Fantasy Football Week 3: Flex and PPR Rankings

Another week of the 2014 NFL regular season is in the books, and fantasy football owners are already shifting their attention to the Week 3 rankings for PPR leagues and the flex position.

With top fantasy names like Jamaal Charles, DeSean Jackson, Doug Martin and others suffering injuries and hurting owners, it is imperative to find the best possible backups as the third week of the season approaches.

Here are the overall flex rankings and the top-50 list for PPR leagues as well.

Flex Players

Rank	Player	Week 3 Opponent
1	LeSean McCoy, Phi, RB	Washington
2	Calvin Johnson, Det, WR	Green Bay
3	Jimmy Graham, NO, TE	Minnesota
4	Matt Forte, Chi, RB	New York Jets
5	Adrian Peterson, Min, RB	New Orleans
6	Dez Bryant, Dal, WR	St. Louis
7	Demaryius Thomas, Den, WR	Seattle
8	Marshawn Lynch, Sea, RB	Denver
9	Brandon Marshall, Chi, WR	New York Jets
10	Julio Jones, Atl, WR	Tampa Bay
11	Antonio Brown, Pit, WR	Carolina
12	Jamaal Charles, KC, RB	Miami
13	Julius Thomas, Den, TE	Seattle
14	A.J. Green, Cin, WR	Tennessee
15	DeMarco Murray, Dal, RB	St. Louis
16	Rob Gronkowski, NE, TE	Oakland
17	Andre Johnson, Hou, WR	New York Giants
18	Le'Veon Bell, Pit, RB	Carolina
19	Eddie Lacy, GB, RB	Detroit
20	Percy Harvin, Sea, WR	Denver
21	Arian Foster, Hou, RB	New York Giants
22	Roddy White, Atl, WR	Tampa Bay
23	Jordy Nelson, GB, WR	Detroit
24	Zac Stacy, StL, RB	Dallas
25	Keenan Allen, SD, WR	Buffalo
26	Cordarrelle Patterson, Min, WR	New Orleans
27	Alshon Jeffery, Chi, WR	New York Jets
28	Reggie Wayne, Ind, WR	Jacksonville
29	Larry Fitzgerald, Ari, WR	San Francisco
30	Reggie Bush, Det, RB	Green Bay
31	Mike Wallace, Mia, WR	Kansas City
32	C.J. Spiller, Buf, RB	San Diego
33	Giovani Bernard, Cin, RB	Tennessee
34	Alfred Morris, Wsh, RB	Philadelphia
35	Rashad Jennings, NYG, RB	Houston
36	Michael Floyd, Ari, WR	San Francisco
37	Doug Martin, TB, RB	Atlanta
38	Frank Gore, SF, RB	Arizona
39	Randall Cobb, GB, WR	Detroit
40	Ryan Mathews, SD, RB	Buffalo
41	Emmanuel Sanders, Den, WR	Seattle
42	Jeremy Maclin, Phi, WR	Washington
43	Kelvin Benjamin, Car, WR	Pittsburgh
44	Shane Vereen, NE, RB	Oakland
45	Pierre Garcon, Wsh, WR	Philadelphia
46	Julian Edelman, NE, WR	Oakland
47	Vincent Jackson, TB, WR	Atlanta
48	Vernon Davis, SF, TE	Arizona
49	Victor Cruz, NYG, WR	Houston
50	Trent Richardson, Ind, RB	Jacksonville

The first two weeks of the season have been brutal between poor performances and injuries, but Week 3 will be looking up for many of the brightest stars in the sport.

One of the top flex players of Week 3 will be Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin as the team takes on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Benjamin only caught two of the eight passes thrown his way this week, but the lack of chemistry with Cam Newton could have been to blame. Benjamin did get a chance to flash his skill, via Bleacher Report:

With a favorable matchup against a beatable Pittsburgh secondary and Newton looking to Benjamin early and often, fantasy owners should expect a stat line similar to what he put up in Week 1 (six receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown).

Another player worthy of a flex start in Week 3 will be Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin. Martin missed his team’s Week 2 matchup with a knee injury, but he has a favorable matchup with Atlanta in Week 3. If the Buccaneers running back is cleared to practice this week and is in the team’s lineup Sunday, start him as your flex with serious upside.

