Fantasy football rankings Week 3: Sleepers, projections, starts, Omarion Hampton, Jauan Jennings and more

As we head into Week 3 of the NFL season, we not only get a better idea of fantasy football values for this year, but we also find worries, breakouts and potential trade targets. A few reminders when it comes to trading, though (and then we’ll get to all of the rankings)…

Fantasy Football Trading “Rules”

Look for needs on other teams, not just what you want. Yes, you need to address an issue, but that doesn’t mean the player you want is available, whether that manager doesn’t want to trade him or doesn’t need what you’re offering.

To that end, understand the potential trade partner’s depth. If you want a running back, have wide receiver depth, and the manager needs wide receiver help, that doesn’t always mean you can simple target one of their top two running backs. If their third option is a Trey Benson-level option or lower, and their top two running backs are Top 15 options, they’re not going to be willing to trade straight up for a wideout with a running back in return.

With trades, it’s okay to come in “low,” but don’t lowball or offend. Sure, you don’t want to offer max value, but ask yourself if you would even consider the trade coming from you… for more than it takes the time to hit reject.

And with rejecting, please don’t ghost-reject someone — as in, don’t hit reject without context. Well, that’s assuming the offering manager did their job of starting the dialogue. So, if you’re offering, add your thoughts — don’t try to convince them. And then rejecting managers, say why you’re rejecting. Otherwise, you’re likely just getting more offers when it might be as simple as, “X is untouchable,” or, “I don’t like Y at all.”

Please don’t leave managers on “read.” Yes, adding context is the best practice, but don’t check a trade offer and just leave it sitting there for days. At least put that person out of their misery… unless they ignore the first three practices, sent complete junk, and you’re just getting back at them.

Lastly, the goal isn’t to “win” a trade. It should benefit both teams. And even more so, while you might “win” the trade, that doesn’t mean a win in the league. Want an example? Of course you do. In my home, auction-keeper, SuperFlex league, I lost Brock Purdy, who was a great value. I told the league I’d be willing to trade Malik Nabers (also a great value) with Purdy for a top-end QB and mid-WR (I also have WR depth). Well, the trade ended up being Purdy, Nabers, Kenneth Gainwell and Kyle Monangai (both $2) for Lamar Jackson, Zach Charbonnet and Jaylen Waddle (LJax and Waddle are priced out of keeper range). The other manager is going stars and scrubs, and by scrubs, I mean potential 2026, dirt-cheap, keepers. Well, LJax replaced Bryce Young in my lineup, and Waddle replaced Nabers. Guess what? I went 0-2 in Week 2 (we play a doubleheader versus league median) and would have won if I kept my players and was forced to start Young. Oh, he went 2-0, by the way. Sure, I still love my side for the rest of 2025, but it’s fantasy football, and you never know.

Now, on with the Week 3 ranks show!

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Week 3 Waiver Wire

Week 3 SOS Ranks (coming soon)

Fantasy 101 (weather, start/sit, trading, more)

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WEEK 3 FANTASY FOOTBALL NOTES

Running Backs

In his first game, Quinshon Judkins had 41.9 RBTouch% despite playing fewer than 50% of the passing snaps. I’d expect an uptick this week, which could be the end for Jerome Ford.

League leader in RBTouch%? Chase Brown, but with an abysmal 0.14 Yards Before Contact (YBC). That’s seventh-lowest (min. 10 touches). Rhamondre Stevenson is last at -0.17, Ashton Jeanty -0.10, Najee Harris 0.00, Dylan Sampson 0.06 and Tyrone Tracy and Zach Charbonnet tied at 0.07. Brown is also the only RB with 100% of his team’s goal-line rushes, leading all RBs with five.

Speaking of YBC, the Browns have -0.45 YBC allowed, which includes matchups with… Chase Brown, and oh, Derrick Henry.

Highest YAC rushing? RJ Harvey at 6.09 thanks to a 50-yard run. For RBs with 20+ rushes, Derrick Henry leads at 4.66 with Travis Etienne second at 4.20.

With Austin Ekeler out, Jacory Croskey-Merritt should see an uptick, but it might be a small percentage, as the Commanders look to keep him healthy all season. Coming into the season, JCM had only played one game since 2023, so expect Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez to see touches.

Yes, the Broncos just faced the Colts and Jonathan Taylor, but even so, this isn’t a run defense to fear so far. They’re allowing 3.96 YAC on the ground, only topped by the Titans at 4.36. This is Omarion Hampton’s rebound chance.

