For almost all of the preseason, we had DeMarcus Robinson ranked ahead of Mecole Hardman. We didn't really think it would matter, though. Once Tyreek Hill got hurt in Week 1, everything changed, and for at least one week, Robinson became the man while Hardman was relevant, too. We didn't expect to have them both in WR3/FLEX consideration in our Week 3 fantasy WR rankings, but here we are, as sleepers turn into much more at the wide receiver position (and, yes, it helps to have Patrick Mahomes II throwing you the football).
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The first standout performance of Week 2 came on Thursday night, when Chris Godwin set his single-game career marks for both receptions (eight) and yards (121) while catching a touchdown from Jameis Winston in a win over the Panthers. For the second-straight week, Godwin outproduced Mike Evans, and it's getting very close to the time Godwin leapfrogs the expected Bucs' No. 1 in our rankings. This week, they're nearly side-by-side ahead of a matchup with a Giants defense that allowed more than 400 yards through the air in Week 1 and gave up good games to both John Brown and Cole Beasley in Week 2.
WEEK 3 NON-PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Amari Cooper (vs. Dolphins) might be as high as you'll find him in our weekly rankings all season because a matchup with the Dolphins looks like guaranteed fantasy points and a nearly guaranteed touchdown. Julio Jones (@ Colts) caught two touchdowns in Week 2, including a game-winning score when he broke a screen pass into a 54-yard touchdown. Maybe this is finally the year he reaches double-digit scores.
Antonio Brown (vs. Jets) shone early in his debut with the Patriots, catching three passes and a touchdown on the first drive of the game. He only caught one pass after that, but as long as he's active (which is still up in the air), he should grow into the offense and be a huge weapon for Tom Brady.
Before getting into the rankings, one final note: We'll have to keep an eye on Steelers and Saints WRs this week as the quarterback situations there are fluid. We know Drew Brees is out and Ben Roethlisber could miss time. It wouldn't be enough to knock JuJu Smith-Schuster or Michael Thomas out of your starting lineups, but it maybe knocks any other receivers for those teams out of starting consideration. (Update: With both Brees and Roethlisberger out, we've moved Smith-Schuster and Thomas down in the rankings.)
Reminder: These rankings will be adjusted throughout week, so check back often for the latest updates and analysis!
Week 3 Fantasy WR Rankings
These rankings are for standard, non-PPR leagues.
| 1 | DeAndre Hopkins, HOU @ LAC |
| 2 | Julio Jones, ATL @ IND |
| 3 | Amari Cooper, DAL vs. MIA. The Dolphins have been burned through the air by Lamar Jackson and Tom Brady already. It shouldn't be any different for Dak Prescott, so even if you're concerned this turns into a blowout quickly, a large part of that should stem from early production from Cooper. |
| 4 | Odell Beckham Jr., CLE vs. LAR |
| 5 | Antonio Brown, NE vs. NYJ. Brown had three catches and a touchdown on his first New England drive. Tom Brady should throw to him early and often as long as Brown is active and on the field. And as long as that's true, he should be in your fantasy lineups. |
| 6 | Davante Adams, GB vs. DEN |
| 7 | Sammy Watkins, KC vs. BAL. While Watkins was overshadowed by DeMarcus Robinson and MeCole Hardman in Week 2, he led Kansas City with his 13 targets. Defensive attention will remain increased on Watkins while Tyreek Hill is out, but he's still the best week-to-week play among Patrick Mahomes' WR weapons. |
| 8 | Keenan Allen, LAC vs. HOU |
| 9 | Adam Thielen, MIN vs. OAK |
| 10 | Cooper Kupp, LAR @ CLE. Kupp led Rams wideouts in catches, receiving yards and targets in Week 2, and he was inches away from a touchdown, too. In last season's first eight weeks, he was staking his claim as L.A.'s top receiver, and now back healthy, he's doing it again. Cleveland might have the secondary talent to contain at least one of the Rams' wideouts, but Kupp might be too talented to let that be him. |
