Fantasy Football Week 3: Award Roundup for Busts and MVPs

Dallas surprisingly played host to two of the top fantasy tailbacks on Sunday, as Devonta Freeman and Joseph Randle combined for 298 total yards and six touchdowns. 

Only one of these top tailbacks can claim the crown as the running back MVP for Week 3. With an eye on surveying the fantasy football landscape in the wake of a touchdown-laden Week 3, we've compiled a series of awards for the best box scores as well as the biggest busts. 

Somehow the Bengals offense produced worthy MVP nominees at receiver and quarterback, while also earning dubious distinctions at tailback and tight end.  

The loss of Ben Roethlisberger follows a Week 2 that saw Tony Romo and Drew Brees injured. Those with shares of Cam Newton, Carson Palmer and Andy Dalton should feel confident in the face of a thinning QB1 crop.

As you'll see throughout each skill-position award breakdown, Week 3 wasn't light on big games. Join us in discussing the biggest performances and busts from Week 3 at each position.

As always, please feel free to share your picks for fantasy MVP and bust at each position. 

Fantasy QB MVP: Cam Newton Edges Andy Dalton for Top Honors

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Between Cam Newton and Andy Dalton, it's hard to go wrong for this week's sensational signal-caller. We are going with Newton given the herculean effort his dual-threat explosion in Week 3 offered.

In overcoming subpar weapons past Greg Olsen, Newton posted 29 fantasy points thanks to 348 total yards and three touchdowns—including 33 yards rushing and a score on the ground.

To offer some historical perspective on Newton's unique blend of production, his diverse box score marked just the 20th time since the merger when a signal-caller has had at least 315 passing yards and two passing scores to go with 30 yards rushing and a rushing touchdown. 

Dalton produced the 11th game in Bengals history since the merger with at least 380 yards passing and three touchdowns, his second such performance of his career. Dalton is currently second only to Tom Brady in fantasy points among quarterbacks after being drafted 26th on average at the position in ESPN drafts.

With Tony Romo, Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees all ailing, Dalton will be leaned on as a fantasy starter going forward.

Tom Brady enjoyed another strong Sunday and has arguably the safest statistical floor in fantasy as long as Rob Gronkowski is healthy. Brady joined Dan Marino, Peyton Manning and Brett Favre in the 400-TD club on Sunday.

Derek Carr is tied for 12th in fantasy points per game among quarterbacks. Carr is also averaging a robust 8.1 yards per attempt—ninth-best in the league after producing an alarmingly low 5.5-yard rate as a rookie. Carr has 665 yards and five scores in his past two games and is suddenly appraised as a relevant QB2 with building streaming appeal as a QB1.

Marcus Mariota has produced multiple touchdowns in each outing so far and is tied for sixth among signal-callers in fantasy points per game (19) using ESPN standard scoring.

The Bills' Tyrod Taylor adds to a rich collection of big box scores from Week 3, with another emboldening breakout game offering hope for continued success at an increasingly shallow position. Taylor is tied for fourth in ESPN fantasy points per game among QBs at the moment.

Carson Palmer, for his part, is tied with Taylor at fourth in fantasy points per game among signal-callers. With such masterful orchestration of Bruce Arians' vertical passing attack combined with capable receiving weapons, Palmer is now firmly considered a top-six fantasy quarterback. 

Philip Rivers and the Chargers Bust on Offense in Week 3

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Philip Rivers was held to just nine fantasy points in Week 3, good for 22nd at the position. 

Entering the game with efficient passing metrics, Rivers averaged just 5.7 yards per dropback and netted a lone touchdown in the loss to the Vikings. Rivers had averaged 8.2 yards per dropback over the first two games of the season (stats provided by the author). 

We can largely chalk this up to an unfamiliar road foe, but it does appear that Rivers is in the matchup tier at the position, especially when playing respectable defenses on the road. While Rivers' game wasn't so awful in the context of possibly ugly outcomes, he was one of the rare widely used signal-callers to produce single-digit fantasy points in a high-scoring Week 3 slate. 

While Ben Roethlisberger left with a scary knee injury in St. Louis, we prefer to focus on production and not injury in measuring these fantasy awards. News on the injury remains murky, yet in demand, especially with so many pivotal fantasy shares tied to the Steelers offense. 

