Who to start in fantasy football: Week 3 rankings, start-sit advice, sleepers for PPR leagues

09-22-2024
17 min read
(SN/Getty)

It's only Week 3, and injuries are already starting to pile up. Star players are dropping like flies and it's forcing fantasy managers to get creative with their lineups. As long as you've been aggressive on the waiver wire and have a strong set of rankings, you should be alright for this week.

As you prepare for the third full Sunday of NFL football, we've got you covered with everything you need to set your fantasy football lineups. We have everything from positional rankings to sleepers and busts. Be sure to check back in often as our rankings will be updated regularly until kickoff on Sunday.

WEEK 3 FANTASY ROSTER MANAGEMENT ADVICE
Buy Low, Sell High | Sleepers | Busts | Usage Report | Stock Watch | Start/Sit | Weather

Click section headers for additional positional analysis

Week 3 Fantasy QB Rankings

These rankings are for four-point passing TD leagues, and players who have already played are in italics.

RANK PLAYER NAME TEAM OPPONENT CHANGE
1 Josh Allen BUF vs. JAC  
2 Lamar Jackson BAL at DAL  
3 Jalen Hurts PHI at NO  
4 Patrick Mahomes II KC at ATL  
5 Kyler Murray ARI vs. DET  
6 Joe Burrow CIN vs. WAS Up 4
7 C.J. Stroud HOU at MIN Down 1
8 Anthony Richardson IND vs. CHI Down 1
9 Derek Carr NO vs. PHI Up 2
10 Jared Goff DET at ARI Down 2
11 Jayden Daniels WAS at CIN Down 2
12 Brock Purdy SF at LAR Up 1
13 Dak Prescott DAL vs. BAL Down 1
14 Gardner Minshew II LV vs. CAR Up 1
15 Geno Smith SEA vs. MIA Up 1
16 Baker Mayfield TB vs. DEN Down 2
17 Justin Fields PIT vs. LAC Up 1
18 Trevor Lawrence JAC at BUF Up 1
19 Caleb Williams CHI at IND Up 1
20 Kirk Cousins ATL vs. KC Up 2
21 Matthew Stafford LAR vs. SF Down 4
22 Sam Darnold MIN vs. HOU Up 1
23 Justin Herbert LAC at PIT Down 1
24 Aaron Rodgers NYJ vs. NE  
25 Will Levis TEN vs. GB  
26 Deshaun Watson CLE vs. NYG  
27 Bo Nix DEN at TB  
28 Skylar Thompson MIA at SEA  
29 Malik Willis GB at TEN  
30 Jacoby Brissett NE at NYJ  
31 Daniel Jones NYG at CLE  
32 Andy Dalton CAR at LV  

Week 3 Fantasy RB Rankings (PPR)

Italicized players have already played this week.

