Fantasy WR Rankings Week 3: Who to start, sit at wide receiver in fantasy football

Nick Musial

Fantasy WR Rankings Week 3: Who to start, sit at wide receiver in fantasy football image

The second week of the NFL season gives fantasy football owners another data point of games to evaluate. The top of our rankings see very few changes, but some bubble wide receivers' rankings continue to fluctuate. Our Week 3 fantasy WR rankings for standard leagues are here to help you sort and navigate some breakout sleepers and underwhelming busts in order to end the week with a "W." 

Per usual, injuries continued to rack up, with Julio Jones (knee) and Michael Pittman (quad) getting scratched late in the week and Jerry Jeudy (ribs) exiting early. Michael Gallup (knee), Van Jefferson (knee), Rondale Moore (hamstring), Chris Godwin (calf), and Keenan Allen (hamstring) also all failed to suit up in Week 2, but a few seem to be trending in the right direction as Week 3 approaches. Godwin and Jefferson figure to miss another week, but we'll continue to monitor their statuses and adjust our rankings if needed. 

There weren't many huge WR disappointments in Week 2, but JuJu Smith-Schuster (three catches, 10 yards), DK Metcalf (four catches, 35 yards), and most shockingly, Davante Adams (two catches, 12 yards, TD), definitely let some owners down. Since Adams (@ Titans in Week 3) still drew a respectable amount of targets (7), we're not too worried about him in Week 3, but JuJu (@ Colts) and Metcalf (vs. Falcons) see a drop in their rankings. There's still upside with both, but Metcalf in particular is a worry given his QB play and the presence of Tyler Lockett, but we like his matchup this week. We're also not too excited about Hunter Renfrow (@ Titans) and Elijah Moore (vs. Bengals), though Moore also has a somewhat favorable opponent.

WEEK 3 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

After big Week 1 performances, Devin Duvernay (@ Patriots), Jarvis Landry (@ Panthers), and Robbie Anderson (vs. Saints) came back down to Earth. Duvernay (concussion) might be out next week, but even if he's back, he -- and those other Week 1 heroes -- are considered risky flex plays this week.

UPDATE: Also risky flex plays are virtually all of Tampa's WRs. With Mike Evans suspended, Chris Godwin (hamstring) likely out, and Julio Jones (knee) iffy, it's certainly possible one of Breshad Perriman, Russell Gage, and Scotty Miller (vs. Packers) has a big game, but good luck guessing which one. We like Gage slightly more than Perriman, but consider all boom-or-bust flexes, at best.

WEEK 3 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBsTEs | D/STs | Kickers

Curtis Samuel (vs. Eagles) and Jahan Dotson (vs. Eagles) both followed up big Week 1s with big Week 2s. Greg Dortch (vs. Rams) and Noah Brown (@ Giants) were also solid for a second-straight week, and Sterling Shepard and Richie James Jr. (vs. Cowboys) continued to see a lot of targets. Josh Palmer (vs. Jaguars) was effective enough in the absence of Allen, while Nelson Agholor (vs. Ravens) and Garrett Wilson (vs. Bengals) broke out. Samuel, Dotson, and Agholor all look like solid starts in what should be a favorable matchups, and Palmer is in play even if Allen returns. Wilson is very much probably worth a shot considering the Jets throw a lot and he's garnered a respectable target share to begin the season.

WEEK 3 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings | Yahoo

We're starting to get more of an idea of favorable and unfavorable matchups, but we still can't say with 100 percent certainty which teams are worth picking on and which are stayaways. The Ravens (@ Patriots), Falcons (@ Seahawks), Lions (@ Vikings), Commanders (vs. Eagles), Browns (vs. Steelers), and Chiefs (@ Colts) are looking particularly vulnerable, but even just one outlier game against a poor passing team (like the Jaguars had in Week 2 against Indianapolis) can inflate stats in a positive direction. The Browns might get that bounce this week against the offensively challenged Steelers, but it could also be a breakout game for Chase Claypool and George Pickens. We don't recommend playing either, but someone like DeVonta Smith (@ Commanders), Adam Thielen (vs. Lions), or Jakobi Meyers and Agholor (vs. Ravens) can be used. Darnell Mooney could also get going against a Texans' secondary that's allowed No. 1 receivers to have 100-plus yards in each of the season's first two weeks.

WEEK 3 DFS: Best values | Best stacks

We're not scared of any pass defenses yet, at least not enough to sit any normal starter. Brandon Aiyuk (@ Broncos), Allen Lazard (@ Buccaneers), Drake London (@ Seahawks), and the Cowboys' WRs (@ Giants) are facing statistically solid pass defenses, but we'd still start London and CeeDee Lamb without thinking twice.

WEEK 3 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em

Note: We'll be updating these standard WR rankings as needed throughout the week, so check back for the latest changes and analysis.

