Fantasy Football Week 3: Rankings and Advice for Thursday Night Football

Unfortunately for the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants, it's going to be a tall task to match the excitement that the Kansas City Chiefs-Denver Broncos matchup brought during last week's edition Thursday Night Football. However, there will still be numerous fantasy football storylines to follow as we'll see Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and Redskins running back Matt Jones.

Coming off a stellar Week 2, Jones was likely a top waiver-wire acquisition. Can he repeat the success he had against a stagnant St. Louis Rams defense? Can OBJ replicate the success he had against the Atlanta Falcons?

Both of these teams are in the NFC East, which gives this game some added importance as the two clubs chase a spot in the playoffs. As we head in to Week 3, the Redskins are 1-1, while the Giants are winless through their first two contests.

Will the Giants finally put a W up on the board?

Top 10 Big Board

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Thursday Night Big Board

Rank	Player	Pos.	Team
1	Odell Beckham Jr.	WR	New York Giants
2	Jordan Reed	TE	Washington Redskins
3	Rueben Randle	WR	New York Giants
4	Matt Jones	RB	Washington Redskins
5	Eli Manning	QB	New York Giants
6	Pierre Garcon	WR	Washington Redskins
7	Kirk Cousins	QB	Washington Redskins
8	Shane Vereen	RB	New York Giants
9	Andre Williams	RB	New York Giants
10	Alfred Morris	RB	Washington Redskins

Quarterbacks

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Washington Redskins: Kirk Cousins

With the injury to wide receiver DeSean Jackson, Cousins and the Redskins have had to rely on the running game to produce for the offense. While Cousins still has wide receiver Pierre Garcon and tight end Jordan Reed at his disposal, running backs Matt Jones and Alfred Morris have picked up the slack.

Heading in to a showdown with the Giants, cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will be sidelined with a concussion, according to ESPN.com's Dan Graziano. This will result in Cousins being able to utilize the weapons at his disposal more efficiently. On the season, Cousins' highest passing total has been 203 yards, which came in Week 2 against the St. Louis Rams. In Week 3, Cousins will eclipse that, but he'll stick with his one touchdown per game trend.

Projections: 23-of-31 passing, 235 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

New York Giants: Eli Manning

Over his last five home starts, Manning has thrown for approximately 318 yards per game, according to Pro-Football-Reference. Heading into Week 3, he's coming off a 292-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Atlanta Falcons.

So far this season, the Redskins have been fairly stout against the pass, allowing just an average of 12 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. We don't always see the best results from Manning when he throws, but in a divisional matchup with a winless team and weapons such as wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., Manning is going to post a solid fantasy day.

Projections: 27-of-34 passing, 285 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

Running Backs

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Washington Redskins Starter: Alfred Morris

While he's listed as a starter on the Redskins depth chart, Morris may be heading toward a timeshare with fellow running back Matt Jones. What points-per-reception players have always had against Morris is that he doesn't get involved in the passing game all that often. So far on the year, the Giants have allowed an opposing running back to rush for over 50 yards just once, but have allowed two total rushing touchdowns. The Redskins will have a rushing touchdown, but it's not coming from Morris.

Projections: 17 carries, 70 rushing yards

Washington Redskins Backup: Matt Jones

It was only a matter of time before this was going to happen. Redskins head coach Jay Gruden went public Tuesday in saying that Jones has a "rare combination of size and speed." Jones was able to run all over a St. Louis Rams defense in Week 2 that just one week earlier contained Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch. As noted with Morris, there is going to be a Redskins rushing touchdown, and it's coming from this man.

Projections: 18 carries, 80 rushing yards, 1 TD; 2 receptions, 15 receiving yards

New York Giants Starter: Rashad Jennings

Jennings leaves a lot to be desired. Coming off a Week 2 outing in which he played in a mere 28 percent of the team's snaps, Jennings is nothing more than a flex play at this point. Coming out publicly and criticizing the offense probably wasn't a good idea.

Projections: 10 carries, 35 rushing yards

New York Giants Backup: Andre Williams

Williams is truly nothing more than a red-zone or goal-line running back. Heading into Week 3, Williams may be owned in deeper leagues, but he's just way too inconsistent to start. Since he's a goal-line guy, Williams plays very few snaps, thus limiting his opportunities. However, if you're in a bind at running back in Week 3, give Williams a shot—he may find paydirt for the first time this season.

Projections: 5 carries, 20 rushing yards, 1 TD

New York Giants Pass-Catching Back: Shane Vereen

Shane Vereen is a huge part of this offense. While he gets some carries here and there, his value is dependent on his receiving totals. If you play in a points-per-reception league, he'll prove to be very valuable in Week 3.

