Each week during the NFL season, we will rank enough players at each position to appease everyone from those in 8-team leagues to 16-team leagues, those that can start two QBs, two TEs, three RBs and four WRs. We cut out the rest, because if you're looking at who the 50th-best running back or the 17th-best kicker is for that week, you need more help than any Web site can give you.
2012 NFL Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings — Defense/Special Teams
| Rk | Player | OPPONENT |
| 1 | San Francisco 49ers | at MIN |
| 2 | Houston Texans | at DEN |
| 3 | Chicago Bears | vs. STL |
| 4 | Philadelphia Eagles | at ARI |
| 5 | Pittsburgh Steelers | at OAK |
| 6 | Green Bay Packers | at SEA (Mon.) |
| 7 | New York Jets | at MIA |
| 8 | Baltimore Ravens | vs. NE |
| 9 | Dallas Cowboys | vs. TB |
| 10 | Seattle Seahawks | vs. GB (Mon.) |
| 11 | Arizona Cardinals | vs. PHI |
| 12 | Detroit Lions | at TEN |
| 13 | Atlanta Falcons | at SD |
| 14 | Miami Dolphins | vs. NYJ |
| 15 | Buffalo Bills | at CLE |
| 16 | New England Patriots | at BAL |
Rankings are based upon Athlon Sports' standard scoring system:
DEFENSIVE SCORING
0 points allowed = 12 points
1-6 points allowed = 10 points
7-13 points allowed = 8 pts
14-20 points allowed = 6 points
21-27 points allowed = 2 pts
28+ points allowed = 0 points
Safeties = 2 points
Fumbles recovered = 2 points
Interceptions = 2 points
Sacks = 1 point
Defensive/Special Teams TDs = 6 points
Additional Week 3 Positional Rankings
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Kickers
