Week 3 Fantasy Football Projections: Stat Predictions for Top 100 Players

Don't quite fully hate the 2014 fantasy football season yet? Well, just wait until it's time to set your Week 3 lineup. 

A multitude of injuries swept through the NFL in Week 2, leaving lineups—both real-life and fake—decimated. If you were fortunate enough to avoid the injuries—there are dozens of us!—well then I hate you. If you weren't so lucky, you're likely going to have some difficult lineup decisions to make.  

With that said, let's take a look at what's in store for Week 3's top-100-ranked players. 

Note: The players are not arranged in order of projections, but according to FantasyPros' consensus rankings, in an effort to help find value.  

Thursday, Sept. 18	Time (ET)
Sunday, Sept. 21	Time (ET)
Monday, Sept. 22	Time (ET)
Tampa Bay at Atlanta	8:25 p.m.
Oakland at New England	1 p.m.
San Diego at Buffalo	1 p.m.
Dallas at St. Louis	1 p.m.
Washington at Philadelphia	1 p.m.
Houston at New York Giants	1 p.m.
Minnesota at New Orleans	1 p.m.
Tennessee at Cincinnati	1 p.m.
Baltimore at Cleveland	1 p.m.
Green Bay at Detroit	1 p.m.
Indianapolis at Jacksonville	1 p.m.
San Francisco at Arizona	4:05 p.m.
Denver at Seattle	4:25 p.m.
Kansas City at Miami	4:25 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Carolina	8:30 p.m.
Chicago at New York Jets	8:30 PM

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Projections
1	Drew Brees, NO	280 PAS, 4 TD
2	Aaron Rodgers, GB	330 PAS, 2 TD, 1 INT
3	Andrew Luck, IND	325 PAS, 3 TD
4	Matthew Stafford, DET	300 PAS, 2 TD
5	Peyton Manning, DEN	260 PAS, 2 TD, 2 INT
6	Matt Ryan, ATL	330 PAS, 3 TD
7	Nick Foles, PHI	250 PAS, 2 TD, 2 INT
8	Cam Newton, CAR	250 PAS, 30 RUS, 2 TD, 1 INT
9	Russell Wilson, SEA	220 PAS, 20 RUS, 2 TD
10	Tom Brady, NE	250 PAS, 3 TD
11	Jay Cutler, CHI	325 PAS, 2 TD, 1 INT
12	Philip Rivers, SD	280 PAS, 2 TD
13	Tony Romo, DAL	245 PAS, 1 TD
14	Colin Kaepernick, SF	195 PAS, 50 RUS, 1 TD, 1 INT
15	Andy Dalton, CIN	225 PAS, 2 TD, 1 INT
16	Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	245 PAS, 1 TD, 1 INT
17	Kirk Cousins, WAS	295 PAS, 2 TD, 1 INT
18	Ryan Tannehill, MIA	235 PAS, 1 TD, 2 INT
19	Geno Smith, NYJ	220 PAS, 30 RUS, 1 TD
20	Jake Locker, TEN	250 PAS, 1 TD, 1 INT
21	Joe Flacco, BAL	275 PAS, 2 TD, 1 INT
22	Alex Smith, SF	200 PAS, 30 RUS, 1 TD
23	Chad Henne, JAX	210 PAS, 1 TD, 3 INT
24	Carson Palmer, ARI	220 PAS, 1 TD, 1 INT
25	Josh McCown, TB	230 PAS, 25 RUS, 0 TD, 2 INT

Sleeper: Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins

Nick Wass/Associated Press

Kirk Cousins isn't flashy. He doesn't have the world-class athleticism or explosive arm of Robert Griffin III. But more importantly than any of that, he fits Jay Gruden's offense, which turned Andy Dalton into a top-five fantasy quarterback last season. 