Projections: 5 receptions, 50 receiving yards

Wide Receivers

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Washington Redskins: Pierre Garcon

Garcon is going to have way more opportunities in the passing game with fellow wide receiver DeSean Jackson out for the foreseeable future, and it showed in Week 2 when Garcon found the end zone. With Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie out, Garcon will have more success in the passing game. He's a solid WR3 in Week 3.

Projections: 6 receptions, 75 receiving yards

Washington Redskins: Andre Roberts

The Redskins receiving core—besides Pierre Garcon—is having trouble getting involved in the passing game. In Week 2, Roberts caught one ball, but it didn't result in a single yard. Garcon and tight end Jordan Reed are the focal points of this passing game.

Projections: 2 receptions, 17 receiving yards

Washington Redskins: Rashad Ross

A preseason sensation, Ross played just two snaps in Week 2. Ross is not on any fantasy radars heading into Week 3.

Projections: 1 reception, 8 receiving yards

Washington Redskins: Ryan Grant

Playing in the same amount of snaps as Roberts in Week 2 (44) and seeing limited attention in the passing game says a lot. The Redskins want to feature Garcon and Reed while Jackson is sidelined.

Projections: 2 receptions, 30 receiving yards

New York Giants: Odell Beckham Jr.

Assuming this guy needs no introduction, he's matchup-proof. After having a rough start in Week 1, OBJ destroyed the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. We know what happens when OBJ is on national television.

Projections: 10 receptions, 115 receiving yards, 1 TD

New York Giants: Rueben Randle

Randle has two things going for him heading into Week 3. One, Giants quarterback Eli Manning has said the team needs to get Randle more involved in the passing game. Secondly, the Giants have cut ties with drop-prone wide receiver Preston Parker, and Randle could see more snaps in the slot. Randle has WR2 upside heading into Week 3.

Projections: 6 receptions, 75 receiving yards, 1 TD

New York Giants: Dwayne Harris

The return man will be very limited in the passing game once again in Week 3. He's far off fantasy radars.

Projections: 1 reception, 5 receiving yards

New York Giants: Geremy Davis

Yeah, no. Off fantasy radars.

Projections: 0 receptions

Tight Ends

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Washington Redskins Starter: Jordan Reed

Heading into Week 3, Reed is likely the focal point of this passing game, slightly ahead of Garcon. He presents athleticism that creates issues for opposing defenses. The Giants were burned by Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten in Week 1 and by Atlanta Falcons tight end Jacob Tamme in Week 2. Reed is a TE1 this week.

Projections: 8 receptions, 80 receiving yards, 1 TD

Washington Redskins Backup: Derek Carrier

Running just a total 14 pass routes this season, Carrier is not anyone to think about in the passing game moving forward.

Projections: 2 receptions, 10 receiving yards

New York Giants: Larry Donnell

The addition of running back Shane Vereen has really been eating into Donnell's production. While he's been active during games and running routes, he's not accumulating a ton of yardage. Donnell is a very touchdown-dependent tight end.

Projections: 4 receptions, 30 receiving yards

New York Giants: Daniel Fells

Coming into Week 3 as probable, Fells is likely to play. However, he won't be starting on your fantasy team.

Projections: 0 receptions

Defense/Special Teams

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Washington Redskins Defense/Special Teams

The Redskins are a tough bunch. They have yet to allow 20 points to an opposing team this season. That trend will end Thursday night. However, the Redskins should be able to create some pressure, get to Eli Manning and create sack and interception opportunities.

Projections: 24 points allowed, 3 sacks, 1 INT

New York Giants Defense/Special Teams

Going into Thursday Night Football, the Giants will be without top cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The good news for New York is that they don't need to face Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones again.

Projections: 20 points allowed, 2 sacks, 1 INT

Best Sleeper Add

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1. Andre Williams, Running Back, New York Giants (Owned in 38.2 percent of ESPN Leagues)

Williams' ownership percentage is higher than most sleepers. However, he's the only guy with an ownership percentage this low that you could see score. He's very hit or miss, but a touchdown might come in Week 3. He's a low-end flex play.

Injury Report

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Headlined by Washington Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson and New York Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, what other players are dealing with injuries?

Washington Redskins 

Player		Status
DeSean Jackson	WR	Out
Perry Riley Jr.	LB	Questionable

New York Giants 

Player		Status
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie	CB	Out
Jon Beason	LB	Probable
Victor Cruz	WR	Out
Daniel Fells	TE	Probable

Another week without Cruz.

Injury reports courtesy of ESPN.

Start or Sit?

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Rueben Randle, Wide Receiver, New York Giants

He's been a pain in the neck up to this point, but the reports of needing to get Randle more involved in the offense will come to fruition. Preston Parker being gone also helps. Randle's role will increase.

Verdict: Start

All advanced stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus unless otherwise noted.