Is it possible that this has been the most chaotic, unpredictable 3 weeks of football in NFL history? I don’t ever remember a season more difficult to predict not only which teams will win from week to week, but how players will perform. Players all across the league are having a great game one week, and disappearing the next, or vice a versa. What I can do for sure, though, is look back at week 3 of the NFL season and highlight the weeks biggest winners and losers.
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Quarterbacks
Biggest Winners
Josh Allen – For the 2nd time in 3 weeks of NFL football, Josh Allen finished the week in the fantasy QB1 spot. In week 3, Allen passed for 263 yards and 4 TDs, adding 44 rushing yards along the way, leading the team in rushing. Allen would be a front runner for MVP so far, throwing a total of 7 TDs and 0 INTs.
Dak Prescott – While Dak Prescott only completed 28 of his 51 pass attempts (54 percent), none of them were intercepted, and the ones that were completed accounted for 379 yards and 2 TDs. Prescott and the Cowboys were playing from behind almost all game, putting them in more passing situations. Prescott was also able to scramble into the end zone for a rushing TD.
Jayden Daniels – Daniels, on the other hand, only needed 23 attempts to complete 21 passes (91 percent), which was good for 254 yards and 2 TDs, the 1st two of his career. He also tacked on 39 rushing yards and a TD. In only his 3rd game of his NFL career, Daniels looks like he’s already in full control of his offense.
Honorable Mentions:
Lamar Jackson – 12/15 for 182 passing yards and 1 TD, 87 rushing yards and 1 TD
Brock Purdy – 22/30 for 292 yards and 3 TDs, 41 rushing yards and 1 fumble lost
Malik Willis – 13/19 for 202 yards and 1 TD, 73 rushing yards and 1 TD
Andy Dalton – 26/37 for 319 and 3 TDs.
Biggest Losers
Anthony Richardson – Although Richardson and the Colts were able to get the win against the Bears in week 3, Richardson himself struggled again for the second consecutive week. Richardson only completed 10 of his 20 attempted passes, for 167 yards and 0 TDs, but did have 2 INTs. Richardson has 3 TDs on the season, to 6 INTs.
Derek Carr – After 2 really good weeks of football, Carr had a bit of as stinker in week 3. He only completed 14 of his 25 attempted passes, for 142 yards and 1 TD.
Baker Mayfield – Mayfield was fantastic in week 1, but has come back down to earth a bit over the past 2 weeks. In week 3, he completed a respectable 25 of 33 passes, but only passed for 163 yards and 1 TD, also adding 1 INT.
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Wide Receivers
Biggest Winners
Jauan Jennings – With a number of injuries piling up on the offensive side of the ball for the 49ers, Jennings took full advantage of his opportunity to see more targets, turning that into 11 receptions for 175 yards and 3 TDs, in their loss to the LA Rams.
Ja’Marr Chase – After 2 pretty mediocre games for Chase’s standards, he finally broke loose in week 3 with 6 receptions for 118 yards and 2 TDs, in the Bengals losing efforts against the Washington Commanders.
Amari Cooper – Cooper was also pretty non-existent in the first 2 weeks, catching only 5 passes for 27 yards in the 2 games combined. In week 3, Cooper hauled in 7 receptions for 86 yards and 2 TDs.
Honorable Mentions:
Malik Nabers – 8 receptions for 78 yards and 2 TDs
Diontae Johnson – 8 receptions for 122 yards and 1 TD
Rome Odunze – 6 receptions for 112 yards and 1 TD
Rashee Rice – 12 receptions for 110 yards and 1 TD
Biggest Losers
Calvin Ridley – Ridley fantasy owners were pretty jazzed about last week’s performance, if they had him in the lineup. He was able to make a spectacular grab for a TD, to make a real nice looking stat line, and a biggest winner among WRs. In week 3, however, 1 reception in the 3rd quarter, was all Ridley gave his fantasy owners. Unfortunately for any Titan pass catching fantasy owners, that’s probably how the season is going to go. Very volatile.
Mike Evans – Evans had the same amount of receptions, and more receiving yards, in week 1, as he did in the next 2 weeks combined. He also found the end zone 2X in week 1, giving his fantasy owners a real optimistic start of the season. In week 3, two receptions for 17 yards was all he was able to come up with. Evans is a little banged up with a knee injury, so that is worth monitoring for the Buc’s up coming match up against the Eagles.
Xavier Worthy – After finding the end zone 2X in week 1, fantasy owners who took a chance on the rookie were feeling pretty good about their draft. It looks like Worthy will be a bit of a boom or bust kind of a guy, as he has only 2 receptions in each of his 3 games. Week 2 and week 3 only produced 17 yards each off those 2 catches. The concern for Worthy is, he’s 2nd on the team as far as how many routes he’s running. So far, that’s not translating to a high volume of targets.
Zay Flowers – Baltimore’s game script was partly at fault in week 3 for Flowers. QB Lamar Jackson only had 15 passing attempts, 4 of them going in Flower’s direction. He caught 3 of them for 20 yards. Flowers will continue to be one of the highest targeted receivers in Baltimore’s offense, so I wouldn’t stress on this one too much.
Tyreek Hill – Unfortunately for Hill fantasy owners, in Miami’s offense, Hill goes as his QB Tua Tagovailoa goes. With Tagovailoa out on concussion protocol, and his return being unknown, Hill’s production for the season is in real limbo.
Running Backs
Biggest Winners
Kyren Williams – Williams had his best game, and fantasy stat line, of the season, just when the Rams needed it the most. Facing an 0-3 start, down by 2 scores most of the game to the rival San Francisco 49ers, Williams rushed for 89 yards and 2 TDs, and had 2 receptions for 27 yards, one of them going for a TD, helping to secure a win and giving him the fantasy RB1 title for week 3.
