Week 3 is in the books, and we’re finally starting to get a clearer picture of which early-season trends are real and which ones were simply small-sample-size noise. The injury bug continues to wreak havoc across the NFL, creating new opportunities for some players while putting others on the fantasy radar. Let’s dive into my Week 3 takeaways and get you ready for Week 4!
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Quarterbacks
- Player: Brock Purdy
- Game:Â vs. Cardinals
- Stats: 15/27, 297 passing yards, 4 TDs
The Niners QB is up to 10 total touchdowns through three games. It’s impressive when you think about the number of injuries piling up around him, yet Purdy continues to control the offense and find ways to produce. The Cardinals have now allowed consecutive quarterbacks to throw at least three touchdowns, making Jameis Winston an intriguing SuperFlex option in deeper leagues. Purdy and the Niners face the Broncos in Week 4, so some regression should be expected after four touchdown passes, but Purdy has been striking gold with his control of the offense.
Notables:
Geno Smith torched the Lions secondary for 321 passing yards and three touchdowns despite the Jets being without two of their top wide receivers. Detroit has now allowed opposing quarterbacks to average 34 fantasy points per game through three weeks. The Panthers get the Lions in Week 4, making Bryce Young an intriguing SuperFlex option after Detroit just surrendered another big fantasy performance.
The Commanders have now allowed 11 passing TDs through three weeks, including four from Sam Darnold, who carved up Washington for 379 passing yards and four touchdowns while playing catch-up in the second half. Darnold also tossed two interceptions, but the fantasy production was still there. With consecutive quarterbacks now throwing at least three TDs against Washington, Daniel Jones has a chance to keep the streak alive in Week 4 and makes for an intriguing SuperFlex play.
Marcus Mariota surprised the defending Super Bowl champions with three passing touchdowns while filling in for the injured Jayden Daniels. It was a tremendous fantasy performance against a Seattle defense that had been playing lights-out. Mariota gets Indianapolis in Week 4, making him an interesting SuperFlex option if Daniels remains sidelined.
Aaron Rodgers threw the belt three times against the Bengals. His three touchdowns were his most as a Steeler since last season, when he tossed four touchdowns against – you guessed it – the Bengals in Week 7. He has favorable matchups against Cleveland and Indianapolis over the next two weeks, but is hard to trust.Â
The Steelers limited quarterbacks to just seven fantasy points to open the season, but allowed Joe Burrow to post a season-high 282 passing yards and three touchdowns. Burrow gets a rematch with the Jaguars, who forced three turnovers from Drake Maye. That should be a fun game in Week 4.
Trevor Lawrence bounced back with three passing touchdowns and should have had a rushing score after taking a knee at the one-yard line. He’ll look for similar success against the Bengals as A-Rod in a positive fantasy environment.
Don’t look now, but Deshaun Watson has posted consecutive QB1 finishes. He’ll have a much tougher assignment against Pittsburgh in Week 4, but the Browns’ passing game has become much more fantasy-friendly than I expected entering the season.
Jinx, double jinx! Don’t look now, but Kirk Cousins has also posted consecutive QB1 finishes. Cousins has now thrown three touchdowns in each of his first three games and has an opportunity to make it three straight against the Chiefs in Week 4.Â
Baker Mayfield was put in an impossible situation late in the fourth quarter, with a questionable play call leading to a thumb injury. The Bucs’ offense may have lost the booty. His status will be worth monitoring heading into Week 4.
Tyler Shough was one of three quarterbacks to throw four touchdowns in Week 3. He’s undeniably a QB1 for fantasy dating back to the end of last season. Atlanta shouldn’t pose too many problems for the Saints offense in Week 4, as the Falcons have allowed consecutive 20-plus fantasy-point outings to opposing quarterbacks.
Running Backs
- Player: Jahmyr Gibbs
- Game: vs. Jets
- Stats: 20 carries, 99 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs, 7 receptions for 65 yards and 1 receiving TD
Anything you can do, Bijan Robinson, I can do better! I thought Robinson would be the RB1 after his TNF performance, but Gibbs one-upped him, securing his first RB1 finish of the season after finishing as the RB3 to open the season.
Gibbs has totaled 83 touches through three games, averaging 27.7 touches per game. That’s an absurd workload. No running back from 2020 through 2025 averaged more than 24 touches per game while playing a full 16- or 17-game season. At his current pace, Gibbs would finish with 476 touches over 17 games, which would be historic. This pace seems unsustainable, so expect some regression.
Notables:
Jaylen Warren was more than able to handle the Steelers backfield with Rico Dowdle out with a toe injury, totaling 176 all-purpose yards. He would have had more if it wasn’t for a holding penalty. If he gets the nod as the RB1 on a short week against the Browns, he’ll project as a low-end RB1/high-end RB2.
