Fantasy Football Week 3: Latest Stat Predictions for the Top 50 Players

An injury-filled Week 2 really throws a wrench in a lot of plans going forward in fantasy football.

Injuries to key players like Jamaal Charles, Mark Ingram, Ryan Mathews, Knowshon Moreno, Robert Griffin III and many more have created voids in many lineups heading into Week 3. The good news is there are always backups ready to fill those openings and have strong performances.

With your studs out of the lineup, though, it is more important than ever to examine matchups to give yourself the best chance of succeeding in the upcoming week. Here is a look at the top 50 players to start in Week 3.

Rank	Pos. Rank	Player	Team	Opp.	Pass Yards	Rush Yards	Receiving Yards	TDs	Fantasy Pts
1	QB1	Aaron Rodgers	GB	DET	328	24	0	3	27
2	QB2	Andrew Luck	IND	JAX	362	8	0	3	26
3	QB3	Drew Brees	NO	MIN	307	6	0	3	25
4	RB1	LeSean McCoy	PHI	WAS	0	87	23	2	22
5	QB4	Jay Cutler	CHI	NYJ	318	0	0	2	20
6	QB5	Mattew Stafford	DET	GB	321	4	0	2	20
7	RB2	Marshawn Lynch	SEA	DEN	0	117	26	1	19
8	QB6	Cam Newton	CAR	PIT	204	32	0	2	19
9	WR1	Calvin Johnson	DET	GB	0	0	134	1	19
10	QB7	Peyton Manning	DEN	SEA	303	0	0	2	18
11	WR2	Jordy Nelson	GB	DET	0	0	129	1	18
12	RB3	DeMarco Murray	DAL	STL	0	112	14	1	18
13	QB8	Russell Wilson	SEA	DEN	235	19	0	2	18
14	TE1	Jimmy Graham	NO	MIN	0	0	118	1	17
15	WR3	Brandon Marshall	CHI	NYJ	0	0	116	1	17
16	QB9	Philip Rivers	SD	BUF	241	0	0	2	17
17	QB10	Tom Brady	NE	OAK	232	0	0	2	17
18	WR4	Dez Bryant	DAL	STL	0	0	111	1	17
19	RB4	Giovani Bernard	CIN	TEN	0	83	37	1	17
20	WR5	Julio Jones	ATL	TB	0	0	110	1	17
21	QB11	Andy Dalton	CIN	TEN	278	0	0	2	17
22	TE2	Julius Thomas	DEN	SEA	0	0	108	1	16
23	QB12	Kirk Cousins	WAS	PHI	206	0	0	2	16
24	QB13	Nick Foles	PHI	WAS	258	0	0	2	16
25	RB5	Matt Asiata	MIN	NO	0	92	13	1	16
26	WR6	Antonio Brown	PIT	CAR	0	0	106	1	16
27	RB6	Doug Martin	TB	ATL	0	78	31	1	16
28	WR7	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	WAS	0	0	96	1	15
29	RB7	Arian Foster	HOU	NYG	0	84	15	1	15
30	RB8	Alfred Morris	WAS	PHI	0	93	0	1	15
31	WR8	Demaryius Thomas	DEN	SEA	0	0	94	1	15
32	RB9	Rashad Jennings	NYG	HOU	0	65	33	1	15
33	QB14	Colin Kaepernick	SF	ARI	212	17	0	2	15
34	RB10	Darren Sproles	PHI	WAS	0	62	84	0	14
35	WR9	Alshon Jeffery	CHI	NYJ	0	8	87	1	14
36	QB15	Matt Ryan	ATL	TB	271	0	0	1	14
37	WR10	Mike Wallace	MIA	KC	0	0	88	1	14
38	RB11	Knile Davis	KC	MIA	0	74	15	1	14
39	WR11	Randall Cobb	GB	DET	0	0	84	1	14
40	QB16	Josh McCown	TB	ATL	240	12	0	1	14
41	RB12	Terrance West	CLE	BAL	0	77	10	1	14
42	WR12	Cordarrelle Patterson	MIN	NO	0	21	64	1	14
43	WR13	Vincent Jackson	TB	ATL	0	0	85	1	14
44	RB13	Eddie Lacy	GB	DET	0	72	13	1	14
45	WR14	Sammy Watkins	BUF	SD	0	0	81	1	14
46	RB14	Zac Stacy	STL	DAL	0	78	0	1	13
47	QB17	EJ Manuel	BUF	SD	207	16	0	1	13
48	TE3	Rob Gronkowski	NE	OAK	0	0	73	1	13
49	QB18	Tony Romo	DAL	STL	284	5	0	1	13
50	TE4	Dennis Pitta	BAL	CLE	0	0	67	1	12

Quarterbacks

Peyton Manning has been as good as advertised in the first two weeks, but he did not fare too well against the Seattle Seahawks the last time he played them. In the Super Bowl, the quarterback was held to 280 passing yards and just one touchdown to go with two interceptions.

