Fantasy Football Rankings: Hayden Winks' QB, TE, D/ST, kicker Blueprint for Week 3

The Blueprint is my weekly column and basically everything that I use to build out the most accurate rankings I can. There will be a RB column, a WR column and this combination column on the onesie positions. You will find film notes and endless charts. Maybe enough charts to stress test the Yahoo website. I kid.

It's impossible to get every rankings thoroughly by Thursday Night Football, so be sure to keep checking in on these columns through Sunday morning. As always, my full rankings at every position are available.

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Note: Total-yardage projections are based on betting markets.

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QB rankings

TE rankings

D/ST analysis

Kicker

Week 3 Projected Points

Most of the charts you will see are scatterplots. They are labeled as best as I can, and if you are looking for more information, always scan the title of each chart. This chart is simply projected points and plays per game. The best fantasy teams are up and to the right, so the Bills and 49ers are among the top teams.

Week 3 QB Rankings

1. Josh Allen (vs. LAC) - 21.8 proj. points

2. Lamar Jackson (at DAL) - 22.3 proj. points

With Zay Flowers (hamstring) potentially returning, he missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, Jackson has QB1 overall aspirations in an elite matchup. The Cowboys have allowed the most fantasy points to QBs since Week 10 of last year, and their communication in the back seven this season has been horrific.

3. Jalen Hurts (at CHI)

4. Brock Purdy (vs. ARI) - 20.3 proj. points

5. Patrick Mahomes (at MIA) - 20.2 proj. points

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6. Jared Goff (vs. NYJ) - 19.4 proj. points

7. Dak Prescott (vs. BAL) - 20.8 proj. points

8. Trevor Lawrence (vs. NE) - 19.6 proj. points

9. Joe Burrow (at PIT) - 19.9 proj. points

10. Jordan Love (vs. ATL) - 17.7 proj. points

11. Tyler Shough (vs. LV) - 20.8 proj. points

12. Kyler Murray (at TB) - 19.4 proj. points

13. Bo Nix (vs. LAR) - 19.1 proj. points

14. Drake Maye (at JAX) - 20.2 proj. points

15. Matthew Stafford (at DEN) - 18.8 proj. points

16. Bryce Young (at CLE) - 19.4 proj. points

17. Justin Herbert (at BUF) - 19.9 proj. points

18. Geno Smith (at DET) - 19.1 proj. points

19. Jacoby Brissett (at SF) - 19 proj. points

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20. Drew Lock (at WAS)

21. Baker Mayfield (vs. MIN) - 19.3 proj. points

The Vikings defense is not only the best unit against fantasy QBs, but what they've done over their last 10 games is borderline historic. QBs facing them are averaging 10 fewer points against Minnesota compared to their season average. That is out of control. On top of that, Mayfield is not seeing the field well and that's exactly why the Vikings have been so dynamic on defense.

22. C.J. Stroud (at IND) - 19.5 proj. points

23. Jameis Winston (vs. TEN) - 17.9 proj. points

24. Deshaun Watson (vs. CAR) - 19.2 proj. points

25. Malik Willis (vs. KC) - 15.5 proj. points

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Why does Malik Willis only have two (two) designed carries and one (one) QB sneak? They need more first downs.

26. Kirk Cousins (at NO) - 17.5 proj. points

27. Aaron Rodgers (vs. CIN) - 18 proj. points

28. Daniel Jones (vs. HOU) - 18.8 proj. points

29. Marcus Mariota (vs. SEA) - 14.1 proj. points

30. Cam Ward (at NYG) - 13.8 proj. points

The Titans do so many things incorrectly. This being one of them is hilarious:

31. Michael Penix Jr. (at GB) - 12.7 proj. points

32. Case Keenum (vs. PHI)

More rankings from Hayden Winks

Complete weekly rankings

RB analysis

WR analysis

Week 3 TE Rankings

1. Trey McBride (at SF) - 67.5 proj. yards

Is a 37% target share for a TE good? Oh, and he had 115 yards against the Niners last time out. They'll have All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner this time around, though McBride has already eaten against All-Pro safety Derwin James and the Seahawks to start the year.

