Some days, NFL offenses look like they can’t be stopped. However, that was not the case this week.
Defenses — and also special teams — played huge roles in the outcome of fantasy football matchups in Week 3, accounting for 37 turnovers, nine touchdowns and a safety. Unexpectedly leading the way … the Carolina Panthers, who shut out the Atlanta Falcons and got a pick six from cornerback Chau Smith-Wade.
Fantasy managers can’t count on defensive touchdowns to carry them every week though. So, let’s sort through Sunday’s action and see if we can determine some fantasy winners and losers for the week.
Fantasy football winners for Week 3
RB Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Lost in the Daniel Jones excitement over the first two weeks was the fact that Taylor hadn’t scored a rushing touchdown. Jones vultured three 1-yard scores in those game, but Taylor got his revenge at Tennessee. He scored twice from the 1, and also provided a signature 46-yard score on the way to being the RB1 on the week (pending the Monday night game).
RB Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings thrust Mason into the workhorse role after starter Aaron Jones’ hamstring injury landed him on injured reserve. He was clearly up to the challenge, gaining 116 yards and scoring twice on 16 carries before taking the fourth quarter off in a blowout. Maybe even more important, he helped keep the heat off backup QB Carson Wentz. Jones will miss a minimum of four games, so Mason should mostly have the backfield to himself until then.
TE Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Henry had just five total catches entering Week 3, but he was by far QB Drake Maye’s favorite target against the Steelers. He caught eight of 11 passes thrown his way for 90 yards and a pair of touchdowns. After fantasy managers spent so much time trying to identify the Patriots’ No. 1 wide receiver … it might have been the tight end all along.
WRs A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
See? The Eagles really do know how to throw the ball. After a pair of exceedingly quiet weeks for the star wideouts, both came alive against the Rams when the vaunted Philly running game stalled. Brown hauled in six of 10 targets for 109 yards and a TD, while Smith caught eight of nine for 60 yards and also got into the end zone. (Tight end Dallas Goedert also added a 33-yard touchdown.)
Fantasy football losers for Week 3
QB Dak Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
In what looked like a potential smash game against the NFL’s fifth-worst defense through two weeks, the Cowboys instead laid an egg in Chicago. Prescott put the ball in the air 40 times, but totaled just over 250 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. To add injury to insult, Lamb didn’t have a single reception before he left in the first half and didn’t return after tweaking his ankle. Any extended absence would crush Prescott’s fantasy value.
RB Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
Rookies need time to adjust to the NFL. But fantasy managers who spent a first- or second-round draft pick on this rookie are still waiting for him to produce like one. Against Washington, Jeanty rushed for 63 yards and averaged just 3.7 per carry. Even more concerning, he wasn’t targeted once in the passing game. Maybe Tre Tucker (8-145, 3 TD) was too wide open to ignore, but Jeanty needs to create some big plays of his own.
Atlanta Falcons offense
Speaking of not being able to break loose, the Falcons were Exhibit A on Sunday. Bijan Robinson was bottled up by the Panthers, getting 13 carries for 72 yards and catching five passes for 39. That’s a decent day for Flex starter, but not a No. 1 running back. QB Michael Penix Jr. (18-for-36, 182 yards, 2 int.) was benched late in the game in favor of Kirk Cousins. Back to the drawing board.
WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals
Fantasy managers expecting a rebound after Harrison’s 2-27 performance in Week 2 were sorely disappointed by his three-catch, 44 yard effort in San Francisco. He only had six targets total, and missed an opportunity for a big gainer when he dropped a pass with no defender anywhere in the area. QB Kyler Murray is having his own struggles (22-for-35 for just 159 yards), which is making it even tougher for Harrison to get on track.
All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter.
