Weekly Positional Rankings: Week Three

This year, we’re adding something completely new to DLF: Weekly Rankings.

In this series, I’ll give you my top 30 quarterbacks, 60 running backs, 60 wide receivers, and 30 tight ends each week to help you with your start/sit decisions in your leagues. To generate this list each and every week, I examine team trends, Vegas over/unders, implied points, pace of play, among various other factors to build a projection for each player and subsequently adjust rankings for upside and more detailed matchup specifics.

Among the rankings, there will surely be some that surprise you or that you may disagree with. At the end of each position section, I’ll give you my thoughts on some players who perhaps are ranked higher/lower than you might expect and insights as to why they are a good/bad play this week. Ultimately, these rankings should help your start/sit dilemmas and ensure you have the requisite resources to make an informed decision.

Without further ado, let’s dive into Week Three’s positional rankings!

Quarterbacks

Pos	Player	Matchup	Week 3 Rank
QB	Patrick Mahomes	BAL	1
QB	Dak Prescott	MIA	2
QB	Lamar Jackson	@KC	3
QB	Deshaun Watson	@LAC	4
QB	Josh Allen	CIN	5
QB	Jameis Winston	NYG	6
QB	Tom Brady	NYJ	7
QB	Carson Wentz	DET	8
QB	Matt Ryan	@IND	9
QB	Jimmy Garoppolo	PIT	10
QB	Russell Wilson	NO	11
QB	Aaron Rodgers	DEN	12
QB	Baker Mayfield	LAR	13
QB	Philip Rivers	HOU	14
QB	Kyler Murray	CAR	15
QB	Jared Goff	@CLE	16
QB	Kirk Cousins	OAK	17
QB	Matthew Stafford	@PHI	18
QB	Mitchell Trubisky	@WAS	19
QB	Jacoby Brissett	ATL	20
QB	Daniel Jones	@TB	21
QB	Kyle Allen	@ARI	22
QB	Marcus Mariota	@JAC	23
QB	Mason Rudolph	@SF	24
QB	Teddy Bridgewater	@SEA	25
QB	Andy Dalton	@BUF	26
QB	Garnder Minshew	TEN	27
QB	Derek Carr	@MIN	28
QB	Case Keenum	CHI	29
QB	Joe Flacco	@GB	30

 

Start ‘em: Jameis Winston, QB TB

Many had high hopes for Winston coming into 2019. With a bevy of weapons at his disposal and a quarterback-friendly head coach, Winston has as much passing upside as any quarterback in the league. Week three is the perfect time for that upside to come to fruition. The Buccaneers are at home against a Giants team that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks in 2019. Specifically, the Giants have been terrible defending against wide receivers, which is the strongest unit of this Tampa Bay offense. While Winston has been a middling QB2/3 for fantasy owners thus far, he’s a strong start this week and has legitimate weekly QB1 upside.

Sit ‘em: Jared Goff, QB LAR

It’s been a strange start to the season for Jared Goff. Despite the Rams scoring 57 points in two weeks, Goff has only thrown two touchdowns and hasn’t looked particularly sharp on the field. Traveling to Cleveland in week three, Goff has a tougher matchup than it appears on the surface. The Browns got blown out in week one by the Titans, but it wasn’t necessarily because of their pass defense. Excluding a 75-yard screen pass, the Browns have allowed just 7.73 yards per attempt on the season. Additionally, the Browns rank as the best defense this season in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers, which is the strength of the LA Rams passing game. Overall, Goff looks to have a low floor this week. While the upside of three touchdowns is there every week, it looks less likely in week three. I’d bench him for safer options.

If you’re desperate: Mitchell Trubisky, QB CHI

Trubisky hasn’t been good this season. That’s cut and dry. He currently ranks as the QB29 in fantasy football through two weeks. Brighter days might be on the horizon for the third-year quarterback, and that horizon might be as soon as week three. The Bears travel to Washington on Monday night this week. While facing Carson Wentz and Dak Prescott in weeks one and two, Washington has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks thus far in 2019. Trubisky does not project to do the same as those quarterbacks this week, but the upside in the matchup is undeniable. The Bears offense should be able to get back on track this week in an easier matchup, and it would not be that surprising to see Trubisky near the top of quarterbacks in week three. He’s a high-upside low-floor play, perfect for a desperation option.

