Which quarterbacks are on bye in week 3?

Every team on bye in week 3 is listed at the bottom of this page, and those players are removed from the rankings automatically.

Free tool · Sep 22 – Sep 28

Week 3 QB start or sit

Q: Who should I start at quarterback in week 3?

Start the quarterbacks with the largest positive swing on this board — the schedule adds points to their normal week. Quarterback is the position where matchup matters least week to week, because volume is fixed at roughly 35 dropbacks whoever they play. The swing you see here is mostly rushing upside and pace, not passing yardage.

Quarterback is the position where matchup matters least week to week, because volume is fixed at roughly 35 dropbacks whoever they play. The swing you see here is mostly rushing upside and pace, not passing yardage.

Week 3 · Sep 22 – Sep 28

Start these QBs — week 3

Biggest positive matchup swing at quarterback this week.

#	Player	Matchup	Proj	Swing	Why
1	Lamar JacksonQB · BAL	@ DAL	27.3	+4.3	@ DAL grades smash spot — worth about 4.3 points above a normal week.
2	Brock PurdyQB · SF	vs ARI	20.6	+2.8	vs ARI grades smash spot — worth about 2.8 points above a normal week.
3	Jalen HurtsQB · PHI	@ CHI	23.4	+1.4	@ CHI grades neutral — worth about 1.4 points above a normal week.
4	Patrick MahomesQB · KC	@ MIA	22.7	+1.2	@ MIA grades neutral — worth about 1.2 points above a normal week.
5	Joe BurrowQB · CIN	@ PIT	22	+0.8	@ PIT grades neutral — worth about 0.8 points above a normal week.
6	Justin FieldsQB · NYJ	@ DET	19.2	+0.3	@ DET grades neutral — worth about 0.3 points above a normal week.
7	Jordan LoveQB · GB	vs ATL	20.2	+0.2	vs ATL grades neutral — worth about 0.2 points above a normal week.
8	Kyler MurrayQB · ARI	@ SF	19.2	-0.4	@ SF grades tough — about 0.4 points below a normal week.
9	Justin HerbertQB · LAC	@ BUF	16.3	-0.4	@ BUF grades tough — about 0.4 points below a normal week.
10	Bo NixQB · DEN	vs LAR	17.7	-0.9	vs LAR grades tough — about 0.9 points below a normal week.

Sit or downgrade — week 3 QBs

The schedule works against these names. Elite players still start; use this to settle close calls.

#	Player	Matchup	Proj	Swing	Why
1	Jayden DanielsQB · WAS	vs SEA	19.8	-2.7	vs SEA grades nightmare — about 2.7 points below a normal week.
2	Caleb WilliamsQB · CHI	vs PHI	16.4	-1.8	vs PHI grades nightmare — about 1.8 points below a normal week.
3	Drake MayeQB · NE	@ JAX	15.6	-1.8	@ JAX grades nightmare — about 1.8 points below a normal week.
4	Trevor LawrenceQB · JAX	vs NE	15.4	-1.7	vs NE grades nightmare — about 1.7 points below a normal week.
5	Baker MayfieldQB · TB	vs MIN	18.9	-1.6	vs MIN grades nightmare — about 1.6 points below a normal week.
6	Josh AllenQB · BUF	vs LAC	22.1	-1.2	vs LAC grades nightmare — about 1.2 points below a normal week.
7	Bo NixQB · DEN	vs LAR	17.7	-0.9	vs LAR grades tough — about 0.9 points below a normal week.
8	Kyler MurrayQB · ARI	@ SF	19.2	-0.4	@ SF grades tough — about 0.4 points below a normal week.
9	Justin HerbertQB · LAC	@ BUF	16.3	-0.4	@ BUF grades tough — about 0.4 points below a normal week.
10	Jordan LoveQB · GB	vs ATL	20.2	+0.2	vs ATL grades neutral — worth about 0.2 points above a normal week.

Week 3 QB rankings

Every quarterback ranked by matchup-adjusted projection for this week.

#	Player	Matchup	Proj	Swing	Why
1	Lamar JacksonQB · BAL	@ DAL	27.3	+4.3	@ DAL grades smash spot — worth about 4.3 points above a normal week.
2	Jalen HurtsQB · PHI	@ CHI	23.4	+1.4	@ CHI grades neutral — worth about 1.4 points above a normal week.
3	Patrick MahomesQB · KC	@ MIA	22.7	+1.2	@ MIA grades neutral — worth about 1.2 points above a normal week.
4	Josh AllenQB · BUF	vs LAC	22.1	-1.2	vs LAC grades nightmare — about 1.2 points below a normal week.
5	Joe BurrowQB · CIN	@ PIT	22	+0.8	@ PIT grades neutral — worth about 0.8 points above a normal week.
6	Brock PurdyQB · SF	vs ARI	20.6	+2.8	vs ARI grades smash spot — worth about 2.8 points above a normal week.
7	Jordan LoveQB · GB	vs ATL	20.2	+0.2	vs ATL grades neutral — worth about 0.2 points above a normal week.
8	Jayden DanielsQB · WAS	vs SEA	19.8	-2.7	vs SEA grades nightmare — about 2.7 points below a normal week.
9	Kyler MurrayQB · ARI	@ SF	19.2	-0.4	@ SF grades tough — about 0.4 points below a normal week.
10	Justin FieldsQB · NYJ	@ DET	19.2	+0.3	@ DET grades neutral — worth about 0.3 points above a normal week.
11	Baker MayfieldQB · TB	vs MIN	18.9	-1.6	vs MIN grades nightmare — about 1.6 points below a normal week.
12	Bo NixQB · DEN	vs LAR	17.7	-0.9	vs LAR grades tough — about 0.9 points below a normal week.
13	Caleb WilliamsQB · CHI	vs PHI	16.4	-1.8	vs PHI grades nightmare — about 1.8 points below a normal week.
14	Justin HerbertQB · LAC	@ BUF	16.3	-0.4	@ BUF grades tough — about 0.4 points below a normal week.
15	Drake MayeQB · NE	@ JAX	15.6	-1.8	@ JAX grades nightmare — about 1.8 points below a normal week.
16	Trevor LawrenceQB · JAX	vs NE	15.4	-1.7	vs NE grades nightmare — about 1.7 points below a normal week.

Comparing two specific names? Run them through the start/sit optimizer or check injury impact before you lock the lineup.

Week 3 QB matchup heatmap

Green is a matchup that adds points to a normal week, red is one that takes them away. The number is the average swing in points for that team's QB starters.

Biggest QB upside

BAL @ DALLead option: Lamar Jackson · 27.3 pts+4.3
SF vs ARILead option: Brock Purdy · 20.6 pts+2.8
PHI @ CHILead option: Jalen Hurts · 23.4 pts+1.4
KC @ MIALead option: Patrick Mahomes · 22.7 pts+1.2
CIN @ PITLead option: Joe Burrow · 22 pts+0.8

Biggest QB downside

WAS vs SEALead option: Jayden Daniels · 19.8 pts-2.7
CHI vs PHILead option: Caleb Williams · 16.4 pts-1.8
NE @ JAXLead option: Drake Maye · 15.6 pts-1.8
JAX vs NELead option: Trevor Lawrence · 15.4 pts-1.7
TB vs MINLead option: Baker Mayfield · 18.9 pts-1.6

Built from the same matchup grades as the week 3 QB start/sit board, so a hot cell and a start call always agree.

Other positions, week 3

Week 3 RB →Week 3 WR →Week 3 TE →Week 3 FLEX →Injury impact