Booms and Busts - Fantasy Football Starts and Sits for Week 3 Lineups (2025)

Dave's fantasy football start 'em and sit 'em booms and busts for Week 3 of 2025. Sneaky starts that may boom, and typical starters who will disappoint.

Week 3 is upon us already. We had a mixed bag of results here last week. Our Sonic Boom did not work out so well after Breece Hall totaled just 29 rushing yards on 10 carries. Things looked great after Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver was ruled out with an ankle injury, but so is life in the wilds of fantasy football.

Hopefully, Hall’s dud did not hurt you too badly. Maybe you were fortunate enough to start Tucker Kraft and/or Rome Odunze, and their big games helped you pull out the victory. If you did take a loss and are now sitting 0-2, the sense of urgency is a bit heightened. Starting 0-2 is not the end of the world, but it’s imperative to avoid a 0-3 start. Remember, the fantasy playoffs start after just 14 weeks, so this is a pivotal week to pick up a victory if your team is off to a slow start. That process begins with identifying high-upside players to insert into your lineup or potential busts to avoid. Let’s get things rolling and see which players are primed for a big week.

Make sure you’re following RotoBaller on X and download the RotoBaller app for all your fantasy football needs. Here are boom/bust picks for Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season.

Editor's Note: Identify fantasy football draft busts, overvalued ADPs, and key players to avoid so you can draft with confidence this season.

Sonic Boom of the Week

George Pickens - WR, Dallas Cowboys at Chicago Bears

Pickens is coming off a good performance last week against the New York Giants. He posted a 5-68-1 line on nine targets and finished the week as the PPR WR14.

George Pickens for the lead!!!

NYGvsDAL on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/UOUi7QlsRu

— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2025

Dallas takes on a Chicago Bears team that will be missing cornerback Jaylon Johnson after he suffered a groin injury last week against the Detroit Lions. That is problematic for a Bears defense that currently sits 32nd in defensive passing DVOA per FTN Fantasy. Chicago has also allowed the sixth most PPR points to wide receivers through two games, per Fantasy Football Today, and ranks 31st in defensive DVOA against opposing teams’ WR2s.

Expect the Cowboys to throw the ball at will once again in this game and look for Pickens to post another strong outing. Gamers should leave him in lineups this week as he has a good shot to crack triple digits and find the endzone for the second consecutive week.

Other Week 3 Fantasy Football Booms

Nico Collins - WR, Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars

Collins is not normally the type of player we talk about in this column, but some fantasy gamers are starting to question him following a slow start. He has posted finishes of WR30 and WR62 in the first two games of the year. Houston’s offensive line has been a major problem, and it’s led to inconsistent play from quarterback C.J. Stroud. This has really affected Houston’s ability to get Collins going.

Luckily for Collins and Houston’s offense, they draw a date with a Jacksonville Jaguars team that Collins torched in 2024. In two games against Jacksonville last year, Collins posted a 20-270-1 line on 26 targets. Even though the Jaguars have a new coaching staff in place, they have still allowed the seventh-most PPR points to receivers so far this year.

Fellow receiver Christian Kirk is expected to return in Week 3. His presence should take some pressure off Collins and allow the latter to see more opportunities down the field.

Don’t make a rash decision and pull the plug on Collins yet. Now’s not the time to bail on a player you took at the Round 1/2 turn. You drafted Collins to be a stud. Leave him in your lineup and give him a chance to do so.

Tyler Allgeier - RB, Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers

Allgeier has seen a consistent role in Atlanta’s offense through the first two games of the season. He’s coming off a strong Week 2 performance where he ran for 76 rushing yards and a touchdown.

A TOUCHDOWN!
Tyler Allgeier walks into the end zone to extend Atlanta’s lead.
📺 NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/v41gxUlUzi

— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 15, 2025

Carolina held the Arizona Cardinals to just 82 rushing yards last week, but struggled mightily against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1. We should expect the Falcons to lean heavily on their ground attack in this game, similar to what we saw against the Minnesota Vikings this past Sunday night.

That should mean plenty of opportunities for Allgeier and Bijan Robinson to contribute. In a game where Atlanta should be playing with a lead, Allgeier is a fine flex play in deeper leagues and is live to find the endzone again this week.

Isiah Pacheco - RB, Kansas City Chiefs at New York Giants

Pacheco has been stuck in a committee since returning from a leg injury last year. He’s been a frustrating player to own. Pacheco hasn’t eclipsed an 80% snap share or scored a rushing touchdown since Week 1 of 2024.

However, this week is a great opportunity to throw Pacheco into lineups as the Chiefs take on a Giants defense that’s been horrible against the run so far this year. New York has allowed the most rushing yards in the league and ranks 21st in PFF’s rushing defense grade. Per Fantasy Points Data Suite, New York has also allowed the sixth-most explosive rushing yards in the league.

