Well, the fun couldn’t last forever, right? After starting the season with two excellent Thursday night matchups, we got a stinker to start Week 3, and to make it worse… Christian McCaffrey left the contest early with a hamstring injury. We’ll all be hoping for a speedy recovery from fantasy’s golden boy, and now that last night’s ugliness is behind us, we can look ahead to the rest of the week’s matchups.
Once the season begins, the most difficult parts of any fantasy manager’s week are start or sit decisions. These lineup choices can make or break a week, but unfortunately, not everyone has time to sit down and read lengthy fantasy advice articles. That’s where Quick Grades comes in. Each week of the football season, I’ll be providing a condensed and easily digestible chart of grades for over 250 fantasy-relevant players based on the following four criteria:
Fantasy Ability
Dalvin Cook is a week-winner due to his big-play ability and proficiency as a receiver out of the backfield
Expected Volume
Travis Kelce is always heavily targeted as one of Kansas City’s top pass-catching options
Matchup
David Montgomery finished 2020 as an RB1 thanks to a highly-favorable end-of-season schedule
Surrounding Talent
Sam Darnold has a strong group of skill-position players around him now that he’s in Carolina
Each of those criteria will be graded on a scale of 1-25, with the cumulative total resulting in a final grade (A+ to F) and a recommendation based on that grade. The criteria are weighted differently based on position, so it’s not a direct 1-for-1 conversion. Surrounding talent refers to offensive line for RB, quarterback play for WR and TE, and skill-position talent for QB.
The players are sorted by grade in descending order with the highest grades at the top and the lowest at the bottom. The highest-graded players receive A+ (Must start), and the lowest receive F. However, there are varying degrees of the F grade, and some players with this grade are flex plays, desperation plays, Hail Mary plays, or should remain on your bench, depending on the grade and position.
I’ll also include DST grades, and just like the skill-position players, there will be four criteria used for grading on a scale from 1-25, and final grades will be from 1-100. The four criteria for a DST grade are: Matchup, Turnovers, Sacks, and Points Allowed.
The link to the original Quick Grades Google Document can still be found below. In addition to the player grades, I’ll provide:
- Start of the Week: A player outside of the elite, weekly must-starts who could have a big week
- Stream of the Week: The best player who will likely be available on your waiver wire
- Fade of the Week: A notable player who could be in for a let-down performance
Link to Full Quick Grades Document
It’s easy to see that an ‘A+’ or ‘A’ grade makes a player a must-start, but it might not make sense at first glance why some players are rated ‘C’ or worse and still have ‘Start,’ ‘Strong Start,’ or ‘Flex’ attached to their names. Because of all the different variables that go into a player’s performance in any given week, only those players with the absolute highest potential, best matchup, and strongest talent get ‘A+’ or ‘A’ grades. Therefore, even solid plays will earn grades that may appear sub-optimal on the surface, but it’s all relative from position-to-position. The hard cutoff is 50 for every position, as grades lower than this will earn a ‘Desperation’ or ‘Hail Mary’ tag in every situation.
Now that I’ve covered the basics, let’s get to the grades. Best of luck in all your matchups this week, and if you have any questions, please hit me up on Twitter @ZaktheMonster.
Note: As always, remember to check back on FantasyPros ahead of kickoff to get the latest injury news. These grades assume full health at the time the article is published on Friday morning.
