September 21, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (knee) is active ahead of the Week 3 matchup against the New England Patriots. After two straight absences, Harmon is ready to take his NFL debut on Sunday. The Steelers expect big things from Harmon, whom they took No. 21 overall in this year's draft. It's unclear what kind of snap count Harmon will have during his first NFL game. Nonetheless, his presence on the field is an upgrade for this Steelers defense.
--Andy WebbSource: Alan Saunders
September 21, 2025
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (concussion) is listed as active for Sunday's contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. The linebacker suffered this concussion during their Week 1 victory over the Chicago Bears. He was unable to suit up in Week 2. In the season opener, Van Ginkel logged 58 defensive snaps and tallied five tackles (three solo) and added two pass deflections. Fantasy managers should expect the 30-year-old to return to his key role in the Minnesota defense as they face Bengals backup QB
Jake Browning. The Vikings' defense is worth a look as a streaming option, as they are also welcoming back safety Harrison Smith for his season debut.
--Andy SmithSource: Minnesota Vikings
September 21, 2025
Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (illness) and offensive lineman Christian Darrisaw (knee) are both active for Sunday's contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. Both Smith and Darrisaw have yet to take the field this season and are set to take on a major role in their debut. Smith should return to his full-time role in the Minnesota secondary. Last season, Smith logged 87 tackles with 10 deflections and three interceptions. Darrisaw is slated to slot in at left tackle, but he could see his workload slightly monitored as he has been sidelined due to a torn ACL and MCL that occurred in October 2024. Darrisaw will be a major addition for the Minnesota offensive line as they look to protect backup QB
Carson Wentz.
--Andy SmithSource: Minnesota Vikings
September 21, 2025
Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson (groin) plans to fly to Philadelphia early this week to meet with Dr. William Meyers of The Vincera Institute, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. He'll receive a second opinion, but the expectation is that he'll need core muscle surgery, which would sideline him for an extended period of time. Johnson has already been placed on injured reserve, and Rapoport now notes that the talented cornerback probably won't return until the second half of the season. Nahshon Wright is expected to start in his absence.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ian Rapoport
September 21, 2025
New York Giants offensive tackle Andrew Thomas (foot) is currently listed as questionable ahead of the Week 3 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite that, Thomas is planning to suit up for Sunday's contest. Thomas has been sidelined the first two weeks of the season due to a lingering foot injury. If he plays, Thomas would be a huge boost to the Giants offensive line. That should help both the Giants running game and also give quarterback
Russell Wilson extra protection on his blindside. The Giants are likely going to wait until warmups before making a final decision.
--Andy WebbSource: Ian Rapoport
September 21, 2025
The Baltimore Ravens D/ST should remain on benches or waiver wires when the team takes on the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football. It sounds odd to say given the organization's long-standing history of outstanding defenses, but the Ravens' defense just isn't anything special. Baltimore ranks in the bottom 10 teams league-wide against fantasy quarterbacks, running backs, and tight ends, and only in the middle of the pack against receivers. Against a Lions offense with high-end skill at receiver and running back, especially, it shouldn't be challenging for managers to find a much better matchup this week.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
September 20, 2025
The Detroit Lions' defense faces a tough matchup in Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore has scored at least 40 points in each of its first two games of 2025 and can beat teams both through the air and on the ground. The Lions could have a difficult time putting pressure on Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson with starting defensive end Marcus Davenport (chest) out due to a chest injury. Additionally, All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph (knee) and top cornerback D.J. Reed (knee) are both officially listed as questionable for Monday night, although both are expected to play. The Ravens scored 38 points against the Lions the last time these two teams squared up back in 2023. The Lions D/ST should be avoided at all costs by fantasy managers in Week 3.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
September 20, 2025
Denver Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw (quadriceps) was placed on Injured Reserve on Saturday. This move isn't shocking, considering Greenlaw has yet to play this season due to an injury he has been dealing with since the spring. The decision to put Greenlaw on the IR means he'll miss at least the next four games. That means Greenlaw won't be able to return until at least Week 7. This is tough news for a Broncos defense that has already been struggling. The absence of Greenlaw should mean that Justin Strnad continues seeing increased playing time.
