Week 3 of the NFL season delivered a new wave of fantasy football heroes and villains. While some perennial stars continued their elite production, a number of unexpected performances from lesser-known players may have single-handedly won you your matchup.
From quarterbacks lighting up the scoreboard to breakout running backs and explosive wide receivers, here is a game-by-game look at the top fantasy performers of Week 3.
Buffalo Bills 31, Miami Dolphins 21: Josh Allen had a stellar day passing, completing 22 of 28 attempts for 213 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. On the ground, James Cook led all rushers with 108 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Dalton Kincaid was the leading receiver, hauling in five passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. Other notable contributors include Khalil Shakir, who also caught a touchdown pass, and Elijah Moore, who had a 30-yard reception. The Miami Dolphins’ offensive attack was led by a trio of top performers: running back De’Von Achane and wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Achane was a dual-threat, leading the team in rushing with 62 yards on 12 carries while also being the most active receiver with seven catches for 29 yards. In the passing game, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s two touchdown passes were caught by Hill and Waddle. Hill led the receiving group with 49 yards and a touchdown on five receptions, while Waddle also had five catches for 39 yards and a score.
Minnesota Vikings 48, Cincinnati Bengals 10: The Minnesota Vikings’ offense was driven by key performances from Jordan Mason, Carson Wentz, and Justin Jefferson. Mason had a standout day on the ground, rushing for a team-high 116 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. At quarterback, Carson Wentz was highly efficient, completing 14 of 20 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Through the air, Justin Jefferson was the top target, leading all receivers with five catches for 75 yards. Tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver also contributed with a touchdown reception each. In a difficult game for the Bengals offense, quarterback Jake Browning completed 19 of 27 passes for 140 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. The receiving yards were led by Ja’Marr Chase, who had five catches for 50 yards. Tight end Noah Fant also had a solid performance with five catches for 26 yards. On the ground, Samaje Perine was the most effective rusher, gaining 21 yards on four carries. Chase Brown had a woeful day with 3 yards on 10 attempts.
Pittsburgh Steelers 21, New England Patriots 14: The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense was led by the strong play of Aaron Rodgers, Jaylen Warren, and Calvin Austin III. Rodgers was efficient, completing 16 of 23 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, Jaylen Warren was the team’s leading rusher and a key part of the passing game, accumulating 47 yards rushing on 18 attempts and 34 receiving yards on five catches. Wide receiver Calvin Austin III was the top receiver, catching three passes for 34 yards and a touchdown. Kenneth Gainwell also found the end zone with a rushing touchdown. The New England Patriots’ offense was led by a trio of strong performers: quarterback Drake Maye, tight end Hunter Henry, and running back Rhamondre Stevenson. Maye had an impressive day passing, completing 28 of 37 attempts for 268 yards and two touchdowns. His favorite target was Hunter Henry, who had a game-high eight receptions for 90 yards and both of the team’s touchdown catches. On the ground, Maye also contributed with 45 rushing yards. Rhamondre Stevenson provided a boost in both the run and pass game, tallying 18 yards rushing on four carries and adding 38 yards on three catches.
Indianapolis Colts 41, Tennessee Titans 20: The Indianapolis Colts’ offense was powered by stellar performances from Jonathan Taylor, Daniel Jones, and Michael Pittman Jr.. Taylor dominated on the ground, rushing for 102 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries. At quarterback, Daniel Jones was highly effective, completing 18 of 25 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown. Jones also contributed with his legs, adding 27 rushing yards. Pittman Jr. was the top receiver, catching six passes for 73 yards and a touchdown. The Tennessee Titans’ top performers in the game were Cam Ward, Tony Pollard, and Chig Okonkwo. Ward completed 23 of 38 passes for 219 yards and one touchdown. He also added 12 rushing yards on three carries. Tony Pollard was the most productive runner for the Titans, gaining 45 yards on 16 carries and scoring the team’s only rushing touchdown. He also caught two passes for 14 yards. In the receiving game, Okonkwo led the team with five receptions for 66 yards. He was a key target for Ward, especially on a day when other receivers struggled to find space.
