Upgrades For Week 3 Quarterback Rankings: Lamar Jackson In A Blowup Spot

Let's get into the Week 3 QB edition of Freedman's Favorites, where I highlight guys I'm upgrading because of …

Favorable betting factors and situational spots
Advantageous defensive matchups (perhaps aided by injury)
Increased usage expectations (again, maybe aided by injury)

For process notes regarding this series, see the end of this piece. Also, check out the rest of my Week 3 favorites and fades.

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Week 3 Quarterback Rankings (Top 20)

Rank	Player
1	Josh Allen
2	Lamar Jackson
3	Jalen Hurts
4	Brock Purdy
5	Patrick Mahomes
6	Dak Prescott
7	Jared Goff
8	Drake Maye
9	Trevor Lawrence
10	Joe Burrow
11	Jordan Love
12	Tyler Shough
13	Kyler Murray
14	Justin Herbert
15	Matthew Stafford
16	Bo Nix
17	Malik Willis
18	Bryce Young
19	Geno Smith
20	Kirk Cousins

Week 3 Matchup Upgrades: Lamar Jackson vs. Cowboys & Jared Goff vs. Jets

There are a few "flow chart" defenses so bad that they provide automatic upgrades to whatever QBs they face. If a guy is playing one of them, I aggressively move him up my ranks. If not, I carry on.

Based on the numbers I see in our Fantasy Life DvP (Defense vs. Position) Matrix as well as RBs Don't Matter and FTN, the Cowboys and Jets last year were two of the biggest flow chart defenses for QBs.

Cowboys: No. 1 in largest fantasy boost allowed to QBs (+5.1)
Jets: No. 32 in defensive dropback EPA (0.291) and pass DVOA (45.3%)

Bang a gong.

Lamar Jackson (Ravens) vs. Cowboys (in Brazil): After a strong Week 1 performance (25 fantasy points, 324 yards passing, 13.8 AY/A, 7-40-1 rushing), Jackson regressed in Week 2 (15.8 points, 235 yards passing), but that was to be expected without WRs Zay Flowers (hamstring) and Ja'Kobi Lane (wrist, IR). Since he entered the weekend doubtful, Flowers seems unlikely to return for this game … and I don't love that LT Ronnie Stanley (toe) exited Week 2 with an injury, but the matchup is still incredibly advantageous against the Cowboys, who in the back seven could be without LB DeMarvion Overshown (hamstring), CB Cobie Durant (hamstring), FS Malik Hooker (forearm) and No. 3 S P.J. Locke (foot). At Maracanã Stadium, the Ravens have an edge over the Cowboys playing on grass (vs. turf) and outdoors (vs. indoors). For his career, Jackson has been elite away from home (36-22 ATS, 20.2% ROI, per Action Network). For the season, I have a bet that the Ravens will miss the playoffs, but I can't imagine them not beating my Cowboys this week in Rio de Janeiro.

Jared Goff (Lions) vs. Jets: The season hasn't opened smoothly for the 1-1 Lions. In Week 1, they barely beat the Saints in overtime, and then in Week 2 they lost by 10 points to the Bills. Still, they have scored 31 points in back-to-back games, they enter Week 3 with a three-day rest advantage, and Goff has been about perfect (533 yards, 6 TDs, no INTs). It's less than ideal that they could be without RT Blake Miller (knee) and LG Christian Mahogany (hip), but the Jets could also be down three defensive starters in EDGE Joseph Ossai (foot), DT David Onyemata (groin) and SS Minkah Fitzpatrick (groin). Goff tends to dominate in Weeks 1-4 (24-14 ATS, 22.4%) and indoors (48-28-1 ATS, 20.8% ROI). Boxes checked.

Week 3 Scoring Upgrades: Patrick Mahomes at Dolphins & Brock Purdy vs. Cardinals

Sometimes upgrades are as simple as: "This team is going to score a lot of points, so I need to bump up the QB."

This week, the Chiefs are No. 2 in implied team total (28.5 points); the 49ers, No. 3 (28.25).

Upgrades warranted.

Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs) at Dolphins: In 2022, the Chiefs with OC Eric Bieniemy were No. 1 in offense (29.2 points per game). In 2023-25, with departed OC Matt Nagy, they were never better than No. 15 (21.8, 22.6, 21.3). Now with Bieniemy returned, the 2-0 Chiefs are No. 3 (32.0). They look all the way back, as evidenced by Mahomes' numbers (566 yards, 5 TDs passing with 1 INT, plus 9-40-1 rushing). Although they're on the road, the Chiefs should be fresh off two straight home games, especially compared to the Dolphins, who have just played back-to-back West Coast road games. Plus, Mahomes tends to do well in Weeks 1-4 (20-13-1 ATS, 17.3% ROI). The Dolphins last year were No. 31 in defensive dropback SR (52.3%) and this week could be without EDGEs Chop Robinson (concussion) and Robert Beal (hamstring).

