The 2024-25 NFL season has begun which means fantasy football is back! The fantasy landscape has already changed since the preseason due to breakout players and major injuries across the league. This makes it the appropriate time of year to begin deferring from some of the players originally drafted to be starters and play some of the players that have overperformed this season as opposed to performing at their preseason expectation. Since every week is important it would be irresponsible to start a player with a rough matchup over a player with a more favorable one that is ranked or projected to perform similarly. Here are fantasy football Week 3 wide receiver rankings.
[Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to Injured Reserve List]
[Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week]
Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.
Starting WR1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.
High WR2- a player who may not be likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between WR1 and WR2 territory.
Starting WR2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started because of their consistency and moderately high floor
Low WR2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.
Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and cause a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.
Deeper League Flex- a player who has starting value in deeper leagues. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.
Upside Player- a player who is boom or bust. This player can exceed expectations in a given week or could flop and be the reason why someone lost their fantasy matchup.
Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.
| Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
| Must Start | Justin Jefferson* | vs Houston Texans | WR1 |
| Must Start | CeeDee Lamb* | vs Baltimore Ravens | WR2 |
| Starting WR1 | Amon-Ra St. Brown | vs Arizona Cardinals | WR3 |
| Starting WR1 | Ja’Marr Chase | vs Washington Commanders | WR4 |
| Starting WR1 | Tyreek Hill | vs Seattle Seahawks | WR5 |
| Starting WR1 | Rashee Rice | vs Atlanta Falcons | WR6 |
| Starting WR1 | Nico Collins* | vs Minnesota Vikings | WR7 |
| High WR2 | DeVonta Smith | vs New Orleans Saints | WR8 |
| High WR2 | Davante Adams | vs Carolina Panthers | WR9 |
| High WR2 | Chris Godwin | vs Denver Broncos | WR10 |
| High WR2 | Garrett Wilson | vs New England Patriots | WR11 |
| High WR2 | Chris Olave | vs Philadelphia Eagles | WR12 |
| High WR2 | Brandon Aiyuk | vs Los Angeles Rams | WR13 |
| High WR2 | Marvin Harrison Jr. | vs Detroit Lions | WR14 |
| High WR2 | Zay Flowers | vs Dallas Cowboys | WR15 |
| Starting WR2 | D.J. Moore | vs Indianapolis Colts | WR16 |
| Starting WR2 | D.K. Metcalf* | vs Miami Dolphins | WR17 |
| Starting WR2 | Malik Nabers | vs Cleveland Browns | WR18 |
| Starting WR2 | Jameson Williams | vs Arizona Cardinals | WR19 |
| Starting WR2 | Drake London | vs Kansas City Chiefs | WR20 |
| Starting WR2 | Stefon Diggs | vs Minnesota Vikings | WR21 |
| Starting WR2 | Mike Evans | vs Denver Broncos | WR22 |
| Starting WR2 | Calvin Ridley | vs Green Bay Packers | WR23 |
| Low WR2 | Michael Pittman Jr. | vs Chicago Bears | WR24 |
| Low WR2 | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | vs Miami Dolphins | WR25 |
| Low WR2 | Keenan Allen* | vs Indianapolis Colts | WR26 |
| Low WR2 | Jaylen Waddle | vs Seattle Seahawks | WR27 |
| Flex | Tee Higgins* | vs Washington Commanders | WR28 |
| Flex | Diontae Johnson | vs Las Vegas Raiders | WR29 |
| Flex | Amari Cooper | vs New York Giants | WR30 |
| Flex | Rashid Shaheed | vs Philadelphia Eagles | WR31 |
| Flex | Jauan Jennings | vs Los Angeles Rams | WR32 |
| Flex | George Pickens | vs Los Angeles Chargers | WR33 |
| Flex | Xaiver Worthy | vs Atlanta Falcons | WR34 |
| Flex | Jerry Jeudy | vs New York Giants | WR35 |
| Flex | Brian Thomas Jr. | vs Buffalo Bills | WR36 |
| Deep League Flex | Khalil Shakir | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | WR37 |
| Deep League Flex | Demarcus Robinson | vs San Francisco 49ers | WR38 |
| Deep League Flex | Gabe Davis | vs Buffalo Bills | WR39 |
| Deep League Flex | Ladd McConkey | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | WR40 |
| Deep League Flex | Tank Dell | vs Minnesota Vikings | WR41 |
| Deep League Flex | Christian Kirk | vs Buffalo Bills | WR42 |
| Deep League Flex | Quinton Johnston | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | WR43 |
| Deep League Flex | Courtland Sutton | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | WR44 |
| Deep League Flex | Terry McLaurin | vs Cincinnati Bengals | WR45 |
