Fantasy managers scrambling to replace injured players for Week 3 have a range of sleeper options still available in most leagues, with several rookies and veteran backups offering upside in favorable matchups.
QB Geno Smith at Detroit Lions (6 Percent Rostered)
For the New York Jets to keep up with the Detroit Lions’ potent offense, ranked fourth in scoring, Geno Smith must prioritize throwing the ball downfield. The Jets struggled to run the ball effectively against the Green Bay Packers last week, managing only 2.5 yards per carry.
This week, offensive coordinator Frank Reich should have a simple plan to attack the weakness in Detroit’s injury-riddled secondary. The Lions remain without starting safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, both All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections.
Before his disappointing 2025 season with the Las Vegas Raiders, Geno Smith had a strong record playing in indoor stadiums. According to Mike Sando of The Athletic, Smith threw for 30 touchdowns with just five interceptions, achieving a 110.8 passer rating in 14 road starts for the Seattle Seahawks.
Protected by the Jets’ strong offensive line, Smith could have a successful game in what’s expected to be a high-scoring matchup.
RB Alvin Kamara vs. Las Vegas Raiders (39 Percent Rostered)
Alvin Kamara, once a top fantasy player in PPR leagues, is now considered a sleeper option at 31 years old. He serves as a backup to Travis Etienne, who signed a $48 million, four-year deal with the New Orleans Saints this offseason.
Coming off a sprained MCL, Kamara made his season debut last week against the Baltimore Ravens, recording nine carries for 15 yards and five catches for seven yards. While Kamara posted an inefficient fantasy stat line, he had 14 touches in his first game back from injury, suggesting the 10-year pro will have a solid role as the Saints’ No. 2 tailback and lead pass-catcher out of the backfield.
Kamara is expected to perform better in the Saints’ first home game on Sunday. Known for his productivity in the passing game, he offers a reliable floor as a fantasy flex option. Additionally, Travis Etienne’s hamstring injury could lead to more opportunities for Kamara.
RB Emmett Johnson at Miami Dolphins (24 Percent Rostered)
Running back Kenneth Walker has garnered most of the attention in the Kansas City Chiefs’ new-look backfield, but his backup has looked impressive as well.
Rookie Emmett Johnson, a fifth-round pick, showcased his running skills in the Chiefs’ Week 2 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Head coach Andy Reid may give Johnson more carries moving forward, according to Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports.
Based on FanDuel’s odds, the Chiefs are 10.5-point favorites over the Miami Dolphins. They look dominant again and could build a multiscore lead pretty quickly in