Fantasy Football Week 3 Rankings: Best Players at Each Position

With only one more game left to be played, Week 2 of the 2012 NFL season is just about a done deal, which means that another week in this year's fantasy football campaign will also have wrapped up.

A new group joins the winners and losers from Week 1, and most will become part of the .500 club—also known as the "Well, I guess things could be worse" portion of your league.

Whether you're trying to keep the right kind of streak going or put an end to the wrong kind it's never too early to start looking ahead, so here's a glimpse at some of the most favorable fantasy matchups in Week 3.

These may not be the names you'd suspect, but don't be surprised if they're the top fantasy scorers at their positions this week.

QB: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (vs. KC)

The 2012 season certainly hasn't gotten off to the start that quarterback Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints had hoped for, and in an 0-2 hole a desperate Saints team faces a must-win game against the also winless Kansas City Chiefs this week.

The Chiefs have allowed five touchdown passes in two games while failing to notch an interception, and with the Saints' backs against the wall expect Brees to pour it on at the Superdome.

Other quarterbacks with favorable matchups: Eli Manning, New York Giants (at CAR), Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys (vs. TB), Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers (at MIN)

RB: Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs (at NO)

I'll freely admit that this one may not be for the faint of heart.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles was just about invisible in the team's loss to the Buffalo Bills, and with Adam Telcher of The Kansas City Star reporting that the fifth-year pro is battling soreness in his surgically repaired knee many fantasy owners may have grave reservations about rolling out Charles this week.

With that said, head coach Romeo Crennel has stated that Charles will play this week against a New Orleans squad that was just gashed for over 200 yards on the ground in Week 2. If you can't start Charles in a matchup like that what's the point of having him on the roster?

Other running backs with favorable matchups: DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys (vs. TB), Trent Richardson, Cleveland Browns (vs. BUF), Michael Bush, Chicago Bears (vs. STL)

WR: Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh Steelers (at OAK)

The Pittsburgh Steelers and wide receiver Mike Wallace got back on the right track in their convincing win over the New York Jets on Sunday, with the fourth-year pro reeling in five catches for 74 yards and a score.

The table is set for Wallace to have a big Week 3 when the Steelers travel west to face the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, who possess a banged-up secondary that surrendered the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts in 2011.

Other wide receivers with favorable matchups: Torrey Smith, Baltimore Ravens (vs. NE), Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers (vs. NYG), Steve Johnson, Buffalo Bills (at CLE)

TE: Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit Lions (at TEN)

Tight end Brandon Pettigrew and the Detroit Lions' offense have gotten off to something of a slow start in 2012, with Pettigrew managing only eight catches for 95 yards through two games although he did reel in his first touchdown of 2012 Sunday night against the 49ers.

However, Pettigrew could be in for a breakout this week when Detroit travels to Nashville to face the Titans.

The Tennessee pass defense has surrendered five touchdown receptions this season, and all five of those catches were made by a tight end.

Other tight ends with favorable matchups: Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati Bengals (at WAS), Coby Fleener, Indianapolis Colts (vs. JAX), Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers (vs. NYG)

DEF/ST: Pittsburgh Steelers (at OAK)

A large portion of the credit for the Pittsburgh Steelers' 27-10 victory over the New York Jets can be laid at the feet of the Pittsburgh defense, which racked up two sacks, forced a fumble and completely stymied the Jets offense.

The Steelers have an even better matchup this week against the hapless Raiders, who slipped to 0-2 after being blown out 35-13 by a Miami team that's not exactly a powerhouse.

Other defenses with favorable matchups: Chicago Bears (vs. STL), Philadelphia Eagles (at AZ), Detroit Lions (at TEN)