

Week 3 of the 2026 NFL seasonwas filled with close matchups. There were 12 games decided by eight or fewer points Sunday, tying the record for the most such matchups in a single day, per ESPN Research.
Along with those close contests came plenty ofintriguing fantasy performances. So in addition to our 1-32 rankings, we asked our NFL Nation reporters to look at every team's fantasy football surprise (good or bad) this season. They went off ESPN Fantasy's draft rankings,average draft position (ADP) andcurrent scoring leaders in PPR leagues.
To form the list, our power panel of more than a dozen NFL analysts evaluates how all 32 teams stack up against one another, ranking them from No. 1 to 32. And here are a few highlights from this week's rankings:
Let's get into the full list, starting with the same No. 1 team as last week.
Previous rankings: Week 2 | Week 3
Jump to a team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH


Week 3 result: Beat the Chargers 24-16
Week 3 ranking: 1

Fantasy surprise: TE Dalton Kincaid
Through three weeks, Kincaid leads all NFL tight ends in receiving yards and has caught 14 of the 17 passes thrown his way. He ranks top 10 among tight ends in targets, posting the best catch percentage (82.4%) of any tight end or wide receiver with at least that many targets. Not bad for someone who was ranked as TE15 in ESPN's preseason rankings. -- Nick Suss

Week 3 result: Beat the Cardinals 36-30
Week 3 ranking: 3

Fantasy surprise: TE George Kittle
Under normal circumstances, it would not be a surprise to see Kittle as the TE4 in fantasy. But given that hetore his right Achilles on Jan. 11 and missed all of training camp, that he returned in Week 1 close to his usual self is a testament to his passion for the game. And the Niners have needed every bit of his production to help weather the storm of injuries elsewhere. Kittle ranks fifthamong all tight ends in receiving yards (174), 11th in receptions (12) and tied for first in touchdowns (three).-- Nick Wagoner

Week 3 result: Beat the Dolphins 24-10
Week 3 ranking: 4

Fantasy surprise: RB Kenneth Walker III
Most fantasy owners knew Walker was a good choice, especially after his impressive postseason run to help the Seahawks win the Super Bowl. But not even the Chiefs could have expected this level of production from Walker, who has the second-most total fantasy points at RB this season. He has already produced 442 scrimmage yards and four total touchdowns. Walker is the first player in franchise history to have two games with a rushing and receiving touchdown within the first three weeks, per ESPN Research.-- Nate Taylor

Week 3 result: Lost to the Commanders 33-31
Week 3 ranking: 2

Fantasy surprise: RB Jadarian Price
Price was 25th among running backs in ADP, reflecting the fact that he was going to be part of a timeshare in Seattle's backfield. But even with those modest expectations, the rookie first-round pick is off to an underwhelming start. He ranks 47th in fantasy points among running backs after a dud of a performance in Week 3, when he totaled 22 scrimmage yards on six touches and a lost fumble. The lost fumble was Price's second in as many weeks, which was a big reason for his diminished workload. -- Brady Henderson

Week 3 result: Beat the Cowboys 34-31
Week 3 ranking: 7

Fantasy surprise: TE Mark Andrews
Andrews had surrendered the title of Lamar Jackson's No. 1 target to WR Zay Flowers, but there was hope that Andrews would remain an option in the red zone. He has only one red zone target on eight routes run this season. Now, he is dealing with a hand injury that limited his playing time in Week 3. Andrews, who was ranked as the TE14 before the season, is currently 19th in scoring at his position.-- Jamison Hensley

Week 3 result: Beat the Rams 30-26
Week 3 ranking: 8

Fantasy surprise: WR Courtland Sutton
The Broncos' offensive struggles, especially in first halves, have dragged down everybody's numbers. They haven't found a rhythm much of the time, and save for Jaylen Waddle's 138-yard effort against the Jaguars in Week 2, the WRs have been caught up in the wash (Pat Bryanthas the group's only TD catch). Sutton, who is second in targets to Waddle with 16, could be seen as the biggest disappointment. He has yet to eclipse more than 10 fantasy points in any game. -- Jeff Legwold

Week 3 result: Lost to the Broncos 30-26
Week 3 ranking: 5

Fantasy surprise: WR Puka Nacua
Despite missing part of training camp with a psoas injury, Nacua had an ADP of 9.0. But he has played only in Week 1 because of a groin injury, putting up 12.4 points in PPR leagues. On Sunday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reportedthat the injury "has impacted [Nacua's] explosiveness." Last week, coach Sean McVay saidthat barring a setback, the expectation is that Nacua will be able to play in Week 4against the Eagles. -- Sarah Barshop