RANK PLAYER NAME TEAM OPPONENT CHANGE
1 Bijan Robinson ATL vs. KC  
2 Saquon Barkley PHI at NO  
3 Jordan Mason SF at LAR  
4 Breece Hall NYJ vs. NE  
5 Jonathan Taylor IND vs. CHI Down 1
6 Alvin Kamara NO vs. PHI Up 1
7 De'Von Achane MIA at SEA Down 1
8 Jahmyr Gibbs DET at ARI  
9 Derrick Henry BAL at DAL  
10 James Cook BUF vs. JAC  
11 Josh Jacobs GB at TEN Up 1
12 Zamir White LV vs. CAR Up 7
13 Travis Etienne Jr. JAC at BUF Up 3
14 Rhamondre Stevenson NE at NYJ  
15 Zack Moss CIN vs. WAS Up 11
16 James Conner ARI vs. DET Down 5
17 Brian Robinson Jr. WAS at CIN Down 3
18 Kyren Williams LAR vs. SF Down 5
19 Rachaad White TB vs. DEN Down 4
20 Tony Pollard TEN vs. GB Up 3
21 Najee Harris PIT vs. LAC Down 4
22 Zach Charbonnet SEA vs. MIA Up 2
23 Aaron Jones MIN vs. HOU Down 2
24 David Montgomery DET at ARI Down 2
25 D'Andre Swift CHI at IND  
26 J.K. Dobbins LAC at PIT Up 1
27 Cam Akers HOU at MIN Up 10
28 Devin Singletary NYG at CLE Up 2
29 Javonte Williams DEN at TB Up 2
30 Jerome Ford CLE vs. NYG Down 1
31 Chuba Hubbard CAR at LV Up 1
32 Austin Ekeler WAS at CIN  
33 Jaylen Warren PIT vs. LAC Up 1
34 Ezekiel Elliott DAL vs. BAL Down 1
35 Carson Steele KC at ATL  
36 Rico Dowdle DAL vs. BAL Up 3
37 Tyjae Spears TEN vs. GB Up 1
38 Bucky Irving TB vs. DEN Up 7
39 D'Onta Foreman CLE vs. NYG Up 8
40 Antonio Gibson NE at NYJ  
41 Samaje Perine KC at ATL Up 4
42 Jaleel McLaughlin DEN at TB Down 6
43 Braelon Allen NYJ vs. NE  
44 Jeff Wilson Jr. MIA at SEA Down 2
45 Gus Edwards LAC at PIT Down 2
46 Justice Hill BAL at DAL  
47 Ray Davis BUF vs. JAC  
48 Ty Chandler MIN vs. HOU  
49 Tyler Allgeier ATL vs. KC Up 1
50 Alexander Mattison LV vs. CAR Down 1
51 Jamaal Williams NO vs. PHI Down 4
52 Chase Brown CIN vs. WAS  
53 Emanuel Wilson GB at TEN  
54 Miles Sanders CAR at LV  
55 Trey Benson ARI vs. DET  
56 Khalil Herbert CHI at IND  
57 Kenneth Gainwell PHI at NO  
58 Tank Bigsby JAC at BUF  
59 Isaac Guerendo SF at LAR  
60 Cordarrelle Patterson PIT vs. LAC  
61 Jaylen Wright MIA at SEA  
62 Tyrone Tracy Jr. NYG at CLE  
63 Emari Demercado ARI vs. DET  
64 Blake Corum LAR vs. SF  
65 D'Ernest Johnson JAC at BUF  
66 Dare Ogunbowale HOU at MIN  

Week 3 Fantasy WR Rankings (PPR)

Italicized players have already played this week.

