RankFantasy

Weekly Ratings

Start Score

How strong a start each NFL QB, RB, WR, TE, and team defense (D/ST) looks this week, scored 0–100 against the others at their own position — 85 means a player projects above roughly 85% of everyone we scored at that position this week, backups included; 50 is the middle of that pool. Every score is computed from open, citable data with the formula published, and the role, efficiency, matchup, and availability behind it sit right beside it.

Week 3, 2026 season · Data through Week 2
#PlayerOppScore0–100RoleusageEffpts/oppMatchupdefenseProjPPR pts
1Derrick HenryBALvs. DAL99817710023.8
2Kenneth Walker IIIKCvs. MIA99987110026.5
3Chase BrownCINvs. PIT9882699721.1
4Ashton JeantyLVvs. NO981006010022.9
5Jahmyr GibbsDETvs. NYJ9793701619.5
6Jonathan TaylorINDvs. HOU968770017.1
7Bijan RobinsonATLvs. GB9688654118.3
8Christian McCaffreySFvs. ARI9566812716.4
9Omarion HamptonLACvs. BUF95726310017.1
10Kyren WilliamsLAvs. DEN94597310016.2
11Breece HallNYJvs. DET9474645415.7
12James CookBUFvs. LAC9367666114.9
13D'Andre SwiftCHIvs. PHI926474913.7
14Cam SkatteboNYGvs. TEN9258735013.9
15De'Von AchaneMIAvs. KC917760913.4
16Zach CharbonnetSEAvs. WAS916374013.1
17Javonte WilliamsDALvs. BAL9057676112.9
18Aaron JonesMINvs. TB8971573412.8
19Bucky IrvingTBvs. MIN897263012.8
20Rhamondre StevensonNEvs. JAX8847861712.1
21Quinshon JudkinsCLEvs. CAR88575510012.0
22Audric EstiméNOvs. LV8760662311.9
23Ty JohnsonBUFvs. LAC8636886110.7
24TreVeyon HendersonNEvs. JAX8654721711.5
25Jaylen WarrenPITvs. CIN855765410.5
26Malik DavisDALvs. BAL8547666110.6
27Saquon BarkleyPHIvs. CHI8452558310.4
28David MontgomeryHOUvs. IND84436310010.3
29Devin NealNOvs. LV8347722310.3
30Bhayshul TutenJAXvs. NE8241812610.1
31RJ HarveyDENvs. LA825070610.0
32Tony PollardTENvs. NYG815454609.9
33Travis EtienneNOvs. LV815461239.9
34Woody MarksHOUvs. IND8047551009.9
35James ConnerARIvs. SF794864259.3
36Blake CorumLAvs. DEN7944601009.8
37Chuba HubbardCARvs. CLE784176179.3
38Jeremiyah LoveARIvs. SF784863259.1
39Trey BensonARIvs. SF774465258.8
40Jordan MasonMINvs. TB764463348.6
41Kyle MonangaiCHIvs. PHI76417398.7
42Tank BigsbyPHIvs. CHI753568838.5
43Phil MafahDALvs. BAL752598618.5
44Isiah PachecoKCvs. MIA7438551007.9
45Jacory Croskey-MerrittWASvs. SEA74486208.4
46Tyjae SpearsTENvs. NYG733467607.9
