Week 3 Fantasy Football Matchups: Starts, Sits & Sleepers (2025)
Week 3 Fantasy Football Matchups: Starts, Sits, and Sleepers
I’ve created seven categories to find the best plays for Week 3 fantasy football. They are: Boom/Bust, Best Matchup, Must Sit, Sleeper, Top Rookie, Week Winner, and The Hail Mary play of the week. We’ll identify a player for each category to help you make those critical lineup decisions.
Boom/Bust: Caleb Williams vs DAL
It’s been a shaky start for Caleb Williams and the Bears offense. They’re 0-2 and coming off a blowout loss to the Lions. Williams has yet to live up to his pre-draft hype, but this week—Week 3 2025—we are starting him in our fantasy lineups.
Through two weeks, the Cowboys have been the fifth-easiest matchup for quarterbacks. In Week 1, Jalen Hurts finished as QB8. In Week 2, Russell Wilson carved them up for 450 passing yards and three touchdowns, finishing as QB2. Despite his struggles in real life, Williams has flashed fantasy upside, finishing QB9 in Week 1 and notching five top-10 finishes in 2024. He now has chemistry with Rome Odunze, who looks like he’s breaking out in Year 2.
The Cowboys should build a lead, forcing Chicago to throw, which means plenty of pass attempts and scramble opportunities for Williams. With all the QB injuries this week, you could do a lot worse. But I don’t think he’s just serviceable—I think he’s going to be a difference maker. I’m ranking him as my QB7 for Week 3, ahead of Patrick Mahomes, Drake Maye, Justin Herbert, and Kyler Murray.
Other Boom/Bust candidates: Jameson Williams @ BAL
Best Matchup: Jordan Mason vs CIN
With Aaron Jones out for multiple weeks, the Vikings’ backfield belongs to Jordan Mason. We saw him thrive in a similar role last year with San Francisco, so we know he can handle the workload. This week, he faces a Bengals defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to running backs, and that was against the Browns and Jaguars.
The Bengals are without Joe Burrow, limiting their scoring potential. Minnesota, with Carson Wentz at QB, is more likely to lean on the run. I’m ranking Mason as a top-12 RB for Week 3, ahead of Chase Brown, Breece Hall, Travis Etienne, and Ashton Jeanty.
Other great matchups: Rome Odunze vs DAL, Tony Pollard vs IND, Dak Prescott @ CHI
Must Sit: Quentin Johnston vs DEN
By some miracle, Quentin Johnston is WR7 in fantasy football right now after WR3 and WR23 finishes to start the year. But this is what he does—big weeks, then disappearing acts. This week, he faces a Broncos defense allowing just 11.8 fantasy points per game to WRs. They shut down every Titans WR in Week 1 and limited the Colts’ receivers in Week 2.
The real problem: Patrick Surtain. While Ladd McConkey runs most of his routes from the slot, Johnston lines up outside on 85% of snaps—right into Surtain’s coverage. That’s a nightmare matchup. Sorry, but the breakout party is over for Johnston in Week 3.
Other sits: Mike Evans vs NYJ, Quinshon Judkins vs GB, Kyren Williams @ PHI, Russell Wilson vs KC, Tyrone Tracy vs KC, Chase Brown @ MIN, Evan Engram @ LAC
Sleeper: Chig Okonkwo vs IND
Last week it was Elic Ayomanor from this Titans offense. This week, the sleeper is tight end Chig Okonkwo. His usage has been solid—83% route participation and target shares of 14% and 18%. He’s TE12 in target share and No. 1 in target separation (via PlayerProfiler).
Now he gets the Colts, a defense he torched for 81 yards on nine receptions last season (TE2 overall). Daniel Jones has Indy playing well, which likely forces the Titans into comeback mode, creating more opportunities for Okonkwo. With Cam Ward settling in at QB, I like Chig to post his first TE1 game of the season.
Other sleepers: Tyler Allgeier @ CAR, Jake Browning @ MIN, Dontayvion Wicks @ CLE, Zach Charbonnet vs NO, Mason Taylor @ TB
Top Rookie: Tetairoa McMillan vs ATL
Tetairoa McMillan is coming off a 6-catch, 100-yard game in Week 2. He has immediately emerged as the Panthers’ clear No. 1 target, with target shares of 26% and 18% and a 91% route rate last week. Carolina will constantly be chasing points, which means plenty of volume for McMillan.
The Falcons are a dream matchup, ranking as the third-easiest against WRs through two weeks, and now they’re missing starting CB AJ Terrell. McMillan is the only rookie consistently producing in fantasy right now. Keep starting him with confidence.
Week Winner: Kenneth Walker vs NO
The Seahawks’ backfield has been split, but Kenneth Walker is clearly the better back. Through two weeks, Zach Charbonnet has 27 carries for 57 yards, no catches, and one touchdown. Walker has 23 carries for 125 yards, four receptions, and one score. He’s averaging 5.4 yards per carry compared to Charbonnet’s 2.1.
Walker brings the big-play element that Charbonnet lacks. Even if the timeshare continues, Walker has far more upside, and this week he faces a Saints defense ranked among the five easiest matchups for RBs. At home, with positive game script, Walker is positioned to carry fantasy teams in Week 3.
Other week-winner candidates: Zay Flowers vs DET, Jahmyr Gibbs @ BAL, Bijan Robinson @ CAR
Hail Mary: Justice Hill vs DET
If you need a desperation flex play, Justice Hill is in play. He scored as a top-36 RB seven times last year, and this week sets up well against the Lions. Baltimore will need to throw to keep pace with Detroit’s offense, and Hill has been on the field for 42% of snaps with target shares above 10% in both games. In potential shootout conditions, Hill could see closer to 50% of the snaps.
It won’t be pretty, but if you’re desperate, Hill is a viable dart throw in Week 3.
Other Hail Mary options: Dyami Brown vs HOU, Ja’Tavion Sanders vs ATL, Alec Pierce @ TEN, Chris Rodriguez vs LV, Hunter Renfrow vs ATL, Cole Kmet vs DAL, Tory Horton vs NO, Jeremy McNichols vs LV, Elijah Arroyo vs NO
RANKINGS | WEEKLY | DYNASTY | ROS
