It's time to set our Week 3 fantasy football lineups and identify our favorite DFS plays and fades.
Below you'll find tiers and rankings for every position, including analysis, implied point totals, betting spreads and more.
For adjustments after the timestamp below, please see PFF's weekly rankings and projections.
Last updated: 11:45 A.m. Sept. 26
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KEY:
- SOS: PFF's Fantasy Strength of Schedule (SoS) metric provides a league-wide, season-long view of opponent matchups for each fantasy position.
- OL Pass-Block Advantage (OL PBA): offensive-line pass blocking matchup; derived from the OL/DL Matchup tool (pass blocking advantage — the higher the number, the better the matchup for the offensive line, and vice versa).
- OL Run-Block Advantage (OL RBA): offensive-line pass blocking matchup; derived from the OL/DL Matchup tool (run blocking advantage – the higher the number, the better the matchup for the offensive line, and vice versa).
- WR/CB Matchup Advantage (WR MU): wide receiver versus cornerback matchup; derived from the WR/CB Matchup tool (matchup advantage grade – the higher the grade, the better the matchup for the receiver, and vice versa).
- TE Matchup Advantage (TE MU): tight end versus linebackers and safeties; derived from the TE Matchup tool (matchup advantage — the higher the number, the better the matchup for the tight end, and vice versa.
- Projections: from PFF projections tool.
- Injuries: Q = Questionable; D = Doubtful (typically removed from ranks on Saturday); GTD = game time decision
JUMP TO A POSITION RANKING:
QUARTERBACKS
| Tier | Rank | Player | Opponent | Total | Spread | Implied Points | QB SOS | OL PBA | PPR | Injury |
| 1 | QB1 | Kyler Murray | @JAX | 51.5 | -7.5 | 29.50 | 6.8 | 22 | 22.5 | |
| 1 | QB2 | Lamar Jackson | @DET | 50.5 | -7.5 | 29.00 | 10.0 | -3 | 26.8 | Q |
| 1 | QB3 | Patrick Mahomes | LAC | 54.5 | -7.0 | 30.75 | 5.7 | 2 | 24.5 | |
| 2 | QB4 | Russell Wilson | @MIN | 55.0 | -2.0 | 28.50 | 1.3 | 22 | 23.0 | |
| 2 | QB5 | Josh Allen | WAS | 45.5 | -7.0 | 26.25 | 5.4 | -30 | 21.8 | |
| 2 | QB6 | Tom Brady | @LA | 55.5 | -1.5 | 28.50 | 0.0 | -33 | 20.9 | |
| 2 | QB7 | Dak Prescott | PHI | 52.0 | -3.5 | 27.75 | 3.4 | -8 | 19.9 | |
| 3 | QB8 | Jalen Hurts | @DAL | 52.0 | 3.5 | 24.25 | 4.4 | 0 | 18.7 | |
| 3 | QB9 | Aaron Rodgers | @SF | 50.5 | 3.0 | 23.75 | 2.1 | -7 | 19.7 | |
| 3 | QB10 | Justin Herbert | @KC | 54.5 | 7.0 | 23.75 | 3.5 | -10 | 18.1 | |
| 3 | QB11 | Justin Fields | @CLV | 44.5 | 7.5 | 18.50 | 2.9 | -25 | 16.7 | |
| 3 | QB12 | Matthew Stafford | TB | 55.5 | 1.5 | 27.00 | 0.5 | -19 | 17.4 | |
| 4 | QB13 | Ryan Tannehill | IND | 48.0 | -5.5 | 26.75 | 3.7 | -17 | 19.4 | |
| 4 | QB14 | Derek Carr | MIA | 44.0 | -3.5 | 23.75 | 6.0 | 0 | 19.4 | |
| 4 | QB15 | Daniel Jones | ATL | 47.5 | -3.0 | 25.25 | 4.5 | -30 | 19.3 | |
| 4 | QB16 | Sam Darnold | @HST | 43.0 | -8.0 | 25.50 | 7.1 | 17 | 18.5 | |
| 4 | QB17 | Kirk Cousins | SEA | 55.0 | 2.0 | 26.50 | 3.8 | 4 | 18.0 | |