| Upside Play | Rome Odunze* | vs Indianapolis Colts | WR46 |
| Upside Play | Darnell Mooney | vs Kansas City Chiefs | WR47 |
| Upside Play | Jordan Addison* | vs Houston Texans | WR48 |
| Upside Play | Tyler Johnson | vs San Francisco 49ers | WR49 |
| Upside Play | Jayden Reed* | vs Tennessee Titans | WR50 |
| Upside Play | Keon Coleman | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | WR51 |
| Upside Play | Wan’Dale Robinson | vs Cleveland Browns | WR52 |
| Upside Play | Tyler Lockett* | vs Miami Dolphins | WR53 |
| Upside Play | Josh Reynolds* | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | WR54 |
| Upside Play | DeAndre Hopkins | vs Green Bay Packers | WR55 |
| Upside Play | Brandin Cooks | vs Baltimore Ravens | WR56 |
| Upside Play | Jakobi Meyers | vs Carolina Panthers | WR57 |
| Upside Play | Adam Thielen | vs Las Vegas Raiders | WR58 |
| Upside Play | Elijah Moore | vs New York Giants | WR59 |
| Upside Play | Andrei Iosivas | Washington Commanders | WR60 |
| Upside Play | Michael Wilson | vs Detroit Lions | WR61 |
| Upside Play | Jalen Tolbert | vs Baltimore Ravens | WR62 |
| Upside Play | Ray-Ray McCloud | vs Kansas City Chiefs | WR63 |
| Upside Play | Greg Dortch | vs Detroit Lions | WR64 |
| Upside Play | Alec Pierce | vs Chicago Bears | WR65 |
| Upside Play | Josh Palmer* | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | WR66 |
| Upside Play | Xavier Legette | vs Las Vegas Raiders | WR67 |
| Upside Play | Allen Lazard | vs New England Patriots | WR68 |
| Upside Play | Jordan Whittington | vs San Francisco 49ers | WR69 |
| Upside Play | Ja’Lynn Polk | vs New York Jets | WR70 |
| Upside Play | Mike Williams | vs New England Patriots | WR71 |
| Upside Play | Josh Downs* | vs Chicago Bears | WR72 |
| Leave on the Bench | Romeo Doubs | vs Tennessee Titans | WR73 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tyler Boyd | vs Green Bay Packers | WR74 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jalen McMillan | vs Denver Broncos | WR75 |
| Leave on the Bench | Demario “Pop” Douglas | vs New York Jets | WR76 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jalen Nailor | vs Houston Texans | WR77 |
| Leave on the Bench | Devaughn Vele* | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | WR78 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tutu Atwell | vs San Francisco 49ers | WR79 |
| Leave on the Bench | Christian Watson | vs Tennessee Titans | WR80 |
| Leave on the Bench | Darius Slayton | vs Cleveland Browns | WR81 |
| Leave on the Bench | Rashod Bateman | vs Dallas Cowboys | WR82 |
| Leave on the Bench | Britain Covey | vs New Orleans Saints | WR83 |
| Leave on the Bench | K.J. Osborn | vs New York Jets | WR84 |
| Leave on the Bench | Curtis Samuel | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | WR85 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jahan Dotson | vs New Orleans Saints | WR86 |
| Leave on the Bench | Dontayvion Wicks | vs Tennessee Titans | WR87 |
| Leave on the Bench | Adonai Mitchell | vs Chicago Bears | WR88 |
| Leave on the Bench | Luke McCaffrey | vs Cincinnati Bengals | WR89 |
| Leave on the Bench | Mack Hollins | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | WR90 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jonathan Mingo | vs Las Vegas Raiders | WR91 |
Minnesota Vikings Wie Receivers: WR1 Justin Jefferson & WR48 Jordan Addison
Justin Jefferson suffered a quad injury last week against the San Francisco 49ers. He was limited in practice on Wednesday because of the injury. Jordan Addison missed last week’s game against the San Francisco 49ers. He also missed practice on Wednesday with the injury. If both Jefferson and Addison miss Week 3 against the Houston Texans Jalen Nailor becomes WR38 between Demarcus Robinson and Gabe Davis.
If Addison is active and Jefferson is inactive in Week 3 against the Houston Texans Addison becomes the WR26 between Keenan Allen and Jaylen Waddle. Jalen Nailor becomes WR54 between Josh Reynolds and DeAndre Hopkins.
If Jefferson is active and Addison is inactive in Week 3 against the Houston Texans Jalen Nailor becomes WR54 between Josh Reynolds and DeAndre Hopkins.
WR2 CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
CeeDee Lamb missed practice on Wednesday with an ankle injury. It is unclear whether this injury could affect Lamb’s status for this week. If Lamb misses Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens Brandin Cooks moves up to WR37 between Khalil Shakir and Brian Thomas Jr. Jalen Tolbert moves up to WR49 between Jordan Addison and Tyler Johnson.
