I hope you enjoyed Week 3 of the NFL! This week was filled with record-breaking offensive performances, an exciting overtime game, upsets that caught us off guard, and expected blowouts. Fantasy football can be both thrilling and merciless, and I’m sure this week was no different. Let’s take a closer look at some of the standout games and what we can expect in Week 4.
Want more data-driven stats and tools to help you win your fantasy league? Check out the Razzball Fantasy Football premium subscriptions for $0.00 upfront with our 3-day free trial!
Broncos at Dolphins
The Miami offense scored 70 points. That’s right, 70 points. We’re living in a Madden simulation. Tua Tagovailoa was the highest-scoring QB in Week 3, going 23/26 for 309 yards and four touchdowns. A pair of Miami RBs were the highest and second-highest-scoring fantasy players. De’Von Archane rushed for 203 yards with two rushing touchdowns and hauled in four catches for 30 yards and two receiving TDs. Raheem Mostert followed up with 82 yards on the ground with three rushing touchdowns and seven receptions for 60 yards and a receiving TD. Let’s not forget Tyreek Hill, who was the third-highest fantasy WR in Week 3, who grabbed nine balls for 157 yards and one TD off 11 targets.
Takeaway:
- The Dolphins are now in the conversation as the new fantasy darlings. However, the Broncos have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to WRs, 11th most to RBs, and 14th most to QBs through two games this season. The Broncos will now face the Bears who are the fifth-worst offensive team in the NFL. The Dolphins offensive will have an actual test in facing the Bills defense who allow 11.7 points per game through three games and the fourth-fewest fantasy points to WRs. If De’Von Archane isn’t roster, he should be for Week 4, but know Jeff Wilson Jr. is set to return.
Colts at Ravens
Zach Moss led the Colts to a 22-19 overtime win over the Ravens with 30 carries and 122 yards with two receipts for 23 yards and one receiving touchdown. Michael Pittman continues to impress whoever his QB is with nine catches for 77 yards off 11 targets, as he ranked fifth in WRs with 23 targets heading into Week 3.
Lamar Jackson fell short in moving his unkindness to 3-0 despite his 202 passing yards and 101 yards rushing with two rushing touchdowns. His rushing totals were impressive, considering the Colts only allowed 22 rushing yards to QBs through two weeks. Zay Flowers continued to dominate targets from Jackson with 10 and ended with eight grabs for a team-high 48 yards. This was surprising as the Colts were allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing WRs.
Takeaway:
- The Colts will host the Rams, who play tonight on Monday Night Football. Through two games, they have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing WRs but are middle of the pack against RBs, so I expect Moss to have all the touches to can handle, depending on the health of Anthony Richardson.
- The Ravens head to Cleveland to face a division foe who boasts one of the best defenses in the NFL. The Browns’ defense has allowed negative-eight yards rushing to opposing QBs through three weeks and the second-fewest fantasy points to WRs through two weeks. Caution to all Ravens shareholders in Week 4.
Chargers at Vikings
This game featured two QBs and two WRs who each finished in the top five in fantasy points scored in their respective positions in Week 3.
Justin Herbert became the second QB this season to throw for over 400 yards, finishing 40/47 with 405 yards and three TDs. Keenan Allen became the first WR in the NFL in the 2023 season to haul in 18 catches off 20 targets, and he is the second WR to record at least 200 yards this season, finishing with 215 yards in the air. Allen also threw a 49-yard-bomb to Mike Williams. Williams left the game with a knee injury after accumulating 121 receiving yards off seven catches and one receiving TD. The Vikings have allowed an opposing WR to go over 100 yards in back-to-back weeks.
Kirk Cousins and the Viks fell short despite throwing for 367 yards and three TDs with one interception. Justin Jefferson had his standard day in the office with seven grabs for 149 receiving yards and one TD off 13 targets. TE T.J. Hockenson couldn’t secure the game-winning TD for the Vikings despite another productive day with 8 catches for 78 yards off 11 targets. Hockenson now leads the NFL with 27 targets for TEs through three weeks. This one shouldn’t be a shocker, as the Chargers allow the most fantasy points to WRs and the second-most points to QBs.