Gruden, via The Washington Post's Mike Wise, said as much after Cousins filled in for an injured RGIII on Sunday:

"

I feel like we can win any game with Kirk Cousins . . . Kirk is a special guy. He started four games last year and didn’t have great success, but obviously has a skill set that I feel like is very much suited for what we do. He can handle it mentally, and obviously, physically. I feel that he can make every throw in the book and we are going to move forward with Kirk.

"

When Cousins stepped in under center following Griffin's ugly ankle injury, which will keep him sidelined for a significant amount of time, Washington's offense didn't skip a beat. The Michigan State product completed 22 of his 33 throws for 250 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions, leading the 'Skins to a 41-10 thrashing of the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

A Week 3 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles, a high-tempo offense with major question marks on the defensive side of the ball, has the makings for a shootout. Expect Cousins to approach similar numbers as Week 2, which would put him in QB1 status. 

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Projection
1	LeSean McCoy, PHI	95 RUS, 30 REC, 1 TD
2	DeMarco Murray, DAL	150 RUS, 30 REC, 2 TD
3	Arian Foster, HOU	125 RUS, 1 TD
4	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	110 RUS, 2 TD
5	Giovani Bernard, CIN	75 RUS, 60 REC, 1 TD
6	Matt Forte, CHI	40 RUS, 75 REC
7	Alfred Morris, WAS	100 RUS, 1 TD
8	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	65 RUS, 50 REC, 1 TD
9	Adrian Peterson, MIN	110 RUS, 1 TD
10	Eddie Lacy, GB	65 RUS
11	Montee Ball, DEN	45 RUS, 20 REC
12	Zac Stacy, STL	85 RUS, 1 TD
13	Andre Ellington, ARI	55 RUS, 40 REC
14	C.J. Spiller, BUF	85 RUS, 30 REC, 1 TD
15	Frank Gore, SF	75 RUS, 1 TD
16	Rashad Jennings, NYG	65 RUS, 40 REC
17	Knile Davis, KC	100 RUS, 25 REC, 1 TD
18	Terrence West, CLE	110 RUS
19	Shane Vereen, NE	30 RUS, 60 REC
20	Stevan Ridley, NE	75 RUS, 1 TD
21	Joique Bell, DET	60 RUS, 30 REC, 1 TD
22	Reggie Bush, DET	20 RUS, 65 REC
23	Chris Johnson, NYJ	80 RUS, 1 TD
24	Pierre Thomas, NO	40 RUS, 50 REC
25	Doug Martin, TB	65 RUS
26	Lamar Miller, MIA	50 RUS, 30 REC, 1 TD
27	Bernard Pierce, BAL	85 RUS
28	Toby Gerhart, JAX	75 RUS, 1 TD
29	Donald Brown, SD	75 RUS, 20 REC
30	Chris Ivory, NYJ	50 RUS

Sleeper: Khiry Robinson, New Orleans Saints

Bill Haber/Associated Press

The New Orleans Saints lost at Cleveland last week, but it's worth noting that Drew Brees has been shockingly average over the last two years on the road (check out his 2013 and 2012 splits). Back at the Superdome, with the 0-2 Saints desperately needing a win, he's going to light up the Minnesota Vikings. 

A big lead will translate into a lot of second-half rushing attempts. Normally those would go to Mark Ingram, who has looked like a completely different running back in 2014, but he'll be out for a month with a hand injury, per ESPN's Adam Schefter:

That opens up more touches for both Pierre Thomas and Khiry Robinson, but with the dynamic Thomas still serving as the passing-downs back, a large chunk of the work in between the tackles, on the goal line and with the Saints protecting a lead will go to Robinson. 

The second-year back came up huge for the Saints at the end of last season, showing an ability run over defenders in his way. Rotoworld's Adam Levitan noted an intriguing stat:

With Ingram out, Robinson is looking at around 15-20 carries should the Saints blow this thing open early. With his downhill running style and touchdown potential, that's a workload that will lead to a very successful week. 

