Below you will find our Week 3 quarterback rankings, to help determine your QB starts/sits for this week, brought to you by Bill Dubiel (@Roto_Dubs), Nick Mariano (@NMariano53) and Ben Ruppert (@Ben_Ruppert_21).
Lead columnist Bill Dubiel also highlights some QB rankings and matchups analysis for Week 3, and draws some matchup conclusions. He tells you who he likes, who he doesn't, and most importantly who he thinks you should be starting in Week 3.
Editor's Note: Be sure to check out FantasyAces DFS contests for Week 3. New users that sign up on Fantasy Aces and make a $20 deposit will receive RotoBaller's full season NFL Premium Pass for free (including Premium DFS), normally a $59.99 value. Expert DFS research, sample lineups, matchup ratings and lots more!
Week 3 Quarterbacks - Rankings & Matchups Analysis
Drew Brees will be the top QB play in fantasy this week. At home against a Falcons defense that he did well against last season, throwing for over 300 yards with a TD in each outing. With how poorly they’ve defended the pass so far this season, Brees is very likely to have a dominant week. Matt Ryan also has a ton of potential. He was statistically even if not better than Brees was in both games last season, and had a better TD:INT ratio on the road compared to at home last season (Home: 12:11 Road: 9:5). Ryan is ranked a little too low in these rankings, these two will put on a passing frenzy.
The 2015 MVP faces the top rated fantasy defense, as Cam Newton takes on the Minnesota Vikings. Newton has already showed us this season he can take on any level of defense and find success, with his solid showing in Week 1 against the Broncos. He should be safely deployed this week.
Andrew Luck and Philip Rivers meet in what is expected to be one of the highest scoring games of the week. Both of these QBs are missing some weapons, with Rivers losing Danny Woodhead, Keenan Allen, and potentially Antonio Gates this week. Luck recently loss Donte Moncrief. Outside of the top CBs on each team, these defenses don’t have much to offer. Even without their primary weapons, both QBs will have a shot at a great game.
On the road against a Buffalo defense looking to rebound, Carson Palmer may have a more difficult game ahead than many imagine. Contrary to what was seen last week against the Jets, the Bills possess an above average secondary, let by CBs Stephon Gilmore and Ronald Darby. The duo was one of the high rated pairs in the league coming into the season, and could lead to a couple INTs for Palmer.
Russell Wilson enters a tough matchup this week with the 49ers. Interdivisional games are always tougher grinds than normal games, evidenced by his showing last week against the LA Rams. Wilson is hobbled by a high ankle sprain, limiting his famous ability to scramble and turn broken plays into huge gains. With the Seattle offense not clicking as a whole, at #12 he is still rated too highly in our rankings.
The Oakland Raiders have had the worst passing defense to open the season, allowing an average of 404 yards per game. Granted that was against Brees and Ryan, but this is coming off a year where the Raiders were the seventh worst team in football at defending the pass. Marcus Mariota is in store for a top-10 QB performance this week.
The Baltimore Ravens on the other hand, were in the top-10 in defending the pass last season, and have been the stingiest against the pass this season at only 168.5 yards per game allowed. They will go on the road to face Bake Bortles and the Jaguars in Week 3. Bortles has thrown for 649 yards through two weeks, but only a 1:1 TD:INT ratio. With a difficult matchup and his inability to get anything going, it could be a troubling week once again for the third year QB.
Difficult one. Through the first two weeks of the season, the Bucs have done a nice job of limiting opposing RBs. They held Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman to 2.2 YPC in Week 1, and Chris and David Johnson to 3.5 YPC in Week 2. Gurley has only averaged 2.7 so far this season, as teams continue to stack the box with the lack of QB play on the Rams. Gurley will see another tough outing in Week 3, meaning owners will have to wait another week for his breakout game.
Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings - Quarterback
Rank | Player Name | Pos |
1 | Drew Brees | QB |
2 | Cam Newton | QB |
3 | Aaron Rodgers | QB |
4 | Eli Manning | QB |
5 | Carson Palmer | QB |
6 | Andrew Luck | QB |
7 | Matthew Stafford | QB |
8 | Ben Roethlisberger | QB |
9 | Derek Carr | QB |
10 | Matt Ryan | QB |
11 | Blake Bortles | QB |
12 | Russell Wilson | QB |
13 | Philip Rivers | QB |
14 | Joe Flacco | QB |
15 | Kirk Cousins | QB |
16 | Jameis Winston | QB |
17 | Marcus Mariota | QB |
18 | Andy Dalton | QB |
19 | Dak Prescott | QB |
20 | Ryan Fitzpatrick | QB |
21 | Carson Wentz | QB |
22 | Ryan Tannehill | QB |
23 | Alex Smith | QB |
24 | Brock Osweiler | QB |
25 | Tyrod Taylor | QB |
26 | Sam Bradford | QB |
27 | Blaine Gabbert | QB |
28 | Jimmy Garoppolo | QB |
29 | Jay Cutler | QB |
30 | Josh McCown | QB |
31 | Robert Griffin | QB |
32 | Mark Sanchez | QB |
33 | Tom Brady | QB |
34 | Colin Kaepernick | QB |
35 | Tony Romo | QB |
36 | Paxton Lynch | QB |
37 | Jared Goff | QB |
38 | Geno Smith | QB |
Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.