Week 3 could be the point of reckoning in many fantasy football leagues. Owners who have started 2-0 want to continue to assert their dominance. Teams that are 1-1 can get into an advantageous position with a win but fall behind the eight ball with a loss. And 0-2 teams are running out of time to dig themselves out of a hole. The injuries that we saw last week, along with some friendly matchups in Week 3, create a ton of fantasy sleepers that can help solidify your start 'em, sit 'em decisions.
Rookie running backs are often at the center of any sleeper article, and that's the case here - we've all chosen first-year backs -- Antonio Gibson, Joshua Kelley and JK Dobbins -- as our Week 3 sleepers in. Joe Burrow joins the party as another rookie, too, and at WR, we like first-year pass-catchers CeeDee Lamb and Michael Pittman Jr. this week. Even with a weird offseason, the rookies are stepping up.
WEEK 3: Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Don't worry -- we have a couple sleepers you've barely heard of in our tight end section. Dalton Schultz and Drew Sample? We're buying into their big Week 2s and solid upcoming matchups. (If only Andy Dalton could throw to Dalton Schultz in Dallas.) We also have our favorite D/STs streams at the bottom, as always.
WEEK 3 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Last week's sleeper list had a few rough patches, but we got Ryan Tannehill right, and he's actually back for another spin this week. And of the two Saints WRs we put on the list, it was Tre'Quan Smith who delivered. We'll hopefully have a few more hits this week.
WEEK 3 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Week 3 Fantasy Sleepers: Running backs
Antonio Gibson, Washington @ Browns (Billy Heyen). Unlike Week 1, Gibson was utilized early and often by Washington in Week 2. He also converted a goal-line opportunity late in the game, which is important for him as he tries to hold off Peyton Barber for looks down there. Cleveland is beatable for Gibson both in the receiving game and on the ground.
Joshua Kelley, Chargers vs. Panthers (Vinnie Iyer). He loves L.A. We love him in L.A. against a run defense that has been destroyed by Josh Jacobs and Leonard Fournette.
JK Dobbins, Ravens vs. Chiefs (Matt Lutovsky). Dobbins received just two carries in Week 2, but he almost broke one for a long touchdown, ultimately settling for a 44-yard gain. Remember, Dobbins ran seven times and scored twice in Week 1, so usage will fluctuate from week to week in this backfield. Against the Chiefs’ porous run defense, Dobbins won’t need many carries to pay off as a flex in standard leagues.
WEEK 3 DFS TOURNAMENT LINEUPS: Yahoo | DraftKings | FanDuel
Week 3 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Quarterbacks
Ryan Tannehill, Titans @ Vikings (Heyen). There’s just no reason to not believe in Tannehill at this point. He’s thrown two touchdowns or more in nine straight games. This offense’s run-heavy tendencies have kept people from using Tannehill despite him continuing to ball out week after week, and the Vikings aren’t good enough to slow him down.
Mitchell Trubisky, Bears @ Falcons (Iyer). Maserati Mitch is bound to come out of the garage for another spin with high volume against a bad pass defense on the other side of Matty Ice.
Joe Burrow, Bengals @ Eagles (Lutovsky). Burrow has mostly passed the eye test through the first two weeks, and he’s shown an ability to pick up fantasy points with his legs, rushing for 65 yards and a score. The Eagles were lit up by Jared Goff in Week 2 and clearly have problems covering the middle of the field. Expect Burrow to connect with TE Drew Sample and WR Tyler Boyd early and often and finish with QB1-worthy numbers.
WEEK 3 DFS CASH LINEUPS: Yahoo | DraftKings | FanDuel
Week 3 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Wide receivers
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Packers @ Saints (Heyen). Ideally Davante Adams would take Marshon Lattimore away from MVS here, but regardless, Valdes-Scantling seems to have captured some of the consistency needed to make him a dynamite deep threat.
CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys @ Seahawks (Iyer). Lamb once again will leap like a lion, making big plays with the other top Dallas wideouts with Dak and Russ dueling like nuts.
Michael Pittman Jr., Colts vs. Jets (Lutovsky). Pittman showed signs of life in Week 2, catching four-of-six targets for 37 targets. With Parris Campbell (knee) out, Pittman should see steady targets again this week, and against the Jets, who haven’t been able to cover anyone through the first two games, that should result in a solid outing.
MORE WEEK 3 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup Builder
Week 3 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Tight ends
Dalton Schultz, Cowboys @ Seahawks (Heyen). Coming off nine catches on 10 targets, Schultz should have another solid day against Seattle, even if not that good. The Seahawks won’t slow Dallas down enough to prevent Schultz from some red-zone looks, too.
T.J. Hockenson, Lions @ Cardinals (Iyer). Hockenson has been hot to match his sizzling rookie start where he dominated this defense a year ago. They’re unleashing the fully healthy first-rounder.
Drew Sample, Bengals @ Eagles (Lutovsky). Sample caught seven-of-nine targets in relief of C.J. Uzomah (Achilles’) last Thursday, and even though Cincinnati doesn’t figure to throw quite as much against the Eagles, Sample should be able to generate more than production even with fewer receptions. Philadelphia allowed a touchdown to Logan Thomas in Week 1 and got torched for 54 yards and three TDs by Tyler Higbee in Week 2. Sample is closer to Thomas in this comparison, but fantasy owners won’t complain about 40-50 yards and a score.
Week 3 Fantasy Sleepers: Defenses
Denver Broncos vs. Buccaneers (Heyen). I’ll admit to this one being a little out there. We’re matching up with Tom Brady and a talented offense, after all, and Denver is dinged up. But if obvious streamers are picked up and you need a defense, Denver is worth a shot. Brady has yet to look great for Bruce Arians.
Cleveland Browns vs. Washington (Iyer). Myles Garrett, meet Dwayne Haskins -- once or twice. Porter Gustin also will make Haskins dust in the wind.
Washington Football Team @ Browns (Lutovsky). Washington can generate pressure, as shown by its 11 sacks. Baker Mayfield generally doesn’t respond well when facing a good pass rush, and Washington should be able force some mistakes in addition to piling up at least three QB takedowns.