Before Aaron Jones got hurt, Jordan Mason was getting run even while trailing. Next up is Zavier Scott and the return of Cam Akers, so expect a heavy workload for Mason against the Bengals.

Let’s talk rookie RB worry levels:

Ashton Jeanty: RB29 — 13th in touches (35) — getting no blocking — low passing game value… 2/10

Omarion Hampton: RB43 — 18th in RBTouch% (68.4) — sixth in 3rd/4th Down RBTouch% (85.7) — inefficient — fumbled late in MNF… 3.5/10

TreVeyon Henderson — RB36 — 42nd in RBTouch% (33.3) — 11th in targets (8, tied with Stevenson) — 1.63 YAC to 4.00 for Stevenson… 5.5/10

RJ Harvey: RB42 — 46th in RBTouch% (25.0) — 50-yard rush, but 2.8 YPC on other 10 carries — 14th in Pass Down% (66.7)… 7/10

Kaleb Johnson and Jaydon Blue…

Wide Receivers

Speaking of worries, I covered Brian Thomas in the waivers “Worry Report.” I’m buying low where possible, though Trevor Lawrence is part of the problem. BT7 is just one of four WRs inside the Top 25 for Separation Score (Fantasy Points) and Bottom 5 in Catchable TGT% (min. 15.0 TmTGT%). The other three are Nico Collins, Olamide Zaccheaus and Josh Palmer.

With Jayden Reed out, I’m holding on to Matthew Golden everywhere I can. He just missed 100+ yards and a touchdown by an over- and under-throw from Jordan Love. It’s a tough matchup, but if Golden is the clear No. 2, stock up. If Dontayvion Wicks even shares evenly with Golden, it’s a full-blown worry. Romeo Doubs is the only WR play for now, especially as he leads the Packers with a 20.6 FirstRead%.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues to dominate FirstRead% at 51.2, with Malik Nabers at 46.0% and Zay Flowers 44.1% behind him.

Troy Franklin was my top wide receiver pickup, and there is plenty of potential. The risk is that Courtland Sutton is the No. 1, and the Broncos are designing a lot of plays for Franklin. In fact, 33.3% of his targets are designed (routes like screens, designed to get the ball — per Fantasy Points). This can work, as Deebo Samuel is 22.2% and they are No. 1 and 2 in screens with 7 and 6, respectively. It also shows the risk and why Franklin likely tops out as WR3.

The Cowboys have nearly no pass defense, allowing a crazy 93.2 Catchable TGT% (Bears second at 89.1). Oh, those teams play each other, and as mentioned in the waiver “Power Up” section, Rome Odunze is the Bears’ new No. 1.

No, I am not overly worried about Ladd McConkey. His TmTGT% is actually up from 22.8 to 23.0, but this is more about gaining another level of trust in Quentin Johnston. He had an even higher Route% (93.8) and TmTGT% (25.9) than he did in Week 1, with seven targets, 71+ yards and a touchdown in each week.

DK Metcalf carries a slight concern with Aaron Rodgers killing his AirYD/TGT (5.62). The best fantasy WR last year with a sub-6.0 AirYD/TGT? Khalil Shakir, who was WR46 in FPPG. Rashee Rice (16.1) and Chris Godwin (13.2) were both higher in limited samples, but those are different style wideouts, and both had a TD/TGT% above 6.8% while Shakir was 4.0%.

Jauan Jennings had a 26.3 TmTGT% in Week 2 compared to Ricky Pearsall’s 15.8%. Our Vic Tafur was spot on.

A few wide receiver rooms where the usage can (and likely will) change weekly: Colts, Bills, Ravens and Packers. The Packers could clear up this week — as mentioned — but the rest will continue to be weekly gambles and unlikely to have anyone inside the Top 30 (outside Zay Flowers).

WEEK 3 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS

🚨 HEADS UP 🚨

There is no perfect widget out there, sadly, still. I know many view this on your phone, but 1) use the rankings widget on a PC/laptop/etc. if possible or 2) open in your phone’s browser, especially for Android users, to get the scrolling to work (or Android people can try a two-finger scroll).

ECR = “Expert” Consensus Ranking (which isn’t updated by everyone consistently, so take with a grain of salt).

Updated regularly, so check up to lineups locking.

Quarterbacks

Jake Browning averaged 20.1 FPPG in his 2023 starts, averaging a QB7 finish, and only finished lower than QB9 in his two games against the Steelers. The Bengals also passed 65.7% of the time with a 7.1 Explosive Play% in neutral game script with Joe Burrow versus 58.6% and 10.9% with Browning in 2023. Browning still has Top 10 potential.

