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Week 3 Quarterback Rankings & Matchups Analysis

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!

Editor's Note: The FFPC Playoff Challenge is back with a massive $500,000 grand prize and $1.35 million total prize pool, paying down to 800th place. Here's the deal: no salary cap, no draft, no pickups, no subs. Choose 10 players, and as NFL teams get knocked out so will your players, so choose your team wisely. The 7,250 entries will sell out quickly, and registrations will close on Saturday January 10th at 4:30 pm ET . Don't wait - get your team now and end your fantasy football season with a shot at $500,000! Sign Up Now!

 

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.




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Brandon Williams

Won't Play Saturday
P.J. Washington

to Remain Out Saturday
LeBron James

Ready to Face Bucks
Andrew Nembhard

Could Miss Another Game Saturday
Jusuf Nurkić

Jusuf Nurkic Uncertain for Saturday
Ryan Kalkbrenner

on Track to Return Saturday
Bruce Brown

Active Against Hawks
Aaron Gordon

Available Friday Night
Christian Braun

Cleared to Play Friday
Spencer Jones

Won't Play Friday
Jamal Murray

Out Friday
Julius Randle

Questionable Saturday
Zaccharie Risacher

Out Against Nuggets
Kristaps Porzingis

Ruled Out for Friday
Lauri Markkanen

Resting on Saturday
Jalen Duren

to Miss Fourth Straight Game Saturday
Alex Caruso

Available to Play on Friday
Cade Cunningham

Iffy for Saturday
Anthony Edwards

Tagged as Questionable for Saturday
Cedric Coward

Available to Play on Friday
Jrue Holiday

Downgraded to Out
John Klingberg

Could Return Sunday
Noah Laba

Could Return Saturday
Travis Konecny

a Game-Time Call Saturday
Kevin Stenlund

Available Friday
Anze Kopitar

Misses Second Consecutive Game
Aliaksei Protas

Back in Action Friday
Connor Bedard

Returns to Action Friday Night
Max Kepler

Receives 80-Game PED Suspension
CFB

Cam Coleman Visiting Alabama on Friday
Omarion Hampton

Expects to Play Sunday Night
CFB

Eric Singleton Jr. Enters Transfer Portal, Trending to Land at Florida
CFB

NCAA Denies Trinidad Chambliss a Sixth Year of Eligibility
Omarion Hampton

Questionable for Wild-Card Weekend
Kyle Tucker

Mets Remain in Mix for Kyle Tucker
Ketel Marte

Will Remain With Diamondbacks
Rashee Rice

to be Reviewed Under League's Conduct Policy
Travis Konecny

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Thursday
Blake Coleman

Makes Early Exit for Precautionary Reasons
Carter Hart

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Thursday
Joel Eriksson Ek

Out Day-to-Day
Joel Kiviranta

Labeled Week-to-Week
Brendan Smith

Out for 3-4 Months After Surgery
SJ

Sharks Acquire Laurent Brossoit
Daniel Jones

Colts Plan to Re-Sign Daniel Jones
Jamie Drysdale

Unavailable Against Maple Leafs
Bobby Brink

Sits Out Thursday
Simon Nemec

Back for Devils Thursday
Troy Terry

Misses Thursday's Game
Alexis Lafrenière

Alexis Lafreniere Good to Go Against Sabres
Brad Marchand

Out Thursday
Evgeni Malkin

Set to Return Thursday
Davante Adams

Off the Injury Report, Will Play Against Carolina
Bo Bichette

Phillies to Meet With Bo Bichette
Rome Odunze

Will Return for Wild-Card Game on Saturday
CFB

DJ Lagway Commits to Baylor
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Fire Head Coach Mike McDaniel
Sam LaPorta

Plans to be Back for Training Camp
Owen Caissie

Shipped to Miami as Centerpiece of Trade
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Officially Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins
Rome Odunze

Plans to Play on Saturday
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Finalizing Deal to Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins
New York Giants

Giants "All-In" on Hiring John Harbaugh
CFB

Jackson Arnold Signs with UNLV
CFB

Sam Leavitt Scheduled to Visit Tennessee
New York Giants

John Harbaugh Expected to be Favorite to Become New Giants Head Coach
Baltimore Ravens

John Harbaugh Won't Return as Ravens Head Coach
Bo Bichette

Unlikely to Return to Toronto?
Jordan Love

Ready to Start in Wild-Card Game Against Bears
CFB

Jadan Baugh Staying with Florida for Junior Season
Washington Commanders

Commanders "Mutually" Parting Ways With OC Kliff Kingsbury
CFB

Byrum Brown Officially Commits to Auburn
CFB

Austin Simmons Signing with Missouri
CFB

Ty Simpson Undecided on 2026 Plans
CFB

Quarterback AJ Hill Following Ryan Silverfield to Arkansas
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons Have Requested an Interview With Klint Kubiak
Deshaun Watson

Browns Expect Deshaun Watson to be on the Team Next Year
Wan'Dale Robinson

Dealing With Fractured Ribs
Cam Skattebo

Hopes to be Back by Training Camp
Cameron Ward

Won't Need Surgery on his Shoulder
Davante Adams

Rams Expect Davante Adams to Return in Wild-Card Round
Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals Fire Head Coach Jonathan Gannon
CFB

Trinidad Chambliss Will Return to Ole Miss If Granted Sixth Year of Eligibility
Bo Bichette

Phillies Have Interest in Bo Bichette
Kansas City Royals

Matt Quatraro Signs Three-Year Extension With Royals
CFB

Transfer QB Billy Edwards Commits to North Carolina
CFB

Sam Leavitt Visiting Texas Tech on Saturday

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