Fantasy Football Week 3 Rankings: Updated Positional Breakdown for Flex and PPR

The flex position is either glorious or notorious depending on your week.

Sometimes, you plug in a player without any clue of how he’ll do, and it works. Other times, you’ll lock in a stud you just know will explode, and he barely shows up.

If you started Washington Redskins running back Matt Jones on Thursday, you know the latter feeling. After rumbling for 123 yards and two scores in Week 2, the rookie totaled just 38 yards, including a fumble on what was a sure touchdown.

Hey, it happens.

Let’s take a look at some of the best flex options—running backs, wide receivers and tight ends—for Week 3 in PPR leagues.

RB

Rank	Player	Projection
1	Le'Veon Bell PIT	20
2	Jamaal Charles KC	20
3	Marshawn Lynch SEA	20
4	Adrian Peterson MIN	20
5	Dion Lewis NE	19.5
6	Isaiah Crowell CLE	18
7	Devonta Freeman ATL	18
8	Mark Ingram NO	18
9	LeSean McCoy BUF	18
10	Latavius Murray OAK	18
11	James Starks GB	17.5
12	Ameer Abdullah DET	17
13	Matt Forte CHI	17
14	Carlos Hyde SF	17
15	DeMarco Murray PHI	16.5
16	Jonathan Stewart CAR	16.5
17	Jeremy Hill CIN	16.5
18	Melvin Gordon SD	15
19	Joseph Randle DAL	14.5
20	CJ Anderson	14.5

Beast: Darren Sproles, Philadelphia Eagles

Michael Perez/Associated Press/Associated Press

The mighty mouse running back has always been a solid PPR option. So with DeMarco Murray banged up with a hamstring injury and the Philadelphia Eagles desperately in need of a win over the New York Jets, expect Chip Kelly to feed the sure-handed Sproles.

He only has six carries on the year, but he had seven catches for 76 yards in Week 1 and then followed that up with a four-catch, 23-yard performance against the Dallas Cowboys. The Eagles looked significantly more cohesive when Sproles was involved, so expect more of that against the Jets.

Dud: LeGarrette Blount, New England Patriots

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

This is Dion Lewis’ world, LeGarrette Blount is just living in it.

Or so it seems.

Through two games, the Pats have gone with a super-heavy passing attack. While Tom Brady can’t be chucking 60 balls a game (38-for-59 for 466 yards in Week 2), the team has given him a sort of hybrid “rushing” attack with Dion Lewis, who has taken over Shane Vereen’s safety-valve role.

The 24-year-old ran for 40 yards on seven carries and reeled in six catches for 98 yards last week. In the prior contest, he ran 15 times for 69 yards and snagged four catches for 51 yards.

Blount was suspended in Week 1, but he was a no-show in Week 2. He’ll probably earn some of those “big-back” carries as the season progresses, but for now, New England is happy with dinking and dunking instead of pounding the rock.

Sleeper: Ronnie Hillman, Denver Broncos

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

C.J. who?

As relayed by Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post, the Denver Broncos starter is telling fantasy owners to drop him:

"

You can sit me for 17 weeks. It would not bother me one bit. I don't care. I saw something on ESPN: 'Is C.J. Anderson a fantasy bust?' I wish I could call ESPN and say, 'Tell them to drop me…Every owner can drop me.'

"

That’s extreme, but Ronnie Hillman is looking more and more like a legitimate threat to Anderson’s starting gig.

Hillman (21 carries, 75 yards) has yet to make a catch, but he’s out-run Anderson (24 carries, 56 yards) in both of Denver’s games. If you’re stuck, Hillman isn’t a bad roll-of-the-dice flex play.

