.jpg?w=1280 "Seahawks Steelers Football")
Biggest Week 3 Fantasy Football 2025 Sleepers at Every Position
Last week's fantasy football sleepers featured three double-digit scorers and a top-12 tight end in point-per-reception leagues. Don't miss out on another strong batch of unheralded playmakers for Week 3.
Backup quarterbacks will lead their respective teams in an AFC-NFC battle. One of them is in a good spot to deliver solid fantasy returns in his first start of the season.
Though it'll be challenging to find help at running back, a couple of second-stringers could be as productive as their starting backfield mates against two of the league's worst run defenses.
Keep an eye on the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots, which may be a high-scoring matchup. A big-play receiver in that contest has boom potential.
Lastly, the fantasy football world has been asleep at the waiver wire. Somehow, the No. 2 tight end in PPR leagues is available in nearly 80 percent of leagues. Make him a priority addition to your lineup.
Check out our biggest sleepers who are available in at least 50 percent of leagues, according to FantasyPros' roster consensus percentages.
QB Sam Darnold vs. New Orleans Saints (15 Percent Rostered)
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The Seattle Seahawks operate a run-heavy offensive scheme, though Sam Darnold is worth a look because of his favorable matchup.
The New Orleans Saints have allowed five passing touchdowns in two games, which is tied with the Cleveland Browns for the second-highest total in the league.
Last week, San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Mac Jones carved up the Saints defense, throwing for 279 yards and three touchdowns. Considering his impressive performance against the Saints in their building, Darnold can certainly go up and down the field on this defense at home.
As a passer, Darnold has a low ceiling in an offense that ranks eighth in rushing attempts, but he threw 33 times for 295 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak could allow his signal-caller to sling it through the air in a matchup with the Saints' struggling pass defense.
QB Carson Wentz vs. Cincinnati Bengals (1 Percent Rostered)
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According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy will miss two to four weeks with a high ankle sprain. Carson Wentz, who will be the first NFL signal-caller to start for his sixth team in six years, could be a viable starting quarterback or superflex option in the short term.
In a matchup that features backup quarterbacks, Wentz is a better option than Jake Browning because he faces a much weaker pass defense.
Even though Wentz is in the journeyman stage of his career, he should be able to move the ball through the air with two-time All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson and two-time Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson at his disposal. Last year, Jalen Nailor emerged as a reliable target, specifically in the red zone, with four of his six touchdowns within 10 yards of the goal line.
Minnesota will host the Cincinnati Bengals, who gave up 271 passing yards and three touchdowns to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence last week. Despite two interceptions, Lawrence tied for QB11 in fantasy scoring for Week 2.
If Wentz avoids turnovers, he could be a top-10 fantasy quarterback against the Bengals' 28th-ranked pass defense.
RB Tyler Allgeier at Carolina Panthers (36 Percent Rostered)
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Even though Bijan Robinson is the star of the Atlanta Falcons' backfield, he's in a close timeshare with backup running back Tyler Allgeier. The former only has eight more carries than the latter.
Furthermore, Allgeier has more carries inside the 10-yard line (four) than Robinson (two), per FantasyPros.
With double-digit carries in Weeks 1 and 2, Allgeier should be rostered across more leagues. As we saw last week against the Minnesota Vikings, he can be a touchdown vulture near the goal line and a thorn in the side of managers who roster Robinson.
This week, both Falcons tailbacks could feast on the Carolina Panthers' 26th-ranked run defense, which allows 5.2 yards per carry.
Allgeier doesn't provide much as a pass-catcher, but he's capable of rushing for 60-plus yards and scoring a touchdown in a decent matchup.
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RB Kareem Hunt at New York Giants (21 Percent Rostered)
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In a weak slate for sleeper running backs, managers must dig deep for options. The Kansas City Chiefs enter Week 3 with the fifth-fewest rush attempts. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes leads the team in yards on the ground–by a wide margin–and he's scored both of the club's rushing touchdowns.
Mahomes may not have to do it all in a matchup with the New York Giants, though. Running backs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt could pick up chunk yardage against a defense that's given up the most rushing yards in two weeks.