Week 3 result: Lost to the Bears 27-7
Week 3 ranking: 6

Fantasy surprise: WR Dontayvion Wicks
Wicks has the second-most receptions (nine) and receiving yards (179) on the team behind DeVonta Smith. He is currently the WR30 in fantasy. There was some thought heading into the summer that rookie Makai Lemon could ascend to the No. 2 role, but injuries left him on the sideline for most of camp. In the meantime, Wicks and QB Jalen Hurts developed a comfort level with one another, which has been on display early this season, including in high-leverage moments.-- Tim McManus

Week 3 result: Beat the Buccaneers 23-16
Week 3 ranking: 12

Fantasy surprise: WR Justin Jefferson
Jefferson had an ADP of 13.4, but he has had only one fantasy-productive game for a variety of reasons. That came in Week 1, when he caught two touchdown passes from backup quarterback Carson Wentz(31.2 fantasy points). The Vikings played their Week 2 game at rainy Soldier Field, and in Week 3, Jefferson played only one series before departing with an ankle injury. Jefferson could be back as soon as next Sunday against the Dolphins, but with the Vikings' offense struggling as much as any in the NFL, it's unclear if Jefferson can get back on track. -- Kevin Seifert

Week 3 result: Beat the Patriots 35-6
Week 3 ranking: 13

Fantasy surprise: WR Brian Thomas Jr.
WithParker Washington'semergence and the reliability of Jakobi Meyers, the targets were expected to be spread out somewhat evenly among Jacksonville's receivers. But Thomas had a great offseason and the Jaguars wanted to push the ball downfield more, so expectations were high for the WR40 in our preseason projections. Now, Thomas has just seven catches for 88 yards and no TDs. Rookie Josh Cameron (two TD catches) has earned almost equal playing time, too. At this point, it's almost impossible to expect consistent fantasy production out of Thomas. -- Michael DiRocco

Week 3 result: Beat the Eagles 27-7
Week 3 ranking: 11

Fantasy surprise:WR Kalif Raymond
At best, the 11-year NFL veteran was considered a waiver wire add in the preseason given his status at WR108. With a group of Chicago playmakers highlighted by Colston Loveland, Luther Burden III and Rome Odunze, Raymond wasn't projected to factor into a significant portion of the Bears' target share, but that went out the window quickly. Through three games, Raymond leads theBears with 21 targets, which he turned into 19 catches for 214 yards and a touchdown. He has twice been his team's leading receiver (wins over Carolina and Philadelphia). Raymond ranks 12th among wide receivers in fantasy production (15.5 fantasy points per game), and his production on punt returns adds to his overall fantasy value.-- Courtney Cronin

Week 3 result:Lost to the Steelers 30-27
Week 3 ranking: 9

Fantasy surprise: RB Chase Brown
Brown was the RB8 in ESPN's preseason rankings and someone who was going to be a major part of Cincinnati's offense. The latter part of that has materialized, as he is second on the team with 229 scrimmage yards (197 rushing, 32 receiving) and has 13 targets (seventh most among RBs). But that hasn't led to big points for fantasy managers. Brown has just one offensive touchdown, with a season high of18.8 fantasy points in Week 1 against the Bucs.-- Ben Baby

Week 3 result: Beat the Jets 31-24
Week 3 ranking: 14

Fantasy surprise: QB Jared Goff
It's sometimes easy to forget about Goff's consistency because he plays alongside elite playmakers such as RB Jahmyr Gibbs and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown. The veteran QB is a viable starter in fantasy this season, averaging 21.9 points. Goff was the 18th-best quarterback in our draft rankings and had an ADP of131.4. After Sunday's win, Gibbs lauded Goff as Detroit's "leader." "We trust him with everything," Gibbs said. -- Eric Woodyard

Week 3 result: Beat the Saints 35-27
Week 3 ranking: 20

Fantasy surprise: RB Ashton Jeanty
Jeanty got off to a strong start, recording 32.7 fantasy points in a Week 1 win over the Dolphins. But he has been inconsistent since then, averaging fewer than3.0 yards per carry and 11.3 fantasy points in the past two games. Jeanty was expected to make a significant jump in Year 2 under new coach Klint Kubiak. His production should pick up if he gets more opportunities in the passing game, thoughBrock Bowersjust returned for the Raiders from a meniscus trim.-- Ryan McFadden

Week 3 result: Lost to the Ravens 34-31
Week 3 ranking: 16

Fantasy surprise: WR George Pickens
Pickens looked great in training camp, and he was the WR12 in our draft rankings. So it's surprisingto see he has not scored or registered a catch for at least 20 yards. His production was better against Baltimore (seven catches, 82 yards), but the Cowboys need to get Pickens involved more. A team that lived on big plays in 2025 hasn't been as effective on them this year. Pickens is averaging just 9.6 yards per catch, and he has gone five straight games without a touchdown. -- Todd Archer

