Week 3 fantasy football rankings: Evaluating best QB, RB, WR and TE options

The 2022 NFL season is already through two weeks of action and we’ve seen some incredible performances along the way. As we gather more information on the best players and defenses, it helps shape weekly fantasy football rankings.

Naturally, the NFL injury report and recent trends play a huge factor in how specific players are viewed. The Trey Lance injury pushes Jimmy Garoppolo into the starting lineup, which bodes well for Deebo Samuel but is a blow for Brandon Aiyuk. As for recent performances, a resurgent week from Aaron Jones and disappointment regarding Jonathan Taylor also influence Week 3 running back rankings.

Related: NFL power rankings

Let’s dive into our Week 3 fantasy football rankings by position.

Fantasy football QB rankings – Week 3

Related: NFL QB rankings

Rank:	Player	Opponent
1	Josh Allen	@ Miami Dolphins
2	Patrick Mahomes	@ Indianapolis Colts
3	Lamar Jackson	@ New England Patriots
4	Jalen Hurts	@ Washington Commanders
5	Justin Herbert (Q)	vs Jacksonville Jaguars
6	Kirk Cousins	vs Detroit Lions
7	Kyler Murray	vs Los Angeles Rams
8	Joe Burrow	@ New York Jets
9	Derek Carr	@ Tennessee Titans
10	Matthew Stafford	@ Arizona Cardinals
11	Russell Wilson	vs San Francisco 49ers
12	Carson Wentz	vs Philadelphia Eagles
13	Tua Tagovailoa	vs Buffalo Bills
14	Aaron Rodgers	@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15	Tom Brady	vs Green Bay Packers
16	Trevor Lawrence	@ Los Angeles Chargers
17	Marcus Mariota	@ Seattle Seahawks
18	Matt Ryan	vs Kansas City Chiefs
19	Geno Smith	vs Atlanta Falcons
20	Jared Goff	@ Minnesota Vikings
21	Mac Jones	vs Baltimore Ravens
22	Davis Mills	@ Chicago Bears
23	Ryan Tannehill	vs Las Vegas Raiders
24	Jameis Winston	@ Carolina Panthers
25	Jimmy Garoppolo	@ Denver Broncos

It should come as no surprise that Josh Allen sits atop the Week 3 fantasy football rankings. The Buffalo Bills quarterback faces a Miami Dolphins that was just torn to shreds by Lamar Jackson. Buffalo’s offensive line and weaponry are even better than Baltimore’s cast, putting Allen on the watch for a monster game.

Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts come in ahead of Justin Herbert for two reasons. First, Herbert is dealing with cartilage damage in his ribs that will make getting hit more painful. More importantly, the rushing ability of Jackson and Hurts dramatically raises their floor and they both have tasty matchups.

Justin Herbert wants to play on Sunday, but the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback would be doing it through extreme discomfort. He is a must-start against the Jacksonville Jaguars if he’s active, but there are also risks. If Herbert can’t play, we’d highlight the likes of Trevor Lawrence, Marcus Mariota and Jared Goff as replacements in our Week 3 fantasy football rankings.

It’s another week with Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers both lower in our fantasy football rankings than the consensus. While a head-to-head battle could bring out the best of both quarterbacks, this is a daunting matchup. Defensively, Tampa Bay boasts the seventh-highest pressure rate (23.7%) and has allowed just a 54.6 passer rating with 10 sacks and 12 pass deflections in two games.

Meanwhile, Brady enters this matchup on a cold streak and a depleted Buccaneers’ receiving corps is in for a battle against the Packers’ secondary. With Chris Godwin, Mike Evans and Julio Jones all inactive, find whatever alternatives you can at quarterback.

Week 3 fantasy football sleepers – Quarterback

• Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions
• Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins vs Buffalo Bills

Tua Tagovailoa is an even more attractive option heading into Sunday. The Buffalo Bills won’t have Micah Hyde, Tre’Davious White or Jordan Phillips against Miami. It hurts their pass rush and significantly alters their ability to stop the deep pass. This is a prime opportunity for Tagovailoa and he’s one of our favorite plays in Week 3 fantasy rankings.