Running Backs

Pos	Player	Matchup	Week 3 Rank
RB	Ezekiel Elliott	MIA	1
RB	Saquon Barkley	@TB	2
RB	Christian McCaffrey	@ARI	3
RB	Dalvin Cook	OAK	4
RB	Alvin Kamara	@SEA	5
RB	Le’Veon Bell	@NE	6
RB	David Johnson	CAR	7
RB	Austin Ekeler	HOU	8
RB	Leonard Fournette	TEN	9
RB	Todd Gurley	@CLE	10
RB	Nick Chubb	LAR	11
RB	James Conner	@SF	12
RB	Chris Carson	NO	13
RB	Devonta Freeman	@IND	14
RB	Kerryon Johnson	@PHI	15
RB	Joe Mixon	@BUF	16
RB	Josh Jacobs	@MIN	17
RB	David Montgomery	@WAS	18
RB	Marlon Mack	ATL	19
RB	Derrick Henry	@JAC	20
RB	Matt Breida	PIT	21
RB	Sony Michel	NYJ	22
RB	Aaron Jones	DEN	23
RB	Tarik Cohen	@WAS	24
RB	Duke Johnson	@LAC	25
RB	Miles Sanders	DET	26
RB	Damien Williams	BAL	27
RB	Mark Ingram	@KC	28
RB	Phillip Lindsay	@GB	29
RB	Kenyan Drake	@DAL	30
RB	Peyton Barber	NYG	31
RB	Frank Gore	CIN	32
RB	James White	NYJ	33
RB	Jaylen Samuels	@SF	34
RB	Latavius Murray	@SEA	35
RB	Raheem Mostert	PIT	36
RB	Chris Thompson	CHI	37
RB	Adrian Peterson	CHI	38
RB	Malcolm Brown	@CLE	39
RB	Lesean McCoy	BAL	40
RB	Justin Jackson	HOU	41
RB	Devin Singletary	CIN	42
RB	Alexander Mattison	OAK	43
RB	Carlos Hyde	@LAC	44
RB	Ronald Jones	NYG	45
RB	Royce Freeman	@GB	46
RB	Darwin Thompson	BAL	47
RB	Tony Pollard	MIA	48
RB	Ito Smith	@IND	49
RB	Rashaad Penny	NO	50
RB	Jordan Howard	DET	51
RB	Giovani Bernard	@BUF	52
RB	Nyheim Hines	ATL	53
RB	Jalen Richard	@MIN	54
RB	Dion Lewis	@JAC	55
RB	Darren Sproles	DET	56
RB	Dare Ogunbowale	NYG	57
RB	Mike Davis	@WAS	58
RB	Jamaal Williams	DEN	59
RB	Ty Johnson	@PHI	60

 

Start ‘em: David Montgomery, RB CHI

While the Chicago Bears edged out their first win of the season last week, it wasn’t what many would consider to be a “get right” game. This week, however, might be just that. The Bears travel to Washington this week as one of only four road favorites in week three. This season, the Washington Redskins have allowed 53 rush attempts to opposing running backs, which is tied for fourth-most in the NFL. David Montgomery finally took the reigns in week two with 18 carries and will continue to do so in week three. My projections have Montgomery totaling 16.5 touches for 82 total yards and a touchdown, good for mid-RB2 numbers with upside for more.

Sit ‘em: Mark Ingram, RB BAL

Ingram is the clear lead back in one of the most efficient offenses in the NFL through two weeks. There’s a lot to like about his outlook the rest of the season. However, week three’s projected shootout at Kansas City leaves Ingram as just an upside RB3 on the week. Kansas City thus far in 2019 has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs, due in large part to their own offensive firepower. Lamar Jackson is going to be asked to do a lot both through the air and with his legs this week. That would be a good thing from a PPR standpoint for Ingram, but the Ravens have the lowest target share to running backs through week two thus far at just under 7%. If this game turns into a shootout, Ingram’s fantasy day will solely rely on touchdowns. He’s a high variance play in week three. If you need more reliable options, look elsewhere.