47Alvin KamaraNOvs. LV724655237.7
48MarShawn LloydGBvs. ATL723764257.4
49Michael CarterARIvs. SF714159257.4
50Jadarian PriceSEAvs. WAS71505207.3
51Josh JacobsGBvs. ATL704356257.3
52Rachaad WhiteWASvs. SEA69366907.0
53Emmett JohnsonKCvs. MIA6923821007.1
54Samaje PerineCINvs. PIT682379976.9
55Emanuel WilsonSEAvs. WAS68514907.0
56Jaydon BlueDALvs. BAL673753616.8
57Tyler AllgeierARIvs. SF664252256.7
58Jonah ColemanDENvs. LA66298066.7
59Rico DowdlePITvs. CIN65415446.4
60J.K. DobbinsDENvs. LA65445266.5
61Austin EkelerWASvs. SEA64395806.4
62Miles SandersDALvs. BAL642575616.3
63Jawhar JordanHOUvs. IND6335471006.3
64Devin SingletaryNYGvs. TEN622966506.2
65Kenny GainwellTBvs. MIN62326806.1
66Kareem HuntKCvs. MIA6129551006.0
67Kaelon BlackSFvs. ARI613750275.7
68Brian RobinsonATLvs. GB603255415.7
69Jaret PattersonLACvs. BUF5928521005.5
70Braelon AllenNYJvs. DET592566545.5
71Kendre MillerNOvs. LV582766235.4
72Brashard SmithKCvs. MIA5818791005.3
73Ty ChandlerMINvs. TB573350345.2
74Chris Rodriguez Jr.JAXvs. NE563352265.2
75Dylan SampsonCLEvs. CAR5624581005.2
76Justice HillBALvs. DAL5514811004.4
77Raheim SandersCLEvs. CAR5519671004.9
78Antonio GibsonNEvs. JAX542264174.3
79Tyrone Tracy Jr.NYGvs. TEN542944504.2
80Will ShipleyPHIvs. CHI531960834.2
81Keaton MitchellLACvs. BUF5221521004.1
82Chris BrooksGBvs. ATL522455254.1
83Bam KnightARIvs. SF512162254.1
84Jonathon BrooksCARvs. CLE512261174.0
85Dare OgunbowaleHOUvs. IND5011851003.7
86Khalil HerbertNYJvs. DET492544543.7
87Ray DavisBUFvs. LAC491665613.5
88Clyde Edwards-HelaireKCvs. MIA4818501003.5
89Kimani VidalLACvs. BUF4817511003.3
90Mike Washington Jr.LVvs. NO4719461003.3
91Trayveon WilliamsCLEvs. CAR4613681003.2
92Jaleel McLaughlinCLEvs. CAR4617511003.2
93Najee HarrisNYGvs. TEN451950503.2
94Isaiah DavisNYJvs. DET451278543.1
95George HolaniSEAvs. WAS44205303.0
96DJ GiddensINDvs. HOU44224602.9
97Ameer AbdullahJAXvs. NE431372262.8
98Nick ChubbHOUvs. IND4214501002.7
99Kene NwangwuNYJvs. DET421747542.7
100Jeremy McNicholsWASvs. SEA41137402.6
101Jaylen WrightMIAvs. KC41185292.7
102Emari DemercadoDALvs. BAL401359612.6
103Jacardia WrightSEAvs. WAS39184902.5
104Nate CarterATLvs. GB391457412.6
105Brittain BrownCHIvs. PHI38810092.4
106Kaytron AllenWASvs. SEA38175102.4
107Tyler BadieDENvs. LA37117662.4
108Zamir WhiteLVvs. NO3611581002.3