| 5 | QB18 | Matt Ryan | @NYG | 47.5 | 3.0 | 22.25 | 4.7 | -9 | 17.8 | |
| 5 | QB19 | Teddy Bridgewater | NYJ | 41.5 | -10.5 | 26.00 | 5.0 | -2 | 17.1 | |
| 5 | QB20 | Joe Burrow | @PIT | 43.0 | 3.0 | 20.00 | 2.9 | -45 | 15.1 | |
| 5 | QB21 | Baker Mayfield | CHI | 44.5 | -7.5 | 26.00 | 5.9 | -3 | 17.9 | |
| 6 | QB22 | Jared Goff | BLT | 50.5 | 7.5 | 21.50 | 4.3 | -5 | 15.9 | |
| 6 | QB23 | Trevor Lawrence | ARZ | 51.5 | 7.5 | 22.00 | 3.0 | -26 | 15.7 | |
| 6 | QB24 | Taylor Heinicke | @BUF | 45.5 | 7.0 | 19.25 | 3.4 | 14 | 14.5 | |
| 6 | QB25 | Davis Mills | CAR | 43.0 | 8.0 | 17.50 | 3.4 | -7 | 16.4 | |
| 6 | QB26 | Mac Jones | NO | 42.5 | -3.0 | 22.75 | 1.3 | -10 | 15.2 | |
| 6 | QB27 | Ben Roethlisberger | CIN | 43.0 | -3.0 | 23.00 | 2.2 | 10 | 14.5 | |
| 6 | QB28 | Jimmy Garoppolo | GB | 50.5 | -3.0 | 26.75 | 2.9 | 16 | 14.8 | |
| 7 | QB29 | Jameis Winston | @NE | 42.5 | 3.0 | 19.75 | 5.3 | 22 | 13.6 | |
| 7 | QB30 | Zach Wilson | @DEN | 41.5 | 10.5 | 15.50 | 0.6 | -34 | 12.6 | |
| 7 | QB31 | Carson Wentz | @TEN | 48.0 | 5.5 | 21.25 | 5.2 | 10 | 7.5 | Q – GTD |
| 7 | QB32 | Jacoby Brissett | @LV | 44.0 | 3.5 | 20.25 | 5.6 | -20 | 18.0 | |
| 8 | QB33 | Jacob Eason | @TEN | 48.0 | 5.5 | 21.25 | 5.2 | 10 | 2.9 | |
| 8 | QB34 | Trey Lance | GB | 50.5 | -3.0 | 26.75 | 2.9 | 16 | 2.2 | |
| 8 | QB35 | Taysom Hill | @NE | 42.5 | 3.0 | 19.75 | 5.3 | 22 | 2.5 |
.
The top two quarterback tiers are stuffed with studs staring down big totals and implied points, leaving us to differentiate on QB SOS and OL PBA.
Tier 1 – Murray, Jackson and Mahomes all carry great implied points in high-total games. Jackson gets the nod over Mahomes in the tier with the No. 1 QB SOS.
Tier 2 – The only box Wilson failed to check was QB SOS, but he came up aces everywhere else, sending him to the top of Tier 2.
Tier 2 – Allen struggled versus pressure in Week 1 against the Steelers, and the Football Team will try to replicate that outcome. He has yet to live up to his ADP (QB17), but the Bills remain pass-heavy, ranking fourth-highest in neutral-game script passing. The fourth-year quarterback also remains involved on the ground, handling 20% of designed rushing attempts. His day is coming.
The Tier 3 quarterbacks have vital elements, but none paint the complete picture like the Tier 1 and 2 options.
Fields catapults into Tier 3 for one reason: his legs. In Week 2, the rookie accounted for 21% of designed rushing attempts and scrambled on 21% of his dropbacks. Think Jalen Hurts.
Tier 4 – Carr, Jones and Darnold are all outperforming their late-round ADPs.
Carr has finished as a top-12 option in seven out of his past nine games.
Jones is living on rushing yards, but he is also developing chemistry with his new weapons and draws a competitive script versus the Falcons.
Darnold likely won't be pushed (again) by the Texans minus Tyrod Taylor, but he has four legit receiving weapons and the second-best QB SOS on the slate.
Tier 7 – Carson Wentz will play today, but it isn't an advisable start with two bum ankles.