Week 3 result: Lost to the Jaguars 35-6
Week 3 ranking: 10

Fantasy surprise: QB Drake Maye
Maye had an ADP of 61.2, which ranked him as the fifth-highest QB. But he has just one TD pass while throwing six interceptions, bringing him to 15 turnovers in seven games since the start of last season's playoffs. Maye has yet to put up double-digit fantasy points in a game this season. He badly misses WR1 A.J. Brown(on IR with a high ankle sprain), and when the running game can't gain traction like this past Sunday, things get shaky quickly. -- Mike Reiss

Week 3 result: Beat the Bengals 30-27
Week 3 ranking: 25

Fantasy surprise: WR DK Metcalf
None of Pittsburgh's skill position players was projected to be a significant fantasy contributor, but Metcalf (WR31 in ADP) largely underperformed through the first three weeks with multiple drops, 11 catches and 98 receiving yards. Metcalf, though, might be turning a corner with the rest of the Steelers' offense after finally recording a touchdown catch against the Bengals. He put up12.1 fantasy points in the win.-- Brooke Pryor

Week 3 result: Lost to the Raiders 35-27
Week 3 ranking: 19

Fantasy surprise: QB Tyler Shough
Shough was ranked No. 17 in our draft rankings, but his 69.38 fantasy points are third among quarterbacks behindJosh Allen and Brock Purdy. Shough is currently second in passing yards (917), tied for third in passing TDs (eight), first in attempts (132), and first in completions (91). While there have been negatives (three turnovers versus the Raiders and tied for second in sacks), Shough has consistently put up big fantasy numbers every week. -- Katherine Terrell

Week 3 result: Beat the Titans 12-7
Week 3 ranking: 18

Fantasy surprise: WR Malik Nabers
Nabers has had a slow start to the season coming off a serious knee injury, recording 12 catches for 96 yards. The explosiveness isn't all the way back yet, with his longest reception being 16 yards. Nabers called himself "rusty" after Week 1. He still appears to be knocking it off, as evidenced by currently being the WR56 in fantasy. Nabers also has to get right and build chemistry with new starting quarterbackJameis Winston. They didn't spend much time this summer working together. -- Jordan Raanan

Week 3 result: Lost to the Falcons 35-14
Week 3 ranking: 17

Fantasy surprise: TE Tucker Kraft
Coming off last season's torn ACL, Kraft was ranked ninth among tight ends in our draft rankings. Through three games, he's 27th in fantasy points at the position. Kraft has just nine catches for 108 yards and no touchdowns despite not being on a snap limit. As bad as the Packers' offensive line has been, the Packers still rank tied for fourth in the NFL in passing yards per game. But Kraft has not been a big part of that. -- Rob Demovsky

Week 3 result: Lost to the Colts 19-17
Week 3 ranking: 15

Fantasy surprise: RB David Montgomery
After28.9 fantasy points in Week 1, Montgomery has only 11.2 in the past two games combined. He averages 0.5 yards before contact -- an abhorrent number for a rushing attack. Any hope for an improvement in Montgomery's fantasy production starts with better play from the offensive line. That unit is a big reason the Texans are winless and averaging 11.5 points per game over the past two weeks.-- DJ Bien-Aime

Week 3 result: Lost to the Browns 21-18
Week 3 ranking: 21

Fantasy surprise: QB Bryce Young
Despite a somewhat underwhelming Week 3 performance, Young is averaging 313 passing yards and 2.3 passing touchdowns per game in 2026. That has made him the QB4 in fantasy, behind Josh Allen, Brock Purdy and Tyler Shough. An impressive start considering Young was the QB18 in ADP. Young is up 1.5 yards per passing attempt from 2025 to 2026. While he is not rushing as much as he has in the past, he has one rushing TD on three carries this season. -- Mike Kaye

Week 3 result: Beat the Texans 19-17
Week 3 ranking: 24

Fantasy surprise: QB Daniel Jones
Jones has held his own after tearing an Achilles less than 10 months ago, but a couple of realities have made him a less-than-ideal fantasy quarterback compared with 2025. First, Jones has had an interception in each game. Additionally, he has thrown three touchdown passes for a 3.1% TD rate -- down from 4.9% in 2025. Finally, Jones' five rushing touchdowns last season were a nice bonus, but he has not rushed into the end zone in 2026. He is currently ranked29th among QBs in fantasy, with a season high of11.4 points in Week 2.-- Stephen Holder

Week 3 result: Beat the Panthers 21-18
Week 3 ranking: 29

Fantasy surprise: QB Deshaun Watson
Expectations were low for Watson, who had performed like one of the worst NFL quarterbacks since joining Cleveland in 2022 and was returning from two Achilles tears. His ADP had him ranked as the QB29, but he's the QB10 so far this season. Watson's passing numbers (587 yards, five touchdowns) are modest, but he has turned the ball over only once, and he's using his legs well. His 105 rushing yards are the fourth most among quarterbacks. -- Daniel Oyefusi