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2. Dalton Kincaid (vs. LAC) - 54.5 proj. yards

Kincaid has been the best per-route TE since 2023, and he's now running slightly more routes in a more aggressive offense. Kincaid is getting very valuable downfield role, will get red-zone looks in an elite offense and can beat man coverage in isolation. The Chargers were smoked by McBride in Week 1 and continue to have communication issues under a new DC.

3. Sam LaPorta (vs. NYJ) - 45.5 proj. yards

LaPorta is the TE5 in expected half-PPR points on TE5 targets, and the Lions project for the fifth-most points this week at home against the old Jets linebackers. We'll see if Jets safety Minkah Fitzpatrick can play, but he's not the same player anyways.

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4. Brock Bowers (at NO) - 49.5 proj. yards

5. Travis Kelce (at MIA) - 51.5 proj. yards

Kelce looks to be in better shape (#WeddingSZN) this year, and the numbers are reflecting just that. He's leading the NFL in yards after the catch through two weeks, and NextGenStats has him turning back the clock to 2022-23 when he was absolutely balling in fantasy football. He's the TE5 on TE8 usage in half PPR, as a must-play option until proven otherwise.

6. Dalton Schultz (at IND) - 48.5 proj. yards

This assumes Nico Collins (hamstring) misses again. Schultz had 16.6 expected half-PPR points (TE1 overall) without him last week, and the Texans don't have a go-to WR that is going to fill the void. Schultz is trusted over the middle, where the Colts have been absolutely crushed because their LBs are arguably the worst in the NFL. It's a great spot again. He had 73 yards against them last Week 18, too.

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7. Tucker Kraft (vs. ATL) - 46.5 proj. yards

Kraft is back to a full-time role, and he will have monster games in due time. They don't have slot WR Jayden Reed now, and their run game is close to non-existent. Kraft can beat these linebackers and safeties in Atlanta. They also can't rush the passer individually, so it's a good spot for the Packers' o-line to look more competent. Green Bay is eighth in projected points.

8. Terrance Ferguson (at DEN) - 42.5 proj. yards

Ferguson was unleashed in Week 2 without Puka Nacua. His role wasn't even that bad in Week 1 either, when he ran a route on 49% of Matthew Stafford dropbacks. But Week 2 was a totally different ballgame (71% routes) as a real featured player (30% targets and 13.0 expected half-PPR points). Ferguson surpassed Colby Parkinson in 11-personnel, and he was a stand up slot player on a bulk of those snaps. When the Rams went heavy, Ferguson was often 1-of-2 Rams eligibles running a real route with a third option in the flats as a checkdown. Those are very valuable looks, as they often are tied with play action. Ferguson also had a target where he split through the B-gap and caught a TD on a coverage bust in the end zone.

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Those three drops were killer and a sign that he's an inexperienced player in development, but Ferguson is a must hold for a long time at this point, even if Puka Nacua returns in Week 3. The upside is too obvious. Without Nacua, Ferguson has a case to be a top-5 fantasy option. With Nacua, he's more of a dart throw. I'd treat him as a real target off the waiver wire if available. I hope you guys had him rostered from the draft or directly after Nacua went to DNP on Friday. Signs were here.

9. George Kittle (vs. ARI) - 43.5 proj. yards

Kittle had an awesome game in the box score (16.0 half-PPR points), thanks to a few explosive plays against an inexperienced defense. The Dolphins didn't cover him in the red zone for a wide-open TD, didn't account for him on a seam pass and then was late to finding him when leaking out on a play-action rep. Those were as free as fantasy points get. On tape, Kittle did show passable straight-line burst and he did finish a YAC moment with a tough follow through. The stop-start and lateral ability are still more unproven, but it's good news that he's available for 47% of the routes and is capable of his signature big plays. He's the TE16 on TE12 usage and a 17% target share so far. The latter numbers are fairly in line with his standard.

10. Mark Andrews (at DAL) - 50.5 proj. yards

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This assumes Zay Flowers (hamstring) is out.

11. Juwan Johnson (vs. LV) - 35.5 proj. yards

12. Isaiah Likely (vs. TEN) - 42.5 proj. yards

Likely is the TE3 in expected half-PPR points on an elite 29.5% target share (TE2 overall). Malik Nabers is playing but isn't fully himself yet. The offense could be a rollercoaster with Jameis Winston. That typically at least means garbage-time production through the air. Likely is getting easy targets and is a factor in the red zone, too. He ran a route on 86% of dropbacks, and his competition, Theo Johnson, keeps dropping balls. It's a great role for Likely. He's a no-doubter fantasy TE1 right now.

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The Titans have also been struggling against fantasy TEs since Week 10 of last year.

13. Oronde Gadsden II (at BUF) - 35.5 proj. yards

The Chargers won't have David Njoku or Charlie Kolar this week, and they don't have real backups beyond that. One of them is literally Justin Herbert's younger brother. The Chargers won't be able to block well, but Gadsden should be a near full-time player. On a per-route basis, Gadsden is the TE10 in yards since 2025. A matchup with the Bills is a positive one, as they have a real CB1 in Christian Benford but are weak everywhere else at linebacker and in the secondary.

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14. Tyler Warren (vs. HOU) - 44.5 proj. yards

Six-of-seven targets to Warren last week were at or behind the line of scrimmage. His other one was the Chiefs' coverage bust that led to a wide-open TD in the middle of the end zone. It's not ideal, but it'll get the job done and absolutely gives him a better floor than others in this tier. Without Alec Pierce (heel) for the next month or longer, the Colts offense will feel very congested, but that also likely means an extra target or so to Warren. He's the TE13 on TE9 usage so far, as a more low-end TE1 than "elite" TE1.

15. Pat Freiermuth (vs. CIN) - 36.5 proj. yards

16. Harold Fannin Jr. (vs. CAR) - 37.5 proj. yards

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Fannin is only the TE25 on TE27 usage this year with rookies Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion very much eating into his workload. It's also possible new HC Todd Monken is not going to feature the TE position as much as Kevin Stefanski would. The Browns, as usual, are only 24th in projected points this week at 20.0 points.

17. Colston Loveland (vs. PHI)

The Eagles have been the second-best fantasy TE defense since Week 10 of last year, which isn't a surprise with Pro Bowl LB Zach Baun and slot CB Cooper DeJean roaming the middle. That included a relative dud (28 scoreless yards) from Loveland in Week 11. DC Vic Fangio is a lot for backup QB to sort through — be it Tyson Bagent or Case Keenum.

18. Jake Ferguson (vs. BAL) - 28.5 proj. yards

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19. Hunter Henry (at JAX) - 41.5 proj. yards

20. Kyle Pitts Sr. (at GB) - 36.5 proj. yards

Pitts is the TE21 on TE17 usage in 14 games with Drake London since 2025. The good news is there's room for more upside than that with Michael Penix Jr. back in the lineup. They are still only projected for 18.5 points at home this week. The Packers have athletes at linebacker and safety right now.

21. AJ Barner (at WAS) - 21.5 proj. yards

22. Darren Waller (at CLE) - 20.5 proj. yards

23. Mike Gesicki (at PIT) - 23.5 proj. yards

24. Brenton Strange (vs. NE) - 27.5 proj. yards

25. Colby Parkinson (at DEN) - 27.5 proj. yards

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26. Evan Engram (vs. LAR) - 21.5 proj. yards

27. T.J. Hockenson (at TB) - 30.5 proj. yards

28. Kenyon Sadiq (at DET) - 25.5 proj. yards

29. Cade Otton (vs. MIN) - 27.5 proj. yards

30. Greg Dulcich (vs. KC) - 23.5 proj. yards

Week 3 Defense Chart

The best defenses are going to be bottom right, but the deeper into the season, the better this data in particular will get. Right now, projected sack rate is using 2025 data and we know that only translates so much. We do have real D/ST rankings as well.

Week 3 Kicker Chart

More rankings from Hayden Winks

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