Welcome to the Waiver Wire for Week 3!
Week Two of the 2025 NFL season is officially in the books, which means that it is time for WEEK THREE WAIVERS!! In today’s discussion, we will be going over the most significant targets on the waiver wire currently for week 3 of the 2025 NFL season.
Quarterbacks
Daniel Jones (IND)
- In week 2, Daniel Jones completed 68% of his passes for 316 yards and a TD, and also added a rushing TD on the ground. He scored 22.8 fantasy points in week 2.
- Sleeper Rostership: 35%
- ESPN Rostership: 4.6%
- Yahoo Rostership: 17%
Daniel Jones looks legit, folks. Maybe it really was just a New York Giants issue this entire time. Jones already has a lethal connection with star rookie TE Tyler Warren in the middle of the field, which we know is an area of the field that the veteran QB loves to utilize in his offenses. Plus, Daniel Jones provides a high amount of rushing upside weekly, which we obviously love.
The only potential negative concern here is that Daniel Jones eventually gets figured out, and he reverts to his poor play from his days with the Giants. Indy also has a true bellcow in the backfield in Jonathan Taylor, so that he could cap Jones’ passing attempt upside certain weeks.
- Next 3 opponents: @ TEN, @ LAR, vs. LV
Matthew Stafford (LAR)
- In Week 2, Matthew Stafford completed 70% of his passes for 298 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw an interception, unfortunately. He scored 18.3 fantasy points in week 2.
- Sleeper Rostership: 27%
- ESPN Rostership: 33.3%
- Yahoo Rostership: 27%
Matthew Stafford is in a very pass-happy offense in LA, and he has two elite receivers to throw the ball to in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
The negative here with Stafford is that he doesn’t provide really any amount of rushing upside weekly. He provides a nice floor with his high-level passing ability, but his ceiling is obviously capped because of this.
- Next 3 opponents: @ PHI, vs. IND, vs. SF
Jake Browning (CIN)
- In week 2, Jake Browning completed 66% of his passes for 241 yards, two passing TDs, and a rushing TD, but also threw three INTs. He scored 20.7 fantasy points in week 2.
- Sleeper Rostership: 0%
- ESPN Rostership: 0.1%
- Yahoo Rostership: 1%
It’s now time for Jake Browning to step up in place of Joe Burrow. Browning showed in 2023 that he can be a capable enough starting QB in the NFL on a fill-in basis, and besides, anyone can look good throwing to guys like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
The downside here is that it’s Jake Browning. Even though he has excellent weapons to work with in this offense, he had multiple turnovers in week 2 alone, and he still has a relatively small sample size of good and reliable play in the NFL up to this point.
- Next 3 opponents: @ MIN, @ DEN, vs. DET
Running Backs
Bhayshul Tuten (JAX)
- In week 2, Bhayshul Tuten ran for 42 yards on just eight carries, and added two receptions for 32 yards and a TD on two targets through the air as well. He scored 14.4 Half PPR fantasy points in week 2.
- Notable advanced metrics from week 2: 5.33 YPRR (2nd on team), 3.50 yards after contact/att (led team)
- Sleeper Rostership: 45%
- ESPN Rostership: 43.8%
- Yahoo Rostership: 55%
Even though Travis Etienne is the clear bellcow here in Jacksonville, it seems that Bhayshul Tuten still has a role as an electric passing-down back. Due to this, his usage and snaps should increase every week as the season progresses.
The only potential worry here is that due to Tuten’s smaller frame as an RB, he may never see a significant workload like we want.
- Next 3 opponents: vs. HOU, @ SF, vs. KC
Wide Receivers
Romeo Doubs (GB)
- In week 2, Romeo Doubs hauled in three receptions for 28 yards and a TD on five targets. He scored 10.3 Half PPR fantasy points in week 2.
- Notable advanced metrics from week 2: 16.6 aDOT (4th highest on team)
- Sleeper Rostership: 23%
- ESPN Rostership: 20%
- Yahoo Rostership: 16%
Jayden Reed is going to miss 6-8 weeks with a fractured collarbone, so the Packers will need somebody to step up as that #1 WR for Jordan Love, and by all accounts, it should be Romeo Doubs. Plus, it seems that Doubs has finally separated himself from that dreaded Green Bay WR rotation (71.4% snap share in week 2).
Even though it seems like Doubs has broken away from the dreaded Green Bay WR rotation, it could flip at any second and revert to what it has been in the past up to this point. Plus, Green Bay is still a run-heavy offense, so Doubs’ opportunities could be limited.
- Next 3 opponents: @ CLE, @ DAL, BYE
Troy Franklin (DEN)
- In week 2, Troy Franklin hauled in 8 receptions for 89 yards and a TD on nine targets. He scored 20.0 Half PPR fantasy points in week 2.
- Notable advanced metrics from week 2: 30% target share (led team), 3.30 YPRR (led team)
- Sleeper Rostership: 8%
- ESPN Rostership: 1.7%
- Yahoo Rostership: 3%
Sean Payton loves to utilize the slot receiver in his offenses (Troy Franklin had a 55.6% slot rate in week 2). Look what he did with Michael Thomas for those few years in New Orleans at the height of Thomas’ career. Franklin is also electric with the ball in his hands and a huge YAC threat.