Devonta Freeman Gets Free for a Fantasy Feast in Dallas

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Devonta Freeman nets top honors as the fantasy running back MVP thanks to becoming just the fifth player since the merger to accumulate as many as 141 yards rushing in addition to 52 receiving and three rushing scores. 

It was the first such performance since fantasy legend Priest Holmes met these thresholds in 2004. Before Holmes, it was Marshall Faulk in 2002 to accomplish these marks.

While Freeman isn't likely to ever match such amazing fantasy production again, he's now clearly vaulted into the RB2 tier for as long as Tevin Coleman is sidelined. In PPR formats, enduring flex value would continue even when Coleman returns. He is, after all, leading all backs in ESPN standard fantasy scoring at the moment. 

Randle rumbled to 105 total yards and three scores in a revitalizing outing for his stock. With an eye on history, Randle is just the sixth tailback in team history to tally at least 105 yards from scrimmage and three rushing scores. 

If any Randle owners were looking to market the Cowboys' committee leader, now would be the time. Personally, I'd be patient outside of big offers in order to see how Randle looks versus two inviting upcoming opponents against the run in the Saints and Patriots.  

The Cardinals' Chris Johnson posted just the 14th outing in franchise history with at least 150 yards from scrimmage and two rushing scores and just the second such performance since 1996. While Johnson's workhorse workload could be curbed by Andre Ellington's eventual return, it's clear there is something surprisingly left in the tank with the veteran. 

The Bengals' Jeremy Hill Busts Even When the Offense Breaks out

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In a rare feat, the Bengals claim our fantasy MVP at receiver for Week 3 in A.J. Green, while also claiming the biggest bust at tailback in Jeremy Hill. With just two standard fantasy points and just 21 yards on 12 totes, Hill's perch as a trusted RB1 seems short-lived. 

Le'Veon Bell posted 19 fantasy points in his return to action for the Steelers, while Hill has just 19 total fantasy points on the season. I actually believe a buy-low window exists for Hill, especially given how prolific Andy Dalton's start has been.

It's a good thing for Hill to be tied to a good offense; we just need to see his share of the backfield workload prove more dominant. If you can land Hill for Devonta Freeman or a similar recency-bias all-star, it could prove profitable. 

Justin Forsett matched Hill with just two points and is tied with Dexter McCluster at 47th among backs in ESPN fantasy scoring. With the Ravens' offense appearing so anemic past Steve Smith's awesome exploits, the Marc Trestman magic has yet to help Forsett's deflating stock.

A troubling dive into the history books confirms Forsett's 13 yards on 10 rushes is the second-fewest rushing yards in team history with as many carries. Jamal Lewis had nine yards on 10 totes in 2005.

Sticking with underwhelming veterans, Jonathan Stewart hasn't topped 62 rushing yards or seven standard fantasy points using ESPN scoring so far this season. I have to watch the tape for his Week 3 outing, but Stewart's lack of big plays is glaring so far this season. 

A.J. Green Earns MVP Honors over a Top Crop of Contenders

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A.J. Green had 10 catches for a career-high 227 yards and two touchdowns Sunday. Andy Dalton, one of our leading candidates for QB MVP this week, averaged a robust 17.5 yards targeting Green in Baltimore. Thanks to two fourth-quarter scores, Green earns the fantasy MVP among wideouts for Week 3.

With Dalton playing as well as he ever has and with Green commanding a valuable 27.1-target share of the Bengals passing game, the Georgia product is eyeing a career season. 

In almost any other week, we'd be singularly celebrating Julio Jones, who has averaged 7.8 receptions and 113 yards per game since the start of 2013 and is currently on pace for 181 receptions, 2,346 yards and 21 touchdowns. Jones has averaged 15.6 targets per game, setting his 16-game pace at 250 targets. The all-time record for targets is Rob Moore's 208 in 1997.

How could we not lead with Steve Smith and his 13 receptions for 186 yards and two scores? Much like Jones, Smith would clearly win the fantasy crown in almost any other week, but Green's awesome outing simply set a high bar. Smith's prolific performance in Week 3 was just the 10th such performance since the merger.

Like these other attention hogs, Smith is consuming a massive market share of his passing game—31.7 percent of Joe Flacco's attempts—suggesting a monster PPR season is in the works even if the veteran fades later into the season. 

