Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings: Position-by-Position Breakdown

After another wild and unpredictable week in the 2014 NFL regular season, it’s time to turn our attention to the Week 3 fantasy football rankings and the position-by-position breakdown.

With many top stars struggling, unexpected names thriving and fantasy leagues being shaken to their cores with injuries and suspensions, it is imperative to study the latest rankings and start the best players available.

Here is a position-by-position fantasy breakdown heading into Week 3.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Projections
1	Drew Brees, NO	28 Points
2	Peyton Manning, DEN	28 Points
3	Aaron Rodgers, GB	28 Points
4	Matthew Stafford, DET	24 Points
5	Andrew Luck, IND	24 Points
6	Matt Ryan, ATL	20 Points
7	Tom Brady, NE	20 Points
8	Nick Foles, PHI	20 Points
9	Philip Rivers, SD	20 Points
10	Tony Romo, DAL	18 Points
11	Jay Cutler, CHI	18 Points
12	Cam Newton, CAR	16 Points
13	Andy Dalton, CIN	16 Points
14	Colin Kaepernick, SF	16 Points
15	Kirk Cousins, WAS	14 Points

It continues to prove true, but start Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees at quarterback in every fantasy format as often as possible.

If you don’t have one of the top three quarterbacks, you should be looking to stars such as Atlanta Falcons starter Matt Ryan or San Diego Chargers star Philip Rivers in Week 3.

Ryan and the Falcons take on a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that allowed an average of 220.5 passing yards per game through the first two weeks. After throwing for just 231 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions, expect Ryan to bounce back with 300 yards and two touchdowns in Week 3.

For Rivers, beating the vaunted Seattle Seahawks secondary for 284 yards and three touchdowns has his stock through the roof. As well as Buffalo has played, the team’s secondary will be ripe for the picking for Rivers and the Chargers. Expect 275 yards and two touchdowns for Rivers in Week 3.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Projection
1	LeSean McCoy, PHI	22 Points
2	DeMarco Murray, DAL	21 Points
3	Adrian Peterson, MIN	20 Points
4	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	20 Points
5	Matt Forte, CHI	18 Points
6	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	18 Points
7	Arian Foster, HOU	16 Points
8	Eddie Lacy, GB	16 Points
9	Knile Davis, KC	16 Points
10	Giovani Bernard, CIN	16 Points
11	Alfred Morris, WAS	14 Points
12	Reggie Bush, DET	14 Points
13	Shane Vereen, NE	14 Points
14	C.J. Spiller, BUF	12 Points
15	Zac Stacy, STL	12 Points
16	Doug Martin, TB	12 Points
17	Chris Johnson, NYJ	11 Points
18	Frank Gore, SF	11 Points
19	Rashad Jennings, NYG	11 Points
20	Pierre Thomas, NO	10 Points
21	Terrance West, CLE	10 Points
22	Bernard Pierce, BAL	10 Points
23	Steven Jackson, ATL	9 Points
24	Montee Ball, DEN	9 Points
25	Andre Ellington, ARI	9 Points

Fantasy owners with Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray know the value he possesses and should expect more of the same in Week 3. He racked up 29 carries for 167 yards and a touchdown, and owners should expect the same heavy workload against an inept St. Louis team. Murray could easily rack up 20 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown.

One player who will disappoint owners this week is Arizona Cardinals running back Andre Ellington. He was able to run for 91 yards on 15 carries but lost red-zone work to Jonathan Dwyer. With a tough matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, Ellington is a risk not worth taking.

If you are looking for a player off the waiver wire who could put up big numbers, place a request for Kansas City Chiefs running back Knile Davis. Davis ran the ball 22 times in place of the injured Jamaal Charles for 79 yards and two touchdowns.

Charles has a high-ankle sprain and is uncertain for Week 3, according to BJ Kissel of KCChiefs.com, and Davis is a must-start against Miami in any league. Expect another 20 carries for around 100 all-purpose yards and a touchdown.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Projection
1	Calvin Johnson, DET	20 Points
2	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	18 Points
3	Dez Bryant, DAL	18 Points
4	Brandon Marshall, CHI	18 Points
5	Julio Jones, ATL	16 Points
6	Jordy Nelson, GB	16 Points
7	Andre Johnson, HOU	14 Points
8	Antonio Brown, PIT	14 Points
9	A.J. Green, CIN	14 Points
10	Percy Harvin, SEA	12 Points
11	Alshon Jeffery, CHI	12 Points
12	Keenan Allen, SD	12 Points
13	Larry Fitzgerald, ARI	10 Points
14	Jeremy Maclin, PHI	10 Points
15	Randall Cobb, GB	10 Points
16	Cordarrelle Patterson, MIN	10 Points
17	Pierre Garcon, WAS	10 Points
18	Julian Edelman, NE	10 Points
19	Victor Cruz, NYG	8 Points
20	Michael Floyd, ARI	8 Points
21	Reggie Wayne, IND	8 Points
22	Steve Smith, BAL	8 Points
23	Mike Wallace, MIA	8 Points
24	Roddy White, ATL	8 Points
25	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR	6 Points
26	Sammy Watkins, BUF	6 Points
27	James Jones, OAK	6 Points
28	Golden Tate, DET	6 Points
29	Marques Colston, NO	6 Points
30	Vincent Jackson, TB	6 Points
31	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU	6 Points
32	Eric Decker, NYJ	6 Points
33	Kendall Wright, TEN	6 Points
34	Brandin Cooks, NO	6 Points
35	Michael Crabtree, SF	6 Points