Bhayshul Tuten would like to thank his QB for a questionable kneel at the one-yard line with eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter. Nonetheless, Tuten is averaging 16 touches and 80 all-purpose yards through the first three games and is a safe RB2 against the Bengals in Week 4.
Keaton Mitchell’s touches have increased each week, reaching 11 with 52 rushing yards in Week 3. He’s more than a handcuff to Omarion Hampton, who finished with a reduced role of 15 touches for 56 yards. The winless Chargers have tough upcoming opponents against the Broncos and Seahawks, so this backfield could be frustrating for fantasy managers.
Chuba Hubbard should be considered a legitimate RB1 moving forward with Jonathan Brooks out. He played 65 of 77 Panthers offensive snaps, earning 23 touches. Hubbard has an opportunistic matchup in Week 4 against the Lions before his Week 5 bye.
Cam Skattebo looks poised to be the Giants’ workhorse with Jaxson Dart out for the season. With Devin Singletary inactive, Skattebo handled 20 carries and three receptions, while also taking over the team’s late-down and two-minute work. Three of his next four opponents rank in the bottom third in RB fantasy points allowed, but I’d still look to sell high given the Giants’ inconsistent offense and limited weekly scoring upside.
While not the flashiest RB, Tony Pollard earned the early-down work for Tennessee in Week 3. Tyjae Spears has injury concerns leading up to the game and briefly left in the fourth quarter before returning. Spears may be relegated to more third-down work if this usage continues.Â
Jeremiyah Love appears to have seized the Cardinals’ backfield after a lackluster Week 2. Love posted 26 touches while out-snapping Tyler Allgeier 55-to-31. I’ll be curious to see the snap and touch ratio in a favorable matchup in Week 4 against the Giants. It wasn’t that long ago that Allgeier handled 17 carries, so I’m not ready to completely bury him yet.
De’Von Achane’s knee injury isn’t looking good. Ollie Gordon was the next man up, scoring a touchdown with Jaylen Wright inactive. Both will be adds, but it remains unclear how effective either will be in the Miami offense, especially in Week 4 against the Vikings, who haven’t allowed a 50-yard rusher through three games.
Bucky Irving was on the sidelines for the final 10 minutes of the fourth quarter, but the Buccaneers did not announce an injury during the game. We’ll await further news heading into Week 4, with Kenneth Gainwell and Sean Tucker potentially in line for additional work if Irving’s status becomes a concern.
Breece Hall left in the fourth quarter with a thigh injury. Braelon Allen is in line for more carries against the Bears in Week 4, who play Monday Night Football against Philadelphia. Monitor Hall’s practice participation throughout the week.
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Wide Receivers
- Player: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
- Game: at WashingtonÂ
- Stats: 10 receptions, 128 receiving yards and 3 TDs on 14 targets
That’s six touchdowns through three games, and JSN has now topped 120 receiving yards in all three games. Meanwhile, the Commanders have allowed opposing WR1s to top 125 receiving yards and two touchdowns in consecutive games, with CeeDee Lamb accomplishing the feat in Week 2. Washington now faces the Colts in Week 4,
The Chargers are the unlucky defense to face off against the WR1 in Week 4. Los Angeles limited the Bills’ wide receivers to 110 receiving yards in Week 3. Will JSN have more than 110 receiving yards next week? I think so. Do you?
Notables:
Jalen Coker left the game with a quad injury, which could have a significant impact on Bryce Young and the Panthers’ passing game.
Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins both found the end zone against Pittsburgh, with each topping 90 receiving yards. That’s exactly what fantasy managers want to see from Cincinnati’s dynamic duo when Burrow is dealing. A tougher test awaits against Jacksonville in Week 4.
Jacksonville’s WR room continues to be frustrating, to say the least. Jakobi Meyers led the team in targets, receptions and receiving yards, while Parker Washington had two touchdowns — although one was called back. Meanwhile, Brian Thomas Jr. played only 23 snaps, equaling Josh Cameron. If you can make it make sense, please explain it to me. Thanks!
Keenan Allen is going to be a thing in Indianapolis, isn’t he? Josh Downs continues to produce alongside him, and the Colts’ passing game has increasingly become a two-man show at wide receiver with Tyler Warren also heavily involved. Three of Indy’s next four opponents rank among the more favorable matchups for wide receivers, so both Allen and Downs are trending toward must-start territory.
With our first Titans passing-game reference of the season, Wan’Dale Robinson had himself a revenge game, scoring Tennessee’s only touchdown while hauling in seven passes. Meanwhile, Carnell Tate turned in the best receiving performance of his young NFL career with 58 yards. It’s a step in the right direction for a passing attack that desperately needs someone to emerge for fantasy purposes!