RANK PLAYER NAME TEAM OPPONENT CHANGE
1 CeeDee Lamb DAL vs. BAL  
2 Ja'Marr Chase CIN vs. WAS  
3 Justin Jefferson MIN vs. HOU  
4 Amon-Ra St. Brown DET at ARI  
5 Tyreek Hill MIA at SEA  
6 Davante Adams LV vs. CAR Up 2
7 Rashee Rice KC at ATL Up 2
8 Brandon Aiyuk SF at LAR Up 3
9 Marvin Harrison Jr. ARI vs. DET Down 3
10 Nico Collins HOU at MIN Down 3
11 DeVonta Smith PHI at NO Down 1
12 DJ Moore CHI at IND  
13 Malik Nabers NYG at CLE  
14 Zay Flowers BAL at DAL  
15 Garrett Wilson NYJ vs. NE  
16 Chris Olave NO vs. PHI  
17 Chris Godwin TB vs. DEN  
18 Amari Cooper CLE vs. NYG  
19 Drake London ATL vs. KC  
20 Mike Evans TB vs. DEN  
21 Calvin Ridley TEN vs. GB Up 2
22 DK Metcalf SEA vs. MIA Down 1
23 Jameson Williams DET at ARI Up 6
24 Courtland Sutton DEN at TB  
25 George Pickens PIT vs. LAC Up 2
26 Michael Pittman Jr. IND vs. CHI Down 1
27 Jaxon Smith-Njigba SEA vs. MIA Down 1
28 Rashid Shaheed NO vs. PHI Up 3
29 Jaylen Waddle MIA at SEA Down 7
30 Stefon Diggs HOU at MIN Down 2
31 Brian Thomas Jr. JAC at BUF Down 1
32 Terry McLaurin WAS at CIN  
33 Tee Higgins CIN vs. WAS N/R
34 Diontae Johnson CAR at LV Up 4
35 Christian Kirk JAC at BUF Down 1
36 Jerry Jeudy CLE vs. NYG Down 1
37 Tank Dell HOU at MIN Down 1
38 Demarcus Robinson LAR vs. SF Down 5
39 Quentin Johnston LAC at PIT Down 2
40 Khalil Shakir BUF vs. JAC Down 1
41 Jayden Reed GB at TEN  
42 Wan'Dale Robinson NYG at CLE Up 1
43 Xavier Worthy KC at ATL Down 3
44 Greg Dortch ARI vs. DET Up 3
45 Ladd McConkey LAC at PIT Down 3
46 Josh Downs IND vs. CHI N/R
47 Darnell Mooney ATL vs. KC Down 1
48 Christian Watson GB at TEN  
49 Alec Pierce IND vs. CHI Down 5
50 Brandin Cooks DAL vs. BAL Down 1
51 Jakobi Meyers LV vs. CAR Up 4
53 Romeo Doubs GB at TEN Down 2
54 DeAndre Hopkins TEN vs. GB Down 2
55 Andrei Iosivas CIN vs. WAS Down 2
56 Josh Nailor MIN vs. HOU Down 2
57 Tyler Johnson LAR vs. SF Down 1
58 Jalen Tolbert DAL vs. BAL  
59 Dontayvion Wicks GB at TEN Down 2
60 Adam Thielen CAR at LV  
61 Gabe Davis JAC at BUF Down 2
62 Mike Williams NYJ vs. NE Up 10
70 Rome Odunze CHI at IND Down 6
63 Keon Coleman BUF vs. JAC Down 2
64 Jordan Whittington LAR vs. SF Up 5
65 Curtis Samuel BUF vs. JAC Down 3
66 Jalen McMillan TB vs. DEN Down 3
67 Elijah Moore CLE vs. NYG Up 10
68 Tyler Lockett SEA vs. MIA Up 5
69 Jauan Jennings SF at LAR Down 3
70 Xavier Legette CAR at LV  
71 Noah Brown WAS at CIN N/A
72 Ja'Lynn Polk NE at NYJ Down 6
73 Darius Slayton NYG at CLE Down 5
74 Allen Lazard NYJ vs. NE Down 3
75 Jahan Dotson PHI at NO Down 3
76 Michael Wilson ARI vs. DET Down 1
77 Luke McCaffrey WAS at CIN Down 1
78 Tyler Boyd TEN vs. GB Down 1
79 K.J. Osborn NE at NYJ Down 1
80 Rashod Bateman BAL at DAL  
81 Tyquan Thornton NE at NYJ  
82 Jonathan Mingo CAR at LV  
83 Tre Tucker LV vs. CAR  
84 Josh Reynolds DEN at TB  
85 Nelson Agholor BAL at DAL  
86 Adonai Mitchell IND vs. CHI  

Week 3 Fantasy Rankings TE (PPR)

Italicized players have already played this week.

