Week 3 will force fantasy football managers to make several tough lineup decisions and sift through a new set of rankings, especially with injuries affecting prominent quarterbacks. Some of the NFL‘s best players also face defenses that have started the season well. Others land in matchups that could raise their yardage and touchdown ceilings.
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The Week 3 rankings can be found at the bottom of the article below. Here’s what affected those ranking decisions and my early look at the matchups.
h/t to Team Rankings for providing matchup and stat data.
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Fantasy football Week 3 outlook
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The New York Jets have allowed the fewest total yards and the second-fewest passing yards per game. That creates difficult matchups for Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta.
Seattle has been even better against the pass, allowing 124.5 yards per game. That matchup already made Jayden Daniels a difficult player to rank before he dislocated his left elbow Sunday.
Indianapolis sits at the other end of the defensive rankings. The Colts have allowed an NFL-high 514.5 total yards and 337.5 passing yards per game. Houston’s offensive players receive one of the week’s best matchups.
Injuries will remain important throughout the week. Saquon Barkley will undergo an MRI after suffering a stinger, while Mike Evans, David Njoku and Jadarian Price also left their Week 2 games.
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Week 3 quarterback outlook
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Josh Allen sits at QB1 against a Chargers defense allowing 262.5 passing yards per game. His rushing production gives him the best combination of floor and ceiling at the position.
Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts follow, while Justin Herbert ranks QB4 against Buffalo. The Bills have allowed 273 passing yards per game, giving Herbert one of the strongest matchups among the top quarterbacks.
Patrick Mahomes II checks in at QB8 against Miami. Trevor Lawrence is QB9 against a New England defense that has allowed only 166 passing yards and eight points per game.
Goff remains a starting option at QB11, but the Jets limit his ceiling. Daniels is QB14 against Seattle, though his elbow injury could remove him from the rankings entirely.
Week 3 running back outlook
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Kenneth Walker III leads the running backs against Miami. The Dolphins have allowed 112.5 rushing yards per game this season after giving up 132.4 per game in 2025.
Christian McCaffrey ranks second against Arizona, followed by Gibbs in the difficult matchup with New York. Derrick Henry is RB4 against a Dallas defense allowing 173.5 rushing yards per game.
Breece Hall ranks ninth against Detroit, which has surrendered 147 rushing yards per game. Jonathan Taylor remains inside the top 10 despite facing a Houston defense allowing only 85.5 rushing yards.
Barkley sits at RB7 after returning from his stinger against Tennessee. His MRI results and practice participation will determine whether he stays there. Price is RB20 after X-rays of his chest injury came back negative.
Week 3 wide receiver outlook
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Jaxon Smith-Njigba holds WR1 against Washington, followed by Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase. Chase faces a difficult Pittsburgh defense, but his talent and target volume keep him among the elite options.
Malik Nabers ranks fourth against Tennessee. Garrett Wilson follows at WR5 against a Detroit defense allowing 310.5 passing yards per game.
Amon-Ra St. Brown is WR6 against the Jets. His role keeps him in the top tier, but New York has allowed only 131.5 passing yards per game.
Chris Olave ranks seventh against Las Vegas, while Ladd McConkey is WR15 against Buffalo’s struggling pass defense. Evans remains WR13 after leaving Week 2 with a hip injury. Kyle Shanahan said the injury didn’t appear serious, but Evans’ practice status still needs monitoring.
Week 3 tight end outlook
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Tucker Kraft ranks as TE1 against Atlanta. The Falcons have allowed 239 passing yards and 27 points per game, creating a strong scoring opportunity for Green Bay.
Dalton Kincaid is TE2 against the Chargers, followed by Trey McBride against San Francisco. McBride’s target volume keeps him near the top despite the difficult matchup.
LaPorta ranks sixth against the Jets. Dalton Schultz sits directly behind him at TE7 against an Indianapolis defense that has allowed the most passing yards in the league.
Njoku is TE17 against Buffalo, but his knee injury could change his availability. Dallas Goedert is not ranked after leaving Philadelphia’s win over Tennessee with a knee injury.
Week 3 kicker outlook
Brandon Aubrey remains K1 against Baltimore, followed by Eddy Pineiro against Arizona.
Jason Myers ranks third against a Washington defense allowing 30.5 points per game. Ka’imi Fairbairn is K4 against Indianapolis, which has surrendered an NFL-high 37 points per game.
Evan McPherson rounds out the top five against Pittsburgh. Cameron Dicker is K7 against Buffalo, while Harrison Butker ranks ninth against Miami.