Week 3 result: Lost to the Lions 31-24
Week 3 ranking: 27

Fantasy surprise: TE Kenyon Sadiq
Who needs training camp? The rookie figured to get off to a slow start after missing nearly all of camp due to a hernia injury, but he already has 12 catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns (one receiving, one rushing). He's 10th among tight ends in fantasy points, and his role should continue to grow as he gains a better grasp of the offense. Sadiq has already developed good chemistry with QB Geno Smith. -- Rich Cimini

Week 3 result: Beat the Seahawks 33-31
Week 3 ranking: 28

Fantasy surprise:WR Stefon Diggs
Diggs was the WR33 in ADP, but he's up to WR13 as Washington's leader in receptions (13) and receiving touchdowns (three). He didn't sign with the Commanders until after the first week of training camp, and he's now already with his second quarterback. The question is: Where does he go from here? He has been more of an underneath receiver, as he is yet to surpass 55 yards in a single game. Diggs posted five 100-yard games with New England last season.-- John Keim

Week 3 result: Lost to the Bills 24-16
Week 3 ranking: 22

Fantasy surprise: RB Omarion Hampton
Expectations were high for the 2025 first-round pick, given how running backs have thrived with OC Mike McDaniel at other stops. But Hampton has been a disappointment so far. He was the 12th running back in ADP, but his 31 points rank 22nd. Hampton also saw a decreased workload in Week 3 after struggles in his first two weeks. As the Chargers move forward, this could become more of a split backfield with Hampton and Keaton Mitchell, who averaged 6.5 yards per carry to Hampton's 3.7 in Buffalo. -- Kris Rhim

Week 3 result: Lost to the 49ers 36-30
Week 3 ranking: 26

Fantasy surprise: QB Jacoby Brissett
Brissett is on 4.5% of ESPN rosters and is the QB16 after Sunday's loss. That might be middle of the pack of the 32 starters, but it's surprising when considering he was ranked 50th among quarterbacks in ADP. Brissett is averaging 16.2 points per game, which is 39th overall in the entire league. He was ranked 361st overall before the season started. -- Josh Weinfuss

Week 3 result: Beat the Packers 35-14
Week 3 ranking: 31

Fantasy surprise: TE Kyle Pitts Sr.
Pitts was one of the most productive tight ends last season and a boon for fantasy players. He was the 10th tight end taken in ESPN drafts, but he has 1.3 fantasy points so far. Part of it has not been his fault. The Falcons' offense was a mess the first two weeks with third-string quarterback Cooper Rush. There is hope for Pitts with the return of Michael Penix Jr. Yet, he had only one catch for 5 yards in Penix's Week 3 debut. -- Marc Raimondi

Week 3 result: Lost to the Vikings 23-16
Week 3 ranking: 23

Fantasy surprise:WRTed Hurst III
Hurst is currently the WR56 in fantasy and has the second-most targets among the Bucs' wide receivers -- behind Emeka Egbuka and ahead of Chris Godwin Jr. The rookie third-round pick has six catches on 13 targets with a touchdown, while Godwin has 10 catches on 12 targets and saw a would-be touchdown against the Vikings wiped off the board due to a holding call. With Jalen McMillansidelined for several weeks, Hurst will continue to hear his number called. But consistency has been an issue, as he has caught only 46.2% of his targets.-- Jenna Laine

Week 3 result: Lost to the Giants 12-7
Week 3 ranking: 30

Fantasy surprise: WR Wan'Dale Robinson
There really wasn't much expected fantasywise for any Titans players, but Robinson drew interest (rostered in 64.4% of ESPN leagues) primarily because he had 90-plus receptions in each of the past two seasons in New York under Brian Daboll (the current Titans OC). But through three games, Robinson has 13 receptions on 18 targets for 104 yards and a touchdown. He was targeted 11 times against the Giants, so maybe a turnaround is on the way. -- Turron Davenport

Week 3 result: Lost to the Chiefs 24-10
Week 3 ranking: 32

Fantasy surprise: WR Malik Washington
There aren't many (any?) Dolphins players who were drafted with an expectation to produce in fantasy outside of the injured De'Von Achane (torn ACL). But Washington has quietly been consistent this season. He was drafted as WR71 but is 30 spots higher entering Week 4. Washington averages just north of seven targets per game; he has at least four catches or 50 receiving yards in each game he has played. With Achane out for the season, the Dolphins might become more of a short, quick passing offense -- and Washington figures to be a beneficiary of that. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

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