Get a FREE 6-month upgrade with our special offer
Running Backs
- Start of the Week: Ty’Son Williams
- Stream of the Week: J.D. McKissic
- Fade of the Week: Zack Moss
Wide Receivers
- Start of the Week: Quintez Cephus
- Stream of the Week: Zach Pascal
- Fade of the Week: Tim Patrick
Quarterbacks
- Start & Stream of the Week: Daniel Jones
- Fade of the Week: Teddy Bridgewater
Tight Ends
- Start of the Week: Dallas Goedert
- Stream of the Week: Jared Cook
- Fade of the Week: Blake Jarwin
D/STs
- Start of the Week: Buffalo Bills
- Stream of the Week: Las Vegas Raiders
- Fade of the Week: Washington Football Team
Player Search, Find
Running Back
- Dalvin Cook A+ Must Start
- Aaron Jones A+ Must Start
- Derrick Henry A Must Start
- Jonathan Taylor A Must Start
- Alvin Kamara A Must Start
- Austin Ekeler A Must Start
- D'Andre Swift B+ Must Start
- Nick Chubb B Strong Start
- Saquon Barkley B Strong Start
- Joe Mixon B Strong Start
- Ezekiel Elliott B Strong Start
- Myles Gaskin C+ Strong Start
- Miles Sanders C+ Strong Start
- Antonio Gibson C+ Strong Start
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire C+ Strong Start
- Mike Davis C+ Start
- Chris Carson C+ Start
- Ty'Son Williams C+ Start
- Najee Harris C+ Start
- Darrell Henderson C+ Start
- Kenyan Drake C Start
- David Montgomery C Start
- Melvin Gordon III C Start
- Damien Harris C Start
- Elijah Mitchell C Start
- Tony Pollard C Start
- James Robinson D+ Flex
- Nyheim Hines D+ Flex
- Javonte Williams D+ Flex
- Kareem Hunt D+ Flex
- Chase Edmonds D+ Flex
- Cordarrelle Patterson D+ Flex
- AJ Dillon D+ Flex
- James Conner D+ Flex
- Latavius Murray D+ Flex
- Devin Singletary D+ Flex
- Ronald Jones II D Desperation
- Trey Sermon D Desperation
- Leonard Fournette D Desperation
- Jamaal Williams D Desperation
- J.D. McKissic D Desperation
- Alexander Mattison F Desperation
- James White F Desperation
- Devonta Freeman F Desperation
- Kenneth Gainwell F Desperation
- Carlos Hyde F Desperation
- Giovani Bernard F Desperation
- Tony Jones Jr. F Desperation
- Sony Michel F Desperation
- Larry Rountree III F Hail Mary
- Peyton Barber F Hail Mary
- Zack Moss F Hail Mary
- Michael Carter F Hail Mary
- Salvon Ahmed F Hail Mary
- Darrel Williams F Hail Mary
- Tevin Coleman F Hail Mary
- Justin Jackson F Hail Mary
- Malcolm Brown F Hail Mary
- Devontae Booker F Hail Mary
- Damien Williams F Hail Mary
- Jerick McKinnon F Hail Mary
- Marlon Mack F Hail Mary
- Rhamondre Stevenson F Hail Mary
- Alex Collins F Hail Mary
- Ty Johnson F Hail Mary
Wide Receiver
- Stefon Diggs A+ Must Start
- DeAndre Hopkins A+ Must Start
- Tyler Lockett A+ Must Start
- Cooper Kupp A Must Start
- A.J. Brown A Must Start
- Davante Adams A Must Start
- Tyreek Hill A Must Start
- D.K. Metcalf A Must Start
- Allen Robinson II A Must Start
- Calvin Ridley B+ Must Start
- Keenan Allen B+ Must Start
- Robert Woods B+ Must Start
- Amari Cooper B+ Must Start
- Justin Jefferson B Strong Start
- Ja'Marr Chase B Strong Start
- CeeDee Lamb B Strong Start
- Adam Thielen B Strong Start
- Mike Williams B Strong Start
- Sterling Shepard C+ Strong Start
- Terry McLaurin C+ Strong Start
- Chris Godwin C+ Strong Start
- Deebo Samuel C+ Strong Start
- Chase Claypool C+ Strong Start
- JuJu Smith-Schuster C+ Strong Start
- Julio Jones C+ Strong Start
- DeVonta Smith C+ Strong Start
- Antonio Brown OUT
- Tee Higgins C Start
- Courtland Sutton C Start
- Marquise Brown C Start
- Marvin Jones Jr. C Start
- Mike Evans C Start
- Corey Davis C Start
- Odell Beckham Jr. C Start
- Rondale Moore C Start
- Will Fuller V C Start
- Michael Pittman Jr. C Start
- Quintez Cephus C Start
- Kenny Golladay D+ Flex
- Darnell Mooney D+ Flex
- Tyler Boyd D+ Flex
- Rashard Higgins D+ Flex
- K.J. Osborn D+ Flex
- Jaylen Waddle D+ Flex
- Brandon Aiyuk D+ Flex
- Zach Pascal D+ Flex
