Week 3 of the 2023 fantasy football season featured some big surprises. Who were the big winners and losers? Which players received "A" and "F" grades?
Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft offer their analysis, and Seth Walder provides his grades. We also asked NFL Nation reporters to answer questions about what happened in Sunday's games.
Jump to a topic:
Ranking winners | Ranking losers
Who got an 'A' | Who got an 'F'
Biggest injuries and what's next
Top questions from Week 3
Ranking fantasy winners of Week 3
1a. Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane, RBs, Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins' entire offense put a beating on the visiting Broncos -- they scored 70 as a team! -- but these running backs put on quite a show themselves, scoring 45.2 and 51.3 PPR fantasy points in the extreme Miami heat. Since 1950, no team can claim two running backs with at least 45 PPR fantasy points in a game, with the only other to have two score 40-plus being the 2004 Chiefs (Priest Holmes and Derrick Blaylock). Mostert was the game's early rushing star, converting a pair of goal-line runs for touchdowns while adding an additional two scores (20-yard run, 19-yard catch), while Achane had a pair of runs clocked at 21-plus mph, per Next Gen Stats, including a 67-yard score after Mostert was pulled from the game. These two have heightened the challenge for Jeff Wilson Jr. to carve out a meaningful role once he's healthy. -- Cockcroft
1b. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, and Tyreek Hill, WR, Dolphins
Though overshadowed by the running backs, Tagovailoa's 28.36 fantasy points and Hill's 30.7 (PPR scoring) were second best at their respective positions during the 1 p.m. ET block. Hill's 90.2 points thus far are the seventh most by a wide receiver through three team games this century. -- Cockcroft
2. Justin Herbert, QB, and Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Herbert was dialed in, throwing rockets versus the Minnesota defense, and Allen continued to demand target volume due to his elite coverage awareness. Herbert completed 85.1% of his passes (on 47 attempts), throwing for 405 yards. And his 29.4 fantasy points led all quarterbacks in the early slate of games. Allen saw a whopping 20 targets in this one, catching 18 for 215 yards. That's good for 45.5 PPR points. Clinic stuff out there in the route tree, too. Herbert and Allen get the Raiders in Week 4. -- Bowen
3. Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions: LaPorta's 22.4 PPR points in the win over the Falcons led all tight ends in the early kickoffs, and we're seeing how his offensive deployment and route running are creating fantasy production. LaPorta caught eight of 11 targets for 84 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown grab off a schemed shot play, which is a staple of the Lions' play-action pass game. LaPorta has now posted at least five receptions in each game played this season. He'll be a TE1 for the Week 4 matchup versus Green Bay. -- Bowen
4. Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks
That's back-to-back games with multiple rushing touchdowns for him, as the arrival of rookie Zach Charbonnet apparently hasn't at all been a hindrance to Walker's production. Charbonnet might've played a similar number of snaps (44% on offense to Walker's 49%), but much of that was late in the game with a lead. Walker's 30.6 PPR fantasy points in Week 3 were a career high, and a signal that he's still on the edge of the RB1 tier. -- Cockcroft
5. Zack Moss, RB, Indianapolis Colts
With 22.5 PPR points in the upset win over the Ravens, Moss has now produced back-to-back games of 20 or more points. He plays with power and contact balance when he gets on a north/south track, and he can handle heavy volume. Moss logged 30 carries on Sunday, giving him a total of 48 over the past two games. And he also posted six receptions during that span, including a touchdown versus Baltimore. With the uncertainty of Jonathan Taylor's return, Moss is still available in over 20% of ESPN leagues. He gets the Rams' defense in Week 4. -- Bowen
6. Tank Dell, WR, Houston Texans
After showing good chemistry with fellow rookie C.J. Stroud in what was a breakthrough Week 2 for the wide receiver (20.2 PPR fantasy points), Dell upped the ante with a 25.5-point Week 3 in which he was clearly Stroud's go-to guy. That Nico Collins and Robert Woods, previously assumed the No. 1-2 receivers, saw three and six targets speaks well to the fantasy sustainability of Dell, who had a pair of 40-plus-yard catches in which his max speed was 20-plus mph, per Next Gen Stats. -- Cockcroft
7. James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
In a tough Week 3 matchup versus the Dallas defense, Connor dropped 19.6 PPR points, and he found the end zone for the second straight game. He finished here with 98 yards rushing -- on 14 carries -- while adding two receptions for 18 yards. Connor has now logged 204 yards rushing over his past two games, and the touchdown production locks him as a solid RB2. He'll face another high-level defense in Week 4, when the Cardinals travel to San Francisco. -- Bowen
Ranking fantasy losers of Week 3
1. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Perhaps we should begin crediting the Lions' run defenses as an above-average unit? Robinson's matchup seemed favorable on paper, but he managed 60 total yards and 10.0 PPR fantasy points, his first time in the NFL scoring under 20. His Falcons abandoned the run early, but that he saw another six targets is encouraging considering that might often be the case. Robinson gets the Jaguars next in London, where he'll remain an RB1. -- Cockcroft
2. Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans
Henry posted a disappointing 2.0 PPR points in the Week 3 loss to the Browns, rushing for just 20 yards on a season-low 11 carries, and he failed to log a single reception/target. Behind a Tennessee offensive line that is struggling to create run game efficiency, Henry couldn't find open daylight versus a Browns defense that deploys multiple fronts. Henry -- who has yet to break out this season -- will face the Bengals' defense in Week 4. -- Bowen
3. Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears
A late fourth-quarter touchdown throw -- in a blowout loss to the Chiefs -- bumped Fields up to 10.6 fantasy points, but this will be another tough film to watch in Chicago. Fields completed just 11 of 22 passes in this one, finishing with 99 yards and an interception, while also adding 47 yards rushing on 11 carries. Fields never looked settled in the pocket. A lot of unnecessary movement there, and he's simply not seeing it fast enough as a thrower. More work to do here for Fields and a Bears offense that was noncompetitive in Kansas City. -- Bowen
4. Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars' passing game
For the second consecutive week, Lawrence and his receivers disappointed in the face of what should've been a fantasy-friendly matchup. Lawrence scored 14.36 fantasy points, plagued by his offense's inconsistency, drops, a blocked field goal and a Jamal Agnew fumble, and his line would've looked worse if not for the 112 yards and a touchdown pass he threw while playing catchup in the fourth quarter. It's a concern as the team heads to London next to face the Falcons, another favorable matchup on paper. -- Cockcroft
5. New York Jets offense
This Jets offense was a tough watch versus the Patriots with Zach Wilson taking the snaps. He looks rushed as a thrower, and he's not seeing the field well, which has created a disjointed rhythm for the entire offense. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson caught just five of nine targets for 48 yards in the Week 3 loss to the Patriots. And the run game was nonexistent as well, with Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook combining for just 36 yards on 20 carries. The Jets will look to create more offensive production in the Week 4 game versus the Chiefs. -- Bowen
Injury impact
Derek Carr, QB, New Orleans Saints
What we know: Carr was violently sacked by Packers LB Rashan Gary in the third quarter and was quickly ruled out for the game because of a shoulder injury.
What's next: If Carr needs to miss additional time, Jameis Winston would take over as the Saints' starting quarterback. -- Cockcroft
Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
What we know: Williams left the game on a cart after suffering a knee injury on a reception in the fourth quarter.
What's next: If Williams is down for an extended period of time, wide receivers Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston would both elevate as targets for quarterback Justin Herbert. -- Bowen
Gus Edwards, RB, Baltimore Ravens
What we know: Edwards left Sunday's game in the fourth quarter and was being evaluated for a concussion.
What's next: He'll need to clear the league's concussion protocol, which isn't an easy task. The Ravens' backfield is in tatters because of injuries, with J.K. Dobbins out for the season and Justice Hill landing on injured reserve during the past week. Melvin Gordon III and Kenyan Drake are all they have left at the position. -- Cockcroft
Who earned an 'A' from the weekend?
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel
Oh, he's missing Jaylen Waddle going against a Denver defense that features Patrick Surtain II? No problem. How's 70 points sound? Tua Tagovailoa averaged 1.02 (!!) expected points added per dropback, per NFL Next Gen Stats, including a beautifully designed play that resulted in a no-look touchdown flip to Achane. In other words: every time Tagovailoa dropped back to pass, the Dolphins' improved their expected margin of victory by an entire point, which is insane. Miami's Super Bowl hopes are looking stronger and stronger with each week. -- Walder
Who earned an 'F' from the weekend?
AJ Dillon, RB, Green Bay Packers
With Aaron Jones sidelined, Dillon has had the opportunity to take over as a clear-cut No. 1 running back. For the second week in a row, Dillon was a huge disappointment with just 33 yards on 11 carries. The advanced metrics are no prettier: Dillon recorded minus-15 rush yards over expectation, per NFL Next Gen Stats. In fact, Dillon has recorded double-digit negative RYOE in each of his three games this season. Yikes! -- Walder
Lingering questions from Sunday's games
What's your biggest fantasy takeaway from the Dolphins' 70-point Sunday?
Rookie running back De'Von Achane was going to have a role in this offense at some point; as it turns out, that point is Week 4. After rattling off 233 total yards and four touchdowns in his first real opportunity to make an impact, there's little chance he reverts back to a situational player, even when Jeff Wilson and Salvon Ahmed return from injury. Raheem Mostert is still the Dolphins' starter, and while his touchdown rate is probably unsustainable, he is still a high-caliber option in your fantasy lineup -- particularly in PPR leagues (seven catches, 60 yards in Week 3). Miami obviously isn't going to run and pass for 350-plus yards every game, but this offense has flashed elite balance over the past two games and has juicy matchups at home against the Giants and Panthers following next week's litmus test against the Bills. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
Should fantasy managers be worried about Derrick Henry and the way Tennessee has used its backfield so far?
Henry's game against the Browns -- 11 carries for just 20 yards and zero targets in the passing game -- should cause alarm for those with him on their fantasy rosters. A look beneath the surface shows that Henry's usage (37%) dipped because of the Titans' inability to stay ahead of the chains and avoid being in pass-first scenarios when they use rookie Tyjae Spears. The Titans trust Spears more as a pass-catcher, so they always put him in on third-and-long situations. When given the opportunity to run the ball, Henry was hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on seven of his 11 carries. Cleveland employed nine defenders in the box at times to stop him. -- Turron Davenport
With eight catches in three games, should Drake London still be considered a weekly must-start for fantasy managers?
The easy answer is probably. Sunday felt like an aberration in terms of overall offensive movement, and London is still receiving a large amount of targets -- six this week, eight in Week 2 against Green Bay. He has a clear rapport with quarterback Desmond Ridder and is still averaging a good amount of yards per reception (15.5 on Sunday against Detroit, 11.17 against the Packers). He's a good player and the best week-to-week option for Atlanta to have in terms of its wide receivers. Like any player in the Falcons offense other than Bijan Robinson, there will be some week-to-week variance in terms of opportunities, but London is still worth investing in. -- Michael Rothstein