Quarterbacks

Daniel Jones, NYG – DAMN, Daniel! Jones’ first career start was historic: He completed 23-of-36 passes for 336 yards and two scores and had 28 rushing yards and two scores on four carries – good for over 30 points in standard leagues and one of the top performances in history by any quarterback making his first start in the NFL. It’s one game, and the Bucs played terribly in the second half, but he’s a priority add in 12-team formats if you were a Drew Brees or Big Ben owner.

Gardner Minshew, JAC – Minshew is still available in most fantasy leagues and is coming off a solid win on TNF, throwing for 204-2-0 and adding four carries for 18 yards. He’s not a great option against the Broncos in Denver in Week 4, but he’s a worthy addition in deeper formats.

Kyle Allen, CAR – UPDATE: With Cam Newton dealing with a Lisfranc injury, Allen could be the Panthers QB for the next several weeks – at a minimum. He was effective in the Panthers’ victory over the Cards in Week 3, completing 19-of-26 passes for 261-4-0 with two fumbles (just one lost) and making all the throws required of an NFL starter. Even if surgery isn't planned for Newton, the non-surgical approach to recovery from Lisfranc normally takes 4-8 weeks to heal, so Newton could even be shut for the second consecutive season. Allen is owned in just 1-2 percent of fantasy leagues and makes for a decent add if you can’t get Daniel Jones and desperately need a QB.

Case Keenum, WAS – I’ll update after MNF, but right now it looks like Keenum will be a streaming option against the Giants in Week 4.

UPDATE: Keenum completed 30-of-43 passes for 331 yards and 2 TDs! But he also threw three interceptions and lost three fumbles – showing some poor decision-making and almost getting benched. Keenum was under pressure from the start and is in dire need of left tackle Trent Williams, who continues to hold out. He’s only an option moving forward if he can keep his job and the team shores up that offensive line.

Other QBs to consider: Jameis Winston, Mitchell Trubisky

Updates:

Jimmy Garoppolo, SF – Garoppolo completed 23-of-32 passes for 277 yards, one TD, and two interceptions in the 49ers’ Week 3 win over the Steelers, and while the turnovers somehow didn’t cost them a victory, the 49ers need to do a better job of taking care of the football if Garoppolo is going to maximize his fantasy output. This is his bye week.

Josh Allen, BUF – Allen (who’s 72.8% ownership in ESPN leagues has surpassed Philip Rivers – 71.4%) threw for 243-1-1 on 22-for-36 passing in Buffalo’s Week 3 win over the Bengals, adding nine rushes for 46 yards. He’s a solid QB2 and Week 3 against the Patriots has some shootout potential.

Andy Dalton, CIN – Dalton (15-30 percent owned) got the worst of this battle, completing just 20-of-36 passes for 249-1-2 in Week 3 against the aforementioned Bills. He’ll be better once A.J. Green comes back, but for now is just a QB2 in deeper leagues.

Teddy Bridgewater, NO – Bridgewater is a competent game manager who completed 19-of-27 passes for 177-2-0, adding another 12 yards on three carries Sunday in the Saints’ Week 3 victory over the Seahawks. He’s more mobile than Brees but remains a fantasy backup.

Mason Rudolph, PIT – Rudolph completed 14-of-27 passes for 174-2-1 in the Steelers’ Week 3 loss to the 49ers, adding four carries for 15 yards and a lost fumble. He’s a far cry from Big Ben but could be an effective streamer on occasion.

Running Backs

Wayne Gallman, NYG – Gallman (1-5 percent owned) is the top add this week since Saquon Barkley has a high ankle sprain (he’s scheduled to have an MRI on Monday). X-rays did not reveal a break, but the timetable for these types of sprains can be anywhere from 2-8 weeks, and Barkley’s looked like a bad one. Expect Gallman – who carried the rock just five times for 13 yards and failed to catch his only target during Sunday’s 32-31 win over the Buccaneers – to shoulder most of the load until Barkley returns. Paul Perkins isn’t an option since he was claimed off waivers by Lions following a pair of healthy scratches in weeks 1 and 2.

Ronald Jones, TB – Jones (40-50 percent owned) can look awful or terrible, and Sunday he rushed 14 times for 80 yards, catching his only target for 41 receiving yards in Tampa Bay’s Week 3 loss to the Giants – a good day on most accounts. He was the better runner in the backfield on Sunday, out-performing Peyton Barber and making him worthy of RB3/FLEX consideration against the Rams.

Tony Pollard, DAL – Pollard got dropped in a bunch of shallow formats after Ezekiel Elliott signed his deal, but the rookie rushed 13 times for 103 yards and a TD in the Cowboys’ Week 3 win over the Dolphins, adding three receptions for 25 yards. He was used throughout the game, but the bulk of his workload came in the second half, and his 16-yard score in the fourth quarter was the first of his career. The Cowboys won’t play the Dolphins any more this season, but Pollard is a must-own handcuff for Zeke owners.

Darrel Williams, KC – Williams was touted as the starter during pre-game warmups and ended up rushing nine times for 62 yards in the Chiefs’ Week 3 win over the Ravens, adding 5-47-0 receiving. But it was LeSean McCoy who got the scores, and Williams saw a lot of work after McCoy tweaked his ankle injury and left the game prior to the fourth quarter. He’s worth an addition in most formats, even with Damien Williams slated to return soon.