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Projections
1	Calvin Johnson, DET	120 REC, 1 TD
2	Dez Bryant, DAL	95 REC, 1 TD
3	Jordy Nelson, GB	110 REC, 1 TD
4	Julio Jones, ATL	150 REC, 2 TD
5	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	75 REC, 1 TD
6	Antonio Brown, PIT	85 REC
7	Randall Cobb, GB	65 REC
8	Brandon Marshall, CHI	100 REC
9	Percy Harvin, SEA	60 REC, 30 RUS, 1 TD
10	Andre Johnson, HOU	85 REC
11	Vincent Jackson, TB	95 REC
12	Pierre Garcon, WAS	105 REC, 1 TD
13	Cordarrelle Patterson, MIN	35 REC, 65 RUS
14	Roddy White, ATL	60 REC, 1 TD
15	Keenan Allen, SD	110 REC, 1 TD
16	Alshon Jeffery, CHI	85 REC, 2 TD
17	Julian Edelman, NE	110 REC
18	Jeremy Maclin, PHI	70 REC, 1 TD
19	Michael Crabtree, SF	60 REC
20	Mike Wallace, MIA	80 REC, 1 TD
21	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN	55 REC
22	Reggie Wayne, IND	75 REC, 1 TD
23	Marques Colston, NO	60 REC, 1 TD
24	T.Y. Hilton, IND	90 REC, 1 TD
25	Michael Floyd, ARI	60 REC, 1 TD
26	Brandin Cooks, NO	50 REC, 25 RUS, 1 TD
27	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR	55 REC
28	Larry Fitzgerald, ARI	75 REC
29	Victor Cruz, NYG	45 REC
30	Golden Tate, DET	60 REC
31	Kendall Wright, TEN	70 REC
32	Torrey Smith, BAL	80 REC, 1 TD
33	Sammy Watkins, BUF	90 REC
34	Eric Decker, NYJ	60 REC, 1 TD
35	Steve Smith, BAL	75 REC

Sleeper: Justin Hunter, Tennessee Titans

Tim Umphrey/Associated Press

It's the post-hype sleeper theory. 

Justin Hunter was supposed to go off last week against the Dallas Cowboys' Swiss-cheese defense, but instead he caught a whopping two balls for 26 yards. Bleacher Report's Sigmund Bloom put it best:

It was a major letdown, but the good news is that usage hasn't been a problem. Hunter played on 41 of 49 snaps, per The Tennessean's Jim Wyatt, and he is second on the team in targets with a healthy 14. Moreover, he was tackled at the 2-yard line against the Chiefs and has seen several other looks both deep and in the end zone. 

A matchup at Cincinnati is not a good one, but Hunter is a physical freak who is getting plenty of work. A breakout game is coming, most likely when you least expect it since the fantasy gods have such terrible senses of humor. 

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Projection
1	Jimmy Graham, NO	80 REC, 2 TD
2	Julius Thomas, DEN	50 REC
3	Rob Gronkowski, NE	40 REC, 2 TD
4	Greg Olsen, CAR	80 REC, 1 TD
5	Martellus Bennett, CHI	40 REC
6	Zach Ertz, PHI	70 REC, 1 TD
7	Dennis Pitta, BAL	60 REC
8	Kyle Rudolph, MIN	50 REC, 1 TD
9	Vernon Davis, SF	60 REC, 1 TD
10	Antonio Gates, SD	50 REC, 1 TD

Sleeper: Larry Donnell, New York Giants

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

Larry Donnell has one of the most boring names in football, and at 6'6" and 269 pounds with a 4.91 40, he has the boring skill set to back it up. 

But don't let it fool you. The former quarterback and undrafted free agent out of Grambling State is a legitimate option in the New York Giants offense. As Josh Moore and John Paulsen of 4for4.com noted, he has been the go-to target for Eli Manning over the first two weeks:

The Texans have a solid defense, but they've allowed Niles Paul and Mychal Rivera to catch nine balls on 11 targets for 117 yards. Continue to play Donnell with confidence.