Jacksonville Jaguars 17, Houston Texans 10: The Jacksonville Jaguars’ offense had a challenging day, but a few players were able to produce. The top performers were Travis Etienne Jr., Brenton Strange, and Brian Thomas Jr. Etienne Jr. was the team’s most effective rusher, gaining 56 yards on 16 carries and scoring a touchdown. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence struggled, completing just 20 of 40 passes for 222 yards with one interception, but he did find his receivers for some key plays. Brenton Strange caught the most passes with six receptions for 61 yards. Brian Thomas Jr. had a significant day with two receptions for a team-high 55 yards, including a 46-yard long gain. Bhayshul Tuten also added a rushing touchdown. The Houston Texans’ offense was led by the performances of C.J. Stroud and Nico Collins. Stroud completed 25 of 38 passes for 204 yards and one touchdown, but also threw two interceptions. Collins was the clear top target in the passing game, hauling in eight receptions for a game-high 104 yards and the team’s only receiving touchdown. Running back Nick Chubb led the rushing attack with 38 yards on nine carries.
Carolina Panthers 30, Atlanta Falcons 0: The Carolina Panthers’ offense was led by the performances of Chuba Hubbard, Bryce Young, and Tetairoa McMillan. Hubbard was the top performer on the ground, rushing for a team-high 73 yards on 17 carries. Running back Rico Dowdle also found the end zone with a rushing touchdown. Bryce Young was efficient in the passing game, completing 16 of 24 passes for 121 yards, and also scored a touchdown on the ground. In the receiving corps, rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan led the way with 48 yards on three receptions. Bijan Robinson was the Falcons’ most effective weapon, rushing for 72 yards on 13 carries and adding five catches for 39 yards, totaling 111 yards from scrimmage. At quarterback, Michael Penix Jr. completed 18 of 36 passes for 172 yards but struggled with two interceptions. Drake London was the leading receiver with five receptions for 55 yards, and Darnell Mooney also contributed with four catches for 44 yards.
Philadelphia Eagles 33, Los Angeles Rams 26: The top performers for the Philadelphia Eagles were Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and Saquon Barkley. Hurts was the driving force behind the offense, completing 21 of 32 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns. He also showcased his dual-threat ability by rushing for a touchdown and 40 yards. Brown was the primary receiving threat, hauling in six passes for 109 yards and a touchdown, while DeVonta Smith also contributed significantly with eight catches and a touchdown of his own. On the ground, Barkley led the team with 46 rushing yards on 18 carries. The Los Angeles Rams offense was led by the performances of Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams, and Matthew Stafford. Nacua was the top performer through the air, catching a game-high 11 passes for 112 yards. On the ground, Kyren Williams was the primary rusher with 94 yards on 20 carries and also contributed with a receiving touchdown. Stafford was efficient, completing 19 of 33 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns. His other touchdown pass went to Davante Adams, who had a long reception of 44 yards.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 29, New York Jets 27: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offense was led by the performances of Baker Mayfield, Emeka Egbuka, and Sterling Shepard. Mayfield was efficient through the air, completing 19 of 29 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, he also contributed 4 carries for 44 yards. The receiving corps was highly productive, with rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka leading the team with six receptions for 85 yards. Veteran Sterling Shepard was also a key contributor, catching four passes for 80 yards. Mike Evans was the only player to catch a touchdown pass, one of his four receptions for 33 yards. The rushing attack, led by Bucky Irving’s 66 yards, had a difficult time breaking through. The New York Jets’ top performers in the game were Tyrod Taylor and Garrett Wilson. Taylor was the engine of the offense, completing 26 of 36 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns. He was also the team’s most effective rusher, adding 48 yards on eight carries. Wilson was the clear top target, leading the team with ten receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown. Running backs Braelon Allen and Breece Hall also contributed to the offense with 30 and 21 rushing yards, respectively.
