Dynasty Rankings Movement, Week 3

Photo: USA Today Sports

Week 2 adds data points. These points can confirm Week 1 reveals, like the Jaguars' running back split, or show production from Week 1 was simply a game script item, like Isaih Pacheco in Kansas City. But fantasy managers now have two results, and a zero in the win column can start to raise questions. Weekly the Footballguys staff will share their thoughts on the dynasty ranking movement to monitor while answering a question you may face in your league.

Quarterbacks

Jordan McNamara

Jalen Hurts - Philadelphia has answered a vital offseason question as they've leaned heavily on the pass after investing in A.J. Brown. Hurts has taken a significant step as a passer thus far in the season, while the offense has leaned away from his designed run game. Hurts is in the conversation for the MVP, which is justified by his play.

Jared Goff - Goff has played in one of the higher-scoring offenses in the league through two weeks. They can consistently move the ball and should be in contention in the NFC. This start should allow Goff to play his way into another year at the helm of this offense.

Kevin Coleman

Jalen Hurts - Many analysts were worried about Jalen Hurts's dynasty value coming into the season. There were questions surrounding the young quarterback about whether or not he was the long-term answer for them at the quarterback position. Through two games, those concerns seem to be incorrect. Against the Vikings, Monday night, Hurts completed 26 of his 31 passes for 333 yards and a touchdown while also adding fifty-seven yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns. It was simply one of the best games of his career and had his dynasty value skyrocketing. He sits at QB3 overall this season, and if he can continue his run of good play, we could be looking at a quarterback who should be ranked in the top five for the foreseeable future.

Trey Lance - Lance's dynasty stock took a massive blow this past week. The young quarterback underwent surgery Monday to repair a fibula fracture and ligament disruption. This injury is about as worst case as it gets for Lance. The one thing Lance needed in his career was reps, and he no longer will get that this season. There's a chance that Jimmy Garoppolo will lead this team back to the playoffs, which will make Lance's dynasty value heading into the 2023 season even murkier. One would assume the 49ers will rally behind Lance after his recovery, but this front office has been frustrating for fantasy managers since the John Lynch era. As of now, we need to move Lance down in our dynasty ranks.

Christian Williams

Trey Lance - Unfortunately, injuries are a significant component of dynasty value, and Trey Lance just experienced one of the most detrimental injuries in recent memory. Lance got through less than two games before suffering a season-ending injury to his leg after playing a limited amount of football over the previous two years. While he will present the dual-threat ability that dynasty managers covet upon return, the odds that he has to compete for his starting job in 2023 have grown larger. The 49ers mortgaged their future to go up and select Lance, but his value now comes with more risk.

Tua Tagovailoa - Situation is essential for quarterbacks, and there aren't many situations better than the one brewing in Miami. The Dolphins equipped Tagovailoa with two top-tier receivers, and the offense's potential was displayed in Week 2 against the Ravens. Tagovailoa threw for 469 yards and six touchdowns after a rocky start, settling in and challenging the deep third of the field. His deep ball, while still timed imperfectly, was precise. Through two weeks, he looks like one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and his dynasty value should reflect his growth.

Nick Whalen

Justin Fields - Now is the perfect time to buy Justin Fields because so much negative attention has been thrown his way. Chicago has played two of the top five defenses in the NFL to start the season. One of those games was in a monsoon of a rainstorm, and the other was on the road. The opponents get easier starting in Week 3 and the next ten games. Buy the dip on a young athletic QB who can make all the throws.

Trey Lance - The injury for Lance was devastating on many fronts. First of all, Lance is a raw player with only 22 starts at the quarterback position since High School, which is an average of 4.4 starts per year. He needed consistent starts and playing time to develop as a player. Next, will this injury alter how Trey Lance runs with the football? Will he slide more like Justin Fields to avoid hits? If so, it will limit his value as a runner. Also, will Kyle Shanahan change the offense to give Trey Lance fewer designed runs? I guess he'll run less, which was the most significant benefit to his value. I'd sell high while you can.

Carson Wentz - Players that have burned fantasy owners in the past leave a bad taste in their mouths. In the case of Carson Wentz, few people believe in him. This is good for you because fantasy football is about points, not feelings. Wentz is the 3rd highest-scoring QB in most formats this year in fantasy football. He has three very athletic receivers who create mismatch problems and an offense that allows him to throw the football deep. He is a cheap gamble at QB.

Jeff Bell

Jared Goff - Goff is a 27-year-old quarterback with a top-ten finish in 2018 and three consecutive top-20 seasons between 2019 and 2021. I misread this situation in the preseason, ranking Goff at 32. The consensus has him not long for the Lions' starting job. However, As he leads one of the most productive offenses in the NFL after leading the Rams to the Super Bowl, he sits with two realities. Quarterbacks like Baker Mayfield and Daniel Jones face make-or-break seasons, while Tom Brady leads an older generation who could walk out at any season. Either the Lions win enough games, and he becomes the defacto starter moving forward, or a league desperate for quarterback talent finds a starting opportunity. Given his age and production, Goff is a top-twenty dynasty quarterback. I am moving him up to 19.

Tom Brady - Before the season, I placed Brady at 21, a nod to his QB1 upside over short longevity. But the Buccaneers have experienced continual setbacks that leave him sitting with Breshad Perriman, Scotty Miller, and Russell Gage as his primary receiving options in Week 3. Brady looks along for the ride in what is his final season. The team is leading on Leonard Fournette and their defense to sit at 2-0. Many greats have utilized this formula in their last season, and no one runs from age forever. Knowing it is his final season and currently not getting top-24 production, he falls to 32. The bottom could be out soon if you are holding him in a Superflex league.

Running Backs

Kevin Coleman

Saquon Barkley - Barkley looks fully recovered from his ACL injury two years ago and should be rising in everyone's dynasty ranks. He is currently sitting as RB2 in PPR formats and is on his way to being a league-winning player this season, averaging 22.6 fantasy points per game. Barkley's involvement in the passing game has been a welcome sight, and he has eleven targets in the first two weeks. If you pair that with an improved offensive scheme and offensive line Barkley is back in the mix to be a top-five dynasty running back.

Travis Etienne - Etienne may become one of fantasy's biggest flops this season. His off-season ADP and rankings reflected that James Robinson was coming off an Achilles tear and was thought to be limited to begin the year. Unfortunately for Etienne managers, James Robinson has been a top-10 running back this season, taking most of the touches. Robinson has thirty-seven touches through two games, while Etienne has just eighteen. Etienne is averaging just 8.4 fantasy points per game in PPR leagues. Until we see Etienne get more involved in the passing game, we need to move him down our dynasty rankings.

Miles Sanders - Believe it or not, Sanders has been surprisingly efficient in the season's first two games. He's averaged 15 fantasy points per game in PPR formats and has thirty-five touches through two games. While Sanders's ceiling is capped with Jalen Hurts at quarterback due to his rushing upside, Sanders has proven to be a solid flex play or RB2, depending on the league format. Based on how low he was heading into the season, Sanders deserves a bump up in dynasty rankings.