The Giants are allowing the most fantasy points to running backs, which makes both of the Chiefs' tailbacks an appealing start in flex spots.
Pacheco is the Chiefs' starting tailback, but he only has two more touches than Hunt. Assuming the former is rostered in your league, consider the latter in arguably the best matchup for ball-carriers.
WR Calvin Austin III at New England Patriots (11 Percent Rostered)
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Despite a quiet outing in Week 2, Calvin Austin III should be on your radar for the upcoming slate. He has a rapport with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and the New England Patriots are tied for second in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers.
In Week 1, Austin hauled in four out of six targets for 70 yards and a touchdown. In his previous outing, he only registered a 22-yard reception as the Pittsburgh Steelers struggled to get anything going in the downfield passing game.
Expect Rodgers to have a bounce-back performance against New England's 32nd-ranked pass defense.
Patriots' lead cornerback Christian Gonzalez has sat out the first two weeks of the season because of a hamstring injury and says he's day-to-day in his recovery.
If Gonzalez suits up on Sunday, he'll likely line up against star wideout DK Metcalf on the perimeter. The Steelers can feature Austin on the opposite side of the field or in the slot for a more favorable one-on-one matchup, which would allow him to make big plays.
Averaging 18.4 yards per reception, Austin has boom potential facing a leaky Patriots pass defense.
WR Dontayvion Wicks at Cleveland Browns (3 Percent Rostered)
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Last Thursday, Jayden Reed broke his collarbone. This week, he underwent successful foot and clavicle surgeries. The third-year wideout will be out indefinitely, which opens up opportunities for other Green Bay Packers pass-catchers.
Rookie first-rounder Matthew Golden is rostered in 85 percent of leagues, but he only has two catches for 16 yards on four targets in two games. Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks are priority pickups this week.
If you miss out on Doubs, who's second on the team in targets (nine) and receiving yards (96), add Wicks as a solid consolation prize.
In Reed's absence last week, Wicks saw the most targets (six) among Packers wide receivers. He finished with four catches for 44 yards against the Washington Commanders.
Wicks frequently lines up in the slot, so he could draw a matchup with Cleveland Browns nickelback Myles Harden, who's allowing 15 yards per reception and a 129.2 passer rating out of a possible 158.3.
The Packers could also rotate tight end Tucker Kraft and Doubs out of the slot. Still, Wicks' uptick in targets suggests he'll have opportunities to rack up yards and score against a defense that's allowed five passing touchdowns in two games.
TE Juwan Johnson at Seattle Seahawks (18 Percent Rostered)
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Apparently, most fantasy football managers aren't watching enough New Orleans Saints games. With the team's quarterback situation, you can't blame them, though.
Nonetheless, Juwan Johnson shouldn't be available in about 80 percent of leagues. He's tied with wideout Chris Olave for most receptions on the New Orleans Saints and leads the team in receiving yards with 125. Entering Week 3, the 29-year-old is second in fantasy scoring among tight ends in PPR leagues.
In back-to-back weeks, Johnson has finished within the top 10 in fantasy scoring among tight ends. Last week, he was third, hauling in five passes for 49 yards and a touchdown.
This week, Johnson draws an advantageous matchup with the Seattle Seahawks, who allow the most fantasy points to tight ends. Don't leave him in the free-agent pool. He belongs on a roster until his production streak cools off.
TE Jake Tonges vs. Arizona Cardinals (5 Percent Rostered)
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Despite the San Francisco 49ers' unsettled quarterback situation, their tight ends are worth considering this week.
On injured reserve, George Kittle will miss at least the next two weeks with a hamstring injury. Without him, the 49ers have turned to Luke Farrell and Jake Tonges to take most of the snaps at tight end.
Tonges scored in San Francisco's season opener, and Farrell registered a touchdown reception last week. The latter could take his turn to reach the end zone against the Arizona Cardinals, who allow the sixth-most fantasy points to tight ends.
In two games, Tonges has converted seven of his eight targets into receptions for 46 yards and a score. Last week, he played nearly 79 percent of the offensive snaps, which bodes well for his role in Kittle's absence.
Fantasy points scored against statistics are provided by FantasyPros.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
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