Saquon Barkley – Barkley had yet another monster game and fantasy stat line, rushing for 147 yards and 2 TDs, and added a 2 point conversion to boot. It didn’t feel like fantasy owners were going to get much from Barkley if you were watching the game, until he broke a 65 yard TD in the fourth quarter. His second TD and 2 point conversion also came later in the 4th, securing a 3 point lead for his team, and a big fantasy points for his fantasy owners.
Derrick Henry – Henry also turned in a massive day for fantasy owners rushing for 151 yards and 2 TDs, adding a 23 yard reception. Baltimore’s game plan was to run the ball, and run the ball they did. This was Henry’s first game of the season in which he had over 20 carries. It will be interesting to see if that is a trend that continues for Henry.
Honorable Mentions:
Jonathan Taylor – 110 yards rushing, 2 TDs, and 1 reception for 25 yards
Chuba Hubbard – 114 yards rushing, 55 yards receiving and 1 TD
Zach Charbonnet – 91 yards rushing, 2 TDs, and 3 receptions for 16 yards
Aaron Jones – 102 yards rushing, 5 receptions for 46 yards and 1 TD
Biggest Losers
Rhamondre Stevenson – Stevenson put together 2 nice stat lines for his fantasy owners in his 1st two weeks, but came across a stinker in week 3. He had at least 20 carries in each of his first two contests, but only had 6 in this one. Those 6 carries went for 23 yards, but he also lost a fumble in the 4th quarter, erasing what little points he had accumulated so far.
James Conner – Conner also had 2 nice little stat lines in his 1st two contests, and came across a road block in week 3. The Cardinals fell behind, changing up their game script to more passing. Conner only had 3 carries after half time. He finished the contest with a total of 17 rushing yards and an 8 yard pass reception.
Zamir White – After filling in nicely for an injured Josh Jacobs last year, White has yet to turn in a performance fantasy owners would be happy about. Like Conner, the Raiders fell behind early, and they went to leaning more heavily on the pass, as the game progressed. He finished the day wtih 10 rushes for 34 yards, most of that coming in the 1st half.
Rachaad White – White was on the biggest loser list last week as well. He has been inefficient rushing the ball all year, thus far. His yards per carry has never been great, but his receiving yards has been what keeps fantasy owners happy. That has not been the case in the past two weeks, however. In week 3, White was only able to muster up 17 yards on 6 carries, while only adding 18 yards on 5 receptions.
D’Andre Swift – Swift has had a disappointing season thus far as well. His move to Chicago hasn’t gone well. In week 3, Swift only rushed for 20 yards on 13 carries. He did pick up 22 yards on his 2 receptions, if that’s any consolation.
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Tight Ends
Biggest Winners
Dallas Goedert – With A.J. Brown out and DeVonta Smith leaving the game with a concussion, Goedert was left to be a main target for the Eagles. Goedert turned that opportunity into 10 receptions for 170 yards. I’m not quite sure how he was able to rack up that many yards, but couldn’t find the end zone.
Cole Kmet – Kmet capped a nice 10 reception for 97 yard day with a TD late in the 4th quarter, making Kmet fantasy owners happy.
Jake Ferguson – Ferguson led the Cowboys in targets with 11, hauling in 6 of them for 95 yards, in their losing effort against the Baltimore Ravens.
Biggest Losers
Trey McBride – Only 3 receptions for 25 yards
Baltimore TEs – Only 1 reception for 4 yards between Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews
Travis Kelce – Kelce has 8 receptions for 69 yards. No, not in week 3… total. All 3 weeks combined.
Defense
Biggest Winners
Green Bay – The Packers were able to capitalize on a bad Tennessee team, holding them to 14 points, while recording 8 sacks, 2 INTs, a fumble recovery and a TD.
NY Jets – The Jets defense were also able to capitalize on a bad New England team, holding them to 3 points, while recording 7 sacks and a fumble recovery.
Biggest Losers
Dallas – The Cowboys gave up 28 points in a losing effort to the Baltimore Ravens.
Las Vegas – The Raiders recorded 2 sacks, but gave up 36 points to the Carolina Panthers.
So there you have it. Week 3’s biggest fantasy winners and losers. Thanks for checking out my article! I always want to hear your thoughts and opinions, so be sure to leave your comments below!
Hey Mike! Week 3 of the NFL definitely felt like a roller coaster ride in fantasy football! As a long-time player, I can’t remember a season where so many players had such extreme highs and lows. One week, your quarterback is lighting up the scoreboard, and the next, he’s barely putting up any points. Josh Allen is a perfect example—two out of three weeks in the QB1 spot, but you just never know when that dip might happen. It’s been fun but nerve-wracking trying to predict who will shine and who might flop week to week.
I had a bit of a tough time myself with wide receivers. Amari Cooper, who was quiet in the first two weeks, finally gave me some much-needed points. On the flip side, Calvin Ridley’s performance this week left me hanging, and I can’t help but wonder if this kind of inconsistency will continue for the season. Anyone else having trouble figuring out which players to trust week to week?
Hey macfais9! Thanks for checking out this article! I feel your pain, I really do! Especially in leagues where you drafted before the season, and are stuck with that team all year. There are some pre-season predictions I made that I’ve been happy with, but some are kind of embarrassing at this point. I’ve been active on the waiver wires, that’s for sure! Hang in there!
I’ve been having fun with daily fantasy, because it’s week to week, so you can which pick players you’d like to use that week, but not have to use them the following week. With the crazy amount of inconsistency, it’s been a fun option to play along with season long teams.