WR

Rank	Player	Projection
1	Antonio Brown PIT	26
2	Julio Jones ATL	25
3	Odell Beckham Jr. NYG	20.9 (*Actual score)
4	Julian Edelman NE	23.5
5	DeAndre Hopkins HOU	22.5
6	Jarvis Landry MIA	22
7	Brandon Marshall NYJ	22
8	Larry Fitzgerald ARI	21
9	Demaryius Thomas DEN	20.5
10	Mike Evans TB	20
11	Jeremy Maclin KC	20
12	Donte Moncrief IND	20
13	Allen Robinson JAC	20
14	Emmanuel Sanders DEN	20
15	Keenan Allen SD	19.5
16	Brandin Cooks NO	19.5
17	Amari Cooper OAK	19.5
18	Steve Johnson SD	19.5
19	Steve Smith Sr. BAL	19.5
20	Anquan Boldin SF	19

Beast: Donte Moncrief, Indianapolis Colts

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

It pays to be Andrew Luck’s top target.

Through two games, Moncrief has hauled in more touchdowns (two), yards (168) and big plays (over 20 yards, three) than any other Colts receiver.

He’s gotten better each week and appears to be an all-terrain vehicle in terms of size, speed and skill. Expect the big numbers to keep on rolling in.

Dud: James Jones, Green Bay Packers

Everybody loves James Jones.

Scratch that—everybody loves whoever Aaron Rodgers is throwing to.

Jones is still reliable and trustworthy, especially for the reigning MVP, but he isn’t as explosive as Randall Cobb or Davante Adams. Jones made just one catch in Week 2, but it was for a 29-yard score, so fantasy owners likely glossed over the fact that he only saw three targets.

As Rodgers continues to develop a rapport with Adams, the second-year wideout from Fresno State, Jones will likely see less and less action. For now, he’s TD-dependent.

It should be noted, however, that it’s worked thus far from a fantasy viewpoint. He has three scores on five catches through two games.

Sleeper: Terrance Williams, Dallas Cowboys

Michael Perez/Associated Press

Dez Bryant and Tony Romo are down. The Cowboys are likely done in their pursuit of the playoffs.

But they still play the games. And the ball needs to go to someone (other than Jason Witten, that is).

That lucky soul is Terrance Williams, who lit up Philadelphia for four catches, 84 yards and a monster 42-yard touchdown. With Brandon Weeden under center, defenses are going to focus on neutralizing the offensive line and running game, which could give Williams a lot of one-on-one coverage.

He won’t give you a bomb TD on a weekly basis, but the potential for one is always there.

TE

Rank	Player	Projection
1	Rob Gronkowski NE	21
2	Martellus Bennett CHi	18.5
3	Jordan Reed WAS	15.6 (*Actual score)
4	Tyler Eifert CIN	18
5	Greg Olsen	18
6	Jared Cook STL	17.5
7	Jordan Cameron MIA	16
8	Jimmy Graham SEA	16
9	Heath Miller PIT	14.5
10	Crockett Gillmore BAL	13
11	Travis Kelce KC	12.5
12	Jason Witten DAL	9
13	Venon Davis SF	8.5
14	Coby Fleener IND	8
15	Charles Clay BUF	7

Beast: Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Ol’ reliable.

If Witten plays in Week 3—and he says he will—he’s a sure bet to get all kinds of checkdowns and quick passes. While Williams will try to get over the top, Witten will be Weeden’s safety blanket underneath.

The veteran has been used frequently this year with 15 total grabs for 116 yards and two scores through a pair of games. That won’t change in Week 3, especially with Bryant out.

Dud: Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles

John Bazemore/Associated Press

Zach Ertz is the undisputed king of potential. And it’s not hard to understand why.

He’s young (24 years old), huge (6’5”, 250 pounds), freaky athletic and, perhaps most importantly, plays in what is supposed to be a high-octane offense.

Through two games, though, Ertz has seen six total catches (three each week) for an underwhelming total of 63 yards.

At some point, the potential has to become reality. Don't buy into him until that happens.

Sleeper: Richard Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

If loving Richard Rodgers was a crime, you should want to be arrested. Every game, even dating back to last year, his quarterback seems to trust him more and more.

And that can lead to him becoming a reliable fantasy option.

As A. Rodgers picked apart the Seattle Seahawks last week, R. Rodgers hauled in three catches for 23 yards and a touchdown. He’s not going to give you out-of-this-world, Rob Gronkowski numbers, but Rodgers is beginning to emerge as a safe bet to put up six or eight points on a weekly basis.

Rankings and stats are based on FFToday.