Week 3 of the 2023 NFL season is mostly in the books, with two Monday Night Football games remaining, giving us plenty of players to react to from a fantasy football context. There were many stud performances, especially for the Miami Dolphins, who scored 70 points in a lopsided rout of the Denver Broncos. Meanwhile, there were plenty of dud performances to go around, ranging from Breece Hall (RB – Jets) and CeeDee Lamb (WR – Cowboys), to Justin Fields (QB – Bears) and Darren Waller (TE – Giants).
Matt MacKay gives us his latest analysis on some of the best and worst fantasy football performances that occurred in Week 3. Using half-PPR scoring, let’s dive further into the players who won and lost fantasy football league matchups during a highly entertaining weekend in the NFL.
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Fantasy Football Studs
De’Von Achane (RB – Dolphins)
Miami’s rookie running back exploded against Denver in Week 3, handling 18 carries for 203 yards and two touchdowns, while hauling in all four targets for an additional 30 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. Achane’s blend of speed, vision, and athleticism works perfectly within head coach Mike McDaniel’s scheme, finishing with 49.3 fantasy points. Now that Miami’s developed a strong running game to complement its explosive passing attack, Achane should remain a mid-range RB2 with RB1 upside moving forward.
Raheem Mostert (RB – Dolphins)
Miami’s other running back, Raheem Mostert, who led the Dolphins backfield in touches and fantasy production, still managed to score four touchdowns during Achane’s career day, finishing with 13 carries for three rushing touchdowns, plus hauling in all seven targets for an additional 60 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown. Mostert has been more consistent than Achane, although injuries had kept the rookie off the field, so moving forward, we’ll likely see more of the 50/50 split we witnessed during Sunday’s 70-20 rout. Mostert is a high-end RB2, perhaps even a fringe RB1, on the most dynamic, potent offense in the league right now.
Adam Thielen (WR – Panthers)
Andy Dalton’s (QB – Panthers) return to starting quarterback saw the Panthers’ offense take huge steps forward despite a loss in Seattle. Adam Thielen was the biggest beneficiary, catching 11 of 14 targets for 145 yards and a touchdown, averaging 14.3 yards per target and 17.4 yards per reception. These numbers are much better than what we saw from Thielen during Bryce Young’s (QB – Panthers) first two career starts, so if Dalton remains QB1, Thielen should be viewed as a low-end WR2/fringe WR3. If Young returns from his ankle injury, Thielen becomes a WR4 with WR3 upside instead.
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Matthew MacKay is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @Matt_MacKay_.