Fantasy Football Week 3 Rankings, Box Score Stat Projections, Top Waiver-Wire Adds

The stars shined in Week 2 of the 2025 fantasy football season, with marquee names such as Lamar Jackson, Puka Nacua, Ja'Marr Chase, and Malik Nabers showing out.

It was also a big week for sleepers, some of whom exploded onto the scene and made their presence felt, influencing the outcomes of big games and several fantasy match-ups.

Ahead of Week 3, find out which stars are must-starts and which waiver wire adds are worth adding to your roster in pursuit of your league's championship.

All stats from FantasyPros.com unless otherwise noted.

Quarterback Rankings

AP Photo

The QB rankings for Week 3 are:

1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens vs. Detroit Lions
2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins
3. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders vs. Las Vegas Raiders
4. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams
5. Patrick Mahomes II, Kansas City Chiefs at New York Giants
6. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys at Chicago Bears
7. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers
8. Drake Maye, New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
9. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New York Jets
10. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens

Top Performer: Lamar Jackson

The Baltimore Ravens quarterback is coming off a four-touchdown performance against Cleveland and should continue his hot streak Sunday against a Detroit Lions defense giving up, according to NFL.com, an average of 17.34 points to opposing quarterbacks.

With the emergence of Tez Walker in a Week 2 victory over Cleveland, in which the second-year wide receiver out of North Carolina caught two passes for two scores, and the explosiveness of Zay Flowers, the Ravens' passing game is dangerous and should give Detroit plenty of fits.

Add to that Jackson's ability to move the chains with his feet and you have a quarterback poised for a big day in front of his home fans.

Stat Predictions: 245 yards passing, 3 TDs, 40 yards rushing

Running Back Rankings

AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

Week 3 running back rankings are:

1. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers
2. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals
3. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens
4. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans
5. James Cook, Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins
6. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens vs. Detroit Lions
7. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New York Jets
8. Saqon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams
9. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns
10. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills

Sleeper: Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans

The trade of Tank Bigsby to Philadelphia opened the door for Tuten to be a contributor for the Jaguars offense and the explosive running back was just that in Week 2 against Cincinnati.

Tuten carried eight times for 42 yards, averaging 5.2 per, and added a receiving touchdown to his stat line. That he only carried six fewer times than starter Travis Etienne Jr. indicates how much new head coach Liam Coen and his offense see in the rookie out of Virginia Tech.

Expect him to see more opportunities in Week 3 against a Houston team giving up 16.5 fantasy points to opposing running backs, per NFL.com.

Stat Predictions: 6 carries, 35 yards rushing, 5 receptions, 45 receiving, TD

Wide Receiver Rankings

AP Photo/Matt Patterson

The rankings for Week 3 are:

1. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings vs. Cincinnati Bengals
2. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys at Chicago Bears
3. Malik Nabers, New York Giants vs. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals at Minnesota Vikings
5. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles
6. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens
7. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks vs. New Orleans Saints
8. Nico Collins, Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars
9. Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans
10. Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens vs. Detroit Lions

Sleeper: Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs defense has been uncharacteristically bad against opposing wide receivers in fantasy through the first two weeks of the 2025 season, allowing an average of 39.95 points per NFL.com.

With Malik Nabers destined to get his looks from quarterback Russell Wilson, there will be opportunities for his teammate across the field, Wan'Dale Robinson, to have an impact on next Sunday night's marquee match-up.

Robinson exploded in Week 2 against Dallas, catching eight balls for 142 yards and a touchdown. He proved to be an explosive playmaker for the Giants when they most needed him and the trust he earned from Wilson should earn him the attention of all fantasy managers.

Rostered in just 26 percent of leagues according to FantasyPros.com, he is readily available and could have big returns for managers who recognize his upside through the rest of the season. Do not be surprised if he out-performs Nabers against the defending AFC champions.

Stat Prediction: 6 receptions, 60 yards, TD

Tight End Rankings

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The rankings for tight ends in Week 3 are:

1. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers
2. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders at Washington Commanders
3. Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns
4. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens
5. Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders vs. Las Vegas Raiders
6. Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans
7. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs at New York Giants
8. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks
9. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys at Chicago Bears
10. TJ Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Sleeper: Johnson, New Orleans

Through the first two games of the season, Johnson has been targeted 20 times by quarterback Spencer Rattler and come down with 13 receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown.

He is second on the team in targets, tied for first in receptions, and is averaging 9.5 yards per reception. He has been one of the few standouts offensively for a bad Saints team and should continue getting looks from the young QB.

In Week 3, against Seattle, he faces a defense ranked worst in fantasy against opposing tight ends. Per NFL, the Seahawks allow an average of 20.40 points to the position, meaning Johnson will have plenty of opportunities to positively impact managers' lineups.

Get him now, though, because it is only a matter of time before he becomes a hot commodity as one of the top-performing players at his position.

Stat Prediction: 7 receptions, 80 yards, TD