RANK PLAYER NAME TEAM OPPONENT CHANGE
1 Sam LaPorta DET at ARI Down 1
2 Travis Kelce KC at ATL Down 1
3 Trey McBride ARI vs. DET Down 1
4 Brock Bowers LV vs. CAR Up 1
5 Mark Andrews BAL at DAL Up 1
6 Jake Feguson DAL vs. BAL NR
7 Hunter Henry NE at NYJ  
8 Dalton Kincaid BUF vs. JAC Up 2
9 Kyle Pitts ATL vs. KC Down 4
10 Colby Parkinson LAR vs. SF Up 1
11 Isaiah Likely BAL at DAL Up 2
12 Mike Gesicki CIN vs. WAS Up 12
13 Dalton Schultz HOU at MIN Down 1
14 Dallas Goedert PHI at NO Down 2
15 Jonnu Smith MIA at SEA Up 14
16 Zach Ertz WAS at CIN Down 1
17 Pat Freiermuth PIT vs. LAC Down 2
18 Juwan Johnson NO vs. PHI Down 2
19 Eric Saubert SF at LAR NR
20 Noah Fant SEA vs. MIA Down 2
21 Chigoziem Okonkwo TEN vs. GB Down 2
22 Greg Dulcich DEN at TB Down 7
23 Cole Kmet CHI at IND Up 9
24 Cade Otton TB vs. DEN Down 3
25 Tyler Conklin NYJ vs. NE  
26 Tucker Kraft GB at TEN Down 2
27 Will Dissly LAC at PIT Down 2
28 Austin Hooper NE at NYJ Down 2
29 Luke Musgrave GB at TEN Down 2
30 Gerald Everett CHI at IND  
31 Ja'Tavion Sanders CAR at LV  
32 Daniel Bellinger NYG at CLE  
33 Johnny Mundt MIN vs. HOU  
34 Michael Mayer LV vs. CAR  
35 Kylen Granson IND vs. CHI  
36 Hayden Hurst LAC at PIT  
37 Dawson Knox BUF vs. JAC  
38 Josh Oliver MIN vs. HOU  
39 Theo Johnson NYG at CLE  
40 Ben Sinnott WAS at CIN  

Week 3 Fantasy Defense Rankings

Italicized teams have already played this week.

TEAM OPPONENT CHANGE
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. LAC Up 2
San Francisco 49ers at LAR Up 19
Cleveland Browns vs. NYG Down 2
Los Angeles Chargers at PIT  
Las Vegas Raiders vs. CAR  
New York Jets vs. NE  
Seattle Seahawks vs. MIA  
Chicago Bears at IND  
Buffalo Bills vs. JAC  
New England Patriots at NYJ  
Green Bay Packers at TEN  
Kansas City Chiefs at ATL  
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. DEN  
Cincinnati Bengals vs. WAS  
Minnesota Vikings vs. HOU  
Tennessee Titans vs. GB  
Houston Texans at MIN  
Denver Broncos at TB  
Indianapolis Colts vs. CHI  
Detroit Lions at ARI  
Philadelphia Eagles at NO  
New York Giants at CLE  
Baltimore Ravens at DAL  
Jacksonville Jaguars at BUF  
Dallas Cowboys vs. BAL  
Arizona Cardinals vs. DET  
New Orleans Saints vs. PHI  
Washington Commanders at CIN  
Atlanta Falcons vs. KC  
Miami Dolphins at SEA  
Los Angeles Rams vs. SF  
Carolina Panthers at LV  

Week 3 Fantasy Kicker Rankings

Italicized teams have already played this week.

RANK PLAYER TEAM OPPONENT
1 Brandon Aubrey DAL vs. BAL
2 Jake Bates DET at ARI
3 Harrison Butker KC at ATL
4 Blake Grupe NO vs. PHI
5 Ka'imi Fairbairn HOU at MIN
6 Jake Moody SF at LAR
7 Tyler Bass BUF vs. JAC
8 Evan McPherson CIN vs. WAS
9 Justin Tucker BAL at DAL
10 Jason Myers SEA vs. MIA
11 Chris Boswell PIT vs. LAC
12 Cameron Dicker LAC at PIT
13 Jake Elliott PHI at NO
14 Daniel Carlson LVR vs. CAR
15 Younghoe Koo ATL vs. KC
16 Greg Zuerlein NYJ vs. NE
17 Cairo Santos CHI at IND
18 Matt Prater ARI vs. DET
19 Joshua Karty LAR vs. SF
20 Chase McLaughlin TB vs. DEN
21 Matt Gay IND vs. CHI
22 Brayden Narveson GB vs. IND
23 Dustin Hopkins CLE vs. NYG
24 Will Reichard MIN vs. HOU
25 Wil Lutz DEN at TB
26 Cam Little JAC at BUF
27 Austin Seibert WAS at CIN
28 Nick Folk TEN vs. GB
29 Jason Sanders MIA at SEA
30 Joey Slye NE at NYJ
31 Eddy Pineiro CAR at LV
32 Greg Joseph NYG at CLE