Week 3 fantasy football rankings – Running Backs

Rank:	Player	Opponent
1	Dalvin Cook	vs Detroit Lions
2	Jonathan Taylor	vs Kansas City Chiefs
3	D’Andre Swift	@ Minnesota Vikings
4	Christian McCaffrey	vs New Orleans Saints
5	Austin Ekeler	vs Jacksonville Jaguars
6	Saquon Barkley	vs Dallas Cowboys
7	Leonard Fournette	vs Green Bay Packers
8	Joe Mixon	@ New York Jets
9	Derrick Henry	vs Las Vegas Raiders
10	Alvin Kamara	vs Carolina Panthers
11	Antonio Gibson	vs Philadelphia Eagles
12	Cordarrelle Patterson	vs Seattle Seahawks
13	Aaron Jones	@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
14	Javonte Williams	vs San Francisco 49ers
15	Clyde Edwards-Helaire	@ Indianapolis Colts
16	Miles Sanders	@ Washington Commanders
17	Jeff Wilson Jr	@ Denver Broncos
18	Rashaad Penny	vs Atlanta Falcons
19	David Montgomery	vs Houston Texans
20	James Robinson	@ Los Angeles Chargers
21	Rhamondre Stevenson	vs Baltimore Ravens
22	Ezekiel Elliott	@ New York Giants
23	Dameon Pierce	vs Chicago Bears
24	JK Dobbins (Q)	@ New England Patriots
25	James Conner (Q)	vs Los Angeles Rams
26	Josh Jacobs	@ Tennessee Titans
27	Devin Singletary	@ Miami Dolphins
28	Breece Hall	vs Cincinnati Bengals
29	Tony Pollard	@ New York Giants
30	AJ Dillon	@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
31	Darrell Henderson Jr	@ Arizona Cardinals
32	Damien Harris	vs Baltimore Ravens
33	Chase Edmonds	vs Buffalo Bills
34	Travis Etienne	@ Los Angeles Chargers
35	Melvin Gordon	vs San Francisco 49ers

We love both running backs in the Detroit Lions vs Minnesota Vikings matchup. Neither defense is particularly strong against the run and we’ve already seen early this season that both offenses have the blocking and play-call to create open running lanes. Give Dalvin Cook and D’Andre Swift a hole, it can be a 50-plus yard run.

Among the favorite plays from the running back rankings for Week 3 are Leonard Fournette, Antonio Gibson and Dameon Pierce. Fournette takes on a Packers’ defense that is allowing 5.6 yards per attempt and 153 rushing yards per game, making him the key to victory in Week 3. As for Gibson – 37 touches in two games – volume matters against a Philadelphia Eagles run that is susceptible to allowing explosive plays to running backs. Lastly, this is the Sunday when Pierce breaks out. The rookie took on 15 carries in Week 2 and there could be an even bigger workload in store now against a Bears’ run defense that already allowed 379 rushing yards.

There are quite a few running backs you’ll find lower in our Week 3 fantasy football rankings than elsewhere. While Aaron Jones is coming off a 170-yard performance, finding any room on the ground will be extraordinarily difficult facing Tampa Bay (86.5 ypg allowed). He is still an RB2 thanks to his pass-catching ability, which keeps AJ Dillon outside the top-30. There is also reason to be less optimistic for Najee Harris on Thursday Night Football, as he will be running into a defense that has allowed just 3.8 ypr and 147 total rushing yards in two games.

Week 3 fantasy football busts – Running Backs who could disappoint

• Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans vs Las Vegas Raiders
• Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon, Green Bay Packers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders vs Tennessee Titans
• Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants

