That was more like it. There were plenty of big performances in Week 3 so far, with numbers that really reflected big numbers, and they aren’t listed here only because someone had to be at the top of the list.
Fantasy football stats: The best of Week 3
There were some truly big performances in fantasy in Week 3, particularly in that Philadelphia-Washington game. We break it down.
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No, the best players of Week 3 were the best because they actually put up big numbers. That is, except for tight ends. But oh well, they can’t all be winners.
Best quarterbacks in Week 3
Andrew Luck, IND (370 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, 15 rushing yards, 31 fantasy points)
Man, playing Jacksonville sure seems to be the cure for what ails ya. Luck faced criticism all week after some late struggles Monday night, but this was a big return to form. His passer rating was 140.4. Completion percentage of 79. Nine different receivers with multiple catches. Touchdowns to four of them. There's no way to look at Luck's day Sunday and not tell yourself, "I wanna play against the Jaguars."
Next game: The Colts host the Tennessee Titans in Week 4, which are also Not The Jaguars. The Titans have held opposing quarterbacks relatively in check so far, but still, even Luck's "bad" game was good for 18 fantasy points, and he's scored 74 in three games. He's fine.
Kirk Cousins, WAS (427 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception, 5 rushing yards, 27 fantasy points)
Rarely have I been as wrong as I was on Cousins for Week 3. I didn’t have him ranked anywhere in my top 25, as I watched his games last year and saw a bad quarterback. Whatever has changed, though, was significant, as Cousins looked really good Sunday. He was helped by a bad Philadelphia defense, to be sure, but if Cousins can continue playing like he did Sunday, there aren’t many defenses that are going to really hold him in check.
Next game: Washington hosts the New York Giants Thursday on a short week. I'm not 100-percent convinced Cousins is going to be the next big thing, like he looked Thursday, but he's certainly established himself. One thing's for sure: He'll be in my top 25.
Nick Foles, PHI (325 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, 12 rushing yards, 26 fantasy points)
As often happens, one quarterback producing big numbers leads to his counterpart doing the same, with games reaching shootout status. Washington-Philadelphia Sunday was a prime example of that, with both teams staying within 10 points of one another the entire game. It was the best game of Foles’ season, and one that he needed after some rough performances in Weeks 1 and 2.
Next game: The Eagles travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers Sunday afternoon. After shutting down Tony Romo in Week 1, the 49ers have allowed decent performances to Jay Cutler and even Drew Stanton the last two weeks. The defense isn't its normally daunting self. Foles will be OK.
Best running backs in Week 3
Marshawn Lynch, SEA (88 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 40 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 24 fantasy points)
This marks Lynch’s second time atop the running back leaderboard in three weeks, and his second 24-point fantasy day. He’s had at least 11 fantasy points all three games. Basically, every worry about Lynch from the preseason is gone, in a big way. Sunday’s game was already good even before overtime, when Lynch scored the game-winning touchdown on a 6-yard run. Lots of superlatives coming his way.
Next game: After a Week 4 bye, Seattle gets an extra day off, travel to Washington for a Monday night game. Washington shut down LeSean McCoy Sunday, but what are you gonna do, bench Lynch?
Rashad Jennings, NYG (176 rushing yards, 1 touchdown, 23 fantasy points)
Thirty-four carries. That’s a huge number for a running back who was never known for his health even before he was a full-time starter, and it’s not a number Jennings’ fantasy owners really want to continue. That said, Jennings has been really productive as the new starter for the New York Giants. His 176 yards came on a 5.2 yards-per-carry average, and he never had a run of longer than 18 yards, meaning he was consistently productive throughout the game.
Next game: The Giants travel to Washington for a Thursday night game on a short week. As noted only a few inches above this, Washington just shut down McCoy. Jennings is firmly an RB2, and if he can do this again, he’ll be inching toward RB1 status.
Joe McKnight, KC (3 rushing yards, 64 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns, 18 fantasy points)
Well, this is the biggest #hesstillintheleague? moment of the season so far, and it's not even close. I had to go back and make sure that was the same Joe McKnight when I saw his numbers. Dude didn't even play last year, but Jamaal Charles' injury and the ineffectiveness of some of the Chiefs' other skill players meant that McKnight was the most-targeted pass-catcher on Kansas City, taking over Charles' role in the team's receiving game.
Next game: I mean ... I'm happy for McKnight that he had this game, but there's no possible way to expect him to do anything like it next Monday night, when the Chiefs host the New England Patriots, especially if Charles comes back.
Best wide receivers in Week 3
Julio Jones, ATL (161 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns, 28 fantasy points)
With Roddy White injured and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers being horrible, Jones was able to go wild Thursday night. He likely could have done even more if there had been any need, but his second touchdown made the score 42-0, so they were probably in good shape. After two good-but-unspectacular games to start the season, Jones proved why he is a top-five receiver as long as he's healthy. And with no whispers about any lingering health issues, things are looking good.
Next game: Atlanta travels to Minnesota for a Sunday afternoon game against the Vikings. I don't see any reason why Jones should be started with excitement everywhere.
Jeremy Maclin, PHI (154 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 21 fantasy points)
Just like Jones, the only real question about Maclin entering the season was health; he was (is) obviously the best receiving weapon on a team that stood to score a lot of points, which is all you ever really want. Through three games, Maclin has put up 46 fantasy points, with at least 10 in each game. He looks strong, and it makes the team's willingness to part ways with DeSean Jackson in the offseason look at least a little better in hindsight.
Next game: Philadelphia plays the 49ers in San Francisco Sunday afternoon. Maclin has entered must-start status at this point.
Antonio Brown, PIT (90 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns, 21 fantasy points)
This was a strong list of receivers performing well at the position this week. All three have been productive so far -- Jones has 51 fantasy points through three games, Maclin 46, Brown 48. There’s a lot of consistency at the top of the heap, and Brown is there too.
Next game: Brown and the Steelers host the Buccaneers next week. There's no reason to think he'll stop doing what he's doing.
Best tight ends in Week 3
Greg Olsen, CAR (69 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 12 fantasy points)
Olsen has been very consistent through three games -- he and Julius Thomas are the only tight ends with at least seven fantasy points through all three games this season. With much of the position struggling to put up big numbers this week, Olsen's numbers have been nice.
Dwayne Allen, IND (49 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 10 fantasy points)
Coby Fleener, IND (43 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 10 fantasy points)
Rob Gronkowski, NE (44 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 10 fantasy points)
Andrew Quarless, GB (43 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 10 fantasy points)
Well, that was unspectacular. No tight end had a truly big game in Week 3, with the above four tying for the week-high entering Monday night. Gronkowski is the big name there, and Allen has been ranked in the early teens among tight ends, while Fleener and (especially) Quarless have been fantasy afterthoughts so far this season. Still, they each did basically the same thing Sunday.
Next game: Some tight end will probably put up more than 10 fantasy points. Please? That was unexciting.
Best kicker in Week 3
Adam Vinatieri, IND (3/3 FG, 5/5 XP, 16 fantasy points)
You always love when the old guys have the big moments, and it doesn’t get any older than Vinatieri, who at 41 is the oldest player in the NFL, and he hasn’t missed a kick yet this season. Good times.
Best defense/special teams in Week 3
Atlanta Falcons (14 points allowed, 1 interception, 4 fumbles recovered, 2 touchdowns, 3 sacks, 28 fantasy points)
There's not much to say about this game at this point. Atlanta rolled over Tampa Bay with extreme ease, forcing starting running back into two fumbles, knocking starting quarterback Josh McCown out of the game and forcing five turnovers. It's as convincing a defensive performance as we've seen in a while.
