Week 3 is where fantasy seasons start to take shape. By now, we’ve seen enough to identify real trends—who’s emerging, who’s fool’s gold, and which matchups truly matter in PPR scoring. Injuries are already reshaping depth charts (Aaron Jones is out for Minnesota, Zach Charbonnet is sidelined in Seattle), and savvy managers need to adjust quickly.
This Start/Sit guide breaks down the best and most questionable plays at every position for Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season. We’ll highlight not only the obvious stars but also sneaky upside picks, key matchup data, and realistic reasons to either trust or fade each player. Whether you’re searching for a waiver-wire streamer or deciding between two mid-tier starters, this analysis will give you the context to set a winning lineup.
Quarterbacks
QB Start of the Week: Dak Prescott (DAL)
Dak Prescott was a fantasy star last week. In Week 2 he threw for 361 yards and 2 touchdowns (22 points)nfl.com. This week he draws a friendly matchup at Chicago, as the 0-2 Bears have been shredded through the air. Chicago has already allowed a league-high seven passing TDs and the 29th-ranked completion percentagenfl.com. In short, Dallas needs to score in this road spot (The Giants lit them up last week), and Prescott has the weapons (Lamb, Pickens, etc.) to exploit the Bears. All signs point to another big game, making Prescott our clear QB1 start.
Other QB Starts:
- Baker Mayfield (TB vs. NYJ) – Mayfield has quietly turned it on with multiple passing touchdowns in each of the first two gamesapnews.com. He’s connecting at a high rate (over 60% completion) and has developed chemistry with Emeka Egbuka. The Jets’ defense has playmakers but an ordinary pass rush, and their secondary has already given up multiple multi-TD games. As AP Fantasy notes, Mayfield “has quietly carried momentum,” and with the Jets failing to consistently pressure QBs, he has a high floor and solid upsideapnews.com. In a homer matchup at Tampa, Baker is a safe QB1.
- Drake Maye (NE vs. PIT) – The second-year pro has shown steady improvement. Last week he threw 2 TD passes and ran for another scorenfl.com. Now he faces Pittsburgh’s defense, which has been generous to QBs (they surrendered five total TDs to Sam Darnold and Justin Fields)nfl.com. The Steelers have pressured QBs but not gotten many sacks, and their secondary has yielded high completion rates and passer ratings this seasonnfl.com. Maye has a safe floor (he’s the #10 fantasy QB so far) and at-home look vs. PIT, so he’s a fine low-end QB1 play this week.
- Caleb Williams (CHI vs. DAL) – Despite Chicago’s 0-2 record, Williams is QB10 in fantasy scoring. This week he gets Dallas’ suspect defense. The Cowboys are 29th in completion rate allowed and rank in the bottom three in pass yards given upnfl.com. If Chicago can keep the game close, Williams’ rushing upside (he has 2 rushing TDs already) and Dallas’s yielding of third-most passing yards make him a lottery-ticket starter in good matchupsnfl.com.
QB Sit of the Week: Jared Goff (DET)
Last week Goff torched Chicago (334 yards, 5 TDs), but that came against one of the league’s worst defenses. This week Detroit travels to Baltimore, a much tougher spot. SI’s fantasy preview warns that Goff “notoriously struggles under pressure,” and Baltimore’s front is among the NFL’s fiercestsi.com. Both BigBlueView and SI conclude that Daniel Jones is the smarter play this week: Detroit’s offense might “struggle versus the Baltimore defense”si.com. Goff’s huge game against Chicago skews his numbers, but against an elite Ravens defense we are banking on regression. In short, Goff is a risky start and our Sit of the Week.
Running Backs
RB Start of the Week: Jordan Mason (MIN)
Aaron Jones went down with a hamstring injury and has already been placed on IRfantasyfootballcalculator.com, making Jordan Mason the unquestioned Minnesota RB1. Mason led the backfield last week and is now is in line for a massive workload. Through two games he’s averaged 4.1 yards per carry, and he’ll see work both as a runner and receiver with Jones outrotoballer.com. The matchup is favorable – Cincinnati has already given up over 5 yards per carry to Jacksonville’s backsrotoballer.com. With his new lead role and a Bengals run D that was gashed for 5.0 YPC last weekrotoballer.com, Mason should be a bell-cow and is our top RB start.
Other RB Starts:
- Javonte Williams (DAL) – Williams has hit the ground running. He’s already logged 77% of Dallas’ snaps and 60% of carries in two gamesnfl.com. He’s scored 20+ fantasy points each week (top-5 finishers) by shouldering Dallas’s workload. This week he faces Chicago, which has been one of the NFL’s worst run defenses (148.5 rush yards per game, 5th-highest YPC)nfl.com. In PPR, Williams is locked in as a high-end RB2.
