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Week 3 Quarterback Rankings & Matchups Analysis

Below you will find our Week 3 quarterback rankings, to help determine your WR starts/sits for this week, brought to you by Edward Gorelik (@EdwardGorelik) and Zach Wilkens (@LopsidedTrades).

Featured fantasy football writer Zach Wilkens also highlights some WR 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.

You can also check out our 2015 fantasy football ranking dashboard, for more in depth rankings analysis on all positions including rookies and dynasty leagues.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings - Quarterbacks

RotoBaller
Staff Ranks
Player Name
(Team - Position)
Zach Wilkens
Rankings
Ed Gorelik
Rankings
1 Aaron Rodgers GB vs. KC 1 2
2 Tom Brady NE vs. JAC 3 1
3 Andrew Luck IND at TEN 2 3
4 Russell Wilson SEA vs. CHI 5 4
5 Matt Ryan ATL at DAL 4 7
6 Ben Roethlisberger PIT at STL 7 5
7 Carson Palmer ARI vs. SF 9 6
8 Cam Newton CAR vs. NO 8 8
9 Peyton Manning DEN at DET 6 11
10 Philip Rivers SD at MIN 10 9
11 Eli Manning NYG vs. WAS 13 10
12 Teddy Bridgewater MIN vs. SD 16 13
13 Tyrod Taylor BUF at MIA 15 14
14 Ryan Tannehill MIA vs. BUF 19 12
15 Nick Foles STL vs. PIT 11 21
16 Alex Smith KC at GB 12 20
17 Marcus Mariota TEN vs. IND 14 18
18 Andy Dalton CIN at BAL 17 17
19 Drew Brees NO at CAR 15
20 Matthew Stafford DET vs. DEN 26 16
21 Sam Bradford PHI at NYJ 18 26
22 Colin Kaepernick SF at ARI 21 19
23 Joe Flacco BAL vs. CIN 20 23
24 Ryan Fitzpatrick NYJ vs. PHI 24 22
25 Blake Bortles JAC at NE 22 24
26 Derek Carr OAK at CLE 23 27
27 Johnny Manziel CLE vs. OAK 33 25
28 Kirk Cousins WAS at NYG 25 28
29 Ryan Mallett HOU vs. TB 27 29
30 Brandon Weeden DAL vs. ATL 28
31 Josh McCown CLE vs. OAK 29
32 Jameis Winston TB at HOU 31 30
33 Luke McCown NO at CAR 30
34 Jimmy Clausen CHI at SEA 32
35 Brian Hoyer HOU vs. TB 34

 
 

Week 3 Quick Hit Quarterback (QB) Rankings Analysis

By Zach Wilkens (@LopsidedTrades)

Through two weeks Matt Ryan has been a bit underwhelming at QB13 on the season. However I remain optimistic. First off, he hasn’t had a bad game by any means. He’s thrown for 298 and 363 yards in Weeks 1 and 2, respectively. It’s just a matter of throwing for touchdowns and avoiding mistakes.

Against the Giants this past week, Ryan was one yard short of throwing for a second touchdown as Julio Jones was downed just shy of the goal line. Even though Ryan’s Week 3 opponent, the Dallas Cowboys, have held opposing QBs to under 10 points in both matchups this year, I really think that is a result of the NFC East teams looking like a mess. I remain high on Matt Ryan at QB4 this week.

Last week I gambled a bit on Colin Kaepernick vs the Steelers and it paid off. This week I am continuing to bet against the Steelers secondary with Nick Foles at QB11. I don’t exactly think highly of Foles or his receivers, but the Steelers have allowed the most points to opposing QBs. Despite the small sample size, this is a trend I expect to continue this week. There is a real lack of talent in the Steelers secondary.

On the negative side, I am a little low on Carson Palmer this week at QB9. Palmer has had two great games so far, and I still have him in the top ten, which means he is very startable. However, I am lowering expectations just a bit as this will be a tougher matchup in my eyes.

