Week 3 of the 2020 NFL season is in the books. For players on all 32 teams, Tuesday morning means a whole new week of football and preparing for their next game. However, a handful of players might not want to leave Week 3 so soon. Here’s a look at who impressed and who underachieved this week.
Quarterback
Winner: Patrick Mahomes (40.0 FPTS)
Patrick Mahomes dazzled on Monday night, knocking off the Ravens in Baltimore. The Chiefs themselves improved to 3-0 under the wizardry of Mahomes, who accumulated an impressive line of 31 completions for 385 yards and four touchdowns through the air while also adding a rushing touchdown against one of the league’s best defenses. The Chiefs cemented themselves as the best team in the AFC on Monday, and Patrick Mahomes was the main reason why.
Loser: Dwayne Haskins Jr. (9.2 FPTS)
Dwayne Haskins struggled significantly against the Browns, completing just 21 of 34 passes for 227 yards. His two touchdowns were impressive as he kept the Washington Football Team in the game for quite some time, but he also took them out of the game with three interceptions. Washington fell to 1-2 and Ron Rivera said that while he’s not ready to bench Haskins yet, he might have to draw the line somewhere. That’s not exactly a boost of confidence for a young prospect whose backup option is a 36-year-old who hasn’t played in a game in almost two years.
Running Back
Winner: Alvin Kamara (44.7 FPTS)
Rex Burkhead and James Robinson were each a winner this week, but Kamara was the winner. Although New Orleans lost, their running back rushed six times for 58 yards while adding a whopping 139 yards on 13 receptions. Kamara also found the end zone twice. While Latavius Murray tied for the team lead in rushing (12 carries, 58 yards), Kamara further improved on his dual-threat ability, serving as Drew Brees‘s favorite weapon with Michael Thomas out.
Loser: Joshua Kelley (5.2 FPTS)
Kelley was expected to complement Austin Ekeler and finish as one of the top running backs this week in a matchup against the Carolina Panthers, who have the league’s worst run defense. Instead, Kelley saw just 10 total touches (rushes and receptions) for 52 yards, failing to find the end zone. It was no secret that Ekeler was still the No. 1 back in Los Angeles, but Kelley’s disappointing finish on Sunday could move him much further down many fantasy rankings.
Wide Receiver
Winner: Justin Jefferson (30.5 FPTS)
Rookie wideout Justin Jefferson went crazy on Sunday against Tennessee, hauling in seven of nine targets for 175 yards and one touchdown. He accounted for 69.7 percent of Minnesota’s receiving yards and 36.7 percent of their total offense. The big-play threat emerged as a top weapon in the Vikings’ Week 3 offense, serving as one of the lone bright spots for Minnesota in their 31-30 loss to the Titans at home.
Loser: Julian Edelman (4.2 FPTS)
In a Patriots offense that revolves around inconsistency and switching up the game plan, it’s impossible to be mad at Julian Edelman, who finished with just two catches (six targets) for 23 yards. Still, it’s understandably frustrating to see Edelman put up the numbers that he did in a game in which the Patriots scored 36 points in a clear offensive victory. Instead of Edelman, Rex Burkhead led the way with 98 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns. To be fair, though, Newton completed just 17 passes for 162 yards, so once again, the blame can’t solely be placed on Edelman.
Tight End
Winner: Jimmy Graham (24.0 FPTS)
Jimmy Graham boasted his usual boom-or-bust attitude on Sunday as he caught six of 10 targets for 60 yards and two touchdowns. One of Graham’s scores came from Mitchell Trubisky while the other was delivered by Nick Foles, who is set to make his first start of the season next week. Graham finished behind Allen Robinson as Chicago’s No. 2 receiving threat in the victory as the Bears came from behind to defeat the Atlanta Falcons, 30-26.
Loser: Mark Andrews (5.2 FPTS)
Mark Andrews’s struggles continued for a second straight week. After catching just one pass for 29 yards in Week 2, he finished Week 3 against Kansas City with three catches for 22 yards. Lamar Jackson targeted Andrews eight times in the loss but the duo connected just thrice, signaling yet another disappointing fantasy finish for a tight end who is still regarded as one of the best in the league. It’s far too early to lose faith in Andrews, but these past two weeks have proven that he has not yet reached the tier of Travis Kelce, who produces impressive fantasy lines week in and week out.
Defense
Winner: Patriots D/ST (13.0 FPTS)
The Patriots did an incredible job hampering a Las Vegas Raiders offense that entered with a clear mission after winning their first two games, including a Week 2 upset of the Saints. The Patriots forced and recovered three fumbles, with a scoop-and-score from Deatrich Wise among them. While the Patriots failed to intercept a pass, their touchdown and three turnovers coupled with their ability to restrict Las Vegas in the red zone led them to an impressive fantasy showing on Sunday.
Loser: Falcons D/ST (2.0 FPTS)
The Falcons blew another lead, this time surrendering 30 points to the Chicago Bears. Atlanta fell to 0-3 with this loss in which they allowed four touchdowns. The Falcons did finish with two receptions and forced two fumbles, though both were pounced on by Chicago. Despite the somewhat successful turnover rate, the Falcons couldn’t figure out the Bears’ offense, especially late in the game, leading to their third loss of the year.
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