Fantasy Football Week 3 Quarterback and Top 100 Flex Rankings
- Will Pat Mahomes continue his assault on the NFL?
- Saints offense provides fantasy’s #1 RB and WR through 2 weeks
- Find your Week 3 Daily Fantasy bargains
We are now two weeks into the 2018 NFL season and boy has it been a magical ride so far.
With Ryan Fitzpatrick and Pat Mahomes pacing the QBs, and Jared Cook still tops among tight ends, the fantasy landscape looks a little different than most had pictured.
As more games are put behind us, the cream will rise to the top and pretenders will fall off – and fantasy will start to make a little more sense. Until then, enjoy the magical carpet ride that is the Fitzpatrick led Bucs and Mahomes led Chiefs.
I’ll let you know when the magical fairy dust, or whatever is powering this early season wizardry, appears to be wearing off.
Read on to find my Top 20 QBs and Top 100 PPR Flex plays heading into Week 2.
Fantasy Football Top 20 QBs (Week 3)
| Rank | Player (Team) | Opponent | Last Weeks Points | Points YTD | Current 2018 Position Rank | DFS Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drew Brees (NO) | @ATL | 17.6 | 49.2 | QB 5 | $6,400 |
| 2 | Pat Mahomes (KC) | SF | 38.8 | 67.1 | QB 2 | $7,000 |
| 3 | Aaron Rodgers (GB) | @WAS | 16 | 40.9 | QB 10 | $7,100 |
| 4 | Tom Brady (NE) | @DET | 16.4 | 37.7 | QB 14 | $6,900 |
| 5 | Cam Newton (CAR) | CIN | 27.6 | 45.8 | QB 7 | $6,000 |
| 6 | Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) | @TB | 39 | 48 | QB 6 | $6,300 |
| 7 | Kirk Cousins (MIN) | BUF | 33.5 | 53.9 | QB 3 | $6,800 |
| 8 | Ryan Fitzpatrick (TB) | PIT | 30 | 72.3 | QB 1 | $6,000 |
| 9 | Andrew Luck (IND) | @PHI | 11.4 | 30.9 | QB 21 | $5,600 |
| 10 | Matt Stafford (DET) | NE | 24.7 | 32.7 | QB 19 | $5,900 |
| 11 | Carson Wentz (PHI) | IND | INJ | NA | QB – | $6,200 |
| 12 | Deshaun Watson (HOU) | NYG | 22.8 | 33.8 | QB 17 | $6,100 |
| 13 | Jared Goff (LAR) | @LAC | 18.4 | 35.6 | QB 15 | $5,900 |
| 14 | Jimmy Garoppolo (SF) | @KC | 16.6 | 25.6 | QB 25 | $6,500 |
| 15 | Russell Wilson (SEA) | DAL | 14.7 | 35.1 | QB 16 | $6,000 |
| 16 | Matt Ryan (ATL) | NO | 30.7 | 39.5 | QB 11 | $5,700 |
| 17 | Andy Dalton (CIN) | @CAR | 26.6 | 43.1 | QB 9 | $5,700 |
| 18 | Philip Rivers (LAC) | @LAR | 22.7 | 51.7 | QB 4 | $5,800 |
| 19 | Blake Bortles (JAX) | TEN | 32.6 | 45.8 | QB 7 | $5,600 |
| 20 | Alex Smith (WAS) | GB | 13.1 | 32.7 | QB 19 | $5,800 |
Ryan Fitzpatrick is a Fantasy QB1
I would have bet my house the Ryan Fitzpatrick Week 1 magic would wear off in Week 2 against the Eagles. And I would have lost that bet on the Bucs’ first play from scrimmage, as Fitzmagic hooked up with DeSean Jackson for a 75 yard TD.
(Fortunately, I did not make that bet. Don’t worry. I still have a roof over my head.)
Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice … shame on me again …?
Regardless of whose fault it is, I’m not falling for it a third time. I am jumping on the bandwagon, so the only way he fools me is with a stinker, which would make everything at least seem close to normal again.
Patrick Mahomes is Worth the Money
Mahomes passed his opening test with flying colors, throwing TDs to everyone … and then throwing more TDs.