I am especially low on Ryan Tannehill this week at QB19. Despite Tom Brady’s big week against the Bills I still consider them an elite defense. If you aren’t a future hall of famer like Brady, I don’t expect nearly as much success. I’m surprised Tannehill is the consensus QB11 when he struggled against Washington in Week 1, and the Bills managed to shutout Andrew Luck until late in the third quarter in Week 1. Don’t be surprised if Tannehill doesn’t deliver this week.

Speaking of Andrew Luck, I’m not worried at all and I have him as my QB2 this week. He probably had the toughest start to the season of any quarterback in the league, and I don’t think it’s particularly close. Continue starting him with confidence and consider buying low if you can.

Lastly, one quarterback I would start ahead of Ryan Tannehill this week? That would be Alex Smith. Smith had a big Week 1 and then struggled mightily against Denver. I expected a struggle in Week 2, and I had actually moved him down in my rankings to QB24 last week. This week I have him up at QB13. The Broncos are a potentially elite defense - the Packers are not. The Packers aren’t bad by any means, but I still like the Chiefs offense more than most and I remain optimistic for Smith this week.

 

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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

Keegan Murray

Is Available For His Season Debut Thursday
Tyrese Maxey

Listed as Probable for Thursday
Domantas Sabonis

Will Not Play Thursday Against Memphis
Joel Embiid

Listed as Out for Thursday
Aaron Rodgers

Seen at Practice on Thursday
Jaylen Warren

Moving Around Well on Thursday
Bucky Irving

Will be on a Snap Count When he Returns
Jaxson Dart

Could Clear Concussion Protocol Thursday
Lamar Jackson

Returns to Thursday's Practice
Josh Jacobs

to Do Individual Drills on Thursday
Joe Mixon

Not Expected to Play This Season
Chris Godwin

Attending Thursday's Practice
Bucky Irving

Continues Practice Attendance
Rasmus Andersson

Bags Three Points Wednesday Night
Morgan Geekie

Nets Two Power-Play Goals Wednesday
Joe Burrow

Bengals Haven't Ruled Out Joe Burrow for Week 12
Connor McMichael

Posts Three Assists in Wednesday's Win
Alexander Romanov

Islanders Place Alexander Romanov on Injured Reserve
Lars Eller

to Miss Thursday's Action
Nic Dowd

Out on Thursday
Adam Lowry

Inks Extension With Jets
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Likely Out on Thursday
Zaccharie Risacher

Questionable for Thursday
Kristaps Porzingis

at Risk of Missing Another Game
Paolo Banchero

Misses Fourth Straight Game
Kawhi Leonard

Remains Out Against Magic
Kelly Oubre Jr.

Ruled Out for Two Weeks
Tyler Herro

Targeting Return on Monday
Brian Thomas Jr.

Limited in Practice on Wednesday
Jerami Grant

Available Wednesday Night
Jalen Brunson

Returns From Two-Game Absence
Jalen Smith

Available to Play Wednesday
Tre Jones

Downgraded to Out
Shaedon Sharpe

Misses Wednesday's Game
Dereck Lively II

Cleared for Action Wednesday
Daniel Gafford

Available Wednesday
Caleb Martin

Won't Play Against Knicks
Raisel Iglesias

Returning to the Braves on One-Year Deal
Lamar Jackson

Absent Due to Ankle Injury
Marvin Bagley III

Starts on Wednesday
Mike Conley

Joins Starting Unit Wednesday
Conor Garland

to Return on Thursday
Thomas Harley

to Miss Road Trip
Eetu Luostarinen

Out Week-to-Week After Barbecue Accident
Curtis Lazar

to Miss at Least Three Games
Vladimir Tarasenko

Misses Third Consecutive Game
Mikael Granlund

Remains Out Wednesday
Charlie McAvoy

Out Indefinitely After Facial Surgery
Joe Burrow

to Potentially Return in Week 12?
Aaron Rodgers

Out on Wednesday, Hopes to Practice Thursday
Jaylen Warren

Not Seen at Wednesday's Practice
Dak Prescott

Lands on Injury Report Ahead of Week 12 With Hip Injury
Rhamondre Stevenson

Targeting a Return in Week 12?
Isiah Pacheco

Returning to Practice on Wednesday
Brian Thomas Jr.

