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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!

Featured Promo: Looking for some more fantasy football action? Adopt a dynasty orphan team over at FFPC. Sign up today and get $25 off any FFPC league. 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

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a Value RB1 in Dynasty Leagues?
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Worth Holding in Dynasty Leagues?
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an Offseason Riser in Dynasty Leagues
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Ryan Rollins

Expected to Return Against Celtics
Bobby Portis

to Remain Out Friday
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Ready to Face Magic
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Earns a Hat Trick
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Back in Action Friday
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Karlo Matkovic Won't Play Thursday
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Returns From Three-Game Absence
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Seth Curry

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Gui Santos

Active Thursday
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Good to Go Thursday
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Exits Early Thursday
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Could Benefit from Influx of Young Talent
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Not Available Thursday
Andrei Iosivas

Lacks the Standalone Value to Make Him More Than a Deep Bench Stash
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May Miss Third Straight Game
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Ruled Out Friday
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Role Could Be Secure for Foreseeable Future
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' Dynasty Value Linked to NFL Draft
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Carter Yakemchuk

in Concussion Protocol
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Arseni Gritsyuk Done for the Season
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Zach Hyman

a Game-Time Decision Thursday
Bryan Rust

Will Play Thursday
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Returns to Action Thursday
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to Be Out for "Weeks" With Broken Finger
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Legal Issues Limit His Dynasty Value
Omarion Hampton

Remains a High-End Dynasty Running Back Despite Injury-Marred Rookie Season
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Being Promoted to MLB Roster Ahead of Friday's Contest
Brandon Hagel

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Damon Severson

Not Expected to Return During Regular Season
Igor Chernyshov

a Game-Time Call Wednesday
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Out Wednesday
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Questionable for Rest of the Week
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Unavailable Wednesday
Konnor Griffin

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Carlos Estévez

Royals Place Carlos Estevez on 15-Day Injured List
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Has Course History on His Side in San Antonio
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a Volatile Option at the Valero Texas Open
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Looks to Find Form at the Valero Texas Open
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to Begin a Rehab Assignment Soon
Jordan Spieth

a Horse for Course History at TPC San Antonio
Robert MacIntyre

Has One Flaw to Overcome at Valero Texas Open to be a Must-Play
Maverick McNealy

In Exceptional Form This Season
Michael Thorbjornsen

Playing Well But Still Searching For A Win
Hideki Matsuyama

Playing Well Heading to the Valero Texas Open
Si Woo Kim

Heads to Valero Texas Open For Final Tune-Up Before Masters
Cody Ponce

Diagnosed With ACL Sprain, to Miss "Significant Time"
Collin Morikawa

Withdraws From Valero Texas Open
PGA

Stephan Jaegar Still Looking For Consistency at Valero Texas Open
Nicolai Hojgaard

is Red-Hot Coming to TPC San Antonio
Tony Finau

a Risky Proposition at Valero Texas Open
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Looks to Shake Off Collapse at Valero Texas Open
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Cleared for Season Debut on Tuesday
Colt Emerson

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Patrick Rodgers

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Sepp Straka

Seeks Opportunity in San Antonio This Weekend
Nick Taylor

Could Again Struggle at the Valero Texas Open
Jose Altuve

Tallies Four Hits, Two Homers in Big Night
Miguel Vargas

Hits Grand Slam, Drives in Six in Win Over Miami
Tanner Bibee

to Start on Tuesday Against Dodgers
Chase Elliott

Takes Advantage of Pit Strategies for Second Career Martinsville Win
Denny Hamlin

Dominates but Finishes Second at Martinsville
Joey Logano

Bounces Back with Third-Place Finish at Martinsville
Ty Gibbs

Gains his Fourth Top-Five Finish of the Season at Martinsville
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Joe Pyfer

Extends His Winning Streak
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Suffers Her First Knockout Loss
Alexa Grasso

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Victorious In His Retirement Fight
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Scores First-Round Knockout Win In His UFC Debut
Alex Bregman

Clobbers First Two Homers in Sunday's Loss at Wrigley
Yandy Díaz

Yandy Diaz Records Five Hits, Drives in Four in Win Over Cardinals
Kyle Larson

Is Likely to Pay Off for DFS at Martinsville
Christopher Bell

Could Have Another Top-10 Performance At Martinsville
William Byron

Is A Threat to Win Again at Martinsville
Chase Elliott

is A Solid DFS Option for Martinsville Lineups
Chase Briscoe

has Plenty of Upside for DFS Lineups at Martinsville
Carlos Estévez

Carlos Estevez Unlikely to See High-Leverage Opportunities in Near Future
Jacob deGrom

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Ty Gibbs

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Ty Gibbs at Martinsville?
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Is A Solid DFS Option for Martinsville Lineups
Josh Berry

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Carson Hocevar

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Austin Cindric

Is Austin Cindric Worth Rostering for DFS At Martinsville?
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