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Hayden's fantasy football risers, breakouts, waiver wire sleepers for Week 3 of 2025. Are these unexpected booms legit for Wan'Dale Robinson, Hunter Renfrow, Russell Wilson, others?
Week 2 is not yet complete, but we can already say that it has been a great week of football. The Colts defeated the Broncos on a game-winning Spencer Shrader field goal in a thrilling finish, and the Bengals beat the Jaguars late despite losing their star QB Joe Burrow to a toe injury.
The best game, though, was a wild showdown between the Cowboys and Giants. The two NFC East rivals exploded for 77 combined points, and the duel also produced an elite outing for receiver Malik Nabers. Nabers finished as the WR2 on the day with 33.2 half-PPR points behind just Detroit star Amon-Ra St. Brown. St. Brown scored three touchdowns to fuel his team's 52-21 destruction of the Chicago Bears in another divisional clash.
Not every player who balled out had the reputation of Nabers or St. Brown, though. Some great performances were also turned in by guys who are much less rostered in fantasy leagues. Let's take a look at five such outings, beginning with the veteran tight end on the Washington Commanders.
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Zach Ertz, TE, Washington Commanders
Zach Ertz had a solid season for Washington in 2024, finishing the year as the TE8 in half-PPR formats. At 34 years old, though, and with a new weapon in Deebo Samuel Sr. coming to town, some regression was expected for him. A Week 1 outing in which he caught just three balls for 26 yards did not dispel that possibility, although Ertz did score a touchdown to salvage his stat line.
Week 2 was different, though. Although the Commanders fell 27-18 to Green Bay on Thursday, Ertz turned in a strong showing. He caught six of his eight targets for 64 yards and a touchdown in the losing effort. Ertz's 20-yard score was Washington's first touchdown of the game and also marked their longest play of the night.
Moreover, Ertz led his team in receiving yards, beating out both Samuel and Terry McLaurin.
Zach Ertz touchdown!
It's a one-possession game 👀
WASvsGB on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/bsB1ywqGjb— NFL (@NFL) September 12, 2025
After Sunday's games, Ertz ranks as the week's TE2 with 15.4 half-PPR points. He exceeded that total just twice in 17 regular-season games last season. Ertz's eight targets, along with the five he had the week before, suggest that he still has the deep trust of young quarterback Jayden Daniels. This is very useful information moving forward.
Ertz is already rostered in a fair number of leagues, but he should be prioritized by any TE-needy fantasy managers this week, wherever he is still available. While there are more explosive options at the position, Ertz is worthy of starting consideration.
Russell Wilson, QB, New York Giants
Malik Nabers did indeed have a great game on Sunday against Dallas. That could not have happened without his quarterback getting him the ball. Veteran passer Russell Wilson had a wild performance, completing 30 of 41 passes for 450 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He also tacked on 23 yards on the ground. Wilson is currently Week 2's QB2 with 31.3 fantasy points.
RUSSELL WILSON MOON BALL TO MALIK NABERS.
GIANTS LEAD. pic.twitter.com/Chl9HdjldL
— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2025
The production was surprising given Wilson's major struggles in Week 1. Against the Commanders to start the year, he connected on only 17 of 37 attempts and mustered just passing 168 yards without a touchdown. The 36-year-old found his stride against the Cowboys, but the interception proved crucial in the back-and-forth 40-37 overtime loss.
Wilson's yardage total was his second-highest ever and best since 2017. Despite losing, the monster game likely instilled some confidence in the coaching staff about Wilson's prospects for the rest of the season. This is paramount, as he needs to fend off rookie Jaxson Dart for the starting gig to remain fantasy relevant.
As with Ertz, Wilson merits waiver wire looks ahead of Week 3. He should not be a priority add, though. While this explosion was unexpected, the Cowboys were seen as a favorable matchup. Moreover, Dart is looming and could get the nod without warning. Finally, one cannot just ignore the poor showing Wilson had in the season opener. Approach Wilson with caution this week on waivers.
