Per usual, injuries continued to rack up, with Julio Jones (knee) and Michael Pittman (quad) getting scratched late in the week and Jerry Jeudy (ribs) exiting early. Michael Gallup (knee), Van Jefferson (knee), Rondale Moore (hamstring), Chris Godwin (calf), and Keenan Allen (hamstring) also all failed to suit up in Week 2, but a few seem to be trending in the right direction as Week 3 approaches. Godwin and Jefferson figure to miss another week, but we’ll continue to monitor their statuses and adjust our rankings if needed.
There weren’t many huge WR disappointments in Week 2, but JuJu Smith-Schuster (three catches, 10 yards), DK Metcalf (four catches, 35 yards), and most shockingly, Davante Adams (two catches, 12 yards, TD), definitely let some owners down. Since Adams (@ Titans in Week 3) still drew a respectable amount of targets (7), we’re not too worried about him in Week 3, but JuJu (@ Colts) and Metcalf (vs. Falcons) see a drop in their rankings. There’s still upside with both, but Metcalf in particular is a worry given his QB play and the presence of Tyler Lockett, but we like his matchup this week. We’re also not too excited about Hunter Renfrow (@ Titans) and Elijah Moore (vs. Bengals), though Moore also has a somewhat favorable opponent.
WEEK 3 PPR RANKINGS:QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
After big Week 1 performances, Devin Duvernay (@ Patriots), Jarvis Landry (@ Panthers), and Robbie Anderson (vs. Saints) came back down to Earth. Duvernay (concussion) might be out next week, but even if he’s back, he – and those other Week 1 heroes – are considered risky flex plays this week.
UPDATE: Also risky flex plays are virtually all of Tampa’s WRs. With Mike Evans suspended, Chris Godwin (hamstring) likely out, and Julio Jones (knee) iffy, it’s certainly possible one of Breshad Perriman, Russell Gage, and Scotty Miller (vs. Packers) has a big game, but good luck guessing which one. We like Gage slightly more than Perriman, but consider all boom-or-bust flexes, at best.
WEEK 3 STANDARD RANKINGS:QBs | RBs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Curtis Samuel (vs. Eagles) and Jahan Dotson (vs. Eagles) both followed up big Week 1s with big Week 2s. Greg Dortch (vs. Rams) and Noah Brown (@ Giants) were also solid for a second-straight week, and Sterling Shepard and Richie James Jr. (vs. Cowboys) continued to see a lot of targets. Josh Palmer (vs. Jaguars) was effective enough in the absence of Allen, while Nelson Agholor (vs. Ravens) and Garrett Wilson (vs. Bengals) broke out. Samuel, Dotson, and Agholor all look like solid starts in what should be a favorable matchups, and Palmer is in play even if Allen returns. Wilson is very much probably worth a shot considering the Jets throw a lot and he’s garnered a respectable target share to begin the season.
WEEK 3 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings | Yahoo
We’re starting to get more of an idea of favorable and unfavorable matchups, but we still can’t say with 100 percent certainty which teams are worth picking on and which are stayaways. The Ravens (@ Patriots), Falcons (@ Seahawks), Lions (@ Vikings), Commanders (vs. Eagles), Browns (vs. Steelers), and Chiefs (@ Colts) are looking particularly vulnerable, but even just one outlier game against a poor passing team (like the Jaguars had in Week 2 against Indianapolis) can inflate stats in a positive direction. The Browns might get that bounce this week against the offensively challenged Steelers, but it could also be a breakout game for Chase Claypool and George Pickens. We don’t recommend playing either, but someone like DeVonta Smith (@ Commanders), Adam Thielen (vs. Lions), or Jakobi Meyers and Agholor (vs. Ravens) can be used. Darnell Mooney could also get going against a Texans’ secondary that’s allowed No. 1 receivers to have 100-plus yards in each of the season’s first two weeks.
WEEK 3 DFS: Best values | Best stacks
We’re not scared of any pass defenses yet, at least not enough to sit any normal starter. Brandon Aiyuk (@ Broncos), Allen Lazard (@ Buccaneers), Drake London (@ Seahawks), and the Cowboys’ WRs (@ Giants) are facing statistically solid pass defenses, but we’d still start London and CeeDee Lamb without thinking twice.
WEEK 3 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start ’em, sit ’em
Note: We’ll be updating these standard WR rankings as needed throughout the week, so check back for the latest changes and analysis.
