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RotoBaller staff's fantasy football sleepers, avoids, and start 'em sit 'em picks for Week 3 of 2025. Expert lineup advice from Adam Koffler, Frank Ammirante, and Thunder Dan Palyo.
Whether you're 2-0, 1-1, or 0-2, it's early in the season, and injuries, role changes, and matchups will shake up the fantasy football landscape in the coming weeks. Surprise breakouts and unexpected busts always happen in the first two weeks of a new campaign, but it's far too early to overreact. We're here to help you identify potential sleepers and busts for Week 3.
It's time for the next edition of our RotoBaller staff start-or-sit calls. Three of the industry's best analysts are here to break down 18 potential sleepers and busts ahead of the full slate of Week 3 NFL action.
These fantasy football sleepers, avoids, and busts are from top RotoBaller contributors Adam Koffler, Frank Ammirante, and Thunder Dan Palyo. Good luck in Week 3!
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Week 3 Fantasy Football Sleepers - Start 'Em Picks
Christian Kirk, Texans at Jaguars (Frank Ammirante)
Kirk is returning from injury, so he’s an afterthought in fantasy football lineups, making him a viable sleeper this week. Prior to getting hurt, Kirk was considered a late-round value in drafts because he was playing in 2-WR sets, which shows that he’s more than just a slot receiver. With Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel barely playing in Kirk’s absence, it’s likely that we see a major role for the veteran immediately once he returns. Up next is an exploitable matchup vs the Jaguars, who just blew a win against Jake Browning and the Bengals.
Troy Franklin, Broncos at Chargers (Adam Koffler)
Wide. Open.@troyylul | @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/5J80rVdPcd
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 14, 2025
Jaylen Warren, Steelers at Patriots (Thunder Dan)
Aaron Rodgers was quoted this week as saying that he wants to get Warren more involved in the passing game. He's coming off a 4-86 receiving performance last week and will face a pass-funnel New England defense this week. Even if his upside as a runner is capped, he's been the most reliable option in the Steelers' offense as a pass-catcher. He will have some designed plays this week and should also get plenty of checkdowns from Rodgers. He's a must-start in PPR formats.
Matthew Stafford, Rams at Eagles (Frank Ammirante)
Stafford has a tough matchup on the road against the Eagles, but the Rams’ passing game is going to be the key to their offense in this spot, as I don’t envision Kyren Williams having much success on the ground. The veteran quarterback has quietly been terrific this season, completing 71% of his passes at 8.8 yards per attempt. Don’t be surprised if he goes for 250+ yards and two touchdowns in a game that projects to be close. Remember, Stafford threw for 324 yards and two scores against this defense in the playoffs last year.
DJ Moore, Bears vs. Cowboys (Adam Koffler)
Everyone is starting Rome Odunze this week, and for good reason. He’s the overall WR4 after two weeks and already has as many touchdowns as he had all of last season. But what about fellow wideout D.J. Moore? While he trails Odunze in receptions (13 vs. 8), targets (20 vs. 11), and receiving yards (165 vs. 114), he’s still a full-time player with a 100% route participation rate in the early going. He gets a plus matchup in Week 3 vs. a leaky Cowboys secondary that has allowed the most receiving yards to opposing wideouts this season (453). This game projects to be a competitive shootout (50.5-point implied total), which gives Moore a safe floor and high ceiling this week.
Kyle Pitts Sr., Falcons vs. Panthers (Thunder Dan)
Bijan Robinson and Drake London are getting a lot of love this week against the lowly Panthers, and both guys are must-starts, but I would also be starting Kyle Pitts (as long as he's healthy) this week over all but a handful of tight ends. Pitts has garnered 13 targets through the first two weeks and has one of the best matchups of any TE on this slate as the Panthers have already allowed the third-most fantasy points to the position. This is nothing new, either, as Carolina was terrible against tight ends last season, too.
C.J. Stroud, Texans at Jaguars (Frank Ammirante)
Stroud has struggled this season due to offensive line issues. With the Texans' coaching staff leaving their rookie wideouts on the bench, Stroud has had to deal with a limited group of receivers in Christian Kirk’s absence. Now that Kirk is back, that should give Stroud a safety valve underneath, helping him get the ball out quickly while under duress. We should see a better performance from Stroud against a vulnerable Jaguars defense. It’s a must-win game as the Texans look to avoid a 0-3 start to the season.
Ricky Pearsall, 49ers vs Cardinals (Adam Koffler)
It doesn’t matter if it’s Brock Purdy or Mac Jones; the WR1 for the 49ers should perform well in Week 3 vs. Arizona. With Jauan Jennings not practicing on Wednesday or Thursday with multiple injuries, a healthy Ricky Pearsall could be in for a monster day, even if Jauan does suit up. The Cardinals have given up the most receptions (34) and targets (60) to opposing wide receivers through two games. They’ve allowed the seventh-most passing yards per game (255.5) vs. the sixth-fewest rushing yards per game (78). The Cardinals are dealing with injuries in the secondary as well (CB Will Johnson, CB Max Melton) and are fresh off giving up 100 yards to Tetairoa McMillan. This sets up nicely for a true breakout game for Pearsall.