Washington Commanders 41, Las Vegas Raiders 24: The Washington Commanders’ offense was led by the impressive performances of Jeremy McNichols, Marcus Mariota, and Terry McLaurin. McNichols was a force on the ground, rushing for 78 yards and a touchdown on just four carries, including a 60-yard long gain. Mariota was highly efficient at quarterback, completing 15 of 21 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown. He was also a threat with his legs, adding 40 rushing yards and a touchdown. McLaurin was the top receiver with three receptions for 74 yards. Luke McCaffrey also made a big impact, catching a 43-yard touchdown pass. The Las Vegas Raiders’ offense was led by Geno Smith and Tre Tucker. Smith had a strong day passing, completing 19 of 29 attempts for 289 yards and three touchdowns, earning an impressive passer rating of 132.7. Tre Tucker was the key beneficiary of Smith’s performance, catching a game-high eight passes for 145 yards and all three of the team’s receiving touchdowns, including a 61-yard score. The rushing game was less effective, with Ashton Jeanty leading the team with 63 yards on 17 carries.
Cleveland Browns 13, Green Bay Packers 10: The Cleveland Browns’ offense was led by a standout rushing performance from Quinshon Judkins. He gained a team-high 94 yards on 18 carries, scoring the team’s only touchdown with a long gain of 38 yards. In the passing game, quarterback Joe Flacco struggled to find a rhythm, completing 21 of 36 passes for 142 yards and one interception with no touchdowns. Tight end David Njoku was the leading receiver, catching five passes for 40 yards. The Green Bay Packers’ top performers were Jordan Love, Matthew Golden, and Josh Jacobs. Despite facing a tough pass rush that resulted in five sacks, Love was effective, completing 18 of 25 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown. Golden led the receiving corps with four catches for 52 yards. Josh Jacobs, while having a tough day on the ground with only 30 yards on 16 carries, was a valuable asset in the passing game, catching five passes for 44 yards.
Los Angeles Chargers 23, Denver Broncos 20: The Los Angeles Chargers offense was led by the performances of Justin Herbert, Omarion Hampton, and Quentin Johnston. Herbert had a prolific passing day, completing 28 of 47 passes for 300 yards and a touchdown, though he also threw an interception. On the ground, Omarion Hampton led the team with 70 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. He was also a key part of the passing attack, catching six passes for 59 yards. Johnston was the leading receiver with six catches for 89 yards, and Keenan Allen was the only receiver to score, with a touchdown catch among his seven receptions for 65 yards. The Denver Broncos’ offense was led by strong performances from Bo Nix, J.K. Dobbins, and Courtland Sutton. Nix was efficient at quarterback, completing 14 of 25 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown. He also added 33 yards on the ground. Dobbins led the rushing attack with 83 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Sutton was the most productive receiver, catching six passes for 118 yards and a touchdown, including a 52-yard long gain.
Seattle Seahawks 44, New Orleans Saints 13: The Seattle Seahawks’ offense was led by stellar performances from Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Kenneth Walker III. Darnold was highly efficient, completing 14 of 18 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns, earning a near-perfect passer rating of 154.2. Smith-Njigba was the top receiver, hauling in five catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. Walker III, while having a tough day on the ground with only 38 yards, was effective near the goal line, scoring both of the team’s rushing touchdowns. The New Orleans Saints offense was led by the performances of Spencer Rattler, Chris Olave, and Juwan Johnson. Rattler completed 28 of 39 passes for 218 yards and one touchdown, though he also threw an interception. Olave was the most targeted receiver, with ten catches for 57 yards. Juwan Johnson was also productive, catching six passes for 51 yards. Tight end Jack Stoll caught the team’s only receiving touchdown. On the ground, Alvin Kamara led the team with 42 rushing yards on 18 carries.