Week 3 fantasy WR rankings for standard leagues
Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring
Week 3 WR fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
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title: “Fantasy Wr Rankings Week 3 Who To Start Sit At Wide Receiver In Fantasy Football” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-15” author: “Lindsay Walton”
DeVonta Smith (@ Dallas) is strong across both standard and PPR formats, but he’s in line for a possible explosive week against an awful secondary. Jalen Reagor also sees a boost as the No. 2 WR in Philadelphia. Quez Watkins is a standard-specific play, but he’s an attractive player if you’re looking for a guy who’s going to get a lot of deep shots. Starting Michael Pittman Jr. or Zach Pascal (@ Titans) is never going to be sexy, but we have enough evidence from last year and the early part of this season to know we must consider WRs vs. the Titans’ hot garbage in the back end of their defense. Of course, if Jacob Eason is starting, that plan will be squashed in a hurry.
WEEK 3 PPR RANKINGS:Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Christian Kirk and Rondale Moore (@ Jaguars) continue to be attractive WR3/flex considerations, especially in standard with the big-play nature of the Cardinals’ offense. Someone has to take targets next to DeAndre Hopkins, and those two are the prime candidates in a great matchup. Marquise Brown (@ Lions) has his greatest appeal in standard, as the Ravens will rush the ball an insane number of times, but we could easily see Brown scoring on a big play or two for the third straight week.
WEEK 3 STANDARD RANKINGS:Quarterback | Running back | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
After ranking Allen Robinson outside the top 24 in Week 1, he returns to the top 15 for Week 3 (@ Cleveland) as we had him in Week 2. We knew it would wheels up for him after he got through with his matchup with Jalen Ramsey, but now he’s a perennial WR1 regardless of matchup moving forward. The Browns’ defense was expected to be carved up in Week 1 at Kansas City, but they even looked weak against the Texans. However, if Justin Fields starts for an injured Andy Dalton (knee), then Robinson might bump back down to a middle WR2.
WEEK 3 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings | Yahoo
The Tampa Bay (@ Rams) wide receivers are tough to evaluate this week. Jalen Ramsey could be in shadow coverage on any of the trio of Antonio Brown, Chris Godwin, and Mike Evans. For this reason, you probably have to start all of them and play Ramsey Russian Roulette this week. He can’t take all of them away, and last week, both Pascal and Pittman had good games against the Rams. (Update: Brown has been placed on the COVID list and is trending toward doubtful for this game.)
MORE WEEK 3 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup Builder
The Bengals’ trio of Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd (@ Steelers) are concerning this week, too. It’s never fun to start guys in Pittsburgh, and Joe Burrow should be harassed early and often. At least one of them will probably produce, but it would be a shocker if they all were solid fantasy options by the end of Sunday. Still, after the Raiders went big through the air against Pittsburgh, anything is possible. (Update: Higgins is out.) Another trio, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson, and Chase Claypool (vs. Bengals) could all have big weeks, but that might be reduced to a duo after Johnson’s knee injury. (Update: Johnson is out.) It’s tough to evaluate them with Ben Roethlisberger’s ineffectiveness through the first two weeks, but the matchup is just plain ole good. Johnson and Claypool are more attractive in standard leagues. The Jaguars have yet another trio of potential starters against Arizona, though Laviska Shenault’s shoulder injury threatens his availability.
WEEK 3 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start ’em, sit ’em
Marquez Callaway (@ Patriots) is falling fast, and a trip to New England isn’t going to help him regain his value. Brandon Aiyuk’s free fall also continues, and you can find him down in the rankings right by Callaway. We’re not high on Browns’ receivers against the Bears even if Odell Beckham Jr. (knee) finally suits up. Jarvis Landry (knee) is banged up, but the Browns simply don’t throw enough to feel great about any of their other options. The same goes for all of Miami’s receivers against Vegas, as Will Fuller V (personal) could be joining the fold as the QB situation gets even shakier.
Again, this position is the toughest one to rank as we move down toward the bottom, but use these as a guide if you need a tie-breaker between similar guys. It’s still too early to purely rely on previous game stats, but we’re close to being able to use those indicators more.
We’ll be updating these WR rankings as needed throughout the week, so check back for the latest changes and analysis.
Fantasy WR Rankings Week 3: Who to start at wide receiver
Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring
