Week 2 of the 2025 fantasy football season was as predictably unpredictable as Week 1.
With two Monday Night Football games pending, the top three quarterbacks are Jared Goff, Russell Wilson and Drake Maye. Four of the top eight wideouts are Rome Odunze, Wan’Dale Robinson, Hunter Renfrow and Troy Franklin. And the top finishers at tight end are Tucker Kraft, Zach Ertz and Juwan Johnson.
Week 3 is upon us now.
Here’s an early look at Week 3 fantasy football rankings. Toggle between standard, half PPR (point per reception) and full PPR to see where players rank in your league’s format.
Our team at USA TODAY Sports has you covered with plenty of content to help with your Week 3 waiver wire and roster decisions. Wondering who the best waiver-wire claims are? We have that covered, so you can make your pickups. Need to know what players you can drop? We have that as well. We also have a list of the nine best buy low/sell high candidates and our biggest winners and losers from Week 2. Finally, here’s our roundup of the most important fantasy football injury updates.
Please note: These rankings will change significantly as the week goes on. Check back on Sunday morning for final updates.
(The risers and sleepers sections will focus on players available in at least 40% of Yahoo leagues. All snap and target data from PFF.)
Week 3 fantasy football quarterback rankings: Risers and sleepers
Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts (18%) – Entering Monday, only Lamar Jackson has scored more fantasy points at quarterback than Jones. The Titans project as a tough matchup, but then again, so did the Broncos. Jones did finish as the QB9 in 2022, so it’s certainly plausible that he remains a fantasy asset for the remainder of the season.
Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals (1%) – With the news that Joe Burrow is expected to be out for at least three months, Browning enters the high-upside streamer conversation. After taking over for Burrow in Week 12 of the 2023 season, the 29-year-old ranked as the QB9 or better in five of his seven starts.
Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks (11%) – Darnold dropped a dud in Week 1, but he rebounded in Week 2 with 295 yards and two tuddies. His schedule over the next four weeks makes him an optimal pickup, as he’ll be facing the Saints, Cardinals, Buccaneers and Jaguars over that stretch.
Week 3 fantasy football running back rankings: Risers and sleepers
Cam Skattebo, New York Giants (59%) – It didn’t take long for the Giants backfield to undergo a seismic shift. Rookie Cam Skattebo led the way in snaps (35) and touches (14), while running just one fewer route than Tyrone Tracy Jr. If you’re in the 41% of leagues where he’s still available, make him your top priority.
Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars (55%) – While Travis Etienne looks like a top-tier running back again, Tuten has emerged as one of the better handcuffs in fantasy. The rookie played just 18 snaps in Week 2, and he certainly made the most of them, turning 10 touches into 80 yards and a score. He should be rostered in all leagues.
Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals (52%) – Week 2 saw Benson and James Conner in a near-even timeshare. While Conner led the way in snaps (30 to 25) and carries (11 to 3), Benson outpaced the veteran in routes (16 to 12) and targets (5 to 1). Conner has been one of the least efficient runners in all of football to start the season, and if that continues, look for Benson to keep eating away at that timeshare.
Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington Commanders (4%) – Prior to suffering a season-ending injury on TNF, Austin Ekeler was dominating the Washington backfield in snaps (36), routes (21) and touches (12). While Jacory Croskey-Merritt should be the primary beneficiary, it’s possible that Rodriguez will get enough touches to be a viable flex play in deeper leagues.
Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams (8%) – Speaking of inefficient backs, Kyren Williams hasn’t improved on his 2024 efficiency through two games. For just the second time in the last two seasons, Williams had a snap share below 75% in Week 2. Corum has his best game as a pro on just five carries, racking up 44 yards and a touchdown. The Michigan product remains one of the more valuable handcuffs in fantasy, and it’s possible that he carves out a standalone role as the season progresses.
Week 3 fantasy football wide receiver rankings: Risers and sleepers
Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos (3%) – Against the Colts, Franklin led all Denver wideouts in snaps (49), routes (28) and targets (9). This came after finishing second in all those categories in Week 1. The 22-year-old has garnered a 23.4% target share to date, which puts him firmly on the fantasy map.
Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns (39%) – Through two weeks, Tillman sits among the league leaders in snaps and routes, and his 15 targets are nothing to sneeze at. His fantasy day was saved by a touchdown that should have been intercepted, but the fact that he’s getting elite usage makes him a viable flex play every week.
Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans (8%) – Through two games, Ayomanor ranks second among Tennessee receivers in snap share (78%), route rate (75%) and target share (23.6%). In Week 2, he turned his six targets into 56 yards and a score. He should be rostered in far more than 8% of leagues.
Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons (51%) – After missing the opener, Mooney returned in Week 2 to lead the Falcons in snaps (57) and routes (24 – tied with Drake London). While he only generated four targets, that was likely due to a game script that allowed the Falcons to go run-heavy. Mooney is flex-worthy in plus matchups.
Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants (22%) – Through two weeks, only 14 receivers have generated more targets than Robinson (18). The 24-year-old is currently tied for seventh among wideouts with 14 receptions, and he ranks sixth in receiving yards. Given that the Giants will likely be in a lot of negative game scripts, Robinson should maintain fantasy value as long as he remains healthy.
Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers (16%) – While Doubs is unlikely to be a consistent option week-to-week, Jayden Reed’s injury makes him a viable flex play going forward in deeper leagues. The 25-year-old has played 21 more snaps than the next-closest Green Bay receiver.
Hunter Renfrow, Carolina Panthers (1%) – Renfrow played just three fewer snaps than Tet McMillan in Week 2, and finished tied with the rookie in routes run (53) and targets (9). Carolina is unlikely to attempt 51 passes on a regular basis, but Renfrow is worthy of consideration in deeper PPR leagues due to his role.
Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay Packers (1%) – Through two weeks, Wicks (six targets in Week 2) is the only Green Bay wideout to have eclipsed five targets in a game. Despite Reed’s injury, Wicks remains a deep league-only add.
Week 3 fantasy football tight end rankings: Risers and sleepers
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints (44%) – Johnson leads all tight ends in targets through two weeks. I’m sure everyone saw that coming. He also happens to be the TE3 in half-PPR points. He’s easily in the top-10 conversation until Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill return from the PUP list.
Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders (57%) – While Johnson ranks as the current TE3 heading into Monday Night Football, Ertz is a spot ahead at TE2. The veteran, who was the TE5 over the final eight weeks last season, needs to be rostered in all leagues until further notice.
Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns (42%) – For the second consecutive week, rookie Harold Fannin played a large enough role to be fantasy-relevant. The 67th overall pick currently ranks fifth at the position in targets and yards, and is tied for third in receptions. With David Njoku a free agent after the 2025 season, Fannin’s role could very well grow as the season chugs along.
Jake Tonges, San Francisco 49ers (3%) – In the first game with George Kittle on IR, Tonges led all 49ers tight ends in snaps (56), routes (31) and targets (5). He’s also one of just 14 tight ends with multiple red zone targets this season. Tonges will be on the Week 3 streaming radar against a Cardinals defense that has ceded the most receptions to the position.