Then he out-dueled Big Ben in Pittsburgh last week. Now he comes home, as the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers, who are the proud owners of the league’s worst pass defense. Bring your umbrellas, Niners, it will be raining TDs in KC.
Fantasy Football Top 100 PPR Flex Rankings (Week 3)
| Rank | Player (Team)(Pos Rank) | Opponent | Last Weeks Points | Points YTD | Current 2018 Position Rank | DFS Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Todd Gurley (LAR)(RB1) | LAC | 32.3 | 56 | RB 3 | $9,200 |
| 2 | Alvin Kamara (NO)(RB2) | @ATL | 17.9 | 61 | RB 1 | $9,500 |
| 3 | Antonio Brown (PIT)(WR1) | @TB | 15.7 | 40 | WR 10 | $8,800 |
| 4 | Michael Thomas (NO)(WR2) | @ATL | 30.9 | 68.9 | WR 1 | $8,900 |
| 5 | Ezekiel Elliot (DAL)(RB3) | @SEA | 19.7 | 37.3 | RB 8 | $7,700 |
| 6 | Saquon Barkley (NYG)(RB4) | @HOU | 24.8 | 45.6 | RB 6 | $7,600 |
| 7 | Julio Jones(ATL)(WR3) | NO | 11.4 | 39.4 | WR 12 | $7,900 |
| 8 | Odell Beckham Jr (NYG)(WR4) | @HOU | 9.1 | 31.1 | WR 24 | $8,200 |
| 9 | Melvin Gordon (LAC)(RB5) | @LAR | 30.6 | 58.2 | RB 2 | $7,400 |
| 10 | Tyreek Hill (KC)(WR5) | SF | 20 | 56.3 | WR 2 | $8,500 |
| 11 | Keenan Allen (LAC)(WR6) | @LAR | 12.7 | 37.5 | WR 15 | $7,300 |
| 12 | DeAndre Hopkins (HOU)(WR7) | NYG | 23 | 38.1 | WR 14 | $8,300 |
| 13 | David Johnson (ARI)(RB6) | CHI | 6.1 | 23.8 | RB 27 | $7,200 |
| 14 | AJ Green (CIN)(WR8) | @CAR | 29.9 | 49.1 | WR 5 | $7,500 |
| 15 | Davante Adams (GB)(WR9) | @WAS | 20.4 | 40.2 | WR 9 | $7,600 |
| 16 | Adam Thielen(MIN)(WR10) | BUF | 31.1 | 47.3 | WR 7 | $7,800 |
| 17 | Mike Evans (TB)(WR11) | PIT | 22.3 | 50 | WR 4 | $7,800 |
| 18 | Tevin Coleman (ATL)(RB7) | NO | 16.5 | 28 | RB 18 | $6,400 |
| 19 | James Conner (PIT)(RB8) | @TB | 19.5 | 53.7 | RB 4 | $7,500 |
| 20 | Christian McCaffrey (CAR)(RB9) | CIN | 27.9 | 41.4 | RB 7 | $7,800 |
| 21 | Rob Gronkowski (NE)(TE1) | @DET | 3.5 | 26.8 | TE 6 | $7,400 |
| 22 | Travis Kelce (KC)(TE2) | SF | 29.9 | 31.5 | TE 4 | $6,700 |
| 23 | TY Hilton (IND)(WR12) | @PHIL | 21.3 | 36.9 | WR17 | $6,700 |
| 24 | Brandin Cooks (LAR)(WR13) | LAC | 22.9 | 37.2 | WR 16 | $7,000 |
| 25 | Kareem Hunt (KC)(RB10) | SF | 15 | 19.9 | RB 31 | $6,000 |
Buy Into Tevin Coleman
We all know how good Todd Gurley, Alvin Kamara, and Antonio Brown are, but where does the value lie at the top?
Week 3 offers the Atlanta Falcons playing host to the Drew Brees-led Saints. In a game that should offer plenty of fantasy value, Tevin Coleman stands out as someone who could be a great value.
With running mate Devonta Freeman still out, Coleman will get a hefty workload against a Saints defense that’s surrendering 33 points a game so far in 2018. Add in Falcons’ defensive stars Keanu Neal and Deion Jones on the IR, and this game has the potential to look more like a basketball game with points a plenty on both sides.
