Week 3 Fantasy Football RANKINGS & Tiers: QB, RB, WR, & TE + Starts & Sits (09/24 Fantasy Football Podcast)

Aaron Jones is dealing with a knee injury, but if he plays, he is considered an okay RB2 against Tampa Bay. There is significant uncertainty regarding his status, with DJ Dallas and DeMond Claiborne as potential backups.

Aaron Jones is a risky start for Week 3 as his status for the upcoming game is uncertain due to injury.

Brock Bowers is expected to return to form and dominate as a top-tier tight end now that his knee injury is resolved.

Bryce Young is a recommended starter and a strong replacement option for managers missing Caleb Williams or Jaden Daniels; he is averaging 37.5 pass attempts per game in a new, effective offensive system.

Bucky Irving could see a great situation in the Panthers backfield to replace Jonathan Brooks, as the Browns' run defense is good but not great.

Christian Watson is a 'set it and forget it' starter for Week 3. With Jaden Reed out, Watson is expected to be the primary target for Jordan Love in a game where the Packers must throw.

Chuba Hubbard is a top-15 fantasy running back for Week 3 against Cleveland. He is expected to command 60-75% of the backfield touches, with potential for up to 90% given the lack of depth behind him.

Colston Loveland is considered the best of the Bears' pass-catchers in a difficult matchup against the Eagles with backup quarterback Case Keenum, though expectations remain low for the entire passing attack.

Colston Loveland is a sit candidate due to poor performance and the transition to a backup quarterback against the Eagles. He should not be dropped, but he is not a recommended start.

DJ Moore is a WR2 for Week 3. He is the primary target in an increasingly aggressive Bills passing offense, provided he recovers from his shoulder injury.

DJ Moore is the clear number one target in the Buffalo Bills passing game and the best fantasy asset in that offense; he is currently dealing with a shoulder injury sustained last week but is expected to play.

Dalton Schultz is a strong start coming off a 140-yard game and ranking second in targets among tight ends. With Nico Collins potentially out, Schultz is expected to dominate against a Colts defense he has historically performed well against.

Darren Waller is a sleeper start for week three, as he is expected to see red-zone opportunities against Cleveland.

Deebo Samuel is a strong start if Mike Evans is ruled out, as he could see an uptick in targets and has the potential to reach 16 PPR points in this matchup.

Denzel Boston is a viable flex option as long as Deshaun Watson remains the starter; he has been a top-20 PPR receiver in each of the first two weeks.

Deshaun Watson is a sleeper start for week three. He has been efficient this season, averaging 8.5 yards per pass attempt, 76% completion rate, and 30 rushing yards per game. He is a preferred start over Justin Herbert.

Dontayvion Wicks is a recommended WR3 start against the Bears; he has recorded 12.4+ PPR points in each of the first two games and has seen 10 targets from Jalen Hurts.

Drake London is a must-start WR2 (with WR1 upside) for Week 3. He has shown high production with Michael Penix, recording five games over 104 yards and six touchdowns in their last six outings.

Drake Maye is a sit for week three as the Patriots are prioritizing their defense and ground game. He is a potential buy-low candidate in two to three weeks when the schedule improves and AJ Brown returns.

Emmitt Johnson is a sleeper flex option for Week 3. He has been efficient in limited touches, averaging over 7 PPR points per game, and could see increased work against the Dolphins.

Geno Smith is a recommended pivot play for week three against a Lions defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season.

Harold Fannin is a sit candidate as his target-per-route-run rate has fallen by 33% compared to last year with Deshaun Watson at quarterback.

J.K. Dobbins is ranked as the RB28 for Week 3. While he is the healthiest back in the Broncos' rotation, the matchup against the Rams is difficult, limiting his ceiling.

Jake Ferguson is a sit candidate for week three. He is touchdown-dependent, and Baltimore's defense has the personnel to neutralize him in the red zone.

Jalen Coker is a top-24 wide receiver who is trending closer to top-12 status; he and teammate Ted O'McMillan are both seeing 8+ targets per game in a high-performing Panthers offense.

Jameson Williams is a sit candidate this week; he is viewed as a boom-or-bust WR3, and the Lions are expected to rely on short-area targets to St. Brown, LaPorta, and Gibbs against a Jets defense that knows Goff's tendencies.

Jalen Warren is a high-end RB2 (top 15) if Rico Dowdle is inactive. Even with Dowdle active, Warren is a viable start in full PPR formats due to the Bengals' struggles defending pass-catching running backs.

Jeremiah Love should be benched. He is playing only half the snaps and has produced only one explosive play this season, making him a risky start against a strong 49ers defense.