Jaguars "Optimistic" About Brian Thomas Jr.'s Week 12 Status
Josh Jacobs

Will Not Practice on Wednesday
Sahith Theegala

Looking to Continue Fall Run at RSM Classic
Jayden Daniels

Commanders Considering Shutting Down Jayden Daniels?
Stephan Jaeger

Looking to Bounce Back at RSM Classic
Tom Hoge

Looking to Regain Form at RSM Classic
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Searching for Turnaround at RSM Classic
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Looking to Build on T11 Finish in Bermuda
Austin Eckroat

Searching for Momentum at RSM Classic
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Garrett Nussmeier Doubtful to Play Against Western Kentucky
Connor Bedard

Continues Tear With Hat Trick
Macklin Celebrini

Pots Hat Trick in Tuesday's Win
Jake Guentzel

Records Eighth Career Hat Trick
Sammy Blais

Injured Versus Blues
Alexander Romanov

Injured in Tuesday's Win
Ryan Hartman

Considered Week-to-Week
Michael Thorbjornsen

Hopes to End 2025 Campaign With Another Solid Finish
Andrew Novak

Looks to End 2025 Season on High Note at RSM Classic
Harry Higgs

Teetering for PGA Tour Card in 2026
PGA

Nico Echavarria has the Potential to Contend at the RSM Classic
Sam Stevens

Finishing Out Year in Georgia
Seamus Power

Playing Better at the Right Time
Beau Hossler

Roller Coaster Comes to Saint Simons Island
Quade Cummins

The Time is Now for Quade Cummins in Georgia
Austin Cook

Needs a Win at the RSM Classic
Cameron Champ

on the PGA Tour Card Bubble
Grayson Rodriguez

Shipped to Angels
Taylor Ward

Orioles Acquire Taylor Ward From Angels
Shota Imanaga

Accepts Cubs Qualifying Offer
Brandon Woodruff

Returning to Milwaukee in 2026
Denny McCarthy

Looking For Another Solid Finish at RSM Classic
Si Woo Kim

Looking To Use Current Momentum to Flip Script at RSM Classic
Mackenzie Hughes

a Good Bounce-Back Candidate at RSM Classic
Harris English

Making 14th Start at This Week's RSM Classic
Konnor Griffin

Could Compete for Starting Shortstop Job in 2026
Gleyber Torres

Accepts Tigers Qualifying Offer
Matt Murray

to Miss Six Weeks With Lower-Body Injury
CFB

Sam Leavitt Set to Enter Transfer Portal?
Jose Altuve

Undergoes Foot Surgery
Alex Bregman

Red Sox Going for Either Alex Bregman or Pete Alonso?
CFB

James Franklin to be Virginia Tech's Next Head Coach
CFB

Fernando Mendoza the Clear Heisman Trophy Favorite?
CFB

Beau Pribula Has Chance to Face Oklahoma on Saturday
Jack Della Maddalena

Gets Dominated
Islam Makhachev

Claims UFC Welterweight Belt
Zhang Weili

Gets Outclassed
Valentina Shevchenko

Wins Unanimous Decision At UFC 322
Sean Brady

Suffers First-Round TKO Loss
Michael Morales

Remains Unbeaten
Leon Edwards

Suffers Second-Round Knockout Loss
Leon Edwards

Carlos Prates Becomes The First Man To Knock Out Leon Edwards
Beneil Dariush

Suffers Brutal First-Round Knockout Loss
Beneil Dariush

Benoit Saint Denis Knocks Out Beneil Dariush In 16 Seconds
Josh Naylor

Mariners Finalizing Five-Year Contract
CFB

Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate Not Dealing With Long-Term Injuries
CFB

Virginia Tech Close To Naming James Franklin As Head Coach
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Doubtful vs. Arkansas On Saturday
Edwin Díaz

Blue Jays Interested in Signing Edwin Diaz?
Jacob deGrom

Named AL Comeback Player of the Year
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Wins NL Comeback Player of the Year Award
Aroldis Chapman

Named AL Reliever of the Year
Edwin Díaz

Edwin Diaz Named NL Reliever of the Year

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP