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Michael Florio's fantasy football sneaky starts, pivot plays, and post-waiver waiver pickups for Week 3 of 2025. Start 'em as under-the-radar fantasy sleepers.
We are just two weeks in, and the injury bug has already bitten most fantasy football teams. If you were not directly impacted, there is still a good chance that you have a player who has been somehow impacted by everything going on.
There are already a ton of teams in need of a new QB. Some are looking to replace a struggling running back or receiver in their lineup. If you need some help, the waiver wire could be your friend this week. Hopefully, you were able to get some of the top names available.
Each week, I will highlight sneaky starts that can be elevated from your bench or waivers and into your starting lineup!
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Sneaky Starts and Pivot Options for Week 3
Daniel Jones is second in the NFL in passing yards. He is the QB2 entering Week 3 behind only Lamar Jackson. He is tied with Josh Allen for the most goal-line attempts and is tied for the league lead with three rushing touchdowns.
Is it real? I have some doubts. But he is playing at an extremely high level. The goal-line usage keeps him in play in what has quickly become a tested QB position.
The highest-graded NFL QB through the first two weeks:
📊 Daniel Jones - 98.8 PFSN QBi grade
The Colts QB has posted:
🎯 +0.35 EPA per dropback
🎯 71.4% completion rate
🎯 111.1 passer rating
🎯 5 total TDs pic.twitter.com/ghO8zWul3J— PFSN (@PFSN365) September 16, 2025
Mac Jones! Who? Mac Jones! Who? Ok -- let me stop. Jones threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns last week. I do not think he is Brock Purdy, but he can be like 75 percent Purdy in a very fantasy-friendly 49ers system.
I trust the system and the weapons here. Plus, the Cardinals allowed 328 passing yards and three touchdowns to Bryce Young last week. The Joneses are great pivot options this week.
Jake Browning is in play because of the team he plays for more than anything. Browning will be throwing to Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown. Those players are going to make some big plays, and Browning will be the beneficiary.
Plus, the Bengals still have the same defense, so we could see Browning having to throw a bunch to match points. In limited playing time last week, he threw for two scores and put up nearly 18 fantasy points.
If all else fails, you can grab one of the Week 3 spot starters. I would rank them as Carson Wentz, Tyrod Taylor, and then Marcus Mariota. Wentz is tied to a great system with good weapons around him. The other two can run. I know it is not ideal, but sometimes in two-QB or superflex leagues, you have to do what you have to do to get by.
Bhayshul Tuten played 26 percent of the snaps and finished with 74 yards, a touchdown, and over 15 PPR points. If you watch him play, you quickly see that he is an explosive runner, so he is always a threat for a chunk play.
He can be utilized in the passing game as well. Tuten is also a pick of the current regime. While Travis Etienne Jr. is still the starter, we could see Tuten continue to earn more and more volume. He is an upside shot worth taking if you are in need.
Trey Benson played 46 percent of the snaps last week with 14 routes and six targets. That was more routes and targets than James Conner saw. While Benson is not seeing much ground work, he has taken over on passing downs, it seems.
He was the two-minute drill back last week, which is a valuable fantasy role. The floor is not steady, but Benson has scored over eight PPR points each week so far in games the Cards have been playing from ahead. If they are trailing in this one, it could mean even more pass volume going his way.
#Cardinals Week 2 RB Usage
- James Conner: 52% snaps, 11 carries, 9 routes, 1 target (52 yds, TD)
- Trey Benson: 46% snaps, 3 carries, 14 routes, 6 targets (44 yds)The Benson pass game usage is far from ideal for Conner
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) September 14, 2025
Tyler Allgeier has seen double-digit touches in each game so far. In fact, last week he saw 17 touches and turned them into 80 yards. He brings sneaky upside this week due to the matchup against the Panthers.
We have already seen Carolina run on this year, and that's after it allowed the most fantasy PPG to RBs last year. It has been a problem for years in Carolina. Last season, Allgeier went for 108 yards and a touchdown on 19 touches in his first game against the Panthers. In the other, he turned 11 touches into 69 yards.
