Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season has officially begun.
The first two weeks have been…weird. Baker Mayfield and Derek Carr are the two top quarterbacks. JK Dobbins, Jordan Mason, Chris Godwin, Jaden Reed, Alec Pierce and Jameson Williams are each top six at their positions. The TE1 and TE2 are Isaiah Likely and Brock Bowers, respectively. In total, 14 fantasy defenses have allowed more points than current TE7, Kyle Pitts. Fun, right?
To help you make the toughest lineup decisions, here are my fantasy football rankings for Week 3. Switch between standard, half PPR (points per reception), and full PPR to see where players rank in your league’s format.
Our team at USA TODAY Sports Network is also here to help with all your fantasy football needs. Looking for the latest player news? We’ve got you covered. Want to know the best starters and bench players this week? We’ve got the article for that. We also have fantasy defensive rankings, kicker rankings and trade value charts to help you make trading decisions.
Given how volatile this league is, especially fantasy football, these rankings will be updated up until 30 minutes before kickoff on Sunday afternoon. So let’s get started.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: Latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: Latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
Week 3 fantasy football quarterback rankings
I prefer those…
Dating back to last year, Derek Carr has finished as a top seven fantasy quarterback in five of his last six games. He has finished as QB13 or better in nine of his last 14 games. His opponent, the Eagles, were second in fantasy points allowed to the position last year, allowing Jordan Love and Kirk Cousins to finish as QB11 and QB8, respectively. Brock Purdy may be without three of his best weapons (Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey), but this matchup against the Rams is too good to ignore. Since Week 4 of last year, only the Commanders have surrendered more fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. During that span, Los Angeles has allowed 17 or more fantasy points to the position in 11 of 16 games.
I don’t like him very much…
This is a matchup for Caleb Williams that may seem appealing, but is best avoided for now. Through two weeks, the Colts have been the definition of a run funnel defense. The running backs carried the ball 76 times against the Colts, 14 more than the third-place team. This is nothing new. Only the Cardinals had more carries from their running backs last season. Williams finished with QB31 and QB29 through the two weeks, so this may not be his breakout week.
Week 3 fantasy football running back rankings
I prefer those…
Tony Pollard will face a Green Bay front that has allowed 132 yards to Saquon Barkley and 135 yards to Jonathan Taylor in the first two games. To date, Pollard is one of four backs with 30+ carries and at least 10 targets. With Tyjay Spears injured, there should be volume in this game as well. Zack Moss has had 13 opportunities (carries + targets) in each of the first two games, which should translate well against a vulnerable Washington defense. Only the Cardinals have been more generous with opposing backs than the Commanders in 2023.
I don’t like him very much…
Dating back to last year, James Conner has been a top-12 back in six straight games, but that streak could end this week as he faces a Lions team that has allowed the fewest fantasy points to running backs in 2023. Through two games this season, Detroit is once again ranked first against the position despite facing Kyren Williams and Rachel White.
Week 3 fantasy football wide receiver rankings
I prefer those…
Amari Cooper’s 27-yard reception is 62 yards fewer than any other wide receiver who received at least 17 targets in 2024. The 30-year-old Cooper is currently third in the league in air yards and in the top 20 in projected fantasy points per game. Nineteen receivers scored double-digit half-PPR points against the Giants last year, which seems like an ideal place to start. Diontaie Johnson’s five “catchable” passes are tied for last among wide receivers who received 10 or more targets, according to FantasyPros. Bryce Young couldn’t even hit the ball off a boat in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The move to Andy Dalton makes Johnson an intriguing play against an unspectacular Raiders secondary.
I don’t like him very much…
Jaylen Waddle has played eight games in his career without Tua Tagovailoa under center. In those games, he finished with WR27, WR72, WR75, WR17, WR77, WR16, WR36 and WR42. Not very good, Bob.
Week 3 fantasy football tight end rankings
I like him better…
Jake Ferguson started as TE1 eight times last year, six of those coming at AT&T Stadium, and he’ll be facing a Ravens defense that has allowed 12 or more half-PPR points to five tight ends in the past 12 games, including allowing 14.3 points to Brock Bowers last week.
I don’t like him very much…
Sam LaPorta has been targeted just seven times through two games. He’s averaging 7.1 targets per game in 2023 and has never been targeted less than nine times in back-to-back games. His projected fantasy points per game have dropped from 14.7 last year to 8.7 this season. He’ll face a Cardinals defense that was ninth-best against the position last season and has allowed just three passes to be caught by tight ends since entering 2024.