Week 3 IDP Fantasy Football Rankings

All fantasy fans have had that moment, where every yard in an otherwise meaningless game carries tremendous weight for your fantasy team. At that moment, you find yourself counting the inches to make sure the scorekeeper gets it right. Meticulous stat counting during games like these is common for overinvested fantasy fans, and it can lead to infuriating realizations for IDP managers.

If you are one of these meticulous IDP stat counters, or if you become one, you will recognize how frequently scorekeepers get individual defender stats wrong and fail to correct them. A perfect example of this took place in the Cardinals v. Vikings contest this past Sunday. Late in that game, Chandler Jones secured Kirk Cousins’ legs, and the quarterback started going down. As the QB toppled like a tree, another Cardinal (Markus Golden) came in late to force the ball out. Golden was awarded the full sack, and Jones was given nothing. It was the second play of the game where Jones should have been credited with a half-stat but wasn't.

We mention Jones' phantom half-sack and the NFL's trend of inconsistent defensive scorekeeping not only because it cost some of us a matchup last week (which it did), but because we want all IDP managers to notice it. Inconsistent scorekeeping is a problem in IDP, and it can only be addressed if all of us keep an eye on it. We need to report the improper stats to our fantasy providers and our league managers. Join us in policing this very niche problem, please… and with that meandering complaint lodged in our books, let’s get to our Week 3 Rankings!

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Top-30 Fantasy Defensive Linemen of the Week

DL Streamer of the Week: Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders

The Miami Dolphins offensive line was horrendous in Week 2, allowing defenders to run free and injure Tua Tagovailoa early. When Jacoby Brissett stepped in, he fared little better. That line sits third-worst in the NFL through two weeks in Adjusted Sack Ratio, and their game film suggests that ranking is headed in the wrong direction.

On the flip side, the Raiders defense has played surprisingly well to start the 2021 season. Crosby has been one of the leaders on that unit, playing over 90% of the Raiders’ defensive snaps in both contests while taking Lamar Jackson down twice in the opener. The Eastern Michigan product should feast against a backup quarterback and a Dolphins offensive line that let people walk by the last week.

DL Fade of the Week: Khalil Mack, Chicago Bears

According to Pro Football Focus, Mack has been off to his worst start (in terms of pass rush grade) since 2016. To make matters worse, Mack isn’t collecting tackles. He has a total of one sack, three tackles, and two quarterback hurries in two games this year, despite playing the worst pass-blocking offensive line in the NFL in Week 2. While Mack remains a big-play threat on all downs, his age and slow start suggest he is a matchup-dependent fantasy asset right now.

This week is not the right matchup for Mack. Despite an injury to their best blocker (Jedrick Wills Jr.), the Cleveland Browns’ offensive line has allowed just four sacks and 10 pressures in 2021. In fact, this line is blocking even better than they did in 2020 when they permitted an impressive 6.68 pressures per game. To make matters worse, the inexperienced Justin Fields looked raw in his first real NFL snaps, and he could struggle with turnovers and efficiency against a tough Browns defense in his first NFL start.

If Fields struggles in his first start like other rookies tend to do, the Browns should have plenty of chances to establish the run game and control the clock. A heavy rushing script and a good pass blocking offensive line make for limited opportunities for a pass rusher like Mack.

Top-30 Fantasy Linebackers of the Week

LB Streamer of the Week: Logan Wilson, Cincinnati Bengals

Logan Wilson against the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense is arguably this week’s best fantasy matchup for any LB.  Why? There are a multitude of reasons we expect the Wyoming product to crush fantasy expectations this week.

First, the Steelers’ offense repeatedly tries to establish their rushing attack every week, despite a general lack of success or quality offensive line play. Second, their leading receiver may miss Week 3 with a knee injury. Third, Ben Roethlisberger is dealing with a pectoral problem that could further restrict his already conservative passing style. Fourth, when healthy, this offense averages a paltry 6.3 Air Yards per Attempt.

With the Steelers' game plan leaning heavily on floundering rush attempts and short passes, the Bengals' linebackers should have ample opportunity to collect fantasy points. Wilson will be the primary benefactor and should be considered a borderline LB1 this week.

LB Fade of the Week: Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys

Parsons’ fantasy value is suppressed right now, thanks to the Cowboys’ decision to use him as a full-time replacement for the injured Demarcus Lawrence on their defensive line. With Parsons playing defensive end instead of linebacker, his potential to collect tackles, interceptions, and PDs is lower. In short, he becomes a sack-dependent fantasy LB when he plays on the defensive line.

With that said, Parsons is a sleeper at the DL position if he is eligible there in your league. He was a productive pass rusher at Penn State, and against the Chargers, he showed a great combination of speed and handwork that compensated for his lack of size. If the Cowboys let him stand up on some running downs while rushing the passer every passing play, Parsons could be a fantasy-relevant DL for the next four to eight weeks. Further, if this Nittany Lion has DL eligibility in your league and later moves back to LB, he becomes an elite asset immediately.

Top-30 Fantasy Defensive Backs of the Week

DB Streamer of the Week: James Bradberry, New York Giants

Since he joined the Giants, Bradberry has been a shutdown corner, and they routinely use him in shadow coverage. As a result, Bradberry is averaging an impressive seven tackles and one PD per contest. Expect those tackle opportunities to continue this week against an Atlanta Falcons offense that runs things right through Bradberry’s wheelhouse.

21% of the Falcons' offensive plays have either been throws to Calvin Ridley or rush attempts to the edge in 2021.  Since Bradberry is an active run defender on the edge and the likely shadow of Ridley in this matchup, at least 15% of Atlanta's plays should come through the former Panther. You have to love that type of involvement from a fantasy CB, even if many rankers are fading Bradberry this week.

DB Fade of the Week: A.J. Terrell, Atlanta Falcons

Terrell didn’t practice this Wednesday or Thursday, so there is a chance he won’t even play this week. Some reports suggest the team is optimistic he will clear concussion protocol in time to suit up, though. If he does, the former Clemson Tiger has a less than ideal fantasy matchup ahead of him.

As a pro, Terrell has spent just 5.3% of his snaps in the slot. He simply doesn’t appear to follow opponents’ top receivers inside. That’s a problem when you consider the Giants’ leading receiver (Sterling Shepherd) has spent 73.7% of his snaps in the slot this year. Worse, over 50% of the Giants' passes go to the slot or the center of the field, where Terrell rarely plays. The cherry on the top of this melted sundae is the fact the Giants’ most gifted outside receiver, Kenny Golladay, could be on the outs with his offensive coordinator and his quarterback… even if neither of them will admit it publicly.

With New York’s offense focusing on the slot and screens to its running backs, the outside corners for Atlanta should see few opportunities this week. Terrell shouldn’t see too many targets if he does start against the Giants, and he isn’t effective in run support either. That adds up to a disappointing fantasy day for a usually effective CB, unless the team makes a concentrated effort to feed the complaining Golladay, which is a big if.

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