It’s an interesting test for Jordan Love, as the Browns have forced 3-and-Out on 50.0% of their defensive plays, and the Packers have gone 3-and-Out 47.6% of the time, or third highest (Vikings 52.2%, Titans 52.0%). Love also leads the league in AirYD/Att at 12.5, with Justin Herbert second at 9.6.

If Jayden Daniels bleeds, he blee… I mean, if he plays, he plays. As in, you start Daniels if he’s active. If Daniels is out, all Commanders skill players get dinged, but only by about half a tier. Zach Ertz would get the smallest downgrade, if any.

If Justin Fields starts, it’s the same rollercoaster, and it’s up to you whether to stomach it. I can, and through Fields’ career, he has 17 games of 20+ points compared to 11 single-digit scores. He’s the peak career DeSean Jackson of quarterbacks.

Kevin O’Connell has made magic — heck, let’s give him credit for helping fix Daniel Jones too — but I wouldn’t chase any Vikings outside of Jordan Mason and Justin Jefferson. You can maybe give T.J. Hockenson one more chance — it’s tight end after all — but Carson Wentz hasn’t topped 163 yards in his past four starts.

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Tight Ends

The TE position is a wasteland, yet again, but it’s actually the best it’s been since 2020 through two weeks. Small sample? Yeah, sure, but we have 13 tight ends with 15+ points through two games, and 2020 was the last time we had more than 11 (it was 19, with five having 30+ points, and there is only one of those in 2025: Tucker Kraft: 30.3).

Only three tight ends have a higher TmTGT% than Kraft’s 22.4: Trey McBride 29.6%, Juwan Johnson 26.7%, and Tyler Warren 25.8%.

Mark Andrews is 34th in TmTGT% (8.5) behind depth pieces like Elijah Higgins and Noah Gray. He also has just five more yards than end zone targets (7 to 2).

The leader in Rec% of 20+ yards (min. 5 receptions)? Travis Kelce at 33.3%, with 10.2 YAC (second place is Kraft at 9.1).

FUN WITH RANKS

By now, you likely know I’m a 90s kids. What did 90s kids love doing? Spending way too much money at arcades! If it wasn’t for not having enough space — and the cost — I’d have way more than the two Arcade 1Up machines in our house (NBA Jam: TE and Star Wars pinball… just virtual, unfortunately).

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Top 20 Arcade Games, Ever

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — Nothing better than playing this with three friends. Team Michelangelo!

Time Crisis 2 — The only “gun” game on the list and for good reason. Nothing else compares

Crazy Taxi — Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! My all time favorite driving game (sorry, Daytona USA)

NBA Jam: TE — Want to know how good I am? Won a 2-on-2 despite my joystick not being able to run to the right. True story!

Street Fighter II — Were you team Ryu? I was a Guile man.

The Simpsons — If TMNT was occupied, great fallback plan

Pac-Man — Better than the original

Mortal Kombat II — Don’t tell your mom how many quarters you dropped into this blood bath

Metal Slug 3 — Took everything about Contra and upped it to 1,000. MS3 is here because of the co-op

Final Fight — Great side scroller with character choices that actually felt like you had some strategy involved

Gauntlet — There was no way you were getting deep into one of the OG dungeon crawlers without multiplayer help.

Double Dragon — Best of the multiplayer world, beat-em-up, and only needing one friend

Contra — You just heard the tune and the explosion, didn’t you? A buddy and I beat it in the arcade… one time… and it took a few dollars (not gonna lie)

Smash TV — You know you loved it

Galaga — Remember when you found out about the double-fighter trick?

Rampage — Drained too many quarters in this, and I’m not sure why given how impossible it is to avoid damage, but it’s fun!

Frogger — Kept coming back because you knew you could do better

Burger Time — Might not make everyone’s list, but I found it addictive and like a twisted version of an improved Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong — One of the first to come to anyone’s mind, and for good reason

Dig Dug — Like Frogger, except digging into the ground and blowing up creatures with a bicycle pump?

WEEK 3 FANTASY FOOTBALL PROJECTIONS

🚨 HEADS UP 🚨 These can differ from my rankings, and MY RANKS are the order I’d start players outside of added context, such as, “Need highest upside, even if risky.” Also, based on 4-point TDs for QB, 6-point rest, and Half-PPR

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(Photo of Jauan Jennings: Chris Graythen / Getty Images)

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