Fanrun Fantasy Football Fight Power Rankings: Week 3

By Tucker Harlin

I’d like to start off by saying I received an unwarranted diatribe last week on The Drive for my power rankings even though I very obviously had the best Week 1 score.

Anyone that knows how fantasy football drafts work knows you don’t keep the same team from one year to the next, so that has no bearing on any of these rankings.

There appears to be a clear group of four contenders near the top of the league, about another four or five that will fight for playoff spots, and at least two that aren’t contending at all.

Here we go:

1. RUSSELL SMITH

Before you accuse me of cowardice, the ESPN AI and total points had me outnumbered on this one. Russell’s arrogant behavior over his team did nothing to influence my decision here.

Dubsy’s had it good both at running back and receiver in the first two weeks of the season with the work of James Cook, Saquon Barkley, D.K. Metcalf, and Zay Flowers.

Trey McBride, Anthony Richardson, and the Cowboys defense have been boom or bust, but I’m expecting more consistency from them over the course of the season.

The Keg of Glory has a prove it matchup with Sam Beard this week, an opponent who is more than capable of stuffing humble pie in the keg.

2. TUCKER HARLIN

Russell might have passed me in total points this week, but my team is still a force to be reckoned with.

I like what I’m working with at running back. Breece Hall has been consistent, and Derrick Henry stepped up his effort this past week. Brandon Aubrey might be the MVP of this team, and my defenses have been satisfactory to start the year.

Josh Allen didn’t have quite the week I would’ve liked out of him in Miami, but I’m going to assume the best is yet to come for Allen in fantasy.

My only concerns are my receivers and tight end. Michael Pittman’s production has been suboptimal through two weeks and I’m growing concerned about Stefon Diggs given that two prominent receivers are already in that system.

Kyle Pitts has always been a questionable pick at tight end, so I’m just hoping for the best there.

Like Russell, I’ve also got a big test this week against More Important Issues, a team that has risen in this week’s power rankings.

3. SAM BEARD

I believed in Sam’s team a lot more than he did to start the season, and it looks like I was right as he’s averaging about 138 a week.

Consistency has been the bare minimum of what Sam’s gotten out of Alvin Kamara and Tony Pollard at running back as Kamara exploded for 44 last week.

He’s got it good at receiver with Justin Jefferson and Mike Evans, and he’s three deep on the bench with Brian Thomas, Jameson Williams, and Rashid Shaheed.

Sam’s only big concern now is his quarterback. He’s without Tua Tagovailoa for the foreseeable future, forcing him to turn to a less than 100% Justin Herbert.

Russell is on the horizon for Sam this week. I fully expect a shootout between those two.

4. MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES

Landon and the gang jumped up four spots after posting a league-high 151.9 in Week 2.

Aside from the 8.4 points Najee Harris scored, just about everything went right for More Important Issues this week.

Part of me wonders if Nico Collins and Ka’imi Fairbairn caught some lightning in a bottle for the Texans. Collins is surrounded by strong fantasy receivers in Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell, so I have a feeling 27.5 won’t happen every week.

With the injury to Deebo Samuel, I’m sure George Kittle will receive more attention in fantasy, and J.K. Dobbins appears to be the preferred back for the Chargers.

Issues faces Young Phillip Fulmer this week, an early decisive battle near the top of the league standings.

5. CODY MCCLURE

Cody’s 2-0 is very similar to the Los Angeles Chargers’ 2-0: good enough performances against struggling opponents.

He caught Bob in a bad week to start the season and he played the rough looking bunch that is Jon’s Juggalos in Week 2.

The Varsity Athletes’ first round pick of Tyreek Hill may take a pretty big hit in production in the coming weeks with Tua Tagovailoa’s injury, and there’s just no way to tell if Malik Nabers can give Cody the week to week consistency he’s looking for.

David Montgomery and Travis Etienne’s highs will only be so high at running back, and most of what’s behind them for Cody is RB2s on other squads.

Cody plays William Patteson in Week 3, another very winnable matchup for the Varsity Athletes. Cody could have the quietest 3-0 in fantasy football history if all goes well next week.

6. BOB BASKERVILLE

I said last week that Bob needed some gambles to pay off in order for his team to succeed, and he got it out of one player in particular this week.