Week 3 DST outlook
Kansas City leads the DST rankings against a Miami offense averaging 13 points per game. Houston ranks second despite facing an Indianapolis offense averaging 26.5 points.
Green Bay is DST3 against Atlanta, which has scored only eight points per game. Seattle, the Rams and San Francisco follow.
Carolina ranks seventh against a Cleveland offense averaging 16.5 points. Philadelphia is DST8 against Chicago, while Tampa Bay and New England complete the top 10.
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Week 3 QB fantasy football rankings
RankPlayerPosTeamOpponent1Josh AllenQBBUFvs. LAC2Lamar JacksonQBBAL@ DAL3Jalen HurtsQBPHI@ CHI4Justin HerbertQBLAC@ BUF5Drake MayeQBNE@ JAC6Brock PurdyQBSFvs. ARI7Joe BurrowQBCIN@ PIT8Patrick Mahomes IIQBKC@ MIA9Trevor LawrenceQBJACvs. NE10Dak PrescottQBDALvs. BAL11Jared GoffQBDETvs. NYJ12Jordan LoveQBGBvs. ATL13Tyler ShoughQBNOvs. LV14Jayden DanielsQBWASvs. SEA15Jaxson DartQBNYGvs. TEN16Matthew StaffordQBLAR@ DEN17Bo NixQBDENvs. LAR18Malik WillisQBMIAvs. KC19Kirk CousinsQBLV@ NO20Geno SmithQBNYJ@ DET21Baker MayfieldQBTBvs. MIN22Jacoby BrissettQBARI@ SF23Carson WentzQBMIN@ TB24Aaron RodgersQBPITvs. CIN25Bryce YoungQBCAR@ CLE26C.J. StroudQBHOU@ IND27Daniel JonesQBINDvs. HOU28Drew LockQBSEA@ WAS29Deshaun WatsonQBCLEvs. CAR30Cam WardQBTEN@ NYG31Cooper RushQBATL@ GB
Week 3 RB fantasy football rankings
RankPlayerPosTeamOpponent1Kenneth Walker IIIRBKC@ MIA2Christian McCaffreyRBSFvs. ARI3Jahmyr GibbsRBDETvs. NYJ4Derrick HenryRBBAL@ DAL5Bijan RobinsonRBATL@ GB6Ashton JeantyRBLV@ NO7Saquon BarkleyRBPHI@ CHI8Jonathan TaylorRBINDvs. HOU9Breece HallRBNYJ@ DET10Javonte WilliamsRBDALvs. BAL11James Cook IIIRBBUFvs. LAC12Omarion HamptonRBLAC@ BUF13Chase BrownRBCIN@ PIT14David MontgomeryRBHOU@ IND15D’Andre SwiftRBCHIvs. PHI16Cam SkatteboRBNYGvs. TEN17Kyren WilliamsRBLAR@ DEN18De’Von AchaneRBMIAvs. KC19Bucky IrvingRBTBvs. MIN20Jadarian PriceRBSEA@ WAS21Jeremiyah LoveRBARI@ SF22Jaylen WarrenRBPITvs. CIN23Bhayshul TutenRBJACvs. NE24Chuba HubbardRBCAR@ CLE25Aaron Jones Sr.RBMIN@ TB26Travis Etienne Jr.RBNOvs. LV27Quinshon JudkinsRBCLEvs. CAR28MarShawn LloydRBGBvs. ATL29Rhamondre StevensonRBNE@ JAC30J.K. DobbinsRBDENvs. LAR31TreVeyon HendersonRBNE@ JAC32Kaelon BlackRBSFvs. ARI33Blake CorumRBLAR@ DEN34Jacory Croskey-MerrittRBWASvs. SEA35Kyle MonangaiRBCHIvs. PHI36Jonathon BrooksRBCAR@ CLE37Tony PollardRBTEN@ NYG38Braelon AllenRBNYJ@ DET39Kenny GainwellRBTBvs. MIN40George HolaniRBSEA@ WAS41Emmett JohnsonRBKC@ MIA42Woody MarksRBHOU@ IND43Chris Rodriguez Jr.RBJACvs. NE44Keaton MitchellRBLAC@ BUF45Tyler AllgeierRBARI@ SF46Mike Washington Jr.RBLV@ NO47Rachaad WhiteRBWASvs. SEA48Jonah ColemanRBDENvs. LAR49Kaleb JohnsonRBGBvs. ATL50Devin SingletaryRBNYGvs. TEN51Tank BigsbyRBPHI@ CHI52Chris BrooksRBGBvs. ATL53Tyjae SpearsRBTEN@ NYG54Justice HillRBBAL@ DAL55Samaje PerineRBCIN@ PIT56Raheim SandersRBCLEvs. CAR57Brian Robinson Jr.RBATL@ GB58Kimani VidalRBLAC@ BUF59Emanuel WilsonRBSEA@ WAS60Najee HarrisRBNYGvs. TEN61Tyrone Tracy Jr.RBNYGvs. TEN62RJ HarveyRBDENvs. LAR63Ray DavisRBBUFvs. LAC
Week 3 WR fantasy football rankings
RankPlayerPosTeamOpponent1Jaxon Smith-NjigbaWRSEA@ WAS2Justin JeffersonWRMIN@ TB3Ja’Marr ChaseWRCIN@ PIT4Malik NabersWRNYGvs. TEN5Garrett WilsonWRNYJ@ DET6Amon-Ra St. BrownWRDETvs. NYJ7Chris OlaveWRNOvs. LV8Puka NacuaWRLAR@ DEN9CeeDee LambWRDALvs. BAL10George PickensWRDALvs. BAL11Zay FlowersWRBAL@ DAL12DeVonta SmithWRPHI@ CHI13Mike EvansWRSFvs. ARI14Drake LondonWRATL@ GB15Ladd McConkeyWRLAC@ BUF16Rashee RiceWRKC@ MIA17Parker WashingtonWRJACvs. NE18Davante AdamsWRLAR@ DEN19Christian WatsonWRGBvs. ATL20Emeka EgbukaWRTBvs. MIN21DK MetcalfWRPITvs. CIN22Tee HigginsWRCIN@ PIT23Tetairoa McMillanWRCAR@ CLE24Jalen CokerWRCAR@ CLE25Jaylen WaddleWRDENvs. LAR26Deebo Samuel Sr.WRSFvs. ARI27Matthew GoldenWRGBvs. ATL28Jameson WilliamsWRDETvs. NYJ29Chris Godwin Jr.WRTBvs. MIN30Terry McLaurinWRWASvs. SEA31Romeo DoubsWRNE@ JAC32Rashod BatemanWRBAL@ DAL33Stefon DiggsWRWASvs. SEA34Luther Burden IIIWRCHIvs. PHI35Quentin JohnstonWRLAC@ BUF36Rome OdunzeWRCHIvs. PHI37Dontayvion WicksWRPHI@ CHI38Michael WilsonWRARI@ SF39Courtland SuttonWRDENvs. LAR40Adonai MitchellWRNYJ@ DET41Jakobi MeyersWRJACvs. NE42Marvin Harrison Jr.WRARI@ SF43Kayshon BoutteWRHOU@ IND44Carnell TateWRTEN@ NYG45Caleb DouglasWRMIAvs. KC46Denzel BostonWRCLEvs. CAR47Jordan AddisonWRMIN@ TB48Devaughn VeleWRNOvs. LV49Khalil ShakirWRBUFvs. LAC50KC Concepcion Jr.WRCLEvs. CAR51Josh DownsWRINDvs. HOU52Brian Thomas Jr.WRJACvs. NE53Wan’Dale RobinsonWRTEN@ NYG54Kalif RaymondWRCHIvs. PHI55Alec PierceWRINDvs. HOU56Tre TuckerWRLV@ NO57Tre’ HarrisWRLAC@ BUF58Antonio WilliamsWRWASvs. SEA59Jalen NailorWRLV@ NO60Rashid ShaheedWRSEA@ WAS61Malik WashingtonWRMIAvs. KC62Pat BryantWRDENvs. LAR63Xavier HutchinsonWRHOU@ IND64Keenan AllenWRINDvs. HOU65Kendrick BourneWRARI@ SF66Xavier WorthyWRKC@ MIA67Malachi FieldsWRNYGvs. TEN68Ryan FlournoyWRDALvs. BAL69Makai LemonWRPHI@ CHI70Joshua PalmerWRBUFvs. LAC71Elijah SarrattWRBAL@ DAL72Germie BernardWRPITvs. CIN73Jack BechWRLV@ NO74Cooper KuppWRSEA@ WAS75Chris BellWRMIAvs. KC76Ted Hurst IIIWRTBvs. MIN77Darnell MooneyWRNYGvs. TEN78Roman WilsonWRPITvs. CIN79Calvin RidleyWRTEN@ NYG80Jerry JeudyWRCLEvs. CAR81Jaylin NoelWRHOU@ IND82Tyquan ThorntonWRKC@ MIA83Keon ColemanWRBUFvs. LAC84Isaac TeSlaaWRDETvs. NYJ85Zachariah BranchWRATL@ GB