Antonio Brown is Still the WR1, For Now
Antonio Brown needs to start paying less attention to distractions off the field, as he is in danger of losing his top seed within the WR group. Hungry youngsters Michael Thomas and Tyreek Hill are looking like they will be tough to top.
Especially when you consider Brown doesn’t even lead the Steelers receivers in fantasy points.
| Rank | Player (Team)(Pos Rank) | Opponent | Last Weeks Points | Points YTD | Current 2018 Position Rank | DFS Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Jordan Howard (CHI)(RB11) | @ARI | 9.8 | 25.5 | RB 23 | $6,500 |
| 27 | Juju Smith-Schuster (PIT)(WR14) | @TB | 31.1 | 48 | WR 6 | $7,200 |
| 28 | Dalvin Cook (MIN)(RB12) | BUF | 12 | 25.5 | RB 23 | $7,100 |
| 29 | Kenyan Drake (MIA)(RB13) | OAK | 17 | 26.6 | RB 21 | $5,600 |
| 30 | Zach Ertz (PHIL)(TE3) | INDY | 20.4 | 30.2 | TE 5 | $6,800 |
| 31 | Stefon Diggs (MIN)(WR15) | BUF | 35.9 | 50 | WR 4 | $7,700 |
| 32 | Jarvis Landry (CLE)(WR16) | NYJ | 11.9 | 29.5 | WR 29 | $7,100 |
| 33 | Will Fuller (HOU)(WR17) | NYG | 25.3 | 25.3 | WR 35 | $5,900 |
| 34 | Gio Bernard (CIN)(RB14) | @CAR | 8.2 | 10.1 | RB 55 | $5,900 |
| 35 | Leonard Fournette (JAX)(RB15) | TEN | INJ | 8.5 | RB 58 | $6,900 |
| 36 | Chris Thompson (WAS)(RB16) | GB | 22.3 | 47.1 | RB 5 | $6,300 |
| 37 | Golden Tate (DET)(WR18) | NE | 18.8 | 39.7 | WR 11 | $6,800 |
| 38 | Allen Robinson (CHI)(WR19) | @DEN | 18.3 | 28.4 | WR 31 | $5,400 |
| 39 | Emmanuel Sanders (DEN)(WR20) | INDY | 13.6 | 43.1 | WR 8 | $6,400 |
| 40 | Lamar Miller (HOU)(RB17) | NYG | 9 | 20.9 | RB 30 | $5,000 |
| 41 | Carlos Hyde (CLE)(RB18) | NYJ | 12 | 25.5 | RB 23 | $4,800 |
| 42 | Marshawn Lynch (OAK)(RB19) | @MIA | 14.8 | 27.7 | RB 19 | $4,900 |
| 43 | Jay Ajayi (PHI)(RB20) | IND | 9.7 | 29.9 | RB 15 | $5,700 |
| 44 | Jordan Reed (WAS)(TE4) | GB | 9.5 | 24.3 | TE 9 | $5,400 |
| 45 | Nelson Agholor (PHI)(WR21) | IND | 23 | 36.5 | WR 18 | $6,100 |
| 46 | Amari Cooper (OAK)(WR22) | @MIA | 21.6 | 24.4 | WR 38 | $6,600 |
| 47 | Kenny Golladay (DET)(WR23) | NE | 20.9 | 39.3 | WR 13 | $6,000 |
| 48 | Cooper Kupp (LAR)(WR24) | @NYJ | 12.3 | 30.1 | WR 27 | $4,900 |
| 49 | Dion Lewis (TEN)(RB21) | @JAX | 5.3 | 27.3 | RB 20 | $4,500 |
| 50 | Matt Breida (SF)(RB22) | @KC | 24.9 | 31 | RB 11 | $5,400 |
Jordan Howard and Kenyan Drake Have Juicy Matchups
Jordan Howard heads to Arizona to face the Cardinals in Week 3. The combination of the Bears stellar defense and a Cardinals inept offense has Howard all over my radar, as game script should aid the bruising back who has been quiet so far in 2018.