Fantasy football rankings Week 3 – Wide Receivers

Rank:	Player	Opponent
1	Justin Jefferson	vs Detroit Lions
2	Ja’Marr Chase	@ New York Jets
3	Davante Adams	@ Tennessee Titans
4	Tyreek Hill	vs Buffalo Bills
5	Stefon Diggs	@ Miami Dolphins
6	Cooper Kupp	@ Arizona Cardinals
7	A.J. Brown	@ Washington Commanders
8	Amon-Ra St. Brown	@ Minnesota Vikings
9	Deebo Samuel	@ Denver Broncos
10	Keenan Allen (Q)	vs Jacksonville Jaguars
11	Rashod Bateman	vs New England Patriots
12	Terry McLaurin	vs Philadelphia Eagles
13	Michael Pittman Jr	vs Kansas City Chiefs
14	Jaylen Waddle	vs Buffalo Bills
15	Michael Thomas	vs Carolina Panthers
16	Mike Williams	vs Jacksonville Jaguars
17	Christian Kirk	@ Los Angeles Chargers
18	Gabriel Davis	@ Miami Dolphins
19	Brandin Cooks	@ Chicago Bears
20	Tee Higgins	@ New York Jets
21	CeeDee Lamb	@ New York Giants
22	D.J. Moore	vs New Orleans Saints
23	Allen Robinson	@ Arizona Cardinals
24	Courtland Sutton	vs San Francisco 49ers
25	Curtis Samuel	vs Philadelphia Eagles
26	DK Metcalf	vs Atlanta Falcons
27	JuJu Smith-Schuster	@ Indianapolis Colts
28	Drake London	@ Seattle Seahawks
29	Garrett Wilson	vs Cincinnati Bengals
30	Marquise Brown	vs Los Angeles Rams
31	Jerry Jeudy	vs San Francisco 49ers
32	Tyler Lockett	vs Atlanta Falcons
33	Jahan Dotson	vs Philadelphia Eagles
34	Russell Gage	vs Green Bay Packers
35	Brandon Aiyuk	@ Denver Broncos
36	Adam Thielen	vs Detroit Lions
37	Treylon Burks	vs Las Vegas Raiders
38	Chris Olave	@ Carolina Panthers
39	Darnell Mooney	vs Houston Texans
40	Allen Lazard	@ New England Patriots

Justin Jefferson will likely be No. 1 in the fantasy wide receiver rankings every Sunday except on his bye week. The talent is reminiscent of all-time greats and he is in an offense that is tailored to get him the football. Add in the fact he’s facing the Detroit Lions’ secondary (273.5 pass ypg allowed) and his selection is obvious. There’s also plenty of reason to anticipate Davante Adams rebounding after a disappointing Week 2 performance, while the Cincinnati Bengals are in a must-win game and they’ll want to feed Ja’Marr Chase after his post-game comments.

Moving down the Week 3 fantasy football rankings, Amon-Ra St. Brown proved his point. He became just the third player in NFL history with at least eight receptions in eight consecutive games and he is clearly the No. 1 receiver in this offense. It’s also time to fully commit to Rashod Bateman, who proved against Miami that he is the new big-play threat in this aerial attack and he can do far more than Marquise Brown ever did.

We’d advise fantasy managers to temper expectations for Allen Robinson, drawing a matchup against Byron Murphy Jr. after the Cardinals’ cornerback locked down Davante Adams. In a similar fashion, Courtland Sutton is a risky play with limited upside with 49ers’ cornerback Charvarius Ward likely drawing him in coverage.

Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill should both now be viewed as WR1s. in Week 3. Buffalo is without Tre’Davious White, Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, Ed Oliver and Jordan Phillips on Sunday. It means the Bills can’t generate the same level of interior pressure and they don’t have anyone who can either stop Waddle and Hill deep or stick with them on slants. We could be looking at dual 100-yard performances from the Dolphins’ stars once again.

Drake London is gaining more steam, climbing up the Week 3 fantasy football rankings. The rookie wideout has drawn 19 targets through two games, turning that into 13 receptions for 160 yards and he now draws a quality matchup. On the other end of the spectrum, Adam Thielen falls down the Week 3 fantasy rankings with only 88 receiving yards and zero touchdowns this season.

As our Week 3 fantasy football rankings show, we want to avoid all wide receivers in the Packers vs Buccaneers matchup. These are two fantastic defenses with high-end cornerbacks and safeties all combined with a top-flight pass rush. Green Bay didn’t have a high-end No. 2 receiver, let alone a No. 1 wideout, to begin with and Tampa Bay is so short-handed that every remaining option is a gamble.

