Daniel Jones and the Best NFL Week 3 Fantasy Football 2025 Waiver-Wire Pickups

Playing the waiver wire may be a crucial part of winning fantasy football leagues, but it's also important to know when to pick your spots to make big splashes and when to stay put to improve your waiver priority and/or save FAAB dollars.

The leadup to Week 3 is shaping up to be one of those periods where you'll want to keep your free-agent action at a minimum. With only a handful of serviceable talents up for grabs—many of whom are already rostered in more competitive formats—and few injuries or breakout performances leading to must-add players emerging, it's a good time to avoid doing much besides turning over the bottom of your roster.

While managers in need of a new quarterback can find starting-caliber options on waivers, the rest of the positions are relatively devoid of potential stars. You'll still want to take a look at your league's free-agent scrap heap, however, as there could be a diamond lurking in the rough.

With that in mind, here's who to keep an eye out for when you go scavenging for waiver pickups. Note that these suggestions are rostered in approximately 60 percent or fewer of Yahoo! Sports formats.

Fantasy points and rankings courtesy of FantasyPros' PPR data taken prior to the weeks' Monday Night Football matchup. Suggested free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB) bids are based on a $100 dollar starting budget.

Quarterback

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Indianapolis Colts QB Daniel Jones

Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts (17 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $5-10

After a QB2 performance in his Indianapolis Colts' debut, Jones continued impressing in his second act with another strong showing in Week 2. The veteran cinched up a top-10 finish by throwing for 316 yards and a score and adding another touchdown and two yards on his six carries.

With Jones only trailing Lamar Jackson for both the second-most points at the position and in all of fantasy, it's time to take him seriously. Consider Jones a must-add to any roster that lacks an elite QB1 ahead of a juicy Week 3 matchup with the Titans.

Jake Browning , Cincinnati Bengals (1 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $1-2

Browning took over under center for the Bengals following Joe Burrow's turf toe injury on Sunday and helped guide his side to a 31-27 victory. With news breaking that Burrow will be sidelined three months due to the ailment, Browning has emerged as a legitimate fantasy option.

While Browning's 20.7-point day was set back a tad by his trio of interceptions, he still logged a top-16 finish by putting up 241 yards and two touchdowns. The career backup will have weekly top-12 upside thanks to Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins' support, although he's more of a stash candidate right now due to the Cincy's rough scheduling.

Once the slate turns softer following back-to-back matchups with the Vikings and Broncos, Browning could be a sneaky-good starter for managers who have been let down by their drafted signal-callers.

Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (19 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $0-1

The Panthers may be off to an 0-2 start, but they at least showed some life in Week 2 as Young tried to lead a furious comeback attempt against the Cardinals. Despite the defeat, Carolina's signal-caller still posted a top-10 fantasy finish with 22.3 points on the day.

While the Panthers may lack consistency, Young will have ample opportunity to put up notable fantasy marks in the many games his team could be playing from behind in. He's a decent addition in deeper leagues and for those who need a matchup-based spot starter.

Running Back

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New York Giants RB Cam Skattebo

Cam Skattebo, New York Giants (59 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $8-12

Skattebo was one of the few G-Men who showed any fight in a blowout Week 1 defeat. While it didn't show up in his 2.9-point fantasy performance, the coaching staff rewarded the rookie with more work in Week 2. That volume increase resulted in Skattebo's first career top-20 fantasy finish.

While New York's offense could be up-and-down with Russell Wilson at the helm, Skattebo's playing time should only increase after a 13-touch, 59-yard, one-touchdown outing. The rising Big Blue star is a must-add in the 41 percent of leagues he's still somehow available in.

Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars (55 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $8-12

Despite Jacksonville's decision to clear its backfield logjam by dealing Tank Bigsby away, Tuten remained available in nearly half of all fantasy formats ahead of Week 2.

While Tuten is still behind Travis Etienne Jr. (16.9 points on 16 touches) in the pecking order, he put up a quality 15.4 points on 10 touches. Any RB capable of getting double-digit touches on a weekly basis is well worth rostering and rarely available for waiver wire claims, so make the most of this situation by claiming the rookie ahead of Week 3.

Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams (8 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $1-3

The Rams haven't been known to utilize backfield platoons often under head coach Sean McVay, but that could be changing in 2025. Corum stated his case for a larger role after he rushed for 44 yards and a touchdown to tally a solid 10.4 fantasy points on Sunday.

With that top-25 finish under his belt and starter Kyren Williams mustering a pedestrian 23.9 fantasy points over the first two weeks, it wouldn't be a shock to see Corum get more involved. Even with his standalone value remains TBD, the second-year back is at least worth rostering as a high-value handcuff.

Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers (8 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $1-3

Gainwell led the Steelers backfield in snap share in the opener and remained heavily involved in the team's offense in Week 2. While he's not putting up world-beating marks (he had 6.6 points on eight touches on Sunday), the veteran has a sizable role that puts him on fantasy radar as a potential flex play once injuries start mounting and bye weeks begin.

Wide Receiver

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New York Giants WR Wan'Dale Robinson

Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants (22 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $6-10

Robinson could have another big fantasy season in PPR leagues. While he had a relatively quiet opener—finishing as the WR3 with 55 yards on six catches—the fourth-year wideout blew up in Week 2 with a 28.2-point WR5 outing.

Robinson is benefitting from the rapport he has established with quarterback Russell Wilson. While the diminutive receiver is not going to put up huge yardage marks or score on a weekly basis, he's a strong safety net who will rack up immense amounts of catches for a Big Blue squad that will try to dink and dunk its way down the field while the veteran signal-caller remains under center.

Romeo Doubs (16 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $1-3

The Packers have a plethora of mouths to feed in their receiving corps, but Doubs is managing to produce despite the heavy competition. He posted a top-30 finish in Week 2 thanks to a three-catch, 28-yard, one-touchdown showing on Thursday Night Football and has now tallied over 20 points across the first two games.

While he's not going to get the volume to be a must-start each week, he's a good addition in deeper leagues and represents a nice depth pickup in standard formats.

Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans (8 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $8-12

Ayomanor is trending towards a breakout season after opening his rookie campaign with an unexpected 13 targets. While the production didn't materialize in Week 1 when he caught just two his seven looks for 13 yards, it ratcheted up on Sunday when the wideout reeled in four of his six targets for 56 yards and a score.

Cam Ward clearly trusts Ayomanor and the battery could wind up becoming the nucleus of this rebuilding franchise's offense. While the two first-year talents can't be completely trusted on a weekly basis for fantasy purposes, sheer volume should offset some rough patches and makes the receiver a strong waiver wire addition.

Tory Horton, Seattle Seahawks (2 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $0-2

Horton was a deep sleeper going into the season but fell off the fantasy radar when he failed to draw even a single target in his first career game. He re-emerged in Week 2, however, after hauling in his first career touchdown.

While Horton still must show he can produce with any semblance of consistency, his 11.2-point WR32 finish could be a sign of things to come. Don't be afraid to roster Horton in deeper leagues or if you want a high-upside dice roll in a solid matchup with the Saints in Week 3.

Tight End

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New Orleans Saints TE Juwan Johnson

Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints (44 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $7-10

Johnson looks like the real deal after posting a second consecutive top-5 fantasy finish. After leading the position with an 8-catch, 11-target, 76-yard performance in the opener, the Saints veteran breeched the 15-point mark for the second straight week with a 5/49/1 line on nine targets.

Spencer Rattler clearly trusts Johnson—the tight end's 23 looks are only three off team-leader Chris Olave—and will continue to involve him as a safety valve and red area target. Given the dearth of reliable options at this position, Johnson should be a priority add for most managers this week.

Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns (43 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $3-6

Despite Cleveland's struggles out of the gate, Fannin's NFL career is off to a red-hot start. While he couldn't build on his TE6 showing in the opener, the rookie still notched another top-12 finish after reeling in all five of his targets for 48 yards.

While his upside is limited due to David Njoku's presence, the Browns clearly want Fannin to be a significant part of their offense. His usage trends make him rosterable in most formats as a bye week or injury fill-in.

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars (31 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $0-2

Strange may not have realized his sleeper value to open the 2025 season, but there's still time for the second-year tight end to get back on track. Strange has caught seven of his nine targets for 76 yards to open the year, but has yet to find the end zone or finish inside the top-16 in fantasy.

If you can afford the roster spot, stash Strange on your bench ahead of a Week 3 meeting with the Texans. He's a good bet to get more involved as the Jags look to shake things up after Trevor Lawrence struggled in his first two starts.

D/ST

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Atlanta Falcons defense

Atlanta Falcons (1 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $0-1

The Falcons shook off a heartbreaking loss in the opener to eviscerate the Vikings in Week 2. The defense led the way with a massive fantasy performance, putting up a D/ST1-ranked 21 points for the small handful of managers who believed in this side.

With Atlanta allowing just six points and recording six sacks, two interceptions and pair of fumble recoveries, this unit is red-hot heading into a Week 3 clash against a turnover-prone Bryce Young-led Panthers foe.

New England Patriots (15 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $0-1

The Pats may have allowed 27 points to the rival Dolphins in Week 2, but finally showed the type of defensive tenacity that was expected from this club after Mike Vrabel took the reins. Even after giving up so many points, New England still notched a top-five D/ST effort thanks to the five sacks and interception it recorded.

With the Steelers coming to town in Week 3, the Patriots will look to swarm the aging Aaron Rodgers and continue piling up fantasy points with a plethora of sacks and interceptions.

Arizona Cardinals (46 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $0-2

The Cardinals showed why they could be one of the best D/ST choices for the 2025 season during a Week 2 victory over the Panthers. Although the team did allow Carolina back into the game after building a 27-3 lead, it ultimately notched the "W" and posted 13 D/ST fantasy points.

With four sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery and D/ST touchdown on its resume already, Arizona looks poised for another lofty finish against a 49ers opponent that will feature either Mac Jones or a banged-up Brock Purdy under center in Week 3.