Unfortunately, Franklin’s outlook isn’t all positive, because Sean Payton likes to do some weird stuff with his personnel sometimes. One week, Troy Franklin could go off; the next week, it could be Marvin Mims, and the week after that, it could be Pat Bryant. You never know.
- Next 3 opponents: @ LAC, vs. CIN, @ PHI
Elic Ayomanor (TEN)
- In week 2, Elic Ayomanor hauled in 4 receptions for 56 yards and a TD on six targets. He scored 13.6 Half PPR fantasy points in week 2.
- Notable advanced metrics from week 2: 2.43 YPRR (led team)
- Sleeper Rostership: 28%
- ESPN Rostership: 4.4%
- Yahoo Rostership: 8%
Elic Ayomanor has seemingly cemented himself as the clear #2 WR for Cam Ward behind Calvin Ridley just 2 weeks into his rookie season. Due to Tennessee’s subpar defense, the team will have to throw the ball frequently on offense, which will create numerous opportunities for Ayomanor.
Even though Ayomanor has a clear role in this offense now, does anybody else matter here outside of Calvin Ridley? Due to Tennessee’s lack of weapons, they might just become a run-heavy team with Tony Pollard going forward.
- Next 3 opponents: vs. IND, @ HOU, @ ARI
Tight Ends
Chig Okonkwo (TEN)
- In week 2, Chig Okonkwo hauled in 4 receptions for 35 yards on six targets. He scored 5.5 Half PPR fantasy points in week 2.
- Notable advanced metrics from week 2: 65.5% slot rate (2nd on team)
- Sleeper Rostership: 28%
- ESPN Rostership: 11.4%
- Yahoo Rostership: 31%
Rookie QBs love their tight ends because it’s a nice, reliable safety blanket for them as they adjust to the NFL. Chig Okonkwo gets a lot of those dumpoffs from Cam Ward at or near the line of scrimmage (2.8 aDOT in week 2), so he provides a nice level of receptions upside weekly.
The downside here with Okonkwo is that the TD opportunities for the Titans might be capped a bit going forward this year, and the team might decide to lean into their bellcow back in Tony Pollard every single week this year.
- Next 3 opponents: vs. IND, @ HOU, @ ARI
Ja’Tavion Sanders (CAR)
- In week 2, Ja’Tavion Sanders hauled in 7 receptions for 54 yards on nine targets. He scored 8.9 Half PPR fantasy points in week 2.
- Notable advanced metrics from week 2: 69.2% slot rate (4th on team)
- Sleeper Rostership: 9%
- ESPN Rostership: 1.1%
- Yahoo Rostership: 2%
Ja’Tavion Sanders has a lot of opportunity ahead of him in this Carolina offense as we advance through the season. Jalen Coker is currently on IR, Xavier Legette has struggled so far in the NFL as a former first-round pick, and Hunter Renfrow’s large amount of production from week 2 is probably just an odd one-off more than anything. That leaves Sanders, who should see a lot of targets from Bruce Young every week as Young tries to revitalize his NFL career.
Even though Sanders might have a lot of opportunities ahead of him going forward, nobody else might even matter at the end of the day, outside of Tetairoa McMillan. Additionally, the Carolina offense isn’t very good either, so the weapons here may not be very stable from week to week.
- Next 3 opponents: vs. ATL, @ NE, vs. MIA
Defenses/Special Teams
Seattle Seahawks
- Week 3 opponent: New Orleans Saints
- Week 2 Half PPR scoring: 14.0 points
- Sleeper Rostership: 24%
- ESPN Rostership: 25.4%
- Yahoo Rostership: 23%
I know that it is easy to pick on the New Orleans Saints, but they are the worst offense in the NFL, so we are going right back to it. Besides the great matchup, though, the Seattle Seahawks are a legitimately good defense, as head coach Mike MacDonald is a great defensive mind and playcaller. MacDonald will confuse Spencer Rattler heavily in week 3.
Green Bay Packers
- Week 3 opponent: Cleveland Browns
- Week 2 Half PPR scoring: 5.0 points
- Sleeper Rostership: 54%
- ESPN Rostership: 58.9%
- Yahoo Rostership: 54%
Jeff Hafley and the Green Bay Packers defense have been on an absolute HEATER so far through two games this season.. When you trade for a superstar like Micah Parsons, that will happen, I guess. OH, and it just so happens that the Packers get the Cleveland Browns in week 3, one of the most dysfunctional offenses in the NFL at the moment. Not to mention that Joe Flacco has shown to be very turnover-prone in recent years, so Hafley will have his guys humming in week 3 for this fantastic defensive matchup.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Week 3 opponent: New York Jets
- Week 2 Half PPR scoring: 1 point
- Sleeper Rostership: 15%
- ESPN Rostership: 53.1%
- Yahoo Rostership: 7%
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defense may not be overly dynamic as a whole, but they are playing the New York Jets in Week 3, who just had an absolutely miserable outing in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills. Justin Fields is currently in the NFL’s concussion protocol, and if he cannot play this week, it will be Tyrod Taylor under center for New York. This could get ugly for the Jets, to say the least.