Week 3 fantasy WR rankings for standard leagues

Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring

Rank Player
1 Cooper Kupp, Rams @ Cardinals
2 Justin Jefferson, Vikings vs. Lions
3 Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals @ Jets
4 Davante Adams, Raiders @ Titans
5 Stefon Diggs, Bills @ Dolphins
6 A.J. Brown, Eagles @ Commanders
7 Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions @ Vikings
8 Tyreek Hill, Dolphins vs. Bills
9 Terry McLaurin, Commanders vs. Eagles
10 Michael Pittman Jr., Colts vs. Chiefs
11 Deebo Samuel, 49ers @ Broncos
12 Mike Williams, Chargers vs. Jaguars
13 Christian Kirk, Jaguars @ Chargers
14 Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins vs. Bills
15 Amari Cooper, Browns vs. Steelers
16 Keenan Allen, Chargers vs. Jaguars
17 Michael Thomas, Saints @ Panthers
18 Tee Higgins, Bengals @ Jets
19 Gabriel Davis, Bills @ Dolphins
20 Brandin Cooks, Texans @ Bears
21 CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys @ Giants
22 Diontae Johnson, Steelers @ Browns
23 Courtland Sutton, Broncos vs. 49ers
24 Rashod Bateman, Ravens @ Patriots
25 D.J. Moore, Panthers vs. Saints
26 Drake London, Falcons @ Seahawks
27 JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chiefs @ Colts
28 Marquise Brown, Cardinals vs. Rams
29 Curtis Samuel, Commanders vs. Eagles
30 Jakobi Meyers, Patriots vs. Ravens
31 Allen Robinson II, Rams @ Cardinals
32 Tyler Lockett, Seahawks vs. Falcons
33 DK Metcalf, Seahawks vs. Falcons
34 Jerry Jeudy, Broncos vs. 49ers
35 Breshad Perriman, Buccaners vs. Packers
36 Jahan Dotson, Commanders vs. Eagles
37 Russell Gage, Buccaneers vs. Packers
38 DeVonta Smith, Eagles @ Commanders
39 Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers @ Broncos
40 Garrett Wilson, Jets vs. Bengals
41 Nelson Agholor, Patriots vs. Ravens
42 Adam Thielen, Vikings vs. Lions
43 Elijah Moore, Jets vs. Bengals
44 Robbie Anderson, Panthers vs. Saints
45 Allen Lazard, Packers @ Buccaneers
46 Scotty Miller, Buccaneers vs. Packers
47 Jarvis Landry, Saints @ Panthers
48 DJ Chark, Lions @ Vikings
49 Treylon Burks, Titans vs. Raiders
50 Robert Woods, Titans vs. Raiders
51 Sterling Shepard, Giants vs. Cowboys
52 Greg Dortch, Cardinals vs. Rams
53 Darnell Mooney, Bears vs. Texans
54 Romeo Doubs, Packers @ Buccaneers
55 Mack Hollins, Raiders @ Titans
56 Joshua Palmer, Chargers vs. Jaguars
57 Chase Claypool, Steelers @ Browns
58 Isaiah McKenzie, Bills @ Dolphins
59 Chris Olave, Saints @ Panthers
60 Mecole Hardman, Chiefs @ Colts
61 Quez Watkins, Eagles @ Commanders
62 Tyler Boyd, Bengals @ Jets
63 Richie James Jr., Giants vs. Cowboys
64 Devin Duvernay, Ravens @ Patriots
65 Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chiefs @ Colts
66 Noah Brown, Cowboys @ Giants
67 Nico Collins, Texans @ Bears
68 Donovan Peoples-Jones, Browns vs. Steelers
69 Zay Jones, Jaguars @ Chargers
70 George Pickens, Steelers @ Browns
71 Michael Gallup, Cowboys @ Giants
72 Marvin Jones Jr., Jaguars @ Chargers
73 Corey Davis, Jets vs. Bengals
74 DeVante Parker, Patriots vs. Ravens
75 Randall Cobb, Packers @ Buccaneers
76 Kenny Golladay, Giants vs. Cowboys
77 Olamide Zaccheaus, Falcons @ Seahawks
78 DeAndre Carter, Chargers vs. Jaguars
79 A.J. Green, Cardinals vs. Rams
80 K.J. Hamler, Broncos vs. 49ers
81 Jauan Jennings, 49ers @ Broncos
82 Christian Watson, Packers @ Buccaneers
83 Alec Pierce, Colts vs. Chiefs
84 K.J. Osborn, Vikings vs. Lions
85 Kyle Philips, Titans vs. Raiders
86 Ashton Dulin, Colts vs. Chiefs
87 Skyy Moore, Chiefs @ Colts

Week 3 WR fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks

We're proud to offer SN Fantasy readers an exclusive look at Draft Sharks’ award-winning projections and rankings every week. To see Draft Sharks' Week 3 3D floor-to-ceiling projections for wide receivers -- plus get access to all of Draft Sharks' industry-leading tools -- become a Draft Sharks' member today at the link below!

TRY DRAFT SHARKS FREE: Dominate with exclusive tools, including Free-Agent Finder & Trade Navigator!

Nick Musial

Nick Musial Photo

Nick Musial is a Content Producer at The Sporting News. He recently joined the team after studying sport management and journalism at the University of Kansas. Nick’s an avid sports bettor who’s always looking for value.