Week Three Positional Rankings

As the fantasy football season progresses, each and every start/sit decision means more and more. In a season thus far filled with key injuries, fantasy players have to make even tougher decisions between fringe NFL starters to start in fantasy football. While this was perhaps the toughest week to rank in recent memory, getting an edge this week will be crucial to get a leg up on your league-mates amidst all this uncertainty.

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 that 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!

Quarterback

Start ‘em: Matthew Stafford, QB DET

Through two weeks, the Lions veteran quarterback rankings 18th in total fantasy points, good for mid-range QB2 numbers. Stafford hasn’t quite had the efficiency as he did in 2019 – where he ranked as the QB4 in points per game – but without his top option Kenny Golladay thus far, he has performed as well as should be expected. With Golladay back in action this week, Stafford once again should be viewed as a top fantasy option at the quarterback positions.

The Lions are road underdogs this week against the Arizona Cardinals, but they have a high implied team total at 24.5 points. Overall, this matchup has an over/under of 54.5 points, which is one of the highest of the week. If there’s a game that’s in line to be a shootout this week, this Arizona-Detroit matchup looks like a likely candidate. Expect a two-touchdown game at minimum as Stafford gets back to form as a low-end QB1.

Sit ‘em: Teddy Bridgewater, QB CAR

Dynasty players have had high hopes for the Panthers offense since Bridgewater and new coach Matt Rhule joined over the off-season. For skill position players like DJ Moore, Christian McCaffrey, and newly-signed Robby Andreson, the season was off to a great start. Moore is amongst the league leaders in targets, Anderson has gone over 100 yards in two straight games, and Christian McCaffrey was being Christian McCaffrey.

While others on the Panthers have found success, Bridgewater ranks just 22nd in quarterback fantasy points on the season. McCaffrey is out for multiple weeks, and that reason alone would be enough to downgrade Bridgewater for fantasy purposes. However, in a matchup against the Chargers this week, the Panthers have an implied team total of just 18.5 points. Bridgewater may come around as a fantasy contributor down the stretch, but he has a low floor and low ceiling combination worth of a spot on the bench this week.

If you’re desperate: Mitchell Trubisky, QB CHI

There are very few weeks where, as a fantasy football player, you can plug Trubisky into your lineup and feel good. This may be one of those few rare weeks. The Bears take on the Atlanta Falcons this week, and on paper, this matchup is one of the best for Trubisky this season. The Falcons have faced Dak Prescott and Russell Wilson – two top tier fantasy options – thus far in 2020, but their defense has done nothing to slow down either offense.

The Falcons unsurprisingly rank first in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks on the year by over ten points. The Bears have a decent 22 point implied team total and may have to pass a lot to keep up with the Falcons potent offense. Trubisky, who ranks 14th in total fantasy points for quarterbacks in 2020, is set up for success as a desperation play in fantasy lineups this week.

Running Back

Start ‘em: Kenyan Drake, RB ARI

Drake has had a quiet – yet productive – start to the fantasy football season. While the veteran back ranks just 22nd in PPR fantasy points, he has seen consistent volume in one of the best offenses in the league. Drake’s 36 carries ranks fifth in the league through two weeks, and he has seen four targets as well. Dynasty players certainly want to see Drake’s involvement in the passing game improve, but it’s still early in the season and he is proven as a capable pass catcher.

In week three, he gets a dream matchup against Detroit who just allowed Aaron Jones to go off for over 40 fantasy points in week two. The Cardinals have the second-highest implied team total of the week at 30 points. Expect Drake to see efficient, high volume and find the endzone at least once in week three. Start him as an RB1 with confidence.

Sit ‘em: Devonta Freeman, RB NYG

Perhaps your leagues most coveted free agent pickup of the week, the once RB1-overall Freeman should carry low expectations for his first week as a Giant. After the crushing loss of Saquon Barkley, dynasty players may be desperate to play any running back with projected volume. Freeman, though, should be considered no better than an RB4 against a very solid 49ers defense.

The Giants are 4.5 point underdogs with just an 18.25 implied team total. This game has one of the lowest over/unders of the week and looks to be a matchup you’ll overall want to avoid. Freeman brings both a low floor and a low ceiling this week, and dynasty players should keep him on the bench wherever possible. He may bring some good fantasy value once the Giants’ schedule gets a bit more manageable.

If you’re desperate: Joshua Kelley, RB LAC

The “thunder” to the “lightning” that is Austin Ekeler, the rookie Joshua Kelley might be the biggest surprise to start the 2020 NFL season. While many expected Kelley to carve a significant workload this season, few could have anticipated the rookie to rank sixth in the NFL in carries through two weeks. Not only has Kelley’s volume been amongst the best, but he’s been seeing high value touches at the goal-line; he ranks eighth in the NFL with six attempts inside the ten-yard line.

Overall, Kelley’s volume and his matchup against the horrible Panthers rush defense, which has allowed by far the most fantasy points to running backs in the league, make him a very solid desperation play as a high-end RB3.