This is an ideal matchup for Pacheco, and he could pop for his best game in quite some time. If Pacheco can’t produce against this Giants run defense, then it’s probably curtains for him as a viable fantasy asset. For now, though, gamers should start him as a viable flex play or RB2 in a pinch.

Drake Maye - QB, New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

We listed Maye as a boom in this column last week. He delivered by accounting for three total touchdowns and finishing Week 2 as the overall QB3.

Drake Maye & Kayshon Boutte extend the Patriots lead!

NEvsMIA on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/R9tXMsK5jL

— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2025

The Steelers' defense has looked old and slow so far through two games. They have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks and rank 21st in PFF’s pass coverage grade.

This is another good spot to start Maye. Leave him in your lineups this week.

David Njoku - TE, Cleveland Browns vs. Green Bay Packers

The Packers' defense has been elite so far through two games. However, they have been a bit vulnerable against tight ends this year. Zach Ertz posted a 6-64-1 against this defense last week, and Sam LaPorta caught six passes for 79 yards in Week 1.

Even though Njoku has competition from rookie Harold Fannin Jr., he’s cleared an 80% snap rate in both games in 2025. Cleveland will likely be playing from behind for the majority of this game. That should ensure plenty of opportunities for Njoku, and he could even find the endzone in garbage time toward the end of the game.

Landmine of the Week

Kyren Williams - RB, Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles

One of the biggest issues with Williams coming into the season was a severe drop in efficiency from his breakout 2023. Through two games in 2025, Williams has done little to quell those concerns and is averaging just 3.8 yards per carry. Philadelphia’s rush defense struggled in Week 1 after Jalen Carter was ejected, but it bounced back in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles held Chiefs running backs to just 55 rushing yards and currently rank ninth in PFF’s rushing defense grade.

Throw in the fact that Los Angeles wants to continue working with second-year back Blake Corum, and Williams carries major bust potential in this matchup. If you have other quality options at running back, you consider pivoting off Williams. If you have to start him, just realize he could post a real dud this week.

Other Week 3 Fantasy Football Busts

Quinshon Judkins - RB, Cleveland Browns vs. Green Bay Packers

Judkins made his NFL debut last weekend against the Baltimore Ravens and looked very good despite missing training camp and the preseason. He ran for 61 yards on 10 carries and caught three passes as well. Judkins also finished Week 2 fourth in Next Gen Stats rush yards over expected per attempt.

As well as Judkins played last week against a good Ravens defense, he gets a brutal matchup in Week 3. The Packers' run defense has been the best in the NFL through two games. Green Bay has allowed the fewest rushing yards in the league, ranks third in defensive rushing DVOA, and has allowed the seventh-fewest PPR points to running backs this year.

Green Bay is an 8.5-point favorite in this game. Cleveland is expected to play from behind for most of this contest, which will also limit rushing opportunities for Judkins. Dynasty gamers who weathered the storm through Judkins' domestic violence allegations look like they’ll be rewarded with a good player for many years. However, redraft managers should leave him out of lineups this week.

Chris Olave - WR, New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks

Olave only has 13 receptions for 108 receiving yards and is averaging just 8.3 yards per reception so far this year. He leads the Saints with 23 targets, but that volume has yet to produce elite fantasy results.

This week might not be the time Olave starts producing as he draws a date against a Seattle Seahawks defense that's allowed the fewest PPR points to wide receivers this year. Seattle also ranks first in defensive DVOA against opposing WR1s. He can safely be left out of lineups.

Jake Browning - QB, Cincinnati Bengals at Minnesota Vikings

Following yet another major injury to starter Joe Burrow, Browning is set to take over as the Bengals' QB1. He was a hot add off waivers in superflex and two-quarterback leagues, but gamers may want to hold off on throwing Browning into lineups.

Cincinnati takes on the Minnesota Vikings this week. The Vikings have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this year and the fifth-fewest passing yards per game, too. Minnesota is also trotting out a backup quarterback this weekend. With J.J. McCarthy nursing a high-ankle sprain, Carson Wentz gets the nod.

This game is currently tied for the lowest projected total among all Week 3 games. With both teams starting backups, we will likely see a defensive contest with both head coaches relying on the ground game to score points and produce big plays. That could mean scoring opportunities will be limited.

Really, at this stage of the season, you should only consider starting Browning in superflex/two two-quarterback leagues. If you’re in a single quarterback league and have to start him, then things have probably gone very wrong for your team. If you can swing it, leave Browning on your bench and consider other QB2 options.

Brenton Strange - TE, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans

Strange is getting a lot of playing time and looks like a viable streaming candidate for the remainder of the year. However, Houston currently ranks fifth in defensive DVOA against tight ends and allows just 46 receiving yards per game to the position. The Texans have also allowed the sixth-fewest PPR points to tight ends through two games.

There will be weeks to fire up Strange as a streamer, but this week is not one of them. Look to play other tight ends with better matchups this week.

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