Week 3 TE fantasy football rankings
RankPlayerPosTeamOpponent1Tucker KraftTEGBvs. ATL2Dalton KincaidTEBUFvs. LAC3Trey McBrideTEARI@ SF4Isaiah LikelyTENYGvs. TEN5Tyler WarrenTEINDvs. HOU6Sam LaPortaTEDETvs. NYJ7Dalton SchultzTEHOU@ IND8Juwan JohnsonTENOvs. LV9George KittleTESFvs. ARI10Travis KelceTEKC@ MIA11Colston LovelandTECHIvs. PHI12Pat FreiermuthTEPITvs. CIN13Michael MayerTELV@ NO14Jake FergusonTEDALvs. BAL15Hunter HenryTENE@ JAC16AJ BarnerTESEA@ WAS17David NjokuTELAC@ BUF18Harold Fannin Jr.TECLEvs. CAR19Mark AndrewsTEBAL@ DAL20Kyle Pitts Sr.TEATL@ GB21Oronde Gadsden IITELAC@ BUF22Mike GesickiTECIN@ PIT23Evan EngramTEDENvs. LAR24Brenton StrangeTEJACvs. NE25T.J. HockensonTEMIN@ TB26Terrance FergusonTELAR@ DEN27Cade OttonTETBvs. MIN28Colby ParkinsonTELAR@ DEN29Greg DulcichTEMIAvs. KC30Gunnar HelmTETEN@ NYG31Darren WallerTECAR@ CLE32Kenyon SadiqTENYJ@ DET33Darnell WashingtonTEPITvs. CIN
Week 3 kicker fantasy football rankings
RankPlayerPosTeamOpponent1Brandon AubreyKDALvs. BAL2Eddy PineiroKSFvs. ARI3Jason MyersKSEA@ WAS4Ka’imi FairbairnKHOU@ IND5Evan McPhersonKCIN@ PIT6Tyler LoopKBAL@ DAL7Cameron DickerKLAC@ BUF8Chris BoswellKPITvs. CIN9Harrison ButkerKKC@ MIA10Trey SmackKGBvs. ATL11Jason SandersKNYJ@ DET12Tyler BassKBUFvs. LAC13Cam LittleKJACvs. NE14Jake BatesKDETvs. NYJ15Jake ElliottKPHI@ CHI16Will ReichardKMIN@ TB17Harrison MevisKLAR@ DEN18Ryan FitzgeraldKCAR@ CLE19Andy BorregalesKNE@ JAC20Joey SlyeKTEN@ NYG21Chase McLaughlinKTBvs. MIN22Chad RylandKARI@ SF23Wil LutzKDENvs. LAR24Cairo SantosKCHIvs. PHI25Daniel CarlsonKNOvs. LV26Nick FolkKATL@ GB
Week 3 DST fantasy football rankings
RankPlayerPosTeamOpponent1Kansas City ChiefsDSTKC@ MIA2Houston TexansDSTHOU@ IND3Green Bay PackersDSTGBvs. ATL4Seattle SeahawksDSTSEA@ WAS5Los Angeles RamsDSTLAR@ DEN6San Francisco 49ersDSTSFvs. ARI7Carolina PanthersDSTCAR@ CLE8Philadelphia EaglesDSTPHI@ CHI9Tampa Bay BuccaneersDSTTBvs. MIN10New England PatriotsDSTNE@ JAC11Minnesota VikingsDSTMIN@ TB12Detroit LionsDSTDETvs. NYJ13Denver BroncosDSTDENvs. LAR14Baltimore RavensDSTBAL@ DAL15Buffalo BillsDSTBUFvs. LAC16Pittsburgh SteelersDSTPITvs. CIN17Cleveland BrownsDSTCLEvs. CAR18Jacksonville JaguarsDSTJACvs. NE19Chicago BearsDSTCHIvs. PHI20New Orleans SaintsDSTNOvs. LV21Las Vegas RaidersDSTLV@ NO22Cincinnati BengalsDSTCIN@ PIT23Indianapolis ColtsDSTINDvs. HOU24Atlanta FalconsDSTATL@ GB25Los Angeles ChargersDSTLAC@ BUF26Dallas CowboysDSTDALvs. BAL27Tennessee TitansDSTTEN@ NYG28Miami DolphinsDSTMIAvs. KC
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