- D.J. Chark Jr. D+ Flex
- Laviska Shenault Jr. D+ Flex
- Christian Kirk D+ Flex
- Jalen Reagor D+ Flex
- Cole Beasley D+ Flex
- Anthony Schwartz D Desperation
- DeVante Parker D Desperation
- Cordarrelle Patterson D Desperation
- Amon-Ra St. Brown D Desperation
- Jakobi Meyers D Desperation
- Sammy Watkins D Desperation
- Nelson Agholor D Desperation
- Gabriel Davis D Desperation
- Tim Patrick F Desperation
- Marquez Callaway F Desperation
- Elijah Moore F Desperation
- Mecole Hardman F Desperation
- A.J. Green F Hail Mary
- Olamide Zaccheaus F Hail Mary
- Emmanuel Sanders F Hail Mary
- Henry Ruggs III F Hail Mary
- Darius Slayton F Hail Mary
- Van Jefferson F Hail Mary
- Hunter Renfrow F Hail Mary
- Deonte Harris F Hail Mary
- Cedrick Wilson F Hail Mary
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling F Hail Mary
- Braxton Berrios F Hail Mary
- Byron Pringle F Hail Mary
Quarterback
- Josh Allen A+ Must Start
- Kyler Murray A+ Must Start
- Russell Wilson A Must Start
- Justin Herbert A Must Start
- Lamar Jackson A Must Start
- Aaron Rodgers B+ Strong Start
- Ryan Tannehill B Strong Start
- Jalen Hurts B Strong Start
- Daniel Jones B Strong Start
- Justin Fields B Strong Start
- Joe Burrow B Start
- Dak Prescott B Start
- Tom Brady B Start
- Matthew Stafford B Start
- Patrick Mahomes II C+ Start
- Trevor Lawrence C+ Start
- Matt Ryan C+ Start
- Jimmy Garoppolo C 2QB/Superflex
- Jared Goff C 2QB/Superflex
- Jacob Eason C 2QB/Superflex
- Baker Mayfield D+ 2QB/Superflex
- Derek Carr D+ 2QB/Superflex
- Kirk Cousins D+ 2QB/Superflex
- Ben Roethlisberger F Hail Mary
- Teddy Bridgewater F Hail Mary
- Jameis Winston F Hail Mary
- Jacoby Brissett F Hail Mary
- Taylor Heinicke F Hail Mary
- Zach Wilson F Hail Mary
- Mac Jones F Hail Mary
Tight End
- T.J. Hockenson A+ Must Start
- Travis Kelce A+ Must Start
- Darren Waller A Must Start
- George Kittle B+ Must Start
- Kyle Pitts C+ Strong Start
- Mark Andrews C+ Strong Start
- Rob Gronkowski C Strong Start
- Dallas Goedert D+ Strong Start
- Jonnu Smith D Start
- Noah Fant D Start
- Tyler Higbee D Start
- Robert Tonyan D Start
- Logan Thomas D Start
- Jared Cook D Start
- Hunter Henry D Start
- Mike Gesicki D Start
- Gerald Everett F Desperation
- Austin Hooper F Desperation
- Cole Kmet F Desperation
- Tyler Conklin F Desperation
- Blake Jarwin F Desperation
- Hayden Hurst F Desperation
- Maxx Williams F Hail Mary
- David Njoku F Hail Mary
- Dalton Schultz F Hail Mary
- Jack Doyle F Hail Mary
- Zach Ertz F Hail Mary
- Dawson Knox F Hail Mary
- Albert Okwuegbunam F Hail Mary
D/ST
- Denver Broncos A Must Start
- Arizona Cardinals A Must Start
- Buffalo Bills A Must Start
- New York Giants B+ Must Start
- Pittsburgh Steelers B+ Must Start
- Baltimore Ravens B+ Must Start
- New England Patriots C+ Strong Start
- New Orleans Saints C+ Strong Start
- Las Vegas Raiders C+ Strong Start
- Cleveland Browns C Start
- Kansas City Chiefs C Start
- Los Angeles Rams C Start
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers C Start
- Miami Dolphins D+ Desperation
- Washington Football Team D Desperation
- Indianapolis Colts D Desperation
- San Francisco 49ers D Desperation
- Tennessee Titans F Desperation
- Philadelphia Eagles F Desperation
- Atlanta Falcons F Desperation
- Chicago Bears F Desperation
- Green Bay Packers F Hail Mary
- Dallas Cowboys F Hail Mary
- New York Jets F Hail Mary
- Seattle Seahawks F Hail Mary
- Cincinnati Bengals F Hail Mary
- Minnesota Vikings F Hail Mary
- Los Angeles Chargers F Hail Mary
- Detroit Lions F Hail Mary
- Jacksonville Jaguars F Hail Mary
Import your team to My Playbook for instant Lineup & Trade advice
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
Zachary Hanshew is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Zachary, check out his archive and follow him @zakthemonster.