Brock Purdy (49ers) vs. Cardinals: The 49ers have traveled almost 16,000 miles since the season started, and their home-field advantage is greatly reduced in this spot because the Cardinals play in division and on a similar grass surface, but the Niners are at least playing their second straight game at Levi's Stadium. Additionally, the Cardinals last year were No. 32 in defensive dropback SR (52.7%) and might be without CBs Will Johnson (neck), Garrett Williams (Achilles) and Max Melton (toe). For the season, Purdy has been on fire (25.3 fantasy points, 492 yards, 5 TDs passing plus 8-59-1 rushing), and in his one game last year against the Cardinals he was on point (200 yards passing, 3 TDs, 73.1% completion rate, 10.0 AY/A). Even if WRs Mike Evans (hip) and Demarcus Robinson (ankle) are out, Purdy should still produce.

Week 3 Indoors Upgrades: Tyler Shough vs. Raiders & Kirk Cousins at Saints

In general, I want to be heavy on QBs playing indoors, where they don't need to worry about wind, temperature or precipitation. Here are two such QBs who stand out.

Tyler Shough (Saints) vs. Raiders: It's time for Shough to foughck. After opening the season with consecutive road games, Shough is back indoors at Caesars Superdome, where the Saints have an amplified home-field advantage against the Raiders, who are out of conference and on turf (vs. grass). One of my 2026 fantasy favorites, Shough balled out last year after the Week 11 bye as a second-round rookie (256.9 yards passing, 25.0 yards rushing per game), and he looked even better in Weeks 1-2 (23.8 fantasy points, 662 yards passing, 13-31-1 rushing). For the Raiders, CB Darien Porter (foot) might be out.

Kirk Cousins (Raiders) at Saints: I just made the case for Shough and the Saints … but I also think Cousins could do well. The 2-0 Raiders are No. 11 in offense (26.5 points per game), in large part thanks to new HC Klint Kubiak, who now finds himself in a #RevengeGame with a former team. As an underdog of at least +3, Cousins has historically been the best version of himself (36-28 ATS, 9.0% ROI), and All-Pro TE Brock Bowers (knee) has a shot to return to this week.

Week 3 Defensive Injury Upgrades: Jordan Love vs. Falcons & Geno Smith at Lions

Here are a couple QBs who get upgrades because of defensive injuries.

Jordan Love (Packers) vs. Falcons: After opening the season with back-to-back road games (532 yards, 4 TDs passing, 1 INT), Love is now at home, where the Packers have an amplified advantage against the Falcons, who are out of division, on grass (vs. turf) and outdoors (vs. indoors). HC Matt LaFleur has historically done well at home (37-24 ATS, 16.3% ROI) and in Weeks 1-4 (19-11 ATS, 22.3% ROI). The Falcons won't have EDGEs Jalon Walker (knee, IR) and James Pearce (suspension) and DT Da'Shawn Hand (quadriceps, IR) on the DL, and they might additionally be without EDGE Samson Ebukam (hamstring) and DT Brandon Dorlus (hand) … as well as CBs A.J. Terrell (groin-IR) and Billy Bowman (Achilles) in the secondary. Against a defense this decimated, the Packers should be able to withstand the potential absences of WR Jayden Reed (neck), RT Zach Bako-Bewele (knee) and LG Aaron Banks (toe).

Geno Smith (Jets) at Lions: Smith hasn't been prolific this season (462 yards, 1 TD, no INTs), but he has been acceptable (70.8% completion rate, 7.4 AY/A), and now he gets an indoor matchup against a Lions secondary without SS Brian Branch (Achilles, PUP), FS Kerby Joseph (knee, PUP) and maybe No. 3 S Avonte Maddox (foot). If you're desperate, you could maybe get away with starting Smith in Guillotine Leagues^TM this week.

Notes

Week 3 Favorites & Fades: Here's the full series.

QB Fades

RB Fades

WR Fades

TE Fades

Defensive Matchups: Since the season is just two weeks old, I still rely primarily on prior defensive data.

Injuries: Since I write Freedman's Favorites on Monday and Tuesday, I have incomplete injury information. After I submit this article, any updated thoughts I have regarding injuries will manifest in my rankings. For our quick fantasy thoughts every day, subscribe to the Fantasy Life newsletter.

Schedule: This season, I have the following rankings schedule.