Keenan Allen, Chargers vs. Broncos (Thunder Dan)
In deeper leagues, you were probably already starting Allen as your WR2 or FLEX play this week. But I am here to tell you that he can keep up this pace in Week 3 and has WR1 upside. I have fielded a lot of Allen vs. Receiver X questions this week, and my answer more often than not has been Allen. He's back to his old, reliable role as Herbert's safety valve out of the slot, and he should avoid Pat Surtain this week. The Broncos just allowed Josh Downs to go 6-51 last week, so attacking them with an elite slot receiver makes sense for the Chargers this week.
fourth and keenan
📺 @espn pic.twitter.com/qOxS44aVL9
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) September 16, 2025
Week 3 Fantasy Football Avoids - Sit 'Em Picks
Quentin Johnston, Chargers vs. Broncos (Frank Ammirante)
Johnston is off to a terrific start for the Chargers, but this is a tough matchup against Pat Surtain II and the Broncos. With Ladd McConkey banged up, that could result in a bit more defensive attention for Johnston than usual, which could make it difficult for him to make a fantasy impact. I’m intrigued by Johnston’s first two games, but this is still a relatively unproven wideout who is likely to be boom-or-bust all year long. This feels like a week to leave Johnston on your bench.
James Conner, Cardinals at 49ers (Adam Koffler)
Despite two very favorable matchups against the Saints and Panthers to start the season, Conner has amassed just 73 total rushing yards on 23 carries (3.17 yards per carry) running behind PFF’s second-worst graded run-blocking offensive line (42.8). To make matters worse, second-year back Trey Benson has eaten into Conner’s workload this season, seeing nine opportunities in each of the first two games. As a rookie, Benson had 9+ opportunities in just four of 13 games. Benson also siphoned away the two-minute offense snaps in Week 2, while pacing Conner in route participation rate (61.5% vs. 42.3%) for the first time. A more competitive Week 3 matchup against the 49ers in San Francisco could lead to even more work for the new primary passing-down back for the Cardinals.
Quinshon Judkins, Browns vs. Packers (Thunder Dan)
The rookie showed some nice burst late in Week 2 against the Ravens, but the Browns are 8-point underdogs at home against the Packers this week, who just might have one of the best defenses in football. Green Bay shut down the vaunted Detroit run game and then smothered the Commanders last week. Expect more of the same this week as this Packers front-seven is legit. With Judkins already splitting time with Dylan Sampson and Jerome Ford, it's hard to see him doing enough with his touches this week to be worth a start.
Bo Nix, Broncos at Chargers (Frank Ammirante)
Nix bounced back with 21.2 fantasy points against the Colts, but this is a much tougher matchup against the Chargers. Los Angeles limited Patrick Mahomes to 6.6 yards per attempt while intercepting Geno Smith three times. There’s a good chance that we see a low-scoring divisional game against the Chargers, as reflected in the 45.5-point total here. Given Denver’s lethargic start to the season, I’m not feeling confident of riding with Nix in this spot. I’d rather take a chance on C.J. Stroud, who’s in a better matchup against the Jaguars.
Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs at Giants (Adam Koffler)
It’s true, the Giants are allowing the most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. But what if Pacheco isn’t the guy for the Chiefs in Week 3? Through two games, Pacheco has been one of the league’s least efficient runners, ranking 10th-worst in expected yards gained (-17). He has the same number of rushing yards as Kareem Hunt (47) and 76 fewer rushing yards than his quarterback, Patrick Mahomes. And to make matters worse, there’s been buzz around rookie Brashard Smith this week, with ESPN’s Dan Graziano hinting that he could get work at some point soon if Pacheco and Hunt continue to struggle. Maybe that happens as early as Week 3.
Tyrone Tracy Jr.; Cam Skattebo, Giants vs. Chiefs (Thunder Dan)
The timeshare is officially in effect, as it took only two weeks for Skattebo to eat into Tracy's touches. But neither back looks very appealing this week against a Kansas City defense that is incredibly tough against the run. We have no way of knowing which back gets more touches this week, and neither one is dynamic enough to break off a big play. Bench those Giants backs in Week 3.
Kyler Murray, Cardinals at 49ers (Frank Ammirante)
I’m including Murray on the bust list, not because I think he’ll have a *bad* game, I just don’t see much upside on the road against the 49ers. Mac Jones is likely to play once again, and he’s likely to have much more difficulty against an underrated Cardinals defense than what he saw last week vs the Saints. This has the feel of a low-scoring divisional game. Murray failed to eclipse 20 fantasy points in good matchups against the Saints and Panthers, so I’m skeptical that he can do it against the 49ers here.
Tee Higgins, Bengals at Vikings (Adam Koffler)
More Fantasy Football Analysis
Bengals QB Joe Burrow feared to have suffered a Grade 3 turf toe injury that will require surgery and sideline him at least three months. (via @Rapsheet, @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/lxVnTj235H
— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2025
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