Wide Receiver

Start ‘em: Amari Cooper, WR DAL

While the number two receiver spot has been highly contested so far this season, the Cowboys number one receiver – Cooper – is fully established as the alpha. Cooper has been targeted 23 times over the first two games on the season and has managed to turn that volume into 181 yards. While the volume and yardage have been there for Cooper, he finds himself as one of two receivers in fantasy football’s top 16 who have yet to find the end zone. This pick for Cooper as the start of the week is rather obvious for dynasty players; you’re of course starting Cooper if you have him.

However, this pick – similar to last week’s quarterback pick Josh Allen – is that Cooper is a standout great play in all formats (including daily fantasy formats). The Seahawks have thrived as an offense thus far but have been the worst team in the NFL against opposing wide receivers, and it hasn’t been close. Seattle has allowed over 30 PPR points more than the second-worst team has to opposing receivers. In a game that projects to be the shootout of the week, start Cooper over every other receiver you have not named DeAndre Hopkins or Tyreek Hill.

Sit ‘em: John Brown, WR BUF

The Buffalo Bills have been red-hot to start the 2020 season. Picking against Josh Allen and company for this sit is risky, particularly given that Brown currently ranks as the WR9 in PPR formats. As much as the Bills have found success, dynasty players need to remember who that has come against. Of course, you can only play who you’re put up against, but the Bills have faced arguably two of the bottom five teams in the NFL to start the season: The Jets and Dolphins. In week three, they face their first real test of the season in the LA Rams.

Having faced the Cowboys and Eagles to start the season, the Rams defense has proven well against solid groups of wide receivers. Despite their competition, the Rams rank fourth-best in the NFL against opposing wide receivers. Buffalo has a solid 25 point implied team total this week, but expect their star playmakers come back to reality a bit in a tough matchup. Brown will certainly be a useable fantasy option, but he ranks as a low-end WR3 this week.

If you’re desperate: Keelan Cole, WR JAX

Quarterback Gardner Minshew is having perhaps the best start to 2020 relative to expectation of any quarterback thus far. Per NFL Next Gen Stats, Minshew ranks third in the NFL in completion percentage above expectation, behind only Lamar Jackson and Russell Wilson; talk about elite company. One of Minshew’s favorite targets thus far has been once-forgotten undrafted free agent Keelan Cole.

Through two games, Cole has reeled in 11 of 12 targets for over 100 yards and two touchdowns on the year, good for WR17 in PPR formats. While dynasty players shouldn’t expect Cole to keep up WR2 level production, he may continue the trend this week against Miami. The Dolphins have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points in the league to opposing wide receivers, and the Jaguars’ implied team total of 25.5 ranks eighth highest of the week. Expect Cole to be a big part of the offense again in week three, and play him if you’re desperate.

Tight End

Start ‘em: Dallas Goedert, TE PHI

If you look at the box scores through two weeks, it’s clear that Goedert is not only a massive part of the Eagles offense but may have even taken over as the team’s TE1. Regardless of positional rankings within the team, it’s clear that Goedert is getting the usage and volume that warrants a consistent start in fantasy football.

In week three, the Eagles are set up to get back on track this season after an all-around disappointing 0-2 start. They are listed as 5.5 point favorites with a solid 25.75 implied team total against a Bengals team that allowed Baker Mayfield and the Browns to correct their miserable week one performance against the Ravens. As the Eagles offense finds more success in week three, Goedert should be a beneficiary. Start him with confidence as your dynasty team’s TE1 this week and moving forward.

Sit ‘em: Tampa Bay Buccaneers TEs

After Tom Brady signed with the Buccaneers, Rob Gronkowski quickly managed to get his way to Tampa Bay. Dynasty players were quick to target the formerly retired tight end as he reunited with his former quarterback. However, Gronk hasn’t been fantasy relevant so far in 2020, and teammate OJ Howard has been inconsistent through two weeks. Despite Chris Godwin missing the game, Howard and Gronkowski combined for just one catch for 11 yards on their four targets. It’s clear that tight ends aren’t a focal point of Bruce Arians’ offense, even with Tom Brady at the helm.

In their week three matchup, the Buccaneers face the Denver Broncos, who to date have been extremely poor defending wide receivers (ranking fifth-worst in the NFL). The Buccaneers two stud wide receivers should command plenty of attention from Brady and ultimately drive the offense forward. It doesn’t appear to be a good game script day for the Buccaneers’ tight ends. There are plenty of options this week with better projected usage.

If you’re desperate: Drew Sample, TE CIN

Sample was likely another popular add in dynasty leagues this week, as the former second-round pick finally established himself as a capable pass catcher with Joe Burrow. Finishing week two with seven catches for 45 yards, Sample proved to be fantasy-relevant when teammate CJ Uzomah went down with an injury.

In week three, the Bengals face the Philadelphia Eagles who just allowed Tyler Higbee to score three times in week two. Overall, the Eagles have allowed big games to Logan Thomas and Higbee this season, and the trend may continue with Sample in week three. He’s a desperation play at best, but the matchup is there for Sample to continue to perform well.

That concludes this week’s rankings article! As this series is released before Thursday’s game, 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.

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Michael Zingone

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