Larry Fitzgerald and Brandon Marshall both respectively continued their revival campaigns and are now second and ninth in ESPN fantasy points per game among receivers (before Monday night's game is played). Fight the lure to sell high here, as both vets appear to have realistically high target shares and production pedigrees to provide top-10 numbers going forward. 

Even if Keenan Allen chooses to produce big box scores every other week, with goose eggs in between, I assume investors would take it if he could continue on his current pace for 155 receptions and more than 2,100 yards. 

Miami's Rishard Matthews, meanwhile, is sure to be a top waiver addition after a third straight strong showing vaults him into the top 10 among fantasy receivers. I'd look to sell on Matthews in most cases, especially coming off of such a rare multi-score window.

Andre Johnson Is the Biggest Bust Among Fantasy Receivers in Week 3

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Looking for a photo of Andre Johnson as the wide receiver bust of Week 3 proved difficult given he was targeted just once and held without a reception in facing the Titans. In fact, the game marked just the second time in Johnson's 172 career games he's been held without a catch. 

We're past the point of panic. Johnson simply isn't a fantasy starter any longer. I wouldn't argue with managers cutting Johnson to make room for more upside in fantasy free agency. 

Greg Olsen Enjoys Breakout Game En Route to Becoming the TE MVP of Week 3

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Fears over weak Week 1 usage for Greg Olsen have been assuredly assuaged, as the Miami product and former amateur rapper has been targeted 25 times over the past two games since that quiet three-target opener. 

To put Olsen's surge in usage in perspective, he's now on pace for 149 targets this season, which would tie for the fourth-most targets to a tight end on record since the merger. Any early-season buy-low window for Olsen has since closed.

Across the position, Jordan Reed continues to quietly amass an awesome season, as he's heading toward 101 receptions and nearly 1,300 yards given a gaudy current pace. Health is really the only concern in owning Reed.

The Browns' Gary Barnidge's big game is likely a mirage, but it's worth noting he is an undeniable size, speed and agility freak among prospects at the position. 

Tyler Eifert Is One of Week 3's Biggest Busts Among Tight Ends

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Tyler Eifert entered Week 3 second only to Rob Gronkowski in fantasy points among tight ends, but he was held without a catch on three targets as the Bengals won in Baltimore.

Eifert was at least sent a target at the goal line in the game, but he failed to haul in the catch on a play that was reviewed. There are clearly better days ahead for Eifert, but the emergence of Marvin Jones and high target share for A.J. Green could lead to some quiet games for this talented Notre Dame product. Either way, Eifert remains in the must-start mix at a shallow position. 

Miami's Jordan Cameron has been quite quiet, but I'd be interested in buying deflated shares of the big tight end thanks to a current target pace for 101 looks over a full season. Only six tight ends had as many as 100 targets last season. 

The Cardinals Defense and Special Teams Proved Special in Week 3

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Two first-quarter pick-sixes set up the Arizona Cardinals for a comfortable route to an historic fantasy performance from a defense. 

With 30 ESPN fantasy points tallied in drubbing the 49ers, the Cardinals D/ST is just the 28th group to score as many fantasy points in a game since 2001. The Cardinals' big-play secondary and blitz-heavy scheme could prove profitable again in Week 4 in facing the Rams' anemic offense.

The top D/ST bust must be the Miami Dolphins. With just one sack on the season and a glaring lack of big plays, it's time to leave the "Fins" in fantasy free agency. 

Fantasy Rookie of the Week: Oakland's Awesome Amari Cooper

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Oakland's Amari Cooper, by way of Alabama, is heading toward a special rookie campaign. ESPN's Bill Williamson informs us the rookie is already entering rare franchise territory: 

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Cooper had a 40-yard catch to set up an Oakland touchdown against the Browns. He is the first Oakland receiver to have back-to-back 100-yard games since Randy Moss did it 10 years ago. Moss was the last Oakland receiver to get 1,000 yards in a season (2005).

"

With a current full-season target pace of 165 targets, a number that would rank third in the NFL last season, history doesn't seem so far out of reach for this rookie given his sustainable market share of the Raiders' offense. Cooper's current pace for 106 receptions and 1,546 yards would shatter previous rookie records.