Fantasy Football Week 3 Wide Receiver Rankings

The 2021-22 NFL season has already been extremely entertaining. It has shown fantasy trends that have started to develop and show what could happen the rest of the season. Already some players have proven to be fantasy relevant while some fantasy stars have been alarmingly disappointing to this point. Injuries have started to mount up this season. It is always a great idea to evaluate backup options so that way fantasy managers are prepared if star players miss time. Here are the Week 3 fantasy football wide receiver rankings.

*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to reserve/COVID-19 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)

Key:

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 isn’t likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between WR1 and WR2 category.

Starting WR2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started is 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 causes 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.

Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday

WR3 DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopins didn’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday because of a rib injury. His status on Friday will give a clearer picture of if he’ll play Sunday against the Jaguars. If he was to miss this matchup the Cardinals other three receivers would see a huge boost. Any of the three could be Arizona’s number one receiver in a great matchup. Rondale Moore would boost up to WR22 between D.J. Moore and Sterling Shepard. A.J. Green would likely run more of Hopkins’ routes for the offense. He would become WR39 between JuJu Smith-Schuster and Michael Pittman Jr. Then Christian Kirk would be the WR46 between Corey Davis and Emmanuel Sanders.

WR14 Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys

At the end of the Cowboys’ game last week against the Chargers Amari Cooper suffered a rib injury. His injury is being called a bruised rib. His status for the game against the Eagles will come down to whether he is comfortable enough to deal with the pain of the injury. He was limited in practice on Thursday which is a good sign. It works in the Cowboys favor that they don’t play till Monday. Dallas hopes that he will feel better by then. If Cooper is inactive CeeDee Lamb moves up to WR8 between Stefon Diggs and D.K. Metcalf. While Cedrick Wilson jumps all the way up to WR64 between Darnell Mooney and Amon-Ra St.Brown.

Pittsburgh Steelers Wide Receivers: WR15 Diontae Johnson, WR36 Chase Claypool, & WR39 JuJu Smith-Schuster

There is a lot going on in Pittsburgh right now. Diontae Johnson suffered a knee injury on the last play of the game last week against the Raiders. Also quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is dealing with a pectoral injury. If Johnson were to miss this game, but Roethlisberger is active Chase Claypool would move up to WR31 between DeVonta Smith and Tee Higgins. In that same scenario JuJu Smith-Schuster would move up to WR33 between Tee Higgins and Antonio Brown. James Washington would also been a desperation flex play or sleeper in DFS lineups this week.

If Roethlisberger is inactive but Johnson is active all the Steelers receivers drop in the rankings. Johnson would drop to WR28 between Marvin Jones Jr. and Brandin Cooks. Claypool drops to WR43 betwen K.J. Osborn and D.J. Chark. Smith-Schuster would drop all the way to WR49 between Zach Pascal and Brandon Aiyuk. James

The rankings changes as well if both Roethlisberger and Johnson are inactive agains the Bengals. Chase Claypool drops to WR39 between Robby Anderson and Michael Pittman Jr. While Smith-Schuster drops to WR52 between Jaylen Waddle and Henry Ruggs.

Baltimore Ravens Wide Receivers: WR20 Marquise “Hollywood” Brown & WR48 Sammy Watkins

Marquise “Hollywood” Brown missed practice Thursday because of an ankle issue. He would be another additon to the longest injury list in the league. Due to the amount of injuries Baltimore has suffered they may decide to rest Brown to ensure he’s healthy. If that is the case Sammy Watkins would jump up to WR37 between Rondale Moore and Robby Anderson. Devin Duvernay would become WR72 between K.J. Hamler and Elijah Moore.

On top of that Lamar Jackson is dealing with a hip injury and illness. If Jackson misses Sundays game Brown goes down to WR38 between Robby Anderson and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Watkins would drop to WR64 between Darnell Mooney and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

If both Jackson and Brown are out this weekend Watkins would be WR47 between Corey Davis and Emmanuel Sanders.

Denver Broncos Wide Receivers: WR21 Courtland Sutton & WR55 Tim Patrick

Both of the Denver Broncos’ top receivers are dealing with hip injuries. If Courtland Sutton misses Sundays game against the Jets Tim Patrick would jump up to WR38 between Robby Andeson and JuJu Smith-Schuster. K.J. Hamler would boost up to WR57 between Laviska Shenault Jr. and Will Fuller V.

If just Patrick is inactive Sutton stays at WR21 and Hamler would boost up to WR45 between D.J. Chark and Hunter Renfrow. If both receivers are inactive Hamler jumps up to WR40 between Michael Pittman Jr. and Tyler Boyd.

WR32 Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins missed practice Wednesday with a shoulder injury. If he was to miss this week against the Steelers, Ja’Marr Chase would bump up to WR25 between Chris Godwin and Allen Robinson. While Tyler Boyd would become WR32 between DeVonta Smith and Antonio Brown. Auden Tate would likely be the Bengals receiver who replaces him on three receiver sets.

WR33 Antonio Brown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Earlier this week Antonio Brown was put on the reserve/COVID-19 list. That would be a solid blow to the Buccaneers offense. Tampa Bay has a lot of offensive firepower so they should be able to manage. If Brown misses the game against the Los Angeles Rams Chris Godwin and Mike Evans likely retain their value. In a tough matchup they are just as likely break out as they are to bust especially with Brown out.

WR35 Kenny Golladay, New York Giants

Kenny Golladay is dealing with a hip issue that limited him in practice Wednesday. The good news is that it is not the same hip that held Golladay out of games last season. If Golladay were to miss this game Sterling Shepard would boost up to WR19 between Robert Woods and Mike Williams. Darius Slayton would become WR42 between Tyler Boyd and Jalen Reagor. Kadarius Toney becomes an upside play this week slotting in at WR72 between K.J. Hamler and Elijah Moore.

WR49 Zach Pascal, Indianapolis Colts

Throughout the first two weeks it seems that Zach Pascal has emerged as the Colts number two receiver. He missed practice Wednesday, but was able to participate in Thurdsdays practice. If Pascal misses Pittman Jr. is the firm wide receiver one in this offense and Jack Doyle may be second on the team in targets.

WR58 Will Fuller V, Miami Dolphins

New Dolphins wide receviver Will Fuller missed his debut due to a suspension and then Week 2 due to a personal issue. He seems on pace to play this week. But if he was to miss this week DeVante Parker would take his spot as the WR58 between Laviska Shenault Jr. and Jakobi Meyers.

WR80 Jamison Crowder, New York Jets

Jets wide receiver Jamison Crowder missed the first two weeks due to COVID-19 and a groin injury. If he was to miss this week Braxton Berrios would continue to resume the outlet receiver in the middle of the field role. Berrios would boost up to WR69 between Christian Kirk and Nelsoh Agholor.

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