Jordan Love is a borderline QB1 for Week 3; he benefits from a concentrated target share due to injuries in Green Bay, but concerns remain regarding the offensive line's health and the Falcons' pass rush.

Josh Downs is a recommended WR2 start; he has established himself as the lead receiver for the Colts, evidenced by his 9-target, 7-catch performance against the Chiefs.

Justin Herbert is a sit candidate. The offense is struggling with poor line play and supporting cast issues, and he is averaging only 200 passing yards per game with more interceptions than touchdowns. If he fails to perform in a 'get right' spot against Buffalo, he should be dropped from starting lineups.

Juwan Johnson is a recommended start as he is a significant part of the Saints' passing offense, having recorded 10+ PPR points in each of the first two games.

Keon Coleman is a viable replacement option for fantasy managers if DJ Moore is unable to play due to his shoulder injury.

Khalil Shakir is widely available on waiver wires and should be monitored as a potential depth option.

Kyle Pitts is a sit candidate for week three. He lacks a strong track record with Michael Penix, having only reached double-digit PPR points four times in 12 games together.

Kyler Murray is a strong start against Tampa Bay, especially if Aaron Jones is out, which would increase the reliance on the passing game. He has low-end QB1 upside for this matchup.

Lamar Jackson remains a must-start quarterback regardless of Zay Flowers' injury status.

Malik Washington is a sleeper candidate with a 26% target share over the first two weeks; he is projected for 8-11 fantasy points, with potential for more if he finds the end zone.

Mark Andrews is a recommended start in a high-scoring game environment. His production is expected to remain stable regardless of Zay Flowers' status, as Flowers' absence would impact Rashad Bateman more.

Matthew Golden is a viable WR2 for Week 3, especially in full PPR formats. He has explosive ability and is expected to see increased opportunities with Jaden Reed out.

Matthew Golden is a recommended flex start if Mike Evans is unable to play.

Mike Evans is a high-upside play if active against Arizona, but his recurring injury issues throughout training camp and the season make him a difficult player to trust as a full-time participant.

Parker Washington is expected to have opportunities to make plays because he should avoid being shadowed by Christian Gonzalez.

Pat Freiermuth is a sleeper start against the Bengals, a team he has historically performed well against, averaging over 14 PPR points in his last 10 games against them.

Patrick Mahomes is a must-start fantasy quarterback; he has performed at a high level through two weeks and continues to produce big stat lines even in games with lower passing volume.

Rashee Rice is viewed as a WR3 option this week; while he has struggled early, he showed improvement against the Colts and has performed well on downfield targets, though the Chiefs' projected low pass volume (approx. 25 attempts) limits his ceiling.

Rashad Bateman is a recommended start, especially if Zay Flowers is out.

Ramondre Stevenson's role remains a 50-50 split with Trevion Henderson, though Stevenson continues to handle the majority of passing-down work. He is a sit candidate for Week 3 due to a tough matchup.

Rhamondre Stevenson is a recommended start in non-PPR formats.

Rome Odunze is a sit candidate this week as he faces Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell; he is unlikely to see more than two targets in a game where the Bears' passing offense is expected to struggle with Case Keenum.

Tank Bigsby is a flex-range option for Week 3 if Saquon Barkley is ruled out. He would split reps with Will Shipley, but faces a favorable matchup against the Bears' run defense.

Terrence Ferguson is a strong start if Puka Nacua is out, as he would serve as the number two option in the passing game and benefit from increased targets.

Terry McLaurin is a risky start against a tough Seattle defense that recently held the Cardinals to 95 passing yards; he remains a start in 3-WR leagues but is better viewed as a buy-low trade target after this week.

Tony Pollard is a sleeper for Week 3 against the Giants. He is expected to see around 15 touches in a favorable game script and is a preferred start over the Packers' running backs.

Trevor Lawrence is a low-end starter and top-15 QB for week three. Despite a tough matchup against the Patriots, he is expected to carry the Jacksonville offense, and his home-field advantage provides upside for a multiple-touchdown game.

Trevor Lawrence is a low-end starter with upside; while the Patriots' defense has been solid, Lawrence represents a tougher challenge than their previous opponents, and Jacksonville is expected to throw the ball frequently.

Tucker Kraft is a viable start due to his ability to secure short-area targets and his effectiveness after the catch, especially given Green Bay's offensive line and run game questions.

Zay Flowers is a top-10 wide receiver if active, but his status is uncertain due to injury. If he does not practice, he should be benched in favor of safer options like Christian Watson or Drake London.