While this drops him from his usual place as the No. 1 player in the rankings, he is still the best quarterback in the game and should remain in all lineups. He might not carry your team like usual, but he will have a solid day.

This leaves Aaron Rodgers at the top as he looks to build off a solid week against the New York Jets. Matthew Stafford, Jay Cutler and Russell Wilson should also be able to continue their early-season success.

Meanwhile, look for Drew Brees to have a bounce-back performance after two mediocre showings on the road to start the year. Kevin Jones of ClevelandBrowns.com notes how different the quarterback has been at home:

The other big question mark is Tom Brady, who has started slowly after a down 2013 season. ESPN's Bomani Jones discussed the conservative approach in the last game:

Although it is hard to trust him going forward, fantasy owners should give him at least one more week to prove himself against a weak Oakland Raiders defense.

Running Backs

Mark Zaleski/Associated Press

DeMarco Murray is showing why he is one of the best running backs in the league as long as he is healthy and gets the football. ESPN.com's Tim MacMahon shows how explosive the player has been through two games:

Until further notice, he should be considered one of the top starts each week.

It has also becoming difficult to ignore Darren Sproles, who currently leads all running backs with 37 fantasy points in standard leagues. Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly discussed the impact the veteran has on the team, via PhiladelphiaEagles.com:

"

First and foremost, Darren is a receiver and I've said that since day one, since we've had him here. He's just a special player and we knew the first day we had him it was 'How many different ways can we find to get him the football?' He is just a dynamic football player and we are really excited. He can run it, he can catch it, I mean he can do it all. He's a complete running back and he really came up huge for us tonight. 

"

He might not be able to score every week, but he should remain in your starting lineup going forward.

On the other hand, fantasy owners should temper expectations on a few regular starters. Le'Veon Bell, Frank Gore and Matt Forte all have difficult matchups in Week 3, which could prevent them from being among the top scorers of the week. Without other options, they are still worth a start, but they will have less production than usual.

Fortunately, Knile Davis and Donald Brown could be quality options off the waiver wire after injuries to Charles and Mathews.

As for the injured Doug Martin, he is worth a start as long as he is active against the Atlanta Falcons. 

Wide Receivers

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Jordy Nelson is coming off a huge game and should be able to post big numbers again versus a questionable Detroit Lions secondary. He will have an interesting individual battle against Calvin Johnson on the other side of the field.

Many of the other top receivers should be plugged into the lineup as usual although Demaryius Thomas could end up struggling against a tough Seattle defense at home.

Additionally, there are quite a few other options who could step up for big efforts this week. Jeremy Maclin has scored in each of the first two games and is facing a pitiful Washington Redskins defense. Cordarrelle Patterson could have big numbers against a Saints team that has allowed the most passing yards in the NFL so far.

Bleacher Report's Erik Frenz also discussed the recent changes in Mike Wallace's game:

This should continue against the Kansas City Chiefs while Sammy Watkins and Vincent Jackson also become quality options in the upcoming week. 

Tight Ends

Jason Miller/Getty Images

Considering Antonio Gates scored three times against the Seahawks, there should be no fear about starting Julius Thomas.

Jimmy Graham also showed again why he is almost unguardable, as Joe Haden learned the hard way, via Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com:

"

Browns CB Joe Haden tells me he has never tried so hard as he did on Saints TE Jimmy Graham. Said he's not just 6-7, 260, "he's LeBron."

— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) September 14, 2014"

Dennis Pitta remains a solid play despite seeing Owen Daniels get two touchdowns last week. Rob Gronkowski should also hope for a bounce-back performance against the Raiders.

As far as sleepers to look for, fantasy owners should pick up Larry Donnell and Niles Paul, two young players who have proved to be a big part of their teams' offenses. Both have favorable matchups in Week 3 and can immediately be plugged into your lineup.

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