| 11 | JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT @ SF |
| 12 | Stefon Diggs, MIN vs. OAK |
| 13 | Mike Evans, TB vs. NYG |
| 14 | Kenny Golladay, DET @ PHI |
| 15 | Chris Godwin, TB vs. NYG |
| 16 | T.Y. Hilton, IND vs. ATL |
| 17 | John Brown, BUF vs. CIN |
| 18 | Tyler Lockett, SEA vs. NO |
| 19 | Michael Thomas, NO @ SEA |
| 20 | Brandin Cooks, LAR @ CLE |
| 21 | Robert Woods, LAR @ CLE |
| 22 | Tyler Boyd, CIN @ BUF |
| 23 | Marquise Brown, BAL @ KC |
| 24 | Calvin Ridley, ATL @ IND |
| 25 | Julian Edelman, NE vs. NYJ |
| 26 | D.J. Moore, CAR @ ARZ |
| 27 | Alshon Jeffery, PHI vs. DET |
| 28 | Tyrell Williams, OAK @ MIN |
| 29 | Larry Fitzgerald, ARZ vs. CAR. Kyler Murray has thrown for 300 yards two games in a row, and Fitzgerald looks to be his favorite target. Chris Godwin gave the Cardinals the recipe for how to burn the Panthers' secondary on short-to-intermediate routes, so Fitzgerald could replicate the 8-121-1 line Godwin had in Week 2 in Carolina. |
| 30 | DeSean Jackson, PHI vs. DET |
| 31 | Jamison Crowder, NYJ @ NE |
| 32 | Allen Robinson, CHI @ WAS |
| 33 | Michael Gallup, DAL vs. MIA |
| 34 | Josh Gordon, NE vs. NYJ |
| 35 | Jarvis Landry, CLE vs. LAR |
| 36 | DK Metcalf, SEA vs. NO. Things looked more normal in Seattle in Week 2, as Tyler Lockett looked like the clear No. 1 WR. But Metcalf should play a prominent role as the No. 2, and the Saints have shown a vulnerability to the big play to both Will Fuller V in Week 1 and to Kupp/Cooks in Week 2. Metcalf should have at least one deep ball waiting for him to give him a solid day. |
| 37 | Emmanuel Sanders, DEN @ GB |
| 38 | John Ross, CIN @ BUF |
| 39 | Demarcus Robinson, KC vs. BAL. Robinson outplayed Mecole Hardman in Week 2, catching two long touchdowns and leading the NFL in receiving yards for the week. He didn't out-target Hardman, though, as they both were thrown to six times. We'd expect both to be playable as WR3/FLEX options this week, but Robinson isn't a sure thing to have the better production. |
| 40 | Curtis Samuel, CAR @ ARZ |
| 41 | Mike Williams, LAC vs. HOU |
| 42 | Will Fuller V, HOU @ LAC |
| 43 | Mecole Hardman, KC vs. BAL |
| 44 | Deebo Samuel, SF vs. PIT |
| 45 | Courtland Sutton, DEN @ GB |
| 46 | Christian Kirk, ARZ vs. CAR |
| 47 | Sterling Shepard, NYG @ TB |
| 48 | Dede Westbrook, JAX vs. TEN |
| 49 | Corey Davis, TEN @ JAX |
| 50 | Robby Anderson, NYJ @ NE |
| 51 | Marvin Jones, DET @ PHI |
| 52 | Danny Amendola, DET @ PHI |
| 53 | Preston Williams, MIA @ DAL |
| 54 | DJ Chark, JAX vs. TEN |
| 55 | James Washington, PIT @ SF |
| 56 | Terry McLaurin, WAS vs. CHI |
| 57 | Geronimo Allison, GB vs. DEN |
| 58 | Nelson Agholor, PHI vs. DET. Agholor could have immense fantasy relevance this week if Alshon Jeffery and/or DeSean Jackson's injuries force them to miss this game. The Lions are a vulnerable pass defense, and if Agholor were to find himself in a 10-target role, he could probably turn that into seven catches, 70 yards and a score. |
| 59 | Marquise Goodwin, SF vs. PIT |
| 60 | Marquez Valdes-Scantling, GB vs. DEN |
| 61 | Cole Beasley, BUF vs. CIN |
| 62 | Willie Snead, BAL @ KC |
| 63 | Trey Quinn, WAS vs. CHI |
| 64 | Chris Conley, JAX vs. TEN |
| 65 | Paul Richardson, WAS vs. CHI |
| 66 | Bennie Fowler, NYG @ TB. New York has both Sterling Shepard and Cody Latimer dealing with concussions. If even one of them is out, Fowler is a sneaky FLEX play against a so-so Tampa Bay pass defense. If both are out, Fowler is looking at probably 12 targets, a total that gives him a solid floor if injuries have caused your lineup some issues. |
| 67 | DeVante Parker, MIA @ DAL |
| 68 | Tre'Quan Smith, NO @ SEA |
| 69 | Ted Ginn Jr., NO @ SEA |
| 70 | A.J. Brown, TEN @ JAX |
| 71 | Donte Moncrief, PIT @ SF |
| 72 | Parris Campbell, IND vs. ATL |
| 73 | Damiere Byrd, ARZ vs. CAR |
| 74 | Anthony Miller, CHI @ WAS |
| 75 | Rashard Higgins, CLE vs. LAR |
| 76 | DaeSean Hamilton, DEN @ GB |
| 77 | Taylor Gabriel, CHI @ WAS |
| 78 | Mohamed Sanu, ATL @ IND |
| 79 | Ryan Switzer, PIT @ SF |