Jordan Addison became the primary beneficiary after Justin Jefferson left with an ankle injury. Addison finished with five receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown, while Jauan Jennings was the only other Vikings wide receiver to record a catch. Monitor Jefferson’s injury closely because Miami and New Orleans are next on Minnesota’s schedule.
Michael Wilson led the Cardinals’ wide receivers with 11 catches for 89 yards and a touchdown as Arizona played catch-up against San Francisco. Marvin Harrison Jr. (3-40) was once again an afterthought behind Wilson and Trey McBride (9-75). Harrison did see a better role in two-receiver sets this week, but Arizona continues to use him less frequently in single-WR formations than it did last season.
Mike Evans exited San Francisco’s game with a rib injury, leaving an already depleted 49ers WR room in even worse shape. Deebo Samuel Sr. and Jordan Watkins are the remaining healthy WRs in the Bay Area. Watkins flashed with two catches for 60 yards, so he’s worth monitoring, but his playing time is less certain. Let’s hope Brandin Cooks learned the playbook over the weekend.Â
With Puka Nacua sidelined again, Davante Adams and Konata Mumpfield led the Rams’ passing attack, while Matthew Stafford threw for 390 yards on SNF. Adams is the Rams’ clear go-to option without Nacua, but Mumpfield is worth monitoring after getting an opportunity in a Rams offense that threw the ball 55 times.
Tight Ends
- Player: Brock Bowers
- Game:Â at New Orleans
- Stats: 10 receptions, 116 yards, 1 TD on 14 targets
The great Bowers returned and immediately reminded everyone why he was drafted as the TE1. He caught 10 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets while posting an impressive 94.7% route participation rate, the best mark by a tight end in a game this season entering Sunday. Bowers was outsnapped by Michael Mayer 61-55, but he was the only Raiders offensive player to sniff double-digit targets. Mayer hauled in his own touchdown to the dismay of Bowers owners. The Raiders ran plenty of two-tight-end sets, which kept Mayer involved, while Bowers continued to dominate the passing-game opportunities.
It should also be noted this matchup produced SIX TDs scored by tight ends: Bowers, Mayer, Saints TE Juwan Johnson (5-53-2) and Noah Fant (4-33-2). If you watched this one, you saw NFL history, folks, as the six tight-end touchdown receptions tied the NFL record for most in a single game.
Notables:
George Kittle is back to normal and the healthiest pass catcher and the best for the Niners. Who would have thought? After playing just 47% of the 49ers’ snaps through the first two games while returning from his Achilles injury, Kittle jumped to an 85.2% snap rate in Week 3. He caught six passes for 82 yards and two touchdowns and should continue to be a focal point while San Francisco’s wide receiver room remains decimated by injuries.
If you’ve been following, I informed you Harold Fannin Jr. would pay dividends, and did he ever! Fannin hauled in 7 passes for 52 yards and two touchdowns against the Panthers. The Browns are clearly trying to get the ball into the hands of Fannin, Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion, who has taken over in 11 personnel ahead of Jerry Jeudy. Fannin has some terrible matchups on paper over the next few weeks, but the Browns are clearly transforming their offense around their young playmakers.
Kenyon Sadiq is lining up to be Fannin for the 2026 season and one of my favorite rookie TE waiver-wire targets, catching seven passes for 105 yards and a touchdown with Mason Taylor out while posting an absurd 32% target rate despite running a route on just 58.1% of pass plays. Outside of Garrett Wilson, who finished as a top-3 WR in Week 3 (10-107-1) and injuries piling up across the Jets’ WR room, there’s plenty of opportunity for Sadiq to become a bigger part of this offense.
Isaiah Likely’s usage is encouraging despite a poor box score in Week 3, as he was on the field for 54 snaps while running 24 routes; both were the most of any pass catcher for the Giants. More importantly, his route participation has climbed to 92.3%. If he continues to see this usage and snap share, bigger fantasy outputs are bound to follow, with Arizona, Washington, and New Orleans coming up.
AJ Barner returned to fantasy relevance with Sam Darnold back under center. His increased usage is encouraging, making him an intriguing buy-low or trade-for target before his production catches up to the opportunity.
Darren Waller should be the biggest beneficiary if Coker were to miss extended time. Waller’s route participation and target rate have increased each week, and the Panthers could have an even greater need for him in the passing game.Â
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What’s up man? Great read. Is it time to dump Maye? I have Purdy. His bye is not till week 8. Is holding Maye that long praying for a turn around nuts? As of now before waivers run guys avail are Cousins, Watson, Gino and Stroud. Not the best but all still better than Maye to this point. Thank you for your time