Power Rankings, plus every team's fantasy surprise — SkimNews
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- Week 3 tied the record for most games decided by eight or fewer points in a single day, with 12 such matchups on Sunday, per ESPN Research.
- Las Vegas Raiders climbed six spots to a 3-0 record, becoming the first team in the common draft era (since 1967) to start 3-0 after selecting a QB No. 1 overall — Fernando Mendoza.
- New England Patriots fell six more spots after Drake Maye posted a career-worst 15.5 Total QBR in a 35-6 loss to Jacksonville, with their offense posting the lowest EPA per play and points per drive by any team since the 2023 Jets.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers dropped to 0-3, ahead of only the Titans and Dolphins, and will start undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels for at least three weeks in place of injured Baker Mayfield (thumb).
- Buffalo Bills held the No. 1 ranking at 3-0, with TE Dalton Kincaid leading all tight ends in receiving yards and posting an 82.4% catch rate — despite a TE15 preseason ranking.
- George Kittle of the 49ers is tied for first among tight ends in touchdowns (three) and fifth in receiving yards (174), despite tearing his right Achilles on Jan. 11 and missing all of training camp.
- Kenneth Walker III has the second-most total fantasy points among running backs with 442 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns — the first Chiefs player with two games of a rushing and receiving TD within the first three weeks.
Why it matters: Fantasy rosters face immediate ripple effects across the league: the Raiders' Mendoza is rewriting the No. 1-pick QB narrative after a historic 3-0 start, while Baker Mayfield's thumb injury thrusts undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels into Tampa Bay's lineup for at least three weeks — reshaping backfield values, streaming decisions, and trade-market calculations league-wide.
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