RUNNING BACKS
| Tier | Rank | Player | Opponent | Total | Spread | Implied Points | RB SOS | OL RBA | PPR Proj | Injury |
| 1 | RB1 | Christian McCaffrey | @HST | 43.0 | -8.0 | 25.50 | 10.0 | 44.0 | 23.9 | |
| 1 | RB2 | Alvin Kamara | @NE | 42.5 | 3.0 | 19.75 | 6.8 | 41.0 | 21.3 | |
| 1 | RB3 | Austin Ekeler | @KC | 54.5 | 7.0 | 23.75 | 8.6 | 34.0 | 14.3 | |
| 1 | RB4 | Derrick Henry | IND | 48.0 | -5.5 | 26.75 | 4.3 | 23.0 | 17.2 | |
| 2 | RB5 | Aaron Jones | @SF | 50.5 | 3.0 | 23.75 | 3.5 | 10.0 | 15.9 | |
| 2 | RB6 | Najee Harris | CIN | 43.0 | -3.0 | 23.00 | 5.8 | 34.0 | 17.9 | |
| 2 | RB7 | Ezekiel Elliott | PHI | 52.0 | -3.5 | 27.75 | 4.5 | 54.0 | 15.7 | |
| 2 | RB8 | Nick Chubb | CHI | 44.5 | -7.5 | 26.00 | 4.8 | 55.0 | 13.8 | |
| 2 | RB9 | Saquon Barkley | ATL | 47.5 | -3.0 | 25.25 | 5.6 | 20.0 | 14.8 | |
| 2 | RB10 | Chris Carson | @MIN | 55.0 | -2.0 | 28.50 | 5.2 | 13.0 | 16.3 | |
| 3 | RB11 | Jonathan Taylor | @TEN | 48.0 | 5.5 | 21.25 | 6.7 | 28.0 | 16.1 | |
| 3 | RB12 | Joe Mixon | @PIT | 43.0 | 3.0 | 20.00 | 0.0 | -21.0 | 15.6 | |
| 3 | RB13 | Antonio Gibson | @BUF | 45.5 | 7.0 | 19.25 | 6.1 | 77.0 | 15.7 | |
| 3 | RB14 | Alexander Mattison | SEA | 55.0 | 2.0 | 26.50 | 2.4 | -2.0 | 12.1 | |
| 3 | RB15 | Trey Sermon | GB | 50.5 | -3.0 | 26.75 | 5.9 | 80.0 | 11.0 | |
| 3 | RB16 | David Montgomery | @CLV | 44.5 | 7.5 | 18.50 | 4.7 | 10.0 | 13.0 | |
| 3 | RB17 | Clyde Edwards-Helaire | LAC | 54.5 | -7.0 | 30.75 | 6.0 | 43.0 | 15.1 | |
| 3 | RB18 | D'Andre Swift | BLT | 50.5 | 7.5 | 21.50 | 5.8 | 37.0 | 15.1 | Q |
| 3 | RB19 | Chase Edmonds | @JAX | 51.5 | -7.5 | 29.50 | 7.9 | 29.0 | 12.7 | |
| 3 | RB20 | Sony Michel | TB | 55.5 | 1.5 | 27.00 | 2.2 | 48.0 | 14.1 | |
| 3 | RB21 | James Robinson | ARZ | 51.5 | 7.5 | 22.00 | 5.0 | 24.0 | 13.8 | |
| 3 | RB22 | Mike Davis | @NYG | 47.5 | 3.0 | 22.25 | 6.1 | 12.0 | 14.3 | |
| 3 | RB23 | Miles Sanders | @DAL | 52.0 | 3.5 | 24.25 | 5.0 | 49.0 | 12.4 | |
| 4 | RB24 | Damien Harris | NO | 42.5 | -3.0 | 22.75 | 1.2 | 29.0 | 10.8 | |
| 4 | RB25 | Kareem Hunt | CHI | 44.5 | -7.5 | 26.00 | 4.8 | 55.0 | 10.0 | |
| 4 | RB26 | Ty'Son Williams | @DET | 50.5 | -7.5 | 29.00 | 6.8 | 32.0 | 12.0 | |
| 4 | RB27 | Kenyan Drake | MIA | 44.0 | -3.5 | 23.75 | 4.5 | -26.0 | 12.5 | |
| 4 | RB28 | Melvin Gordon III | NYJ | 41.5 | -10.5 | 26.00 | 5.6 | 22.0 | 10.8 | |
| 4 | RB29 | Devin Singletary | WAS | 45.5 | -7.0 | 26.25 | 2.9 | 12.0 | 12.4 | |
| 4 | RB30 | Leonard Fournette | @LA | 55.5 | -1.5 | 28.50 | 0.9 | 29.0 | 14.0 | |
| 4 | RB31 | Jamaal Williams | BLT | 50.5 | 7.5 | 21.50 | 5.8 | 37.0 | 11.0 | |
| 4 | RB32 | Myles Gaskin | @LV | 44.0 | 3.5 | 20.25 | 4.1 | 16.0 | 10.5 | |
| 4 | RB33 | James White | NO | 42.5 | -3.0 | 22.75 | 1.2 | 29.0 | 12.1 | |
| 4 | RB34 | Tony Pollard | PHI | 52.0 | -3.5 | 27.75 | 4.5 | 54.0 | 10.4 | |