If you’re desperate: Tony Pollard, RB DAL

A massive hype candidate during Ezekiel Elliot’s absence during training camp, Pollard has shown well during the first two weeks of his rookie season. His day on Sunday could have been even better had his touchdown not been called back due to a holding penalty. The Memphis product has been able to carve out a solid five-eight touches a week thus far. In week three, Dallas faces the Miami Dolphins. There isn’t much more to say about the matchup that you don’t already know. Pollard, though, is a good upside play in the (likely) scenario the Cowboys get out to a big lead early and give Pollard more work in the second half of the game. Against the team that has allowed by far the most fantasy points to opposing running backs, Pollard has multiple touchdown upside but an admittedly low floor. He’s a good desperation play this week.

Wide Receivers

Pos	Player	Matchup	Week 3 Rank
WR	DeAndre Hopkins	@LAC	1
WR	Julio Jones	@IND	2
WR	Amari Cooper	MIA	3
WR	Keenan Allen	HOU	4
WR	Odell Beckham Jr	LAR	5
WR	Davante Adams	DEN	6
WR	Mike Evans	NYG	7
WR	Antonio Brown	NYJ	8
WR	Chris Godwin	NYG	9
WR	Juju Smith-Schuster	@SF	10
WR	Michael Thomas	@SEA	11
WR	Allen Robinson	@WAS	12
WR	Sammy Watkins	BAL	13
WR	Adam Thielen	OAK	14
WR	Julian Edelman	NYJ	15
WR	Christian Kirk	CAR	16
WR	Kenny Golladay	@PHI	17
WR	Tyler Lockett	NO	18
WR	DJ Moore	@ARI	19
WR	Tyler Boyd	@BUF	20
WR	Marquise Brown	@KC	21
WR	TY Hilton	ATL	22
WR	Brandin Cooks	@CLE	23
WR	Emmanuel Sanders	@GB	24
WR	Stefon Diggs	OAK	25
WR	John Brown	CIN	26
WR	Robert Woods	@CLE	27
WR	Calvin Ridley	@IND	28
WR	Jarvis Landry	LAR	29
WR	Nelson Agholor	DET	30
WR	Cooper Kupp	@CLE	31
WR	Mike Williams	HOU	32
WR	Tyrell Williams	@MIN	33
WR	Marvin Jones	@PHI	34
WR	Curtis Samuel	@ARI	35
WR	John Ross	@BUF	36
WR	Terry McLaurin	CHI	37
WR	Demarcus Robinson	BAL	38
WR	Alshon Jeffery	DET	39
WR	Dede Westbrook	TEN	40
WR	Courtland Sutton	@GB	41
WR	Marquez Valdes-Scantling	DEN	42
WR	Will Fuller	@LAC	43
WR	Corey Davis	@JAC	44
WR	Deebo Samuel	PIT	45
WR	Mecole Hardman	BAL	46
WR	Marquise Goodwin	PIT	47
WR	DK Metcalf	NO	48
WR	Cole Beasley	CIN	49
WR	Larry Fitzgerald	CAR	50
WR	James Washington	@SF	51
WR	AJ Brown	@JAC	52
WR	Geronimo Allison	DEN	53
WR	Robby Anderson	@NE	54
WR	Sterling Shepard	@TB	55
WR	Devin Smith	MIA	56
WR	DJ Chark	TEN	57
WR	Randall Cobb	MIA	58
WR	Taylor Gabriel	@WAS	59
WR	Mohamed Sanu	@IND	60

 

Start ‘em: Marvin Jones, WR DET

Last week, Calvin Ridley was the suggested start of the week against a porous Eagles secondary. This week, we’re going right back to the same matchup. Ridley had a big week in week in large part due to the deep ball, an area the Eagles are notably week against. His day could have been even bigger if Matt Ryan was able to connect on some more deep open routes to his receivers. In 2019, the Eagles have allowed an average depth of target (aDoT) of 12.55 to wide receivers, which plays right into Jones’ skill set as a deep threat. On the season, Jones is averaging an aDoT of 14.3. While Jones has gotten off to a relatively slow start, this is the game for a long touchdown to kickstart his 2019 campaign.

