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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.

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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

Ryan McDonagh

Ready to Rejoin Lightning Lineup
Logan Thompson

Unavailable Thursday
Dylan Guenther

Misses Second Consecutive Game
Shayne Gostisbehere

Ready to Face Mammoth
Anton Lundell

Out Thursday
Elias Lindholm

Won't Play Against Flyers
Evgeni Malkin

Good to Go Thursday
Kirk Cousins

Falcons Expected to Release Kirk Cousins
Naji Marshall

Will Not Play Thursday
Russell Westbrook

Ruled Out for Thursday's Game
Chase Brown

Working on Extension With Bengals
Dorian Finney-Smith

Tari Eason and Dorian Finney-Smith Will Not Play Thursday
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Listed as Questionable for Thursday
Onyeka Okongwu

Will Not Play Thursday
Jalen Johnson

Questionable Thursday Against Houston
Michael Penix Jr.

Hopes to be Ready for Week 1
Isaac Paredes

Not a Lock for Opening Day Lineup?
Dalton Kincaid

Doesn't Need Offseason Surgery
Josh Allen

Undergoes Foot Surgery
Josh Allen

on Crutches, Wearing Walking Boot
Corbin Carroll

a Top Fantasy Outfielder After Joining 30-30 Club
Jonah Tong

Won't Pitch in the World Baseball Classic
CFB

Michigan RB Bryson Kuzdzal Withdrawing from Transfer Portal
James Reimer

Stops Avalanche Wednesday Night
Tim Stützle

Tim Stutzle Collects Two Points Against Avalanche
Ondrej Palat

Enjoys Multi-Point Debut With Islanders
Zach Werenski

Has Fifth Multi-Point Outing of the Month
Travis Konecny

Questionable for Thursday
Rasmus Ristolainen

Doesn't Finish Wednesday's Loss
Blake Coleman

Out Until Olympic Break
Aaron Gordon

Out Thursday
Isaiah Hartenstein

Available Thursday
Russell Westbrook

Questionable to Play Thursday
Zach LaVine

Returns From Two-Game Absence
Paul George

Expected to Play Against Kings
Joel Embiid

Probable Thursday
Steven Adams

Undergoes Season-Ending Ankle Surgery
Egor Demin

Won't Play Versus Denver
Cam Thomas

Resting on Thursday Night
Aaron Judge

Appears to be Past his Elbow Issues
Bo Nix

Expected to Resume Training in 4-6 Weeks
Dan Vladar

Returns to Flyers Crease
Denton Mateychuk

Back in Action Wednesday
Stephen Halliday

Unavailable Versus Avalanche
Ross Colton

Won't Play Wednesday
Devon Toews

Still Out Wednesday
Simon Holmstrom

Expected to Return Wednesday
Ryan Pulock

a Game-Time Call Wednesday
Michael Penix Jr.

Thinks he'll be Ready by April
Evan Carter

Establishes a Goal to Steal 30 Bases
Edouard Julien

Traded to the Rockies
Cleveland Browns

Browns Hiring Todd Monken as Next Head Coach
Collin Murray-Boyles

Listed as Questionable for Wednesday's Game
Jock Landale

Available for Wednesday's Tilt
Kel'el Ware

in Danger of Missing Another Game
Sahith Theegala

Off to Much Better 2026 Start
Davion Mitchell

Iffy for Wednesday
Gary Woodland

an Intriguing Option at Torrey Pines This Week
Norman Powell

Questionable Wednesday
Tyler Herro

Remains Out Wednesday
CJ Abrams

Giants Offer "Aggressive Pitch" for CJ Abrams
Andrew Putnam

Hopes to Keep Momentum Rolling This Week
Matthieu Pavon

Seeks to Return to 2024 Form at Torrey Pines
Luke List

Still Looking For Birdies at Torrey Pines
Jake Knapp

Faces Stiff Challenge at Farmers Insurance Open
Rasmus Hojgaard

Needs to Play Better at Torrey Pines
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Could Struggle at Farmers Insurance Open
J.J. Spaun

A Steady Option At Farmers Insurance Open
Andrew Novak

Looking For More Success At Torrey Pines
Denny McCarthy

A Wild Card At Farmers Insurance Open
Max Homa

Looks To Keep Resurgence Going At Torrey Pines
Joe Highsmith

Struggling Heading Into Torrey Pines
Wyndham Clark

Looks To Carry Momentum Into Farmers Insurance Open
Tony Finau

Aims To Turn Things Around At Torrey Pines
Akshay Bhatia

Looks to Bounce Back at Torrey Pines
Paul Goldschmidt

Yankees Expressing Interest in Re-Signing Paul Goldschmidt
Bo Bichette

Won't Play in World Baseball Classic
NFL

Bill Belichick Won't be First-Ballot Hall of Famer
Carlos Correa

Won't Play for Puerto Rico in World Baseball Classic
Si Woo Kim

Looks to Continue Incredible Run at Torrey Pines
Jason Day

has a Good Chance to Keep Momentum This Weekend
Keegan Bradley

has Good Course History at Torrey Pines
Billy Horschel

Isn't a Great DFS Option at Torrey Pines
Aaron Rodgers

Mike McCarthy Says he Wants Aaron Rodgers to Return
Will Zalatoris

Has a Shot to Challenge at the Farmers Insurance Open
Drake Maye

Expected to be Fine for Super Bowl
Tennessee Titans

Titans Set to Hire Brian Daboll as New Offensive Coordinator
Buffalo Bills

Bills Promote Joe Brady to Head Coach
CFB

Quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi Signs with Michigan
CFB

Darian Mensah Reaches Settlement with Duke, Expected to Land at Miami
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Not Drawing Interest on Open Market?
Shedeur Sanders

Named as Pro Bowl Replacement
Framber Valdez

Among Many High-End Pitchers on Free-Agent Market
Jose Altuve

Won't Participate in World Baseball Classic
Harrison Bader

Agrees With Giants on Two-Year Deal
Paddy Pimblett

Drops Decision
Justin Gaethje

Becomes the New Interim-Lightweight Champion
Song Yadong

Suffers Unanimous Decision Loss
MMA

Sean O'Malley Gets Back In The Win Column
Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Extends His Win Streak
Derrick Lewis

Suffers Second-Round TKO Loss
Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers Officially Hire Mike McDaniel as Offensive Coordinator
Nathan Eovaldi

Doesn't Expect Any Limitations in Spring Training
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Dominates in NFC Championship Game Win
Matthew Stafford

Plans to Return in 2026
CFB

Arthur Smith to Become Ohio State's Offensive Coordinator
Bo Nix

Sidelined for 12 Weeks With Broken Ankle
Jose Altuve

to Mainly Play Second Base
Yu Darvish

Considering Retirement
Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers Finalizing Deal to Make Mike McCarthy Their Head Coach
José Ramírez

Jose Ramirez Signs Seven-Year Extension With Guardians
Gunnar Henderson

is Fully Healthy Heading into Spring Training

RANKINGS

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