Jeremy McNichols was the back who played in Austin Ekeler’s place last week after the legend suffered an injury. I believe that will be the case moving forward. I am expecting Jacory Croskey-Merritt to handle the ground work, while McNichols plays on passing plays such as third downs and two-minute drill. It is a volatile role, but there will certainly be PPR upside.
Everyone needs to put some respect on Quentin Johnston’s name. A Year 3 breakout may be happening before our eyes. Johnston has topped 15 PPR points in five of his last seven games dating back to last season. His 2.9 fantasy points per target is the most among receivers so far this season.
He is the field-stretching option, and that is a role that brings big upside. Johnston, with a high catch rate, is very much so a “Happy Learned to Putt” moment. The Broncos are a tough matchup, but Johnston is certainly in play.
Troy Franklin led the Broncos in snaps, routes, targets, catches, yards, and scored a TD last week. I love the routes he was running, as this seems like a potential breakout to me and not just a game where they designed a bunch of screens or something like that.
Plus, he played in college with Bo Nix, so there is clear chemistry there. I know we have been burned by Sean Payton before, but watching Franklin, this felt different. I would be fine taking a shot on his upside.
Troy Franklin looked good in Week 1 on limited opportunities
Had a 0.25 TPRR (solid) and was 13th in air yards share despite a 55.8% route rate
Franklin got more work Week 2 (84.4% route rate) and balled out (0.33 TPRR, 30% TS)
He also had a 38.1% 1st read TS in Week 2 (ELITE) https://t.co/U95Ey6DttU pic.twitter.com/AtRtoMLgd5
— Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) September 17, 2025
Wan'Dale Robinson exploded for 28 fantasy points last week. Many are writing it off, but I believe the Giants are using Robinson differently this season. How? They are simply using him downfield more often.
Not only was last week a career day in downfield usage, but he now leads the NFL in yards on deep passes. Remember, the Giants were talking about using Robinson in a more explosive role this offseason. He also leads the NFL in yards from the slot, and the Chiefs have allowed the second-most yards to slot receivers. He is in play in a game where the Giants could be chasing points.
Was Wan'Dale Robinson's big Week 2 fantasy football performance legit or a fluke?
(via @JohnJohnalytics)https://t.co/cc9NJBZdXw
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) September 17, 2025
If you need to dive a bit deeper, Cedric Tillman, Darnell Mooney, Elic Ayomanor, and Christian Kirk are names that could be had and bring some potential upside this week.
Tillman has one fewer target than Jerry Jeudy this season. He is getting all the end-zone targets, though. Mooney has a tougher matchup than you may expect on paper, but we know he can be a very useful fantasy option when healthy. Ayomanor has the highest target rate on the Titans. He has had one of their two end-zone targets this season.
Lastly, Kirk is a very useful fantasy receiver when healthy. The Texans are searching for a No. 2 target to step up. Typically, I do not love plugging in a lower-ranked player in their first game back, but given the matchup -- and a little revenge -- Kirk is in play for those diving deeper.
Harold Fannin Jr. is a true Joker. He has taken snaps from the backfield, the slot, out wide, and as a traditional tight end. The Browns are in the top three in 12 personnel usage, and they have not used a consistent third receiver all year.
I believe Fannin is the TE2 and WR3 in one package. He has outscored David Njoku each week, and the Packers have allowed the fifth-most yards to tight ends this year. He is in play in a game where the Browns are likely in catch-up mode.
Harold Fannin Jr Week 2
- 63% snaps
- 5 snaps from backfield, 17 from TE, 21 from slot, 2 from wide
- 5 targets
- 9.8 fantasy points— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) September 14, 2025
Juwan Johnson has a connection with Spencer Rattler. In their last four games together, Johnson has 10, seven, 11, and nine targets. He’s topped double-digit fantasy points in each of those.
He’s topped 15 fantasy points in each game this season and finished each week as a top-5 tight end. I would ride the hot hand against a Seattle team that has struggled to slow down tight ends this season.
Zach Ertz has seen five to eight targets so far this season, catching a touchdown in each game. He has become a staple for the Commanders in the red zone.
He doesn’t bring the highest ceiling, but he does provide a steady floor. Obviously, I like him a lot more if Jayden Daniels suits up this week, but if you are in need at tight end, Ertz will see targets.
Make sure to follow Michael on X, @MichaelFFlorio.
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