrey, RB, CAR (vs. NO)

11. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, DET (at MIN)

12. Tyreek Hill, WR, MIA (vs. BUF)

13. Deebo Samuel, WR, SF (at DEN)

14. Travis Kelce, TE, KC (at IND)

15. Nick Chubb, RB, CLE (vs. PIT)

16. Joe Mixon, RB, CIN (at NYJ)

17. Jaylen Waddle, WR, MIA (vs. BUF)

18. Keenan Allen, WR, LAC (vs. JAX) [INJURED ]

19. D'Andre Swift, RB, DET (at MIN) [INJURED]

20. Diontae Johnson, WR, PIT (at CLE)

21. CeeDee Lamb, WR, DAL (at NYG)

22. Austin Ekeler, RB, LAC (vs. JAX)

23. Christian Kirk, WR, JAX (at LAC)

24. Leonard Fournette, RB, TRB, B (vs. GB) [INJURED]

25. Courtland Sutton, WR, DEN (vs. SF)

26. Michael Thomas, WR, NO (at CAR)

27. Terry McLaurin, WR, WAS (vs. PHI)

28. Najee Harris, RB, PIT (at CLE)

29. Derrick Henry, RB, TEN (vs. LV)

30. Mark Andrews, TE, BAL (at NE)

31. Alvin Kamara, RB, NO (at CAR) [INJURED]

32. Amari Cooper, WR, CLE (vs. PIT)

33. Cordarrelle Patterson, RB, ATL (at SEA)

34. Tee Higgins, WR, CIN (at NYJ)

35. Javonte Williams, RB, DEN (vs. SF)

36. Aaron Jones, RB, GB (at TB)

37. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, IND (vs. KC) [INJURED]

38. Mike Williams, WR, LAC (vs. JAX)

39. Brandin Cooks, WR, HOU (at CHI)

40. Darren Waller, TE, LV (at TEN)

41. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, KC (at IND)

42. D.J. Moore, WR, CAR (vs. NO)

43. Gabriel Davis, WR, BUF (at MIA) [INJURED]

44. Josh Jacobs, RB, LV (at TEN)

45. Curtis Samuel, WR, WAS (vs. PHI)

46. Miles Sanders, RB, PHI (at WAS)

47. DK Metcalf, WR, SEA (vs. ATL)

48. Antonio Gibson, RB, WAS (vs. PHI)

49. Marquise Brown, WR, AZ (vs. LAR)

50. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, DAL (at NYG)

51. Kyle Pitts, TE, ATL (at SEA)

52. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, KC (at IND)

53. David Montgomery, RB, CHI (vs. HOU)

54. Allen Robinson II, WR, LAR (at AZ)

55. Adam Thielen, WR, MIN (vs. DET)

56. Jeff Wilson Jr., RB, SF (at DEN)

57. Elijah Moore, WR, NYJ (vs. CIN)

58. Rashod Bateman, WR, BAL (at NE)

59. Devin Singletary, RB, BUF (vs. MIA)

60. George Kittle, TE, SF (at DEN) [INJURED]

61. Julio Jones, WR, TB (vs. GB) [INJURED]

62. James Robinson, RB, JAC (at LAC)

63. Jerry Jeudy, WR, DEN (vs. SF) [INJURED]

64. A.J. Dillon, RB, GB (at TB)

65. James Conner, RB, AZ (vs. LAR) [INJURED]

66. Garrett Wilson, WR, NYJ (vs. CIN)

67. Dallas Goedert, TE, PHI (at WAS)

68. Jakobi Meyers, WR, NE (vs. BAL)

69. Damien Harris, RB, NE (vs. BAL) [INJURED]

70. Allen Lazard, WR, GB (at TB)

71. Drake London, WR, ATL (at SEA)

72. Rashaad Penny, RB, SEA (vs. ATL)

73. Tyler Lockett, WR, SEA (vs. ATL)

74. JK Dobbins, RB, BAL (at NE) [INJURED]

75. Hunter Renfrow, WR, LV (at TEN) [INJURED]

76. Kareem Hunt, RB, CLE (vs. PIT)

77. Jahan Dotson, WR, WAS (vs. PHI)

78. Jamaal Williams, RB, DET (at MIN)

79. Michael Carter, RB, NYJ (vs. CIN)

80. Zach Ertz, TE, AZ (at LAR)

81. DeVonta Smith, WR, PHI (at WAS)

82. Robbie Anderson, WR, CAR (vs. NO)

83. Tony Pollard, RB, DAL (at NYG)

84. Travis Etienne Jr., RB, JAX (at LAC)

85. Dameon Pierce, RB, HOU (at CHI)

86. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, SF (at DEN)

87. Darrell Henderson Jr., RB, LAR (at AZ)

88. Nelson Agholor, WR, NE (vs. BAL)

89. Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, NE (vs. BAL)

90. Russell Gage, WR, TB (vs. GB) [INJURED]

91. Breece Hall, RB, NYJ (vs. CIN)

92. Robert Woods, WR, TEN (vs. LV)

93. T.J. Hockenson, TE, DET (MIN)

94. Cam Akers, RB, LAR (at AZ)

95. Tyler Boyd, WR, CIN (at NYJ)

96. Melvin Gordon III, RB, DEN (at SF)

97. Greg Dortch, WR, AZ (vs. LAR)

98. Raheem Mostert, RB, MIA (at BUF)

99. Jarvis Landry, WR, NO (at CAR)

100. Khalil Herbert, RB, CHI (vs. HOU)