San Francisco 49ers 16, Arizona Cardinals 15: The San Francisco 49ers’ offense was carried by Ricky Pearsall, Christian McCaffrey, and quarterback Mac Jones. Pearsall had a breakout performance, leading all receivers with eight catches for a game-high 117 yards, including a 34-yard reception. McCaffrey was his typical dual-threat self, leading the team in both rushing and receptions. He had 52 rushing yards on 17 attempts and a game-high 10 receptions for 88 receiving yards. Jones completed 27 of 41 passes for 284 yards and a touchdown to fullback Kyle Juszczyk, but he also threw one interception. The Arizona Cardinals’ offense was led by Kyler Murray, Trey Benson, and Trey McBride. Murray completed 22 of 35 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown, earning a respectable 82.9 passer rating. On the ground, Trey Benson was the leading rusher with 42 yards on 10 carries, including a long gain of 29 yards. In the passing game, McBride was the top receiver with five catches for 43 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. also contributed with three catches for 44 yards.
Chicago Bears 31, Dallas Cowboys 14: The Chicago Bears’ offense was led by an exceptional performance from quarterback Caleb Williams and his top targets Luther Burden III and Rome Odunze. Williams completed 19 of 28 passes for 298 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. He was not sacked at all, demonstrating strong pocket presence. Burden III was the most explosive receiver, catching three passes for a game-high 101 yards and a touchdown, including a 65-yard score. Odunze also had a strong day, catching three passes for 62 yards and a touchdown. The rushing attack, led by D’Andre Swift’s 33 yards, had a tougher time getting going. The Dallas Cowboys’ offense was led by the performances of Javonte Williams, Jake Ferguson, and George Pickens. Williams was the team’s top rusher, with 76 yards on 10 carries. In the passing game, quarterback Dak Prescott completed 31 of 40 passes for 251 yards and a touchdown, though he also threw two interceptions. Tight end Jake Ferguson was the primary target, setting a career-high with 13 receptions for 82 yards. George Pickens, stepping into a key role, had a solid outing with five catches for 68 yards and the team’s only receiving touchdown.
Kansas City Chiefs 22, New York Giants 9: The Kansas City Chiefs’ offense was led by Patrick Mahomes, Tyquan Thornton, and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Mahomes completed 22 of 37 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown. Thornton was the primary receiving target, catching five passes for 71 yards and the team’s only receiving touchdown. JuJu Smith-Schuster also had a strong performance with four receptions for 55 yards. On the ground, the running game was led by Isiah Pacheco, who had 45 yards on 10 carries, and Kareem Hunt, who scored the team’s only rushing touchdown and gained 34 yards. The New York Giants’ offense was led by the performances of Cam Skattebo and Russell Wilson. On the ground, Skattebo was the top performer with 60 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. He was also a key part of the passing game, catching six passes for 61 yards. Wilson completed 18 of 32 passes for 160 yards, but also threw two interceptions with no touchdowns. He added 27 yards on five rushes. Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson were also notable receivers with 30 and 26 yards, respectively.
Detroit Lions 38, Baltimore Ravens 30: The Detroit Lions’ offense was led by dominant performances from David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, with Jared Goff effectively managing the game. Montgomery had a massive day on the ground, rushing for a team-high 151 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries, including a 72-yard touchdown run. Gibbs also scored two rushing touchdowns and gained 67 yards on 22 carries. In the passing game, Goff was efficient, completing 20 of 28 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown went to Amon-Ra St. Brown, who was the leading receiver with seven catches for 77 yards. The Baltimore Ravens’ offense was led by a dominant performance from Lamar Jackson, Mark Andrews, and Derrick Henry. Jackson was nearly perfect through the air, completing 21 of 27 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns, earning an impressive passer rating of 148.1. His primary target was tight end Mark Andrews, who caught six passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, Derrick Henry was the leading rusher, gaining 50 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Henry also caught a pass for 7 yards.