Sit ‘em: Jets WRs

The Jets have the lowest implied team total this week at a mere 10.75 points. Against a formidable Patriots defense that’s among the best in the league against wide receivers, there are no positives to look at for either Robby Anderson nor Jamison Crowder. There’s always the chance Anderson breaks off a big play, so of the two, he’s the one I’d lean towards if I had to choose one. Overall, though, look to avoid these two starting wide receivers for Luke Falk and the New York Jets.

If you’re desperate: AJ Brown, WR TEN

Brown has been a pleasant surprise thus far in his rookie season, as many thought it’d be a transition year behind Corey Davis for the Ole Miss product. The rookie, though, has matched or bettered Davis’s target numbers in both weeks to start the season. While Jaguars corner Jalen Ramsey is in the midst of trade demands, he will still be shadowing Davis for much of Thursday night’s game. This will leave other Jaguars corners to defend against Brown. As we’ve seen this year, the other Jaguars corners can be beaten. While Ramsey held Tyreek Hill and DeAndre Hopkins in check, Sammy Watkins and Will Fuller had large opportunities, with Watkins delivering big. Fuller, though, still had 132 air yards on the day. Ultimately, though, Brown is an upside play as a WR5 that could get a lot of targets with Davis having the much tougher matchup.

Tight Ends

Pos	Player	Matchup	Week 3 Rank
TE	George Kittle	PIT	1
TE	Travis Kelce	BAL	2
TE	Zach Ertz	DET	3
TE	Evan Engram	@TB	4
TE	Mark Andrews	@KC	5
TE	Vance McDonald	@SF	6
TE	Austin Hooper	@IND	7
TE	Greg Olsen	@ARI	8
TE	Darren Waller	@MIN	9
TE	Delanie Walker	@JAC	10
TE	Jared Cook	@SEA	11
TE	OJ Howard	NYG	12
TE	Jimmy Graham	DEN	13
TE	TJ Hockenson	@PHI	14
TE	Jack Doyle	ATL	15
TE	Kyle Rudolph	OAK	16
TE	Eric Ebron	ATL	17
TE	David Njoku	LAR	18
TE	Jordan Reed	CHI	19
TE	Jason Witten	MIA	20
TE	Tyler Eifert	@BUF	21
TE	Noah Fant	@GB	22
TE	Mike Gesicki	@DAL	23
TE	Cameron Brate	NYG	24
TE	Will Dissly	NO	25
TE	Blake Jarwin	MIA	26
TE	Tyler Higbee	@CLE	27
TE	Virgil Green	HOU	28
TE	Ian Thomas	@ARI	29
TE	Geoff Swaim	TEN	30

 

Start ‘em: Greg Olsen, TE CAR

It’s usually a tricky proposition to chase last week’s points, but in the case of Olsen, he looks primed for another big game. Arizona has allowed two huge games to tight end in the first two weeks, and not to guys like Travis Kelce or Zach Ertz. They’re allowed TJ Hockenson and Mark Andrews to post 25.1 and 25.2 points, respectively, in the first two weeks of 2019. Olsen himself is coming off a big 110-yard game from week two. Kyle Allen might start for the Panthers on Sunday, but in week 17 last season, TE Ian Thomas posted over 60 yards and a touchdown with Allen under center. The stars are aligning for Olsen to have a solid TE1 performance.

If you’re desperate: Jason Witten, TE DAL

When in doubt, pick the player going up against the Miami Dolphins. In all seriousness, Witten has a chance to be a legitimate option in the Cowboys offense this week with Michael Gallup sidelined for a few weeks. Devin Smith likely sees the biggest boost from Gallup’s absence, but Witten is likely to see an extra 5-10% of target share as well. Witten’s touchdown potential is very high in week three, and if that hits, he’s got a great chance at putting up TE1 numbers. Blake Jarwin looms as someone who could steal targets, which lowers Witten’s floor, but the veteran TE is a solid upside play nonetheless this week.

That concludes this week’s rankings article! As this series is released on Thursdays, be sure to follow any lingering injuries and changing injury status updates for players as Sunday approaches. If you’re wondering about a player I didn’t dive into detail about, feel free to reach out to me @FFzinger on Twitter. Best of luck this week, and I’ll be back next week to give Week Four’s positional rankings.