| 4 | RB35 | Javonte Williams | NYJ | 41.5 | -10.5 | 26.00 | 5.6 | 22.0 | 11.6 | |
| 4 | RB36 | James Conner | @JAX | 51.5 | -7.5 | 29.50 | 7.9 | 29.0 | 9.2 | |
| 4 | RB37 | Nyheim Hines | @TEN | 48.0 | 5.5 | 21.25 | 6.7 | 28.0 | 8.0 | |
| 4 | RB38 | Cordarrelle Patterson | @NYG | 47.5 | 3.0 | 22.25 | 6.1 | 12.0 | 9.8 | |
| 5 | RB39 | J.D. McKissic | @BUF | 45.5 | 7.0 | 19.25 | 6.1 | 77.0 | 6.1 | |
| 5 | RB40 | Dalvin Cook | SEA | 55.0 | 2.0 | 26.50 | 2.4 | -2.0 | 5.3 | Q-GTD |
| 5 | RB41 | David Johnson | CAR | 43.0 | 8.0 | 17.50 | 6.1 | 0.0 | 8.5 | |
| 5 | RB42 | Michael Carter | @DEN | 41.5 | 10.5 | 15.50 | 3.0 | 24.0 | 10.0 | |
| 5 | RB43 | Peyton Barber | MIA | 44.0 | -3.5 | 23.75 | 4.5 | -26.0 | 8.3 | |
| 5 | RB44 | Mark Ingram II | CAR | 43.0 | 8.0 | 17.50 | 6.1 | 0.0 | 9.6 | |
| 5 | RB45 | Latavius Murray | @DET | 50.5 | -7.5 | 29.00 | 6.8 | 32.0 | 7.2 | |
| 5 | RB46 | Kenneth Gainwell | @DAL | 52.0 | 3.5 | 24.25 | 5.0 | 49.0 | 7.8 | |
| 5 | RB47 | Zack Moss | WAS | 45.5 | -7.0 | 26.25 | 2.9 | 12.0 | 6.8 | |
| 5 | RB48 | Ronald Jones | @LA | 55.5 | -1.5 | 28.50 | 0.9 | 29.0 | 6.0 | |
| 6 | RB49 | A.J. Dillon | @SF | 50.5 | 3.0 | 23.75 | 3.5 | 10.0 | 6.7 | |
| 6 | RB50 | Damien Williams | @CLV | 44.5 | 7.5 | 18.50 | 4.7 | 10.0 | 5.4 | |
| 6 | RB51 | Ty Johnson | @DEN | 41.5 | 10.5 | 15.50 | 3.0 | 24.0 | 6.9 | |
| 6 | RB52 | Tony Jones Jr. | @NE | 42.5 | 3.0 | 19.75 | 6.8 | 41.0 | 5.6 | |
| 6 | RB53 | Carlos Hyde | ARZ | 51.5 | 7.5 | 22.00 | 5.0 | 24.0 | 5.4 | |
| 6 | RB54 | Phillip Lindsay | CAR | 43.0 | 8.0 | 17.50 | 6.1 | 0.0 | 4.4 | |
| 6 | RB55 | Giovani Bernard | @LA | 55.5 | -1.5 | 28.50 | 0.9 | 29.0 | 3.6 | |
| 6 | RB56 | Salvon Ahmed | @LV | 44.0 | 3.5 | 20.25 | 4.1 | 16.0 | 4.9 | |
| 6 | RB57 | Darrel Williams | LAC | 54.5 | -7.0 | 30.75 | 6.0 | 43.0 | 3.9 | |
| 7 | RB58 | Justin Jackson | @KC | 54.5 | 7.0 | 23.75 | 8.6 | 34.0 | 3.5 | |
| 7 | RB59 | Chuba Hubbard | @HST | 43.0 | -8.0 | 25.50 | 10.0 | 44.0 | 4.9 | |
| 7 | RB60 | Jake Funk | TB | 55.5 | 1.5 | 27.00 | 2.2 | 48.0 | 5.3 | |
| 7 | RB61 | Marlon Mack | @TEN | 48.0 | 5.5 | 21.25 | 6.7 | 28.0 | 3.5 | |
| 7 | RB62 | Devontae Booker | ATL | 47.5 | -3.0 | 25.25 | 5.6 | 20.0 | 4.0 | |
| 7 | RB63 | Jeremy McNichols | IND | 48.0 | -5.5 | 26.75 | 4.3 | 23.0 | 4.9 | |
| 7 | RB64 | Larry Rountree III | @KC | 54.5 | 7.0 | 23.75 | 8.6 | 34.0 | 3.6 | |
| 7 | RB65 | Samaje Perine | @PIT | 43.0 | 3.0 | 20.00 | 0.0 | -21.0 | 2.9 | |
| 7 | RB66 | Devonta Freeman | @DET | 50.5 | -7.5 | 29.00 | 6.8 | 32.0 | 2.9 | |
| 7 | RB67 | Malcolm Brown | @LV | 44.0 | 3.5 | 20.25 | 4.1 | 16.0 | 2.9 | |
| 8 | RB68 | J.J. Taylor | NO | 42.5 | -3.0 | 22.75 | 1.2 | 29.0 | 1.5 | |
| 8 | RB69 | Chris Evans | @PIT | 43.0 | 3.0 | 20.00 | 0.0 | -21.0 | 1.8 | |
| 8 | RB70 | Kylin Hill | @SF | 50.5 | 3.0 | 23.75 | 3.5 | 10.0 | 1.2 |
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