Marvin Harrison Jr. had an ugly 1.4 in Week 1 but made leaps and bounds in Week 2 with a solid 29. Brian Robinson Jr was good move by Bob into the starting lineup, and Rashee Rice picked up right where he left off in Week 1.

The only puzzling piece in last week’s win over the Vol Rumor Mill was Sam LaPorta’s 3.3. LaPorta was a hot commodity last year for the Lions, but that’s two weeks in a row where he hasn’t produced much in fantasy.

Bob draws Jace Brown this week, who has one of two teams that has yet to break 100 this season.

7. TIM HILL

I was between Tim and Houston for the #7 spot, but Peaches is better set up to handle the injury to Deebo Samuel than what Houston’s dealing with.

Surprisingly, the best player on his team through two weeks is James Conner who’s scored over 19 in each of the first two weeks.

Tank Dell and Xavier Worthy are his current receivers with Deebo out. They’ve been Jekyll and Hyde (mostly Hyde) performances through two weeks, but I’m sure Dr. Jekyll will come out at some point.

Jonathan Taylor, Kyren Williams, and Patrick Mahomes have all been fine at their positions. They’ve yet to have a true boom week.

The Thrill squares off with Ryan this week, a strong opportunity for him to get to 2-1.

8. HOUSTON KRESS

The injury to Isiah Pacheco has Houston looking at a pretty serious downgrade to Gus Edwards or Carson Steele at running back. J.K. Dobbins has become the top running back in the Chargers’ offense, so it appears the Rumor Mill will only get so much out of Edwards.

Jaylen Waddle is going to take a production hit for about the next month with Tua on IR, but it’s not the end of the world if Amon-Ra St. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba replicate their Week 2 performances.

The tight end situation is still a bit of a mess, and Brock Purdy has underperformed out of the gate.

Houston easily has the best of the 0-2 teams in the league. If the Rumor Mill doesn’t play Young Phillip Fulmer in Week 1, he probably has a win.

He’s going against Jon Reed this week, a team that’s way behind the 8-ball.

9. RYAN BROWN

Ryan started high atop my power rankings in Week 1, but it’s going to be difficult to move him any further up in the coming weeks with Christian McCaffrey out an extended period of time.

Management’s team is Raider heavy, which may work with Davante Adams and Brock Bowers if Gardner Minshew can keep it up. Obviously, Alexander Mattison won’t be trusted once CMC returns.

Other than Adams and Bowers, De’Von Achane is the only piece on Ryan’s team I like right now.

Keenan Allen may be in some trouble the way the Bears have started the season, and Jared Goff hasn’t put up more than 12 points through two weeks.

Ryan will have to try and get through Tim for his first win, who he’s projected a 46% chance to win against.

10. JACE BROWN

I think I put too much faith in Jace’s team in the first two weeks.

Ja’Marr Chase, Travis Kelce, and D’Andre Swift have been pretty serious letdowns in the first two weeks. Austin Ekeler and George Pickens are not trustworthy pieces this season.

Jahmyr Gibbs and Lamar Jackson are Jace’s two best players right now as Jackson went off last week and Gibbs has consistently scored around 17.

If Jace’s team wakes up this week, he could ascend several spots in my power rankings.

He faces Bob this week in a battle of two teams that are waiting to have strong weeks.

11. WILLIAM PATTESON

Overtime Bill broke 100 this week, but it’s been a difficult start to the season for Break T-Law.

For one, his Jacksonville Jaguars players have not delivered in the first two weeks. Second, his top running back in Kenneth Walker missed last week due to injury, forcing him to start Ezekiel Elliott instead.

CeeDee and Drake London looked like the guys they were advertised to be in Week 2, and surprisingly, William’s best player has been Rhamondre Stevenson.

Overtime Bill has a bout with Cody this week. Cody hasn’t needed an incredible week to beat anyone yet, so if Bill turns it on Cody could be in some trouble with the way his team has played.

12. JON REED

Jon’s strategy of not taking running backs in the opening rounds is looking worse and worse by the week.

Garrett Wilson has yet to truly break out, Brandon Aiyuk still looks rusty due to his contract holdout, and Cooper Kupp is now out for an extended period of time.

Jon fell into the very unfortunate trap of starting Jayden Daniels over Kyler Murray after Daniels’ Week 1 performance. Daniels got hurt while Murray went off.

The Juggalos go at it with the Vol Rumor Mill this week, who is without his top running back. It’s a must win situation for Jon.