109British BrooksHOUvs. IND3612531002.4
110Sean TuckerTBvs. MIN35155602.3
111DJ HermanMIAvs. KC35117292.3
112Jerome FordCLEvs. CAR349651002.1
113Jordan JamesSFvs. ARI341548272.1
114Nicholas SingletonTENvs. NYG331543602.1
115Zavier ScottMINvs. TB321062342.0
116Lan LarisonNEvs. JAX32793172.0
117Ronnie RiversLAvs. DEN319551001.9
118Kaleb JohnsonGBvs. ATL311444251.9
119Amar JohnsonLACvs. BUF3011441001.8
120Raheem MostertLVvs. NO296761001.8
121Corey KinerNEvs. JAX291443171.8
122AJ DillonCARvs. CLE281150171.7
123Ollie Gordon IIMIAvs. KC28153991.6
124Dameon PierceKCvs. MIA2710431001.6
125D'Ernest JohnsonNEvs. JAX261340171.6
126DeeJay DallasMINvs. TB26673341.5
127Hunter LuepkeDALvs. BAL25853611.4
128Sione VakiDETvs. NYJ25686161.4
129Evan HullNOvs. LV241049231.4
130Tahj BrooksCINvs. PIT24751971.3
131Myles GaskinSEAvs. WAS23114101.3
132Reggie GilliamNEvs. JAX22670171.2
133Terrell JenningsNEvs. JAX22844171.1
134Kendall MiltonCINvs. PIT21737971.0
135CJ DonaldsonNOvs. LV21843231.0
136LeQuint Allen Jr.JAXvs. NE20745261.0
137Hassan HaskinsLACvs. BUF195501000.9
138Demond ClaiborneMINvs. TB19483340.9
139Brady RussellSEAvs. WAS1838400.8
140Seth McGowanINDvs. HOU1864900.8
141Owen WrightTBvs. MIN1774100.8
142Frank Gore Jr.BUFvs. LAC16445610.6
143Josh WilliamsTBvs. MIN1654400.6
144Travis HomerPITvs. CIN1536640.6
145Tyler GoodsonINDvs. HOU1544500.5
146Patrick RicardNYGvs. TEN14356500.5
147Rasheen AliBALvs. DAL142531000.5
148Kalel MullingsTENvs. NYG13343600.5
149Elijah MitchellKCvs. MIA124331000.5
150Ulysses Bentley IVINDvs. HOU1243300.3
151Cam AkersSEAvs. WAS1124600.3
152Roschon JohnsonCHIvs. PHI1117090.2
153Nyheim HinesNOvs. LV10228230.2
154Craig ReynoldsDETvs. NYJ9138160.1
155Trevor EtienneCARvs. CLE9091170.1
156Julius ChestnutTENvs. NYG8037600.1
157Chase EdmondsWASvs. SEA006500.0
158Jakob JohnsonHOUvs. IND00651000.0
159Gary BrightwellCINvs. PIT0065970.0
160Avery WilliamsNYJvs. DET0065540.0
161Trey SermonPITvs. CIN006540.0
162Eric GrayNYGvs. TEN0065500.0
163Lew Nichols IIIPITvs. CIN006540.0
164Ben VanSumerenKCvs. MIA00651000.0
165Jordan MimsTENvs. NYG0065600.0
166Jacob SaylorsDETvs. NYJ0065160.0
167Isaac GuerendoSFvs. ARI0065270.0
168Dylan LaubeLVvs. NO00651000.0
169Eli HeidenreichPITvs. CIN006540.0
170Robbie OuztsSEAvs. WAS006500.0
85 Strong·55 Average·22 Weak·Q Questionable·OUT Out/IR