Wan'Dale Robinson, WR, New York Giants
All of Wilson's passing yards had to go somewhere. While 167 went to Nabers, another 142 went to Wan'Dale Robinson. Robinson caught eight of his 10 targets to reach that number, and he also scored an incredible 32-yard touchdown amid a flurry of action late in the fourth quarter of the shootout. His stats brought him 24.2 half-PPR points, earning him a current standing as the WR5 for the week.
RUSS TO WANDALE ON 4TH DOWN.
GIANTS TAKE THE LEAD.
NYGvsDAL on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/C6t8J04dWj
— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2025
It is not surprising that Robinson was involved in the offense. After all, he did have six catches on eight targets for 55 yards in Week 1. The shocking element was his downfield usage. Before Week 2, Robinson had averaged just 8.3 yards per catch for his career. His 17.75 yards per reception on Sunday made for his highest mark out of 37 career games with multiple catches.
Considering this past game saw him expand his horizons beyond his paltry aDOT of 4.8 yards from a year ago, Robinson has become increasingly interesting in fantasy football. He also has 18 targets through two games. Nabers is the clear alpha in New York's receiver room, but Robinson looks like a viable fantasy option next to him.
Robinson should be seen as one of the top targets on waiver wires this week. The New York offense showed the competence it had previously needed to show to make Robinson clearly worthwhile. New York will host Kansas City in their home opener in Week 3, allowing Robinson to build on this excellent outing.
Hunter Renfrow, WR, Carolina Panthers
Veteran slot receiver Hunter Renfrow was released by the Raiders in the 2024 offseason and spent that year out of the league. He resurfaced with Carolina this year, though, and with Adam Thielen being traded back to Minnesota, Renfrow was able to secure the WR3 role with the Panthers.
In Week 1, that role translated to just two grabs for 11 yards, though Renfrow did see six targets. In Week 2, Renfrow found himself making more plays. He caught seven balls on nine looks from quarterback Bryce Young. Those receptions gained 48 yards, and Renfrow also scored two touchdowns in Carolina's ill-fated comeback effort. He ended the day as the WR7 for the week with 20.3 half-PPR points.
Hunter Renfrow with his 2nd TD of the game
CARvsAZ on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/Nagn9JuZJF
— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2025
On the one hand, Renfrow's success differentiated him from the appallingly bad performance of teammate Xavier Legette on Sunday. Legette caught just one pass on eight targets for a two-yard loss. While rookie Tetairoa McMillan is Young's top target, Renfrow's reliability will gain him trust with his new QB.
On the other hand, Renfrow's fantasy production was buoyed by his two touchdowns. Moreover, the game script was extremely favorable as Young will not throw 55 passes every week. As a result, Renfrow is worth giving some attention on waiver wires before Week 3, but there should be many more appealing options floating out there at the wide receiver position.
Troy Franklin, WR, Denver Broncos
Troy Franklin was a fourth-round selection out of Oregon in 2024. He saw 53 targets in 16 games as a rookie, catching 28 for 263 yards and two scores. The meager production, as well as the additions of tight end Evan Engram and third-round rookie wideout Pat Bryant to the Denver offense, ensured expectations were low for Franklin entering 2025.
Through two games, it seems safe to say the sophomore was being underestimated. Franklin caught four of six targets for 44 yards in Week 1, but his Week 2 showing was where he really shone. He nabbed eight of his nine targets, tallied 89 receiving yards, and scored a touchdown. Franklin also added 11 yards on a rushing attempt, giving him 100 total yards for the day. His previous career high for scrimmage yards, including the playoffs, was 54.
What a throw and catch from Nix to Franklin 👀
DENvsIND on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/K3qjnAUHHu
— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2025
With his performance, Franklin scored an even 20 half-PPR points. That was enough to make him the tentative WR8 for the week before the Monday doubleheader. This was Franklin's second straight week outperforming teammates Engram and Marvin Mims Jr. The young receiver may be breaking out in his second season.
Franklin's great game, being preceded by a respectable one, warrants fantasy attention. Despite having a down game on Sunday, Courtland Sutton is still clearly Denver's top receiving option. Thus, Franklin will need to have QB Bo Nix be successful enough to support two receivers for fantasy consistently.
Considering Nix is averaging just 191 yards per contest so far this year, that appears questionable. Still, adding Franklin is justifiable given his scoring thus far.
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