Jon Gruden takes his Raiders into Miami where I am expecting another breakout from a talent that has been fairly quiet so far this year. Kenyan Drake welcomes the 31st-ranked run defense this week, which he will dismantle with his ankle-breaking jukes on his way to a big day.
| Rank | Player (Team)(Pos Rank) | Opponent | Last Weeks Points | Points YTD | Current 2018 Position Rank | DFS Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | DeSean Jackson (TB)(WR25) | PIT | 22.9 | 54.5 | WR 3 | $5,300 |
| 52 | Sammy Watkins (KC)(WR26) | SF | 19.1 | 24.2 | WR39 | $5,100 |
| 53 | Phillip Lindsay (DEN)(RB23) | @BAL | 12.1 | 30.3 | RB 14 | $4,600 |
| 54 | Adrian Peterson (WAS)(RB24) | GB | 8 | 30.6 | RB 13 | $4,900 |
| 55 | Peyton Barber (TB)(RB25) | PIT | 3.9 | 10.8 | RB 50 | $3,800 |
| 56 | Alex Collins (BAL)(RB26) | DEN | 12 | 18.9 | RB 33 | $5,200 |
| 57 | Bilal Powell (NYJ)(RB27) | @CLE | 19 | 26.5 | RB 22 | $5,300 |
| 58 | Marvin Jones (DET)(WR27) | @ATL | 15.4 | 24.8 | WR 37 | $5,600 |
| 59 | Kenny Stills (MIA)(WR28) | OAK | 3.7 | 30.3 | WR 25 | $5,800 |
| 60 | Josh Gordon (NE)(WR29) | @DET | INJ | 8.7 | WR 83 | $5,500 |
| 61 | Larry Fitzgerald (ARI)(WR30) | CHI | 5.8 | 20.4 | WR 49 | $5,400 |
| 62 | Derrick Henry (ATL)(RB28) | @JAX | 5.9 | 10 | RB 56 | $4,400 |
| 63 | Buck Allen (BAL)(RB29) | DEN | 15.4 | 29.6 | RB 16 | $4,600 |
| 64 | James White (NE)(RB30) | @DET | 15.4 | 31 | RB 11 | $4,900 |
| 65 | Austin Ekeler (LAC)(RB31) | @LAR | 12.8 | 36.4 | RB 9 | $4,400 |
| 66 | Kerryon Johnson (DET)(RB32) | NE | 11.6 | 18.3 | RB 27 | $4,700 |
| 67 | Demaryius Thomas (DEN)(WR31) | @BAL | 6.8 | 25.1 | WR 36 | $5,200 |
| 68 | Michael Crabtree (BAL)(WR32) | @GB | 10.6 | 23.4 | WR 41 | $5,000 |
| 69 | Devin Funchess (CAR)(WR33) | CIN | 14.7 | 21.8 | WR 45 | $5,000 |
| 70 | Chris Hogan (NE)(WR34) | @DET | 19.2 | 21.3 | WR 47 | $6,300 |
| 71 | Keelan Cole (JAX)(WR35) | TEN | 24.6 | 33 | WR 21 | $5,600 |
| 72 | LeSean McCoy (BUF)(RB33) | @MIN | 10.8 | 13.9 | RB 33 | $5,100 |
| 73 | TJ Yeldon (JAX)(RB34) | TEN | 9.1 | 25 | RB 26 | $5,100 |
| 74 | Jimmy Graham (GB)(TE5) | @WAS | 15.5 | 18.3 | TE 12 | $4,900 |
| 75 | Kyle Rudolph (MIN)(TE6) | BUF | 14.2 | 22.3 | TE 11 | $4,100 |
Sammy Watkins and D-Jax Aren’t One-Week Wonders
Explosive receivers Sammy Watkins and DeSean Jackson had big Week 2 performances. The matchups each player is faced with in Week 3 could see them each turn the trick again.
Both their QBs are hot, so secondary – and more importantly, cheaper – options in their offenses are a great way to get a piece of the magic without having to pay full price.
Give Josh Gordon One Week to Get up to Speed in New England
And in this weeks news, Josh Gordon has been traded to the Patriots for a 5th round pick.
Really?
The Pats have done it again, pulling the wool over the eyes of everyone. You mean to tell me no team was willing to better there 5th round offer and just sat back and let the rich get richer? Hmm … something stinks here, and it could be the smell of another Patriot Super Bowl.