If fantasy owners are looking to buy low on a player and insert him as a flex option, consider New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz. Despite having several drops already this season, Cruz still was targeted 10 times in Week 2 and is due for a big week against Houston.

Look for Cruz to rack up seven receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown.

PPR Players

Rank	Player	Week 3 Opponent
1	Calvin Johnson, Det, WR	Green Bay
2	LeSean McCoy, Phi, RB	Washington
3	Demaryius Thomas, Den, WR	Seattle
4	Jimmy Graham, NO, TE	Minnesota
5	Dez Bryant, Dal, WR	St. Louis
6	Adrian Peterson, Min, RB	New Orleans
7	Jordy Nelson, GB, WR	Detroit
8	Antonio Brown, Pit, WR	Carolina
9	Matt Forte, Chi, RB	New York Jets
10	Percy Harvin, Sea, WR	Denver
11	Jamaal Charles, KC, RB	Miami
12	Julio Jones, Atl, WR	Tampa Bay
13	Brandon Marshall, Chi, WR	New York Jets
14	Julius Thomas, Den, TE	Seattle
15	A.J. Green, Cin, WR	Tennessee
16	Rob Gronkowski, NE, TE	Oakland
17	Andre Johnson, Hou, WR	New York Giants
18	Le'Veon Bell, Pit, RB	Carolina
19	Roddy White, Atl, WR	Tampa Bay
20	Shane Vereen, NE, RB	Oakland
21	Alshon Jeffery, Chi, WR	New York Jets
22	DeMarco Murray, Dal, RB	St. Louis
23	Arian Foster, Hou, RB	New York Giants
24	Julian Edelman, NE, WR	Oakland
25	Larry Fitzgerald, Ari, WR	San Francisco
26	Marshawn Lynch, Sea, RB	Denver
27	Randall Cobb, GB, WR	Detroit
28	Reggie Wayne, Ind, WR	Jacksonville
29	Reggie Bush, Det, RB	Green Bay
30	Keenan Allen, SD, WR	Buffalo
31	Giovani Bernard, Cin, RB	Tennessee
32	Cordarrelle Patterson, Min, WR	New Orleans
33	Andre Ellington, Ari, RB	San Francisco
34	C.J. Spiller, Buf, RB	San Diego
35	Kelvin Benjamin, Car, WR	Pittsburgh
36	Emmanuel Sanders, Den, WR	Seattle
37	Dennis Pitta, Bal, TE	Cleveland
38	Victor Cruz, NYG, WR	Houston
39	Michael Floyd, Ari, WR	San Francisco
40	Eddie Lacy, GB, RB	Detroit
41	Steve Smith, Bal, WR	Cleveland
42	Mike Wallace, Mia, WR	Kansas City
43	Sammy Watkins, Buf, WR	San Diego
44	Jeremy Maclin, Phi, WR	Washington
45	Pierre Garcon, Wsh, WR	Philadelphia
46	Ryan Mathews, SD, RB	Buffalo
47	Rashad Jennings, NYG, RB	Houston
48	Brandin Cooks, NO, WR	Minnesota
49	Antonio Gates, SD, TE	Buffalo
50	Marques Colston, NO, WR	Minnesota

The biggest winners in fantasy leagues with PPR-scoring formats were the owners who started Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson. He racked up nine catches for 209 yards and a touchdown against the New York Jets.

When asked about his career-high performance, Nelson told Mike Spofford of Packers.com, “It’s what needed to be done to win the game. That’s all that matters. If it proves your worth, I don’t think that really matters. We want to go out and do our job. That’s all we want to do.”

While owners shouldn’t be expecting another 200-yard performance, Nelson could easily catch seven passes for 100 yards and a touchdown against a lackluster Detroit secondary.

Another player who lit up an opposing defense in Week 2 was Buffalo Bills rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins. Owners likely spent a high draft pick on Watkins, but he did not live up to the expectations in Week 1. After amassing eight receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown, he is a smart flex play each week moving forward.

In many leagues, you have the option to start a tight end as a flex each week. For those owners who have a top-tier tight end and San Diego Chargers' Antonio Gates, this may be the one week of the year you start two TEs. Gates caught seven passes for 96 yards and three touchdowns in Week 2, and he is going up against a favorable matchup at Buffalo.

Expect 75 yards and multiple touchdowns from Gates once again.

*Stats via NFL.com.

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