Week 3 of the 2021 NFL season is in the books. For the majority of the league, Tuesday morning brings 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.
All point totals are based on PPR scoring.
Quarterback
Winner: Josh Allen (45.22 FPTS)
Josh Allen returned to his 2020 form in Week 3, completing 32 passes for 358 yards and four scores through the air. He also rushed for a touchdown, giving him a total of five in the contest. He has once again asserted himself as a top-five quarterback in fantasy and should be started every week regardless of matchup.
Loser: Justin Fields (3.92 FPTS)
Fields struggled during his first NFL start, going 6-for-20 with just 68 yards through the air. While he didn’t turn the ball over, he was sacked a whopping nine times in the effort. Matt Nagy remains noncommittal in regards to who starts under center at Week 4, mentioning Fields, Andy Dalton (knee), and Nick Foles as possible options. There is little evidence suggesting Fields will have fantasy relevance in the coming weeks.
Running Back
Winner: Najee Harris (28.2 FPTS)
Harris had a very strong Week 3 showing, though it came in a unique way. While he rushed just 14 times for 40 yards, he saw a whopping 19 targets through the air. He was able to haul in 14 of these passes for an additional 102 yards. This gave him astronomical value in PPR leagues en route to finishing as the RB1.
Loser: Ty’Son Williams (2.2 FPTS)
Week 3 was one to forget for Williams, who started the season strong after injuries to J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill. While many expected Williams to run all over the Lions, Detroit kept the game close and the Ravens did not rely on a heavy dose of the second-year back. In fact, he logged just five carries for 22 yards in the effort. His fantasy stock is dropping as a Week 4 clash with the Broncos approaches.
Wide Receiver
Winner: Mike Williams (33.2 FPTS)
Quite simply, Williams was dominant en route to finish as the WR1 in Week 3. When all was said and done, he came away with seven catches for 122 yards, one touchdown, and a win over the Chiefs. He is now averaging 10 targets, seven catches, 98 yards, and 1.3 touchdowns per game. As one of the better No. 2 wide receivers in football, Williams has proven himself as a high-end WR3 option on a weekly basis.
Loser: DeAndre Hopkins (5.1 FPTS)
After catching three touchdowns over the first two weeks, Hopkins quieted down on Sunday, hauling in just three passes for 21 yards. The star wideout was unable to capitalize on an incredibly favorable matchup against the Jaguars, which likely hurt many fantasy managers. You should still feel comfortable starting him as your top receiver, though a Week 4 clash against the Rams’ Jalen Ramsey-led secondary could spell trouble.
Tight End
Winner: Tyler Conklin (20.0 FPTS)
Conklin impressed in Week 3, catching seven passes for 70 yards and a touchdown while finishing as the TE1 overall. While his volume was likely aided by Dalvin Cook‘s absence, that does not take away from his big showing. He falls into the top-24 category for tight ends, giving him some fantasy relevance going forward. His workload could remain fairly large during what will likely be a pass-heavy attack against the Browns in Week 4.
Loser: T.J. Hockenson (3.0 FPTS)
Hockenson was a letdown as he caught just two passes for 10 yards against the Ravens. Despite the Lions playing from behind for most of the game, Hockenson did not get super involved in Detroit’s passing attack. His showing on Sunday represented significant regression after he posted 16 catches, 163 yards, and two touchdowns over the first two weeks. He’s still a top-four tight end who should be started every week.
Defense
Winner: New Orleans Saints (19.0 FPTS)
The Saints led all defenses in fantasy scoring this week thanks to two sacks, three interceptions, and one touchdown. A pair of dominant outings against the Packers and Patriots has given this unit relevance. They should be rostered in most leagues as they take on the Giants next week.
Loser: Washington Football Team (-8.0 FPTS)
Washington’s defense was being drafted as a top-five unit in fantasy. However, they have now allowed 92 points over just three weeks, including 43 to the Bills on Sunday. They also allowed 481 yards and were unable to force a turnover in Week 3. They are still worth starting against the Falcons heading into next week, but expectations should be tempered.
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