We’re only in Week 3, but from a fantasy football standpoint, it feels more like Week 10 with injuries starting to pile up suddenly.
Wideouts AJ Brown (hamstring), Puka Nacua (knee) and Cooper Kupp (ankle) are all expected to miss multiple games, while Amon-Ra St. Brown (soft tissue), Justin Jefferson (quadriceps) and Tee Higgins (hamstring) are also battling injuries but appear somewhat optimistic heading into this week.
Whether you’re facing deep receiver depth due to injuries or simply looking for a WR sleeper for Week 3, you’ve come to the right place. Here are four sleeper wide receivers to consider, along with our Week 3 WR Top 75 rankings.
WR Flex of the Week: Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions (vs. Cardinals)
Welcome to Flex, Mr. Williams! It looks like the former first-round draft pick is finally having a breakout season. WR7 in standard scoring leagues Through the first two weeks of the 2024 NFL season. Williams commanded 20 total targets in Weeks 1 and 2, catching 10 of them for 20 yards receiving and a score, ranking in the top five in yards per reception. He also led wide receivers with nine targets in the red zone and was one of only seven receivers to receive more than three targets in the end zone, expanding scoring opportunities in an already potent Lions offense.
With Amon-Ra St. Brown out with a soft-tissue injury, Williams could play a big role in this matchup, which is projected with the highest over/under of the week at 52.5 points.
Week 3 WR Sleepers
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Andrei Iosivas, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Commanders, 7%)
The Bengals will likely be without Tee Higgins again this week as he has a nagging hamstring issue, which is unfortunate timing for fantasy managers as he would likely be a thorn in the Washington Commanders' secondary opposite Ja'Marr Chase… but unfortunately, you can't have everything, and if Higgins misses Week 3, Andrei Iosivas becomes an attractive sleeper option.
Without Higgins, Iosivas played full time over the past two weeks, running two fewer routes and receiving two fewer targets than star receiver Ja'Marr Chase. No wide receiver gained more than 35 yards last week, but both of Iosivas' receptions went for touchdowns. Now he'll be facing one of the league's worst secondaries, which will help fantasy managers looking for opportunities.
Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Rams, 3%)
The San Francisco 49ers have significant injury concerns across the board, first with running back Christian McCaffrey out, and now wide receiver Deebo Samuel expected to miss several weeks with an injury. Calf injury. Replacing talented personnel is never easy, but the Niners have plenty of depth on offense, and a key part of that depth is WR3 Jauan Jennings.
Jennings is usually praised for his abilities as a blocker, but he's also had plenty of moments where he's shone as a receiver — perhaps he would have been named MVP of Super Bowl LVIII after throwing and catching a touchdown in a big game for the 49ers. This week, the 49ers take on the LA Rams, who are allowing a league-best 0.207 EPA per play and the second-highest touchdown drive percentage (40%) in the league according to PFF.
Jalen Naylor, Minnesota Vikings (vs. Texans, 1%)
This play isn't for the faint of heart, but the opportunities should be there for Naylor in Week 3. allAnd sometimes desperate situations call for desperate measures. The Vikings have had some bad luck with injuries this year, starting with rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy with a season-ending knee injury, followed by an ankle injury to second-year receiver Jordan Addison and now a quad injury to star receiver Justin Jefferson. TJ Hockenson is also recovering from a torn ACL from last season.
There's optimism that Jefferson won't miss any games with an injury, but if he is limited in any way, Naylor could see an increased target share and be a player to thrive in deep leagues. The Vikings have a tough game coming up this week against the Houston Texans, but Sam Darnold has performed well under head coach Kevin O'Connell and it's not out of the question that he could make a couple of big plays.
Fantasy Football: Week 3 WR Rankings
Kate Magziuk is the editor. Yahoo Fantasy contributor Co-organizer of Rock On Dynasty Football podcast. He also serves as editor-in-chief of SB Nation's exclusive show “Behind The Steel Curtain.” Pittsburgh Steelers Blog. Previous contributors to Pro Football Focus, NBC Sports Rotoworld, 4for4 Football, and more.
