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Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings: Breaking Down Each Position
September 22, 2020
Of the NFL's 32 teams, 11 have started the 2020 season at 0-2. Hopefully, your fantasy squad isn't in the same position. However, if it is, there's plenty of time to right the proverbial ship. The trick is knowing who to play in Week 3 and beyond, though the rash of early injuries makes that a definite challenge.
Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, Raheem Mostert, Courtland Sutton, Drew Lock and Sterling Shepard are just a few notable fantasy names likely to miss Week 3—and in some cases, the rest of the season. Naturally, a lot of fantasy managers will be attacking the waiver wire this week.
With these injuries, past performances and upcoming matchups in mind, let's take a look at the latest positional rankings heading into Week 3, along with some top waiver-wire targets for each.
Quarterback
1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
2. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
3. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
2. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
4. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
5. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
6. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
7. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
8. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans
9. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
10. Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
Waiver-Wire Target: Gardner Minshew II, Jacksonville Jaguars
Managers who need to replace Lock—or perhaps an underwhelming quarterback like Carson Wentz—should look no further than Jacksonville Jaguars signal-caller Gardner Minshew II. The former Washington State star has done nothing to suggest that he cannot be Jacksonville's future franchise quarterback.
Minshew has done nothing to suggest that he cannot be a top streaming option in fantasy either.
Through two weeks, Minshew has completed 75.4 percent of his passes for 512 yards, six touchdowns, two interceptions and a rating of 115.7. With some favorable defensive matchups upcoming—against the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Texans—Minshew is a must-add for any manager streaming their quarterbacks. He is rostered in just 32 percent of Yahoo leagues and 19 percent of ESPN leagues.
Running Back
1. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
2. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
3. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
4. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
5. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
6. Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
7. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
8. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
9. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs
10. Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles
Waiver-Wire Target: Joshua Kelley, Los Angeles Chargers
While Austin Ekeler remains the top player in the Los Angeles Chargers backfield, rookie fourth-round pick Joshua Kelley is proving to be a valuable complement. He has racked up at least 60 rushing yards in each of his first two games and added two receptions for 49 yards in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
It appears that Kelley is going to hold the No. 2 back role that many expected Justin Jackson to possess in 2020. While he might not have the PPR upside of a more traditional change-of-pace back—L.A. tends to lean on Ekeler as their receiving back—he showed in Week 2 that he is more than just a run-only complement.
Kelley is rostered in 39 percent of Yahoo leagues and 26 percent of ESPN leagues.
Wide Receiver
1. DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals
2. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons
3. Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers
4. Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings
5. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers
6. Allen Robinson II, Chicago Bears
7. DJ Moore, Carolina Panthers
8. Robert Woods, Los Angeles Ras
9. Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons
10. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Waiver-Wire Target: N'Keal Harry, New England Patriots
In Week 1, it appeared that the New England Patriots were going to utilize a run-heavy offense behind Cam Newton in 2020. In Week 2, the Patriots showed that they're not going to do that each and every week.
Against the Seattle Seahawks, Newton passed for 397 yards and a touchdown with an interception, proving that he's healthy and also that New England is going to use its typical week-to-week offensive approach.
When the Patriots decide to go pass-heavy, second-year wideout N'Keal Harry is likely to be one of the biggest beneficiaries. He caught eight passes for 72 yards against Seattle and should be a terrific flex option most weeks moving forward. He's rostered in 26 percent of Yahoo leagues and 40 percent of ESPN leagues.
Tight End
1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
2. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
3. Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders
4. Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
5. Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles
6. Jared Cook, New Orleans Saints
7. Hunter Henry, Los Angeles Chargers
8. Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans
9. Hayden Hurst, Atlanta Falcons
10. Noah Fant, Denver Broncos
Waiver-Wire Target: Mo Alie-Cox, Indianapolis Colts
It's often tricky to find viable waiver-wire targets at the tight end spot because there are so few quality fantasy tight ends to begin with. However, Indianapolis Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox is worth picking up if you're either lacking or streaming at the position.
With starter Jack Doyle sidelined, Alie-Cox produced 111 yards on five receptions against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2. He appears to have a fair amount of chemistry with quarterback Philip Rivers and should be a reasonable fantasy play for as long as Doyle remains sidelined, and perhaps beyond.
Alie-Cox is rostered in just one percent of both Yahoo and ESPN leagues.
Defense/Special Teams
1. Buffalo Bills
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5. Indianapolis Colts
6. New England Patriots
7. Tennessee Titans
8. Chicago Bears
9. Arizona Cardinals
10. Baltimore Ravens
Yahoo and ESPN roster percentages from FantasyPros.