Other RBs to consider: Rashaad Penny, Justin Jackson, Alexander Mattison, Gus Edwards, Jeff Wilson

Updates:

Carlos Hyde, HOU – Hyde (50-65 percent owned) rushed 10 times for 19 yards and a TD in the Texans’ Week 3 win over the Chargers, salvaging a decent day with a short rushing TD after Deshaun Watson and Will Fuller got the Texans near the goal line. He’s a must-own in all formats.

Raheem Mostert, SF – Mostert rushed 12 times for 79 yards in the 49ers’ Week 3 win over the Steelers, losing out on goal line work to resident vulture Jeff Wilson. The Niners’ RB committee is limiting the upside of everyone involved, and they are on a Week 4 bye.

Frank Gore, BUF – Gore rushed 14 times for 76 yards and a score in Week 3 win over the Bengals, taking on the workhorse role with Devin Singletary sidelined. There's a chance Singletary returns next week, so this could have been Gore’s ceiling, but if Singletary sits again, the veteran RB will be just a FLEX play for the matchup with New England.

Jaylen Samuels, PIT – James Conner played without issue and Samuels had zero touches in the Steelers’ Week 3 loss to the 49ers.

Darwin Thompson, KC – Thompson was a distant third in touches behind Williams and McCoy and rushed just four times for 8 yards in Week 3.

Wide Receivers / Tight Ends

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, GB – MVS had his best game of the season, seeing 10 targets and catching 6-99-1 in the win over Denver and surpassing Davante Adams as the go-to Week 3 guy for Aaron Rodgers. As the Packers’ primary deep threat, Valdes-Scantling (45-60 percent owned) has weekly upside with an accompanying low floor – but he makes for a viable WR3/4 at home against the Eagles in Week 4.

Phillip Dorsett, NE – The Patriots dropped Antonio Brown last week and Dorsett took advantage, hauling in 6-53-1 on seven targets in the Week 3 win over the Jets. Dorsett (5-15 percent owned) is also used in the running game occasionally, and had a couple carries for 12 yards on Sunday as well. He’s a great add, especially with Julian Edelman nursing a chest injury that knocked him out of Sunday’s game.

TE Jordan Akins, HOU – Akins (universally available) was a big-play standout on Sunday with 3-73-2 on just three targets in the Texans’ Week 3 win over the Chargers. While Watson throws most of his passes to DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller, both Akins and Kenny Stills have become more involved in the offense. He’s a boom-or-bust TE2 moving forward.

Golden Tate, NYG – Tate’s four-game suspension is almost up, and the Giants offense will be more pass-heavy with Jones under center and Barkley out for a while. A proven versatile receiver with great hands, Tate is still available in about half of fantasy leagues and this might be the last week to grab him, even though he’s not playing in Week 4. He’s got WR3/4 value in PPR leagues once he’s active.

TE Dawson Knox, BUF – Knox – a rookie third-round pick – caught three of four targets for 67 yards and a TD while adding a nine-yard rush in Sunday’s 21-17 win over the Bengals. It was a bona fide breakout after seeing limited snaps in his first two games, and the Bills need a TE to emerge as a viable option, making him a worthy TE2 in deeper formats until Tyler Kroft (foot) returns to action.

Other WRs/TEs to consider: Kenny Stills, Adam Humphries, Darius Slayton, Taylor Gabriel (concussion), Diontae Johnson

Updates:

Demarcus Robinson, KC – Robinson (60-70 percent owned) caught 3-of-4 targets for 43 yards and a touchdown in the Chiefs' Week 3 win over the Ravens. It wasn’t the game-breaking type of performance he had in Week 2, but Robinson is one of many Chiefs receiving option with tons of upside in the absence of Tyreek Hill.

Mecole Hardman, KC – In Week 2, Hardman (40-50 percent owned) hauled in 4-61-1, with the touchdown coming on a nice double-move for a 42-yard gain. On Sunday he caught just two passes for 97 yards, but one was an 83-yard touchdown reception on a seam route. Hardman’s speed on this offense makes him a viable boom-or-bust WR3/4 with Hill out.

Marquise Goodwin, SF – The speedy deep threat caught both of his two targets for 41 yards in the 49ers’ Week 3 win over the Steelers, giving him eight through three weeks. Goodwin's role as a deep target seems secure, even after they emerge from their Week 4 bye.

Deebo Samuel, SF – Samuel had a relatively quiet day with Garoppolo spreading the ball around to 10 different receivers. The athletic wideout had 3-44-0 on four targets and the 49ers are now on a bye.

Nelson Agholor, PHI – Agholor gave us a real roller coaster ride on Sunday and ended up with a monster game despite dropping a third down target in the first half and losing a fumble inside the two-minute mark before halftime. His best highlight came on a 20-yard touchdown sprint that helped fuel a big day: 8-of-12 targets for 50 yards and two TDs. He’s a WR2 until the rest of the WR corps is healthy.

TE Will Dissly, SEA – Dissly continues to be a solid red zone target for Russell Wilson, hauling in six of seven targets for 62 yards and a TD (on the last play of regulation) Sunday in Seattle’s Week 3 loss to the Saints. He’s a low-end TE1 in Week 4 facing a Cards team that has been battered by opposing TEs.