Fantasy Football sleepers for Week 3 – Wide Receiver

In terms of Week 3 fantasy sleepers, the likes of Brandin Cooks, Curtis Samuel and rookie Garrett Wilson are intriguing options. If Houston keeps Cooks away from Jaylon Johnson and instead has him attack rookie Kyler Gordon, a 100-yard game is achievable. Samuel is coming off consecutive games with a touchdown and Wilson (14 targets in Week 2) clearly earned Joe Flacco’s trust.

Week 3 tight end rankings

Rank:	Player	Opponent
1	Travis Kelce	@ Indianapolis Colts
2	Darren Waller	@ Tennessee Titans
3	George Kittle	@ Denver Broncos
4	Dallas Goedert	@ Washington Commanders
5	Kyle Pitts	@ Seattle Seahawks
6	Mark Andrews	@ New England Patriots
7	Zach Ertz	vs Los Angeles Rams
8	Tyler Higbee	@ Arizona Cardinals
9	Dalton Schultz (Q)	@ New York Giants
10	Dawson Knox	@ Miami Dolphins
11	T.J. Hockenson	@ Minnesota Vikings
12	Robert Tonyan	@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
13	Hayden Hurst	@ New York Jets
14	Albert Okwuegbunam	vs San Francisco 49ers
15	Gerald Everett	vs Jacksonville Jaguars
16	Tyler Conklin	vs Cincinnati Bengals
17	Irv Smith Jr	vs Detroit Lions
18	Hunter Henry	vs Baltimore Ravens
19	Mike Gesicki	vs Buffalo Bills
20	Evan Engram	@ Los Angeles Chargers

Business as usual for Travis Kelce atop the Week 3 fantasy tight end rankings, especially against an Indianapolis Colts defense that plays with a vanilla scheme. Right behind him, Darren Waller is delivering a safe floor for fantasy managers and with vulnerabilities in the Tennessee Titans defense, 70 yards and a touchdown is doable.

As for Kyle Pitts, many are rightfully frustrated. The second-year tight end has just four receptions and 38 receiving yards heading into Week 3, a state line that he has the talent to achieve in a single quarter. While some might want to wave the white flag, Sunday is the perfect matchup for the Falcons’ offense to get right and that only happens if Pitts is a central focus of the passing game.

Mark Andrews remains his quarterback’s favorite target, but we must also consider recent history. In two matchups against Bill Belichick, Andrews has averaged just 41 receiving yards and he never found the end zone. This is the player Belichick will try to take out of the Ravens’ game plan, reducing Andrew’s ceiling and making him a player to avoid outside of season-long fantasy leagues.

With Taysom Hill out of the lineup for Week 3, it’s time to find an alternative for a sleeper. Mike Gesicki becomes the No. 19 tight end in our fantasy football rankings, but there is some risk. This is a game that could see play-caller Mike McDaniel want to establish the run early and then get Hill and Waddle involved. If that’s the case, it could mean only three targets for Gesicki. Just recognize there is far more volatility with him compared to 2021.

Week 3 kicker rankings

1. Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens vs New England Patriots
2. Matt Prater, Arizona Cardinals vs Los Angeles Rams
3. Matt Gay, Los Angeles Rams vs Arizona Cardinals
4. Younghoe Koee, Atlanta Falcons vs Seattle Seahawks
5. Will Lutz, New Orleans Saints vs Carolina Panthers
6. Daniel Carlson, Las Vegas Raiders vs Tennessee Titans
7. Ryan Succop, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Green Bay Packers
8. Greg Joseph, Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions
9. Harrison Butker, Kansas City Chiefs vs Indianapolis Colts
10. Dustin Hopkins, Los Angeles Chargers vs Jacksonville Jaguars
11. Tyler Bass, Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins
12. Brandon McManus, Denver Broncos vs San Francisco 49ers
13. Jason Sanders, Miami Dolphins vs Buffalo Bills
14. Evan McPherson, Cincinnati Bengals vs New York Jets

Week 3 fantasy defense rankings