- Travis Etienne (JAX) – Etienne is the Jaguars’ workhorse (led team with 66% snap share and ~17.5 touches per game) and is already RB9 PPGfantasypros.com. He’s been efficient (6th in explosive runs, 3rd in YAC), and this week he faces Houston’s weak run D. The Texans allow the 11th most rushing yards and have the 4th-highest missed-tackle ratefantasypros.com. With Jacksonville leaning on Etienne early (7 targets last week), he’s in for another big day in PPR.
- Kenneth Walker (SEA) – With Charbonnet (foot) out, Walker is the clear lead back in Seattle. He exploded for 118 yards (RB5) last week and is among the league leaders in big-play rate and yards after contact. His big-play profile suits Seattle’s outside-zone scheme, and New Orleans is vulnerable – the Saints have the 3rd-highest missed-tackle rate and give up plenty of YACfantasypros.com. Facing a middling Saints front, Walker should break free for chunks of yardage. He’s a high end RB2.
- Jaylen Warren (PIT) – Warren has taken over Pittsburgh’s backfield, seeing 58% of snaps and 18 touches in Week 2. Notably, he led the team in receiving yards and continues to see the lion’s share of goal-line carries. The Patriots have been gashed by backs in the passing game (ranked 3rd-most receiving yards allowed to RBsnfl.com; the Dolphins’ Achane got loose last week). Warren’s dual-threat role gives him a safe floor in PPR, and he should thrive against New England’s soft RB coverage. He’s a solid RB2.
- Chuba Hubbard (CAR) – Hubbard is essentially Carolina’s workhorse (RB Ty Johnson is rarely used and backup Rico Dowdle has barely touched the ball). Hubbard piled up volume in Week 2 and should again see early-down work vs. Atlanta. Caveat: both of Carolina’s top interior linemen (Xavier Legette, others) are injuredrotoballer.com, so the OL may not be as strong. But for Week 3 at least, Hubbard is the lead back facing a Falcons defense that has struggled to stop the run. He’s a flex/low-end RB2 start.
RB Sit of the Week: Omarion Hampton (LAC)
Omarion Hampton has done very little to earn a start. In two games he’s rushed only 8 times for 24 yards, despite splitting carries with Najee Harrissi.com. The Chargers have shown a pass-heavy approach, and SI explicitly warns Hampton is “not an auto-start” and was “unproductive” on the fieldsi.com. Najee Harris may take the lead role. Fantasy analysts agree: Hampton has not seen enough volume to trust (BigBlueView calls him a likely sit)bigblueview.comsi.com. Sit him and look elsewhere for RB help.
Wide Receivers
WR Start of the Week: Nico Collins (HOU)
Collins leads Houston’s pass game this year (27.5% target share) and is already the Texans’ top yardage getter (77 yards, 1 TD in two games). This week he gets Jacksonville’s secondary, which has been mediocre (222 pass yards/game allowed, 19th-ranked)sportstalk790.iheart.com and has already given up four passing TDs. Collins drew 9 targets last week and hauled in a TD against Tampa Bay. The Jags defense, which just faced Ja’Maar Chase and Tee Higgins for 51.1 combined fantasy points, is vulnerable to downfield playssportstalk790.iheart.com. All signs point to Collins having another big day (especially in PPR, where his target volume shines).
Other WR Starts:
- Rome Odunze (CHI vs. DAL) – Odunze has erupted in his second year: he has 13 catches, 165 yards and 3 receiving TDs (league lead) in just two gamesrotoballer.com. Last week he played on 100% of snaps, seeing 33% of Chicago’s targetsrotoballer.com. This week Dallas’s defense will need to bounce back – they allowed 74 fantasy points to opposing receivers in Week 2 (second-most in NFL)rotoballer.com. Malik Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson had big games on them. If Odunze sees the same heavy usage, he could easily finish as WR1. He’s a must-start, as Chicago’s game script also keeps him involved.
- DK Metcalf (PIT vs. NE) – Metcalf has been relatively quiet (7 catches, 103 yards 1 TD in two games)rotoballer.com, but he’s still a physical stud with big play upside. New England’s secondary has been torched – through two weeks it has given up an astounding 424 yards and 4 TDs to opposing WRs (45.35 PPG, 2nd-most in NFL)rotoballer.com. RotoBaller even notes that if the Pats’ shutdown CB (Christian Gonzalez) misses time, “Metcalf is going to eat”rotoballer.com. Even if Gonzalez plays, the overall mismatch (Metcalf’s size vs. NE’s downfield struggles) is hard to ignore. He’s a high-upside start.
