Early Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings: 20 Risers and Sleepers

Week 2 of the 2025 fantasy football season brought more chaos than clarity. With two Monday night games still on deck, Jared Goff, Russell Wilson, and rookie Drake Maye sit atop the quarterback leaderboard. At wide receiver, names like Rome Odunze, Wan’Dale Robinson, Hunter Renfrow, and Troy Franklin cracked the top eight. Tight end? Tucker Kraft, Zach Ertz, and Juwan Johnson lead the way. Just as we expected—right?

Now it’s time to pivot to Week 3 and spotlight the risers and sleepers who could swing your matchups.

Quarterbacks: Trending Up

Daniel Jones, Colts (18%) – Only Lamar Jackson has more fantasy points among QBs so far. A tough Titans matchup looms, but Jones has shown he can produce against stiff defenses.
Jake Browning, Bengals (1%) – With Joe Burrow sidelined for months, Browning becomes a legit streaming option. In 2023, he finished as QB9 or better in five of seven starts.
Sam Darnold, Seahawks (11%) – After a Week 1 flop, he bounced back with 295 yards and two TDs. His next four matchups (Saints, Cardinals, Bucs, Jags) make him a worthwhile stash.

Running Backs: On the Rise

Cam Skattebo, Giants (59%) – Rookie led the backfield in snaps (35) and touches (14). Available in 40% of leagues, he’s a must-add.
Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars (55%) – Etienne is the star, but Tuten is making the most of limited work: 80 yards and a TD on 10 touches in Week 2.
Trey Benson, Cardinals (52%) – Nearly splitting snaps with James Conner, and much more efficient. A timeshare shift may be coming.
Chris Rodriguez Jr., Commanders (4%) – With Ekeler out, touches are up for grabs. Rodriguez could sneak into flex territory.
Blake Corum, Rams (8%) – Kyren Williams has struggled. Corum flashed with 44 yards and a TD on just five carries. Handcuff now, potential standalone later.

Wide Receivers: Sleeper Watch

Troy Franklin, Broncos (3%) – Leads Denver in snaps, routes, and targets. A 23% target share makes him fantasy relevant.
Cedric Tillman, Browns (39%) – Elite usage through two weeks with 15 targets. Volume alone makes him a weekly flex.
Elic Ayomanor, Titans (8%) – Strong role in Tennessee’s offense (23% target share). Quietly productive and still widely available.
Darnell Mooney, Falcons (51%) – Back from injury, immediately led Atlanta in snaps. More volume should come in better game scripts.
Wan’Dale Robinson, Giants (22%) – Top-10 in targets through two weeks. Giants’ pass-heavy scripts will keep him relevant.
Romeo Doubs, Packers (16%) – With Jayden Reed hurt, Doubs’ snap edge makes him a deeper-league flex.
Hunter Renfrow, Panthers (1%) – Saw nine targets in Week 2. Not flashy, but usable in deep PPR formats.
Dontayvion Wicks, Packers (1%) – Six targets in Week 2, quietly carving out a role in Green Bay’s WR rotation.

Tight Ends: Surprise Producers

Juwan Johnson, Saints (44%) – Leads all tight ends in targets and ranks as TE3 in half-PPR. Locked into TE1 territory until reinforcements return.
Zach Ertz, Commanders (57%) – Currently TE2, and picking up where he left off in late 2024. Needs to be rostered everywhere.
Harold Fannin Jr., Browns (42%) – Fifth among tight ends in targets and yards, already fantasy relevant in Year 1. Role may only grow.
Jake Tonges, 49ers (3%) – With Kittle on IR, Tonges led all SF tight ends in usage and already has multiple red-zone targets. Stream-worthy in Week 3.

Week 2 reminded us that fantasy football is equal parts chaos and opportunity. Week 3 will be no different—so if you’re hunting for depth or upside, these risers and sleepers should be at the top of your watch list.