--Andy WebbSource: Zac Stevens
September 20, 2025
Dallas Cowboys defensive back Trevon Diggs (knee) is currently considered questionable for the Week 3 matchup against the Chicago Bears. Diggs was a late addition to the injury report due to a knee injury. It's unclear when or how he picked up the injury, but a late in the week knee injury is never a good sign. The loss of Diggs would be a big hit to the Cowboys secondary. If he sits, C.J. Goodwin and Trikweze Bridges would be in line to see more playing time. However, it's tough to replace the kind of production that Diggs would give you in the secondary. Fantasy managers will have to check back closer to game time for another update on his status.
--Andy WebbSource: Mike Garafolo
September 20, 2025
New England Patriots defensive back Christian Gonzalez (hamstring) has been ruled out ahead of the Week 3 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Gonzalez is now set to miss his third game in a row due to a lingering hamstring issue. He was able to practice as a limited participant, but still isn't quite ready to get back on the field yet. The hope is that Gonzalez can get back on the field for Week 4. In the meantime, Alex Austin figures to serve as the starting defensive back once again in Gonzalez's absence.
--Andy WebbSource: Adam Schefter
September 20, 2025
The Jacksonville Jaguars D/ST has been surprisingly good in fantasy through two weeks, and will look to continue their momentum against the Houston Texans in Week 3. They have done well against the Carolina Panthers and a banged up Cincinnati Bengals offense, currently ranked fourth among fantasy defenses. The Texans are a good offense on paper, but their offensive line struggles, making things more difficult for their talented pieces. The Jaguars can take advantage by rushing the passer and adding to their four sacks and NFL leading five interceptions. Given how bad they were last year, it is still hard to trust this group, but the Texans could serve as a good litmus test in Week 3 for how legit the Jaguars defense is in fantasy going forward.
--Seth Quinn - RotoBaller
September 20, 2025
The Chicago Bears' defense has been a disaster to start the 2025 season. After allowing a pick-six in Week 1, they've surrendered 73 points over the last five quarters. Injuries are piling up in the secondary, with Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon ruled out for Week 3. This is not the week to be thin at cornerback, as they face
CeeDee Lamb and
George Pickens, two of the league's top receivers. The Cowboys' offense has been explosive to start 2025, following a high-scoring Week 2 win. For fantasy purposes, if you want a defense poised to score the fewest points, the Bears are likely your best option, as this game is shaping up to be high scoring.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
September 20, 2025
The Atlanta Falcons defense/special teams came into Week 2 with just one sack in Week 1 and having totaled the second-fewest sacks in 2024, but they exploded for six sacks in Week 2 against the Vikings. They also tallied two interceptions and recovered two fumbles, finishing as the highest-scoring fantasy defense for the week. The unit will be without starting cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr., but faces the Carolina Panthers, who have yielded the third-most fantasy points to opposing defenses through the first two weeks of the season, allowing at least one sack, one interception, and one lost fumble in each of their first two games. The Panthers will also be without their starting center, Austin Corbett (knee), and starting right guard Robert Hunt (biceps), and with an implied point total of just 20 points for Carolina in this one, Atlanta looks like a potential top-five unit again.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
September 20, 2025
The Los Angeles Rams defense/special teams has been playing well lately, but they're not a reliable fantasy option heading into Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles have dropped 24 and 27 points on the Cowboys and Chiefs, respectively. Meanwhile, Philadelphia's entire offense has not yet turned the ball over through two games this season. We're in for a potential shootout on Sunday, and with the Eagles playing clean football, there won't be many opportunities for Los Angeles to capitalize. RotoBaller's experts have the Rams D/ST ranked 27th in their latest Week 3 rankings update.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
September 20, 2025
The Indianapolis Colts defense is off to a hot start in 2025, ranking 11th in the league with just 18.0 points allowed per game while notching three sacks and three interceptions. They will head on the road to take on the Tennessee Titans in Week 3. The Titans' offense has not been very effective so far in 2025, averaging just 15.5 points per game and ranking last in the NFL with just 192.5 yards per game. Indianapolis is installed as a four-point road favorite and can be trusted as a top-10 fantasy D/ST heading into Week 3.
--Matt TerelleSource: NFL.com
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