2012 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings: Week 3

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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.

It turns out the Giants didn't miss Hakeem Nicks (DNP, foot) after all as Ramses Barden filled in admirably (9 rec., 138 yds.) for his injured teammate in the win over Carolina on Thursday night. Barden, running back Andre Brown (113 yards rushing, 2 TDs) and tight end Martellus Bennett (6 rec., 73 yds., TD) did most of the damage for the G-Men, turning Victor Cruz (6 rec., 42 yds.) into a role player this week. In other injury news, Greg Jennings is still being limited by the groin injury that caused him to miss last week's game. The Packers don't play until Monday night, which give him more time to recover, but also puts his owners in somewhat of a bind because it's the last game on the docket. Philadelphia plays in Arizona on Sunday and the Eagles' already know they will be without Jeremy Maclin, who has been ruled out because of a hip injury. DeSean Jackson has been dealing with a hamstring issue of his own, so the Eagles' passing attack may end up grounded against the Cardinals. Washington's Pierre Garcon is considered Doubtful for the Redskins game against Cincinnati, meaning he may miss a second straight game because of a nagging foot injury. In Dallas, Miles Austin and Dez Bryant are hoping for results similar to those enjoyed by Nicks and Cruz as the Cowboys host Tampa Bay and its pass defense that gave up more than 500 yards last week. There also could be plenty of offense in the Super Dome as New Orleans and Kansas City face off with each team hoping for a much-needed victory. These two teams are tied for most points allowed at 37.5 per game, which could be good news for Dwayne Bowe, Marques Colston, Lance Moore and possibly even Jon Baldwin owners this week. Colston has been limited by a foot injury, but to this point it has not kept him from playing.

2012 NFL Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings — Wide Receivers


Rk	Player	Team	OPPONENT
1	Calvin Johnson	DET	at TEN
2	A.J. Green	CIN	at WAS
3	Julio Jones	ATL	at SD
4	Victor Cruz	NYG	at CAR (Thurs.)
5	Steve Smith	CAR	vs. NYG (Thurs.)
6	Brandon Marshall	CHI	vs. STL
7	Percy Harvin	MIN	vs. SF
8	Roddy White	ATL	at SD
9	Andre Johnson	HOU	at DEN
10	Miles Austin	DAL	vs. TB
11	Jordy Nelson	GB	at SEA (Mon.)
12	Mike Wallace	PIT	at OAK
13	Dez Bryant	DAL	vs. TB
14	Marques Colston	NO	vs. KC
15	Greg Jennings	GB	at SEA (Mon.)
16	Dwayne Bowe	KC	at NO
17	Stevie Johnson	BUF	at CLE
18	Reggie Wayne	IND	vs. JAC
19	Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	vs. PHI
20	Demaryius Thomas	DEN	vs. HOU
21	Brandon Lloyd	NE	at BAL
22	Vincent Jackson	TB	at DAL
23	Antonio Brown	PIT	at OAK
24	DeSean Jackson	PHI	at ARI
25	Torrey Smith	BAL	vs. NE
26	Pierre Garcon	WAS	vs. CIN
27	Wes Welker	NE	at BAL
28	Malcom Floyd	SD	vs. ATL
29	Danny Amendola	STL	at CHI
30	Lance Moore	NO	vs. KC
31	Michael Crabtree	SF	at MIN
32	Brandon LaFell	CAR	vs. NYG (Thurs.)
33	Eric Decker	DEN	vs. HOU
34	Santonio Holmes	NYJ	at MIA
35	Denarius Moore	OAK	vs. PIT
36	Kenny Britt	TEN	vs. DET
37	Nate Washington	TEN	vs. DET
38	Anquan Boldin	BAL	vs. NE
39	Robert Meachem	SD	vs. ATL
40	Sidney Rice	SEA	vs. GB (Mon.)
41	Greg Little	CLE	vs. BUF
42	Donnie Avery	IND	vs. JAC
43	Jon Baldwin	KC	at NO
44	Darrius Heyward-Bey	OAK	vs. PIT
45	Brian Hartline	MIA	vs. NYJ
46	Nate Burleson	DET	at TEN
47	Laurent Robinson	JAC	at IND
48	Mike Williams	TB	at DAL
49	Randall Cobb	GB	at SEA (Mon.)
50	Kevin Ogletree	DAL	vs. TB
51	Randy Moss	SF	at MIN
52	Andre Roberts	ARI	vs. PHI
53	Davone Bess	MIA	vs. NYJ
54	Ramses Barden	NYG	at CAR (Thurs.)
55	Kendall Wright	TEN	vs. DET
56	Donald Jones	BUF	at CLE
57	Andrew Hawkins	CIN	at WAS
58	Brandon Gibson	STL	at CHI
59	Doug Baldwin	SEA	vs. GB (Mon.)
60	Mario Manningham	SF	at MIN
61	Justin Blackmon	JAC	at IND
62	Mohamed Massaquoi	CLE	vs. BUF
63	James Jones	GB	at SEA (Mon.)
64	Rueben Randle	NYG	at CAR (Thurs.)

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Injury-Related News:
Marques Colston, NO: Continues to be limited in practice, and to a degree in games, by a nagging foot issue. It has not kept him out of any games, however, and nothing's been said that suggests his status for Sunday's game against Kansas City is in question.
Pierre Garcon, WAS: Listed as Doubtful for Sunday's game against Cincinnati because of a nagging foot injury that prevented him from playing last week.
DeSean Jackson, PHI: Dealing with a hamstring issue, which limited him in practice on Wednesday. He was a full participant in practice on Thursday, so barring any setbacks he should be able to go on Sunday in Arizona.
Greg Jennings, GB: Missed last week's game against Chicago with groin injury, which continues to hamper him at practice. Nothing definitive has been said regarding his status for the Monday night game in Seattle, but it's possible he could be held out for a second straight week if he doesn't show more progress soon.
Jeremy Maclin, PHI: Will not play on Sunday against Arizona because of a hip injury. He practiced on a limited basis this week, but the team made the decision to hold him out of the game on Friday.
Hakeem Nicks, NYG: Did not play Thursday night in Carolina because of a foot injury.

Rankings are based upon Athlon Sports' standard scoring system:

OFFENSIVE SCORING
All touchdowns are 6 points
1 point for 25 yards passing
1 point for 10 yards rushing/receiving
Receptions are .5 points
Interceptions/fumbles are minus-2 points

Additional Week 3 Positional Rankings

Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Tight Ends
Kickers
Defense/Special Teams

Week 3 Start or Sit

— Updated on Sept. 21, 2012