- Tetairoa McMillan (CAR vs. ATL) – McMillan has firmly taken over Carolina’s WR1 role, averaging 84 receiving yards per game with an 18.9% target sharefantasypros.com. He thrives against single-high safety looks, which Atlanta plays a lot (third-highest single-high rate at 64%)fantasypros.com. When facing single-high, McMillan’s efficiency jumps (2.55 yards per route run, 30.8% first-read share)fantasypros.com. The Falcons’ defense has also allowed the 13th-most PPR points per target to outside receiversfantasypros.com. In plain terms, McMillan should continue producing on volume: he’s a solid WR2 with upside this week.
- Jauan Jennings (SF vs. ARI) – Jennings quietly put up 5-89-1 last week (10 targets) with Mac Jones at QBsi.com. It looks like He’s the de facto #1 until Brandon Aiyuk returns, and SF’s opponent (Arizona) is one of the league’s worst pass defenses (7th-most yards allowed)si.com. SI notes that the Cards have given up the 7th most passing yards per game, so this is a favorable spot. With Mac Jones starting Jennings has the edge over Ricky Pearsall. In summary, Jennings is a startable WR3 in a favorable matchup as long as his targets remain highsi.comsi.com.
- Michael Pittman (IND @ TEN) – Pittman has been pretty solid so far (20.6% target share, 60 yards/game)fantasypros.com, partly because Tennessee’s Pat Surtain shadowed him frequently last weekfantasypros.com. However, the Titans play a lot of two-high safeties (52% of snaps), and against that look Pittman averages a robust 2.79 yards per route run (team lead)fantasypros.com. The bigger concern is L’Jarius Sneed, who may shadow Pittman again. That said, Pittman creates separation (25th percentile among 96 WRs) and faces a Tennessee defense that ranks only 19th in PPR per target to perimeter WRsfantasypros.com. We consider Pittman a low-end WR3/flex: he’s not a sure thing, but should be started over other shaky options given Indy’s passing volume.
- Keenan Allen (LAC vs. DEN) – Allen is off to a great start (5 receptions for 61 yards and a TD in Week 2)rotoballer.com, and he’s earned Justin Herbert’s trust on critical downs (33% of LAC’s red-zone targets)rotoballer.com. Denver’s secondary is tough, but it’s worth noting corner Ja’Quan McMillian is conceding only 3.4 yards per target to WRsrotoballer.com. However, Ladd McConkey (a deep threat) is drawing coverage from Pat Surtain, which should funnel more underneath and RZ targets to Allen. RotoBaller projects Allen as WR39 and I have him as the WR33. He is a low end WR3 or a “strong flex,” especially in PPRrotoballer.com. In short, Allen is a reliable mid-range PPR starter or flex play even in this tough matchup.
WR Sit of the Week: Devonta Smith (PHI)
Smith has been a disappointment. He’s currently the WR66 in fantasy scoring (second on Philly behind A.J. Brown)bigblueview.com. Analysts point out the Eagles are relying on their running game and defense early; against a stout Rams secondary (they’ve allowed the 5th-fewest fantasy points to WRs)bigblueview.com, Smith is hard to trust. BigBlueView bluntly notes Smith “must be nuking, right? Nope” – he’s been ineffective, and St. Louis has limited opposing receivers. In short, sit Smith this week (and likely beyond) unless the game script suddenly flips.
Tight Ends
TE Start of the Week: Juwan Johnson (NO)
Juwan Johnson has been the model of consistency. He’s scored touchdowns in both games and is currently a top-5 TE in fantasynfl.com. Johnson leads all NFL tight ends in snaps and targetsnfl.com, and he’s second among TEs in red-zone looks. New Orleans leans on him especially when the Saints run two-Tight-End sets (they’re the only defense to give up multiple TE TDs so far, albeit against modest competition). Seattle has been vulnerable to TEs – Seahawks have allowed 89% of their targets to TEs to be completednfl.com. Given Johnson’s volume and efficiency (and knowing QB Spencer Rattler has targeted him heavily), he’s a clear week-winning play at TE.
Other TE Starts:
- Jake Ferguson (DAL) – Ferguson has emerged as Dak Prescott’s favorite target. He led the entire NFL’s tight ends with 12 targets in Week 2nfl.com (after six targets in Week 1), showing a high floor. The Bears are highly exploitable to TEs – they allow a 120.1 passer rating and 83% completion rate on TE targetsnfl.com. With that kind of coverage, Ferguson should see plenty of short throws and red-zone looks. He’s a reliable TE1 start, thanks to his ceiling-and-floor combo.