How the Start Score works

The formula. Each player's projected PPR points for the upcoming week is estimated as: Role × Efficiency × Matchup × Availability. That projected value is then converted to a 0–100 score by percentile rank within the position — a score of 85 means the player projects above roughly 85% of all players scored at the position that week. That pool includes backups, so it reaches deeper than a fantasy starting lineup.

Role is opportunities per game over the last five regular-season games: pass attempts for quarterbacks, carries plus targets for running backs, receivers and tight ends. Recency weighting is exponential — the most recent game counts 40%, the previous 25%, then 15%, 10%, 10%. Role is the heaviest term because usage is the most stable week-to-week predictor of fantasy output. The 0–100 Role column on the board is a usage index for reading at a glance — for receivers and tight ends it is built from WOPR (1.5 × target share + 0.7 × air yards share) — and is not the number that gets multiplied.

Efficiency is PPR points per opportunity over the same window, regressed 50% toward the positional mean. This prevents small samples from producing noise-driven extremes — a receiver who scored on one target in three weeks doesn't project as a top-10 asset. A quarterback's rushing points count here: the numerator is all of his PPR points, the denominator his pass attempts.

Matchup is a bounded multiplier (0.85–1.15) combining two signals: how many fantasy points the opposing defense has allowed to this position in recent weeks, and the game's Vegas implied team total. A higher implied total means more expected scoring opportunity. The 0.85–1.15 bound ensures matchup adjusts the projection without overpowering role — a great matchup for a low-usage player is still a bad start.

Availability takes the more conservative of nflverse's official injury designation and Sleeper's injury status. Out, IR, or Doubtful → 0 (don't start). Questionable → ×0.9 haircut. Active → ×1.0.

Cold start (Weeks 1–4). When fewer than three current-season weeks exist for a player, the score uses prior-season usage as the Role baseline. These scores are labeled lower-confidence. As current-season data accumulates the prior-season signal decays out — fully phased out by around Week 5.

How well player scores have held up. Replaying every week of 2024 and 2025 using only games completed before each week, the projection's weekly rank correlation with actual PPR points was 0.49 and 0.39 for quarterbacks, 0.62 and 0.72 for running backs, 0.55 and 0.63 for wide receivers, and 0.52 and 0.59 for tight ends. About half of the projected top 12 quarterbacks finished in the actual top 12; for the top 24 running backs it was 65% and 62%, for the top 24 receivers 45% both years. A projected top-24 receiver was off by about seven PPR points in a typical week. It orders running backs well and quarterbacks weakly. A Start Score is a lean, not a forecast.

A correction, 19 September 2026. From launch until this date the scores were computed from each player's recent PPR points × matchup × availability, while this page described Role × Efficiency. We tested both on 2024 and 2025; the formula described here ranked players slightly better in both seasons (mean rank correlation 0.544 vs. 0.533, and 0.583 vs. 0.571), so the code was changed to match the page rather than the other way round. Scores from Week 3 of 2026 onward use it. The typical startable player moved by about four points; players with one efficient game on little usage moved most.

Team defenses (D/ST) use the same shape with different inputs. Form is the defense's fantasy points over its last five regular-season games, weighted the same 40/25/15/10/10 and then regressed 75% toward the league average — defensive scoring is mostly noise, and the backtest preferred heavy regression in both seasons tested. Matchup is a 0.70–1.30 multiplier averaging two signals: how many D/ST points the opposing offense has given up over its own last five games (regressed 50% toward average), and the opponent's Vegas implied total, inverted — a low total is a good spot for a defense. There is no availability term, because a team carries no injury designation. Projected points = Form × Matchup, ranked 0–100 among that week's defenses.

D/ST scoring assumed. Sack 1 · interception 2 · fumble recovery 2 · safety 2 · blocked kick 2 · defensive or special-teams touchdown 6 · points allowed: 0 → 10, 1–6 → 7, 7–13 → 4, 14–20 → 1, 21–27 → 0, 28–34 → −1, 35+ → −4. Points allowed is the opponent's full final score, so points scored against your offense (a pick-six thrown by your quarterback) count against the defense here; some platforms exclude them.

How well D/ST scores have held up. Replaying every week of 2024 and 2025 using only data available before each week, the projection's weekly rank correlation with actual D/ST points averaged 0.32 (2024) and 0.25 (2025), and the projected top 12 contained 49.5% and 46.8% of the actual top 12, against 37.5% by chance. Recent form alone managed correlations of 0.15 and 0.06 — most of the signal comes from the opponent. These are modest numbers and the parameters were chosen on the same two seasons, so treat them as a ceiling. A D/ST score is a lean, not a forecast.

Data provenance. All inputs are computed from nflverse data (CC-BY 4.0) and Sleeper's public, keyless API. No machine-learning model is used. Every weight and assumption is published here; nothing is a black box. PPR scoring is assumed throughout; scores may differ for standard or half-PPR leagues.

Informational only — not betting, DFS, or lineup advice. Projections are estimates, not guarantees. PPR scoring assumed. Data via nflverse (CC-BY 4.0) and Sleeper. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the NFL or Sleeper.