Fantasy News

Fantasy Football Week 3 Recap (2025 NFL Season)

September 23, 2025

7c06d3fe110e0ee530509c7d929d1189 — (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season was filled with breakout performances, frustrating busts, and injuries that will shift fantasy football strategies heading into Week 4. Here’s a complete fantasy football Week 3 recap from Thursday night through Monday night, with stock up/stock down notes, waiver implications, and injury fallout.

Thursday Night: Buffalo Bills 31, Miami Dolphins 21

Josh Allen: 3 TDs, locked-in QB1.
Dalton Kincaid: Red-zone score, every-week TE1.
Khalil Shakir: Go-ahead TD, rising WR3/flex.
James Cook: 108 total yards, TD; steady RB2.

Fantasy takeaway: Bills’ core weapons remain must-starts. Dolphins’ passing game looks volatile.

Cleveland Browns 13, Green Bay Packers 10

Quinshon Judkins: Shined as Browns RB1, RB2 with upside.
Joe Flacco: Game manager, limited fantasy use.
Josh Jacobs (GB): Volume RB1, but stuffed by CLE.
Browns pass catchers: Uncertain and best avoided.

Stock up: Judkins.
Stock down: All Browns WRs/TEs.

Washington Commanders 41, Las Vegas Raiders 24

Marcus Mariota: 200+ total yards, rushing TD; streaming QB2.
Chris Rodriguez Jr.: Started, but full committee.
Ashton Jeanty: Still inefficient, but provides a weekly floor. Bench if you want—but TDs are coming.
Tre Tucker: Monster 8/145/3 game.

Stock up: Tucker as breakout WR.
Stock down: Geno Smith’s Raiders ceiling.

Carolina Panthers 30, Atlanta Falcons 0

Bryce Young: 121 yds, rush TD; low-end QB2.
Rico Dowdle: Scored late; RB stash.
Tetairoa McMillan: Quiet game, but he’s Carolina’s WR1. No panic.
Michael Penix Jr.: 2 INTs, benched for Cousins; major concern.

Takeaway: Panthers D/ST back on the streaming radar.

Jacksonville Jaguars 17, Houston Texans 10

Trevor Lawrence: Serviceable, but limited.
Brian Thomas Jr.: Drops remain an issue; WR4 boom/bust.
Travis Hunter: Minimal offensive role; stash, don’t start.
Nico Collins: 8/104/1 but fueled by busted coverage.
Woody Marks: Flashed; stashable rookie.

Stock down: Jags WR corps.
Stock up: Collins (volume play).

Chicago Bears 31, Dallas Cowboys 14

Caleb Williams: Breakout, 4 TDs; QB1.
Rome Odunze: Weekly WR2, scored again.
George Pickens: Elevated to WR2 with CeeDee Lamb sidelined.
Kyle Monangai: Now Bears RB2; deep league stash.
Javonte Williams: RB2 floor.

Injuries: Lamb out with high-ankle sprain.

Stock up: Pickens, Ferguson

Seattle Seahawks 44, New Orleans Saints 13

Sam Darnold: Efficient, QB2 streamer.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: 5/96/1; locked WR1.
Tory Horton: Gadget TDs, stash in dynasty.
Saints passing game: Chris Olave WR1, Juwan Johnson emerging as TE1.

Stock up: JSN, Johnson.
Stock down: Kupp slightly, NO depth WRs.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 29, New York Jets 27

Baker Mayfield: 233 yds, 1 TD; QB2.
Garrett Wilson: 10/84/1; elite WR1.
Tyrod Taylor: 2 TDs + rushing yardage; viable superflex QB.
Bucky Irving: Continues RB1 role.
Injury: Mike Evans (hamstring).

Minnesota Vikings vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Jordan Mason: RB1 volume with Jones out; locked in.
Chase Brown: Looked terrible; major concerns.
Ja’Marr Chase/Tee Higgins: Downgraded without Burrow.

Stock up: Mason
Stock down: Chase Brown, Bengals offense

Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans

Jonathan Taylor: Solid RB1 outing.
Michael Pittman Jr.: Locked-in weekly starter.
Cameron Ward (TEN): Rookie QB struggles continue.
Tony Pollard: Workhorse, but limited by poor offense.
Elic Ayomanor: Only Titan pass catcher with fantasy appeal.

Stock down: Titans passing attack (outside Ayomanor).

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams

Saquon Barkley: Safe RB1 floor, but hasn’t shown 2024 ceiling.
A.J. Brown & DeVonta Smith: Both had big games; stock up.
Puka Nacua: Locked WR1.
Davante Adams: Weekly starter in LAR.

Stock up: Brown, Smith.
Stock down: Barkley slightly.

Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers

Christian McCaffrey: Still elite RB1.
James Conner: Injured; Trey Benson poised to be league-winner.
Marvin Harrison Jr.: Bench until usage improves.

Stock up: Trey Benson.
Stock down: Harrison (short-term).

Los Angeles Chargers 23, Denver Broncos 20

Courtland Sutton: “He’s back” performance; WR2.
J.K. Dobbins: Keeps balling, strong RB2.
Troy Franklin: Quiet game, stash only.
Ladd McConkey: Limited upside with Allen & Johnston thriving.
Najee Harris injury: Opens door for Omarion Hampton to shine.

Stock up: Sutton, Hampton.
Stock down: McConkey ceiling.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. New York Giants

Travis Kelce: Low-end TE1, inconsistent but still must start.
Malik Nabers: Quiet game vs tough D, bounce-back expected.
Chiefs RBs: Committee, not fantasy-reliable.
Tyquan Thornton: May emerge as WR streamer.
Scattebo: Real deal rookie RB, should dominate with Tyrone Tracy sidelined.

Stock up: Scattebo.
Stock down: Chiefs RB room.

Monday Night: Detroit Lions 38, Baltimore Ravens 30

David Montgomery & Jahmyr Gibbs: Combined 4 TDs; both RB1/2 weekly.
Amon-Ra St. Brown: 7/77/1; WR1.
Mark Andrews: Finally erupted (6/91/2); TE1 value restored.
Lamar Jackson: QB1 performance.
Derrick Henry: Another fumble, but no panic—hold steady.

Stock up: Andrews, Montgomery
Stock steady: Henry despite fumbles.

Final Takeaways

Biggest Risers: Omarion Hampton, Trey Benson, George Pickens, A.J. Brown
Concerning Trends: Chase Brown inefficiency, Marvin Harrison Jr.’s slow start, Ashton Jeanty’s TD drought.
Waiver Names to Watch: Trey Benson (ARI), Tre Tucker (LV), Ollie Gordon (MIA), Elic Ayomanor (TEN)
Injuries to Monitor: CeeDee Lamb (ankle), Mike Evans (hamstring), James Conner (injury clearing path for Benson), Najee Harris (Achilles).

📈 That wraps the fantasy football Week 3 recap. With so many injuries and breakout performances, make sure you’re adjusting lineups and waiver strategies now—before the rest of your league catches up.