The hottest hand coming into Week 3 is Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall. He had five catches for 48 yards and three touchdowns in the team’s win over the San Francisco 49ers. With a more favorable matchup against the New York Jets, fantasy owners should expect six catches for 100 yards and a touchdown.

One player to avoid this week is Emmanuel Sanders of the Denver Broncos. The brutal matchup against the Seattle Seahawks will only be made worse by the defending Super Bowl champion’s familiarity with Denver and the desire to bounce back from a loss. Expect five catches for 50 yards and zero touchdowns.

A player not getting the attention he deserves is Dwayne Bowe of the Kansas City Chiefs. After serving a one-game suspension, Bowe returned to the starting lineup and amassed three receptions for 40 yards. Expect six catches for 70 yards and a touchdown against the Miami secondary.

Tight End

Rank	Player	Projection
1	Jimmy Graham, NO	20 Points
2	Rob Gronkowski, NE	15 Points
3	Julius Thomas, DEN	15 Points
4	Delanie Walker, TEN	12 Points
5	Greg Olsen, CAR	10 Points
6	Antonio Gates, SD	10 Points
7	Dennis Pitta, BAL	10 Points
8	Jason Witten, DAL	8 Points
9	Zach Ertz, PHI	8 Points
10	Jared Cook, STL	6 Points
11	Martellus Bennett, CHI	6 Points
12	Jordan Cameron, CLE	6 Points
13	Kyle Rudolph, MIN	6 Points
14	Larry Donnell, NYG	4 Points
15	Niles Paul, WAS	4 Points

The best tight end in football right now is New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham. If you were still skeptical of that fact, look no further than his Week 2 stat line (10 receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns).

A tight end flying under the radar has been Antonio Gates of the San Diego Chargers. He is still one of the most athletically gifted players at his position, and the seven receptions, 96 yards and three touchdowns in Week 2 proved he is still a viable fantasy option.

Defense

Rank	Team	Opponent	Projection
1	Houston Texans	at New York Giants	16 Points
2	New England Patriots	vs. Oakland Raiders	16 Points
3	Cincinnati Bengals	vs. Tennessee Titans	14 Points
4	San Francisco 49ers	at Arizona Cardinals	14 Points
5	Kansas City Chiefs	at Miami Dolphins	14 Points
6	New Orleans Saints	vs. Minnesota Vikings	12 Points
7	Baltimore Ravens	vs. Cleveland Browns	12 Points
8	Atlanta Falcons	vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers	12 Points
9	Chicago Bears	at New York Jets	10 Points
10	Carolina Panthers	vs. Pittsburgh Steelers	10 Points
11	Seattle Seahawks	vs. Denver Broncos	8 Points
12	Philadelphia Eagles	vs. Washington	8 Points

As much as fantasy owners should ride with the Seattle Seahawks defense every week, a matchup against the Denver Broncos will be a tough battle. The teams are familiar with each other, and after losing to San Diego last week, Seattle looks susceptible.

Instead of leaning on Seattle, this is the perfect week to ride with the Houston Texans defense going up against the New York Giants. Eli Manning has been a turnover machine, and the J.J. Watt-led defensive attack should be in store for a stellar day.

Kickers

Rank	Player	Projection
1	Stephen Gostkowski, NE	14 Points
2	Matt Bryant, ATL	14 Points
3	Justin Tucker, BAL	14 Points
4	Dan Carpenter, MIA	12 Points
5	Steven Hauschka, SEA	12 Points
6	Mason Crosby, GB	12 Points
7	Blair Walsh, MIN	12 Points
8	Dan Bailey, DAL	10 Points
9	Shayne Graham, NO	10 Points
10	Cody Parkey, PHI	10 Points
11	Greg Zuerlein, STL	10 Points
12	Brandon McManus, DEN	8 Points

There are two kickers this week who are locks to be top performers: Dan Carpenter of the Buffalo Bills and Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens. Carpenter has made eight of his nine field-goal attempts this season thus far, and the Bills have a tough matchup against the San Diego Chargers. It should be prime real estate for a field-goal kicker.

On the other hand, Tucker is picking up where Baltimore leaves off in the red zone. With the Ravens showing inconsistency in the rushing attack, Tucker has been asked to kick early and often for the team.

*Stats via NFL.com.

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