But for fantasy purposes I will stay away this week but not for long.
| Rank | Player (Team)(Pos Rank) | Opponent | Last Weeks Points | Points YTD | Current 2018 Position Rank | DFS Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76 | Alfred Morris (SF)(RB35) | @KC | 10 | 11.8 | RB 36 | $3,700 |
| 77 | Marlon Mack (IND)(RB36) | @PHI | 4.6 | 4.6 | RB 68 | $3,800 |
| 78 | Corey Clement (PHI)(RB37) | IND | 19.5 | 22.1 | RB 29 | $4,300 |
| 79 | Randall Cobb (GB)(WR36) | @WAS | 7 | 36.2 | WR 19 | $5,200 |
| 80 | Corey Davis (TEN)(WR37) | @JAX | 10.5 | 22.7 | WR 42 | $4,400 |
| 81 | Quincy Enunwa (NYJ)(WR38) | @CLE | 16.2 | 34.5 | WR 20 | $5,600 |
| 82 | Marquise Goodwin(SF)(WR39) | @KC | INJ | 0 | NA | $5,500 |
| 83 | John Brown (BAL)(WR40) | DEN | 19.2 | 32.7 | WR 22 | $4,800 |
| 84 | George Kittle (SF)(TE7) | @KC | 4.2 | 18.2 | TE 13 | $4,500 |
| 85 | Royce Freeman (DEN)(RB38) | @BAL | 8.8 | 15.9 | RB 37 | $4,200 |
| 86 | Jamaal Williams (GB)(RB39) | @WAS | 10.1 | 14.8 | RB 39 | $4,800 |
| 87 | Rex Burkhead (NE)(RB40) | @DET | 2.2 | 10.1 | RB 54 | $4,200 |
| 88 | Tarik Cohen (CHI)(RB41) | @ARI | 3.5 | 10.6 | RB 51 | $4,700 |
| 89 | Isaiah Crowell (NYJ)(RB42) | @CLE | 5.9 | 28.1 | RB 17 | $4,500 |
| 90 | Sony Michel (NE)(RB43) | @NYJ | 5.1 | 5.1 | RB 67 | $4,000 |
| 91 | Chris Carson (SEA)(RB44) | DAL | 2.4 | 11.3 | RB 45 | $4,300 |
| 92 | Geronimo Allison (GB)(WR41) | @WAS | 12.4 | 30.3 | WR 26 | $4,500 |
| 93 | Brandon Marshall (SEA)(WR42) | DAL | 8.4 | 22 | WR 44 | $4,500 |
| 94 | Robert Woods (LAR)(WR43) | LAC | 14.1 | 21.4 | WR 46 | $5,100 |
| 95 | Chris Godwin (TB)(WR44) | PIT | 16.6 | 29.7 | WR 28 | $4,800 |
| 96 | Ted Ginn (NO)(WR45) | @ATL | 7.5 | 27.8 | WR 32 | $4,700 |
| 97 | Calvin Ridley (ATL)(WR46) | NO | 16.7 | 16.7 | WR 56 | $3,700 |
| 98 | Aaron Jones (GB)(RB45) | @WAS | SUS | NA | NA | $4,300 |
| 99 | Theo Riddick (DET)(RB46) | NE | 13.7 | 22.2 | RB 28 | $4,400 |
| 100 | Duke Johnson (CLE)(RB47) | NYJ | 3 | 6.5 | RB 57 | $4,100 |
Scanning the Fantasy Football Bargain Bin
Consistency is key. Week 3 offers some lower priced options who have been solid for two weeks in a row. John Brown, Geronimo Allison, and Chris Godwin have been bargains for the opening two weeks of the season.
Each has the ability to go big on any given week, while providing a floor that is higher than most thought going into the season. They are all great Daily Fantasy plays as you fill in the bottom of your roster.
Also have a peak at Calvin Ridley, as he had a bit of a coming out party in Week 2. The Falcons will continue to explore different ways to overcome their redzone woes, and the talented rookie is the second-best pass-catching option on the team. This will garner him some looks down where it counts.
Good luck in Week 3!
Nick Ferris is a seasoned fantasy football vet of over 20 years. He's an expert in everything from best ball to daily fantasy sports. Although arm chair quarterback is as close he ever got to the field - or are we counting 7v7 touch? - he has been fortunate enough to coach some youth football.