Takeaway:
- The Chargers host the Las Vegas Raiders, who have allowed the 11th most fantasy points to QBs, and their defense has allowed the ninth-most points through three weeks. The Bolts should be able to move the ball, and if Williams does miss time, Joshua Palmer would be the best speculative add after finishing third with seven targets. Their running game is non-existent without Austin Ekeler.
- The Viks will need all the Skol they can get in Week 4 against another winless opponent as they travel to Carolina. The Panthers surprisingly allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to WRs and fifth-fewest fantasy points to QBs through two weeks. However, they faced the Falcons and Saints through Weeks 1-2. In Week 3, the Panthers allowed 37 points to the Seahawks. I have no concerns about the fantasy-friendly Purple Eaters in Week 4.
Falcons at Lions
Jared Goff was 22/33 for 243 passing yards with one passing touchdown and interception while rushing for his first touchdown as a Lion. Jahmyr Gibbs handled the backfield all to himself with 17 carries for 80 yards and only one catch for two yards. Amon-Ra St. Brown’s toe did not limit him in any capacity by turning in nine receptions for 102 yards off 12 targets. He was one of only four Lions’ pass catchers with a reception. Sam LaPorta is firmly entrenched in the TE1 conversation with eight receptions for 84 yards and one TD off 11 targets. However, Atlanta has allowed the fifth most fantasy points to TEs in 2023.
The Falcons had their first negative game script as the offense nearly passed (38 attempts) twice as much as running the ball (20 attempts) for the first time this season. Desmond Ridder attempted 38 passes for only 201 yards, and Kyle Pitts led the passing attack securing five grabs for 41 yards with a season-high nine targets. The Lions are the fourth-friendly defense against TEs, so this can viewed as positive or negative depending on your outlook on Pitts. Bijan Robinson led the backfield with 14 touches (10 rushes and four receptions) for only 50 yards. The Lions entered Week 3, allowing the sixth-fewest rushing yards to RBs.
Takeaway:
- The Lions will travel to Green Bay for a Thursday Night showdown in which the Pack is allowing under 200 passing yards per game and sixth-fewest fantasy points to WRs this season. Green Bay has allowed the second-most receptions to RBs in 2023, so look for Gibbs to be more involved in the passing game in Week 4.
- Atlanta will travel across the pond to London to play the Jaguars next week, who have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to RBs and the seventh-fewest rushing yards to RBs through three games.
Week 3 Notables:
- Adam Thielen went off for 11 receptions for 145 yards and one score. Don’t be fooled. The Seahawks allowed the fourth most points to WRs heading into Week 3 and now allow the second most points on per per-game basis this after Week 3.
- Kenneth Walker III rushed for 97 yards and two TDS with three grabs for 59 yards. The Panthers are the third friendliest defense to RBs this season, and they face the Vikings next week.
- The Chiefs’ offense looked in sync against the third-worst defense in all of the NFL. Patrick Mahomes threw for three TDs, and his favorite target, Travis Kelce, returned to form with seven catches for 69 yards and one TD. Thanks T-Swizzle!
- The Kansas City backfield accounted for 4 TDs against the Bears, who allow the second most points per game to RBs through three weeks. Isiash Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire each rushed 15 times and scored a TD. Jerrick McKinnon caught two TDs from Mahomes. Pacheco is the most trusted out of the three RBs, but it’s going to be a timeshare all season long in Kansas City.
- Davante Adams ended the Sunday games by putting up the second-highest WR score of the day with 13 catches for 172 yards and two TDs off 20 targets. He ranks third overall with 37 targets through three weeks and faces the Charges who allow the most points to WRs this season. Adams should be the unanimous WR1 next week.
Thanks for your time checking out Week 3 takeaways. While you’re here, check out more fantasy goodness at Razzball. Follow me on Twitter/X @Jefferson__21.
If I didn’t mention your favorite team or players, don’t be shy and leave some comments or questions! I am here to answer any questions you may have. Cheers!
