Fantasy Football Week 3 WR Rankings: Fallout From Antonio Brown Release

Getty Patriots WR Antonio Brown

Antonio Brown made his New England Patriots debut in Week 2 vs. the Miami Dolphins. While many expected the Patriots to slowly integrate the receiver into their complex system, the Pats had a different idea.

New England went to the potential future hall of fame wideout early and often in Week 2. While Brown only played 24 snaps, he finished with eight targets, four receptions, and a touchdown in what many believed was Brown’s dress rehearsal. Little did we know that would be the last time Brown would ever suit up for the Patriots.

Brown was released on Friday, freeing up a potential plethora of targets for New England Patriots once again. Do the added looks in the offense make Josh Gordon a must-start moving forward? Plus, which pass catchers will be fantasy duds this week? Find out all this and more in our Week 3 WR rankings.

* Player rankings are based off of full-PPR scoring formats.

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Better Than Usual

1. Last Week’s Better Than Usual: 
2. John Brown – 14.20 pts. (WR33) 
3. Sammy Watkins – 10.90 pts. (WR44) 

Larry Fitzgerald vs. CAR

Fitz has been a revelation this season in the new Kyler Murray-led Air Raid offense. Fitzgerald is currently the 12th highest scoring receiver in PPR-formats and has reasserted himself into near must-start status moving forward.

Fitzgerald takes on a Carolina Panthers defense that is just a week removed from allowing Buccaneers wideout Chris Godwin to torch them for 120+ receiving yards.

If you know one thing about the Cardinals offense, it is that they will throw the football. Murray has averaged an absurd 47 pass attempts over his first two career starts.

DK Metcalf vs. NO 

Seahawks WR DK Metcalf

He was a meme, an overhyped prospect, and the future Mr. Olympia. For all the chatter following DK Metcalf over the past few months, people forgot the guy can play football.

Metcalf has fit seamlessly within the Seattle Seahawks offense and seems to have a true connection with QB Russell Wilson. Metcalf’s 13 targets is second on the team, while his snap count jumped from 41 in Week 1 to 70 in Week 2 (the same amount as Tyler Lockett).

Metcalf has a plus matchup on his hands this week for the New Orleans Saints. The Saints have allowed a 100+ yard receiver in each of their first two games of the season.

Worse Than Usual

1. Last Week’s Worse Than Usual: 
2. Larry Fitzgerald – 15.40 pts. (WR28) 
3. TY Hilton – 14.30 pts. (WR32) 

Jarvis Landry vs. LAR

The Browns may have just wrapped up a 20 point victory for the entire country to see in primetime, however, all is not well in Cleveland.

Baker Mayfield has visibly struggled through the early parts of this season. You would think that given his struggles you’d lean on one of the best security blankets in all of football, however, that couldn’t be further from reality.

Jarvis Landry, a player with two 110+ reception seasons on his resume, has caught a minuscule seven passes thus far this season.

Landry faces off with a Rams defense that has surrendered the second fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers this season.

Week 3 PPR Fantasy Rankings: Wide Receivers

[ QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | Flex | DEF | K]

• Keys: WR1 l WR2 l WR3 l WR4
• Matchup: Great l Avg l Tough

READ NEXT:  Fantasy: Week 3 RB Rankings