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Week 3 Wide Receiver Rankings - PPR Leagues

Injuries have begun to take their toll on a lot of receivers. Nick takes a look at how it has impacted his rankings and gives rapid fire insight on a lot of key guys this week.

Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

So far this year it's been the story of the little guys. By that I mean the fantasy flex/bench receivers who are lighting up the scoreboards each week. Look at this week as a sample size: Mike Wallace went off, Corey Coleman ranked 4th, and some guy named Greg Salas (BUF) outscored guys like OBJ, Dez Bryant, and Brandon Marshall. Do I trust any of these guys to repeat? No. A lot of these are outlier performances; random spikes on a chart. I'll keep watching these guys and their production to see if they are worth it in the long run, but for now I'm pegging it as one lucky week. This week I have a lot to talk about and little time. So I'm going to give you guys a blitz analysis on a lot of players after the rankings.

Rank Player Team Opponent
1 Antonio Brown PIT @PHI
2 Julio Jones ATL @NO
3 DeAndre Hopkins HOU @NE
4 Odell Beckham Jr. NYG WAS
5 Brandin Cooks NO ATL
6 Amari Cooper OAK @TEN
7 Mike Evans TB LA
8 Allen Robinson JAC BAL
9 Larry Fitzgerald ARI @BUF
10 Kelvin Benjamin CAR MIN
11 Jordy Nelson GB DET
12 Brandon Marshall NYJ @KC
13 Jarvis Landry MIA CLE
14 Alshon Jeffery CHI @DAL
15 Dez Bryant DAL CHI
16 A.J. Green CIN DEN
17 Jordan Mathews PHI PIT
18 Willie Snead NO ATL
19 Eric Decker NYJ @KC
20 Stefon Diggs MIN @CAR
21 Randall Cobb GB DET
22 Travis Benjamin SD @IND
23 T.Y. Hilton IND SD
24 Marvin Jones DET @GB
25 Jeremy Maclin KC NYJ
26 Demaryius Thomas DEN @CIN
27 Michael Crabtree OAK @TEN
28 Sterling Shepard NYG WAS
29 Michael Floyd ARI @BUF
30 Doug Baldwin SEA SF
31 Will Fuller HOU @NE
32 Golden Tate DET @GB
33 Allen Hurns JAC BAL
34 DeSean Jackson WAS @NYG
35 Julian Edelman NE HOU
36 Tajae Sharp TEN OAK
37 Allen Hurns JAC BAL
38 Mike Wallace BAL @JAC
39 Emmanuel Sanders DEN @CIN
40 DeVante Parker MIA CLE
41 Sammy Watkins BUF ARI
42 Corey Coleman CLE @MIA
43 Victor Cruz NYG WAS
44 Tyrell Williams SD @IND
45 Donte Moncrief IND SD
46 Mohamed Sanu ATL @NO
47 Quincy Enunwa NYJ @KC
48 Tyler Lockett SEA SF
49 Jamison Crowder WAS @NYG
50 Michael Thomas NO WAS

I have a lot of players I want to touch on this week so I'm going to keep the analysis a bit short to fit more guys in.

Odell Beckham Jr. - I don't normally talk about top-five guys because it's self explanatory that you put them in. OBJ has not started the season how fantasy owners (me being one of them) envisioned. Who would've thought that Victor Cruz and a rookie could take so much production away from an elite guy. But he will get back on track no doubt about it. The reason I talk about him is to combine three players into one analysis. Cruz and Sterling Shepard are both flex plays this week in my book.

Will Fuller - He proved me wrong last week. Fuller looks like he's going to see a lot more of the ball. He's another WR3 that could put big numbers in the flex position.

Julian Edelman - I'm am not a fan this week. New England is on their third string QB, Jacoby Brisset, who only targeted Edelman once after coming in. Plus Houston's defense has a decent secondary. Just not appealing to me at all.

Stefon Diggs - I know it's a matchup against Carolina, but you have to roll with one of the hottest hands in fantasy football through two weeks.

Travis Benjamin - Before Keenan Allen's injury: 10pts. After Keenan Allen's injury: 29pts. That's enough analysis right there. He's a must start this week.

Sammy Watkins - He did not look 100% at all and that's why I ranked him so low last week. This week he finds his way farther down. I think this injury is still nagging him plus he draws Patrick Peterson and the Cardinals this week. Bench him.

Golden Tate - I really thought he would shine this year with Megatron gone but it seems Marvin Jones has developed a stronger connection with Stafford. He is middle of the road for me, WR3 at best.

Doug Baldwin - The MRI on his knee came back negative, which is a good sign. He's also banged up having back spasms on Sunday as well. The Seahawks passing game has suffered after downgrading their offensive line and Russell Wilson has had to play through an injury. This offense looks shaky right now. Baldwin is limited to a flex play in my mind.