- Kyle Pitts (ATL) – Pitts (toe) was on the injury report but is now cleared to play Week 3rotoballer.com. He’s already tied for the Falcons’ team lead in receptions (11 catches)rotoballer.com. He draws Carolina’s defense, which ranks 31st in the NFL at stopping tight ends (worst in football)rotoballer.com. The Panthers have yielded a league-high rate of yards to TEs and are the team Pitts destroyed in 2023. While Atlanta may want to run more, Pitts’ usage and this matchup make him a viable TE1 start this week.
TE Sit of the Week: Mark Andrews (BAL)
Mark Andrews has been eerily quiet. In two games he has 4 targets, 2 catches, and just 7 yardsnfl.com. Those came mostly from red-zone looks – without finding the end zone, his week is done. Meanwhile, Detroit’s defense has been a brick wall versus tight ends: only 51 yards allowed to TEs through two games (6th fewest) and just 4 TE touchdowns since 2024nfl.com. Isaiah Likely (back) is also poised to steal more snaps. In sum, the Matthew Stafford – Mark Andrews connection is off to a start similar to last year’s dud. Andrews is an easy bench this week against the Lions.
Sneaky Upside Plays for Week 3
Sometimes winning your matchup isn’t about the obvious stars—it’s about finding that one under-the-radar player who outperforms expectations. If you’re in a deeper league, dealing with injuries, or simply hunting for DFS value, here are a few high-upside sleepers worth considering for Week 3:
Quarterbacks
- Carson Wentz (MIN) – With Aaron Jones out, Minnesota may lean more heavily on the passing game to move the chains. Wentz is no stranger to fantasy production when asked to sling it, and he draws a Bengals defense that’s already allowing over 5 yards per play. In superflex or 2QB leagues, he’s a sneaky pivot with 20+ point potential.
- Aaron Rodgers (PIT) – Don’t let the veteran’s age fool you. Rodgers showed flashes of vintage efficiency in Week 2 and now faces a Patriots secondary that’s surrendered multiple passing TDs in back-to-back games. He’s a sharp play in deeper leagues or as a DFS dart throw.
Running Backs
- Isaiah Pacheco (KC) – Pacheco’s snap share quietly climbed in Week 2, and his burst between the tackles gives him multi-touchdown upside if Kansas City builds an early lead.
- Tyler Allgeier (ATL) – Bijan Robinson commands headlines, but Allgeier continues to handle key goal-line carries and has averaged double-digit touches. Against a Carolina defense that’s allowing 4.7 yards per carry, he’s a legit flex option with TD upside.
- Bhayshul Tuten (JAX) – Jacksonville has been feeding Travis Etienne, but Tuten has flashed in limited work. If the Jaguars pull ahead of Houston early, Tuten could see valuable fourth-quarter touches and rack up sneaky PPR points.
Wide Receivers
- Travis Hunter (JAX) – Jacksonville is scheming touches for the rookie phenom, including deep shots and gadget plays. A single big play could make him a DFS tournament winner.
- Cooper Kupp (SEA) – Don’t overthink the name value: Kupp is still regaining rhythm after injury, but Seattle is manufacturing targets for him in the slot. Even on a pitch count, he’s capable of a vintage 6–70–1 line.
- Kayshon Boutte (NE) – Boutte has been efficient with the touches he has received , and he draws a Pittsburgh defense that has been vulnerable to slot receivers. A PPR-friendly sleeper if you need WR depth.
Tight Ends
- Harold Fannin Jr. (CLE) – A preseason darling who’s finally seeing meaningful snaps. Cleveland is using him in two-TE sets and he’s a red-zone mismatch if the Browns reach scoring territory.
- Jatavion Sanders (CAR) – Sanders’ athletic profile screams breakout, and with Carolina’s passing game looking for playmakers, he’s a deep-league flyer who could surprise with a big gain or touchdown.
Final Word
Week 3 is all about capitalizing on opportunity. Injuries and shifting roles have opened the door for these sleepers to deliver fantasy-relevant production. Whether you’re plugging holes in a PPR lineup or taking a low-cost shot in DFS, these sneaky upside plays can be the difference between a narrow loss and a statement win. Stay aggressive, trust the matchup data, and don’t be afraid to roll the dice on talent when the opportunity is there.
Sources: Expert fantasy football start/sit analyses and injury reports for Week 3 (2025 season)fantasyfootballcalculator.comapnews.comsi.comfantasypros.comfantasypros.comrotoballer.comrotoballer.comrotoballer.comrotoballer.comrotoballer.comfantasypros.comsi.comfantasypros.comrotoballer.combigblueview.comnfl.comnfl.comnfl.comrotoballer.com. These sources include NFL.com and FantasyPros matchups, plus injury updates (Aaron Jones IR, Zach Charbonnet doubtful) to inform each recommendation.