WR7 Nico Collins, Houston Texans
Nico Collins missed practice on Wednesday with hip and foot injuries. It is unclear if these injuries will hold Collins out of this week’s game. If Collins misses Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings Stefon Diggs moves up to WR8 between DeVonta Smith and Davante Adams. Tank Dell moves up to WR23 between Calvin Ridley and Michael Pittman Jr.
Seattle Seahawks Wide Recevers: WR17 D.K. Metcalf & WR53 Tyler Lockett
D.K. Metcalf missed practice on Wednesday with a hand injury. Tyler Lockett was limited in practice on Wednesday with a thigh injury. If both Metcalf and Lockett miss Week 3 against the Miami Dolphins Jaxon Smith-Njigba moves up to WR20 between Drake London and Stefon Diggs. Jake Bobo becomes WR65 between Alec Pierce and Josh Palmer.
If Lockett plays in Week 3 against the Miami Dolphins and Metcalf is inactive, Smith-Njigba moves up to WR21 between Stefon Diggs and Mike Evans. Tyler Lockett moves up to WR46 between Rome Odunze and Darnell Mooney.
If Metcalf plays in Week 3 against the Miami Dolphins and Lockett is inactive, Smith-Njigba remains WR25 between Michael Pittman Jr. and Keenan Allen.
Chicago Bears Wide Receivers: WR26 Keenan Allen & WR46 Rome Odunze
Keenan Allen missed last week’s game against the Houston Texans with a heel injury. Rome Odunze was limited in practice on Wednesday with a knee injury. If both Allen and Odunze miss Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts D.J. Moore moves up to WR12 between Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave.
If Allen misses Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts and Odunze is active Odunze moves up to WR39 between Gabe Davis and Ladd McConkey.
If Odunze misses Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts and Allen is active Allen remains WR26 between Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Jaylen Waddle.
WR28 Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
Tee Higgins missed the first two games of the season with hamstring injury. There is a chance that Higgins returns this week. If Higgins misses Week 3 against the Washington Commanders Andrei Iosivas moves up to WR50 between Jayden Reed and Keon Coleman.
WR50 Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers
Jayden Reed missed practice on Wednesday with a calf injury. He dealt with that injury late last week before the game against the Colts. If Reed misses Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, and Dontayvion Wicks are expected to have slightly increased roles in an offense that is expected to be run-heavy while Jordan Love is out.
Denver Broncos Wide Receivers WR54 Josh Reynolds & WR78 Devaughn Vele
Josh Reynolds was limited in practice on Wednesday with an Achillies injury. Devaughn Vele missed last week’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a rib injury. Vele was limited in practice on Wednesday because of the injury. If both Reynolds and Vele miss Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Marvin Mims Jr. becomes WR77 between Jalen Nailor and Tutu Atwell.
If Vele is active this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Reynolds is inactive Vele moves up to WR70 between Ja’Lynn Polk and Mike Williams.
If Reynolds is active this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Vele is inactive Reynolds remains WR54 between Tyler Lockett and DeAndre Hopkins.
WR66 Josh Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers
Josh Palmer missed practice on Wednesday with an elbow and calf injury. He has been dealing with a couple of injuries since the beginning of the season. If Palmer misses Week 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers Ladd McConkey remains WR40 between Gabe Davis and Tank Dell. Quinton Johnston remains WR43 between Christian Kirk and Courtland Sutton.
Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
Deebo Samuel is listed as doubtful for this upcoming week after straining his calf against the Minnesota VIkings last week. This injury should hold Samuel out for a couple of games. While Samuel is out Brandon Aiyuk is expected to be the team’s leading receiver. Jauan Jennings is immediately expected to be the team’s number two receiver. Ricky Pearsall could have a role on this offense if he returns before Samuel.
A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
It was announced prior to Phialdelphia’s game this past week that A.J. Brown is expected to miss the next few weeks with a hamstring injury. DeVonta Smith is expected to have a massive role for this offense while Brown is out. Following Smith Britain Covey, Jahan Dotson, and Johnny Wilson are expected to have roles for the Eagles offense.
Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
Cooper Kupp is expected to miss extended time with an ankle injury that was suffered last week. It was promising that Kupp was not placed on Injured Reserve. While Kupp and Puka Nacua are out Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson are expected to be the team’s primary pass catchers. Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell should have roles for this offense aswell.
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Kansas City Chiefs
After potentially making his return this past week from a shoulder injury Marquise “Hollywood” Brown was placed on Injured Reserve ending his regular season. Brown is not expected to play until atleast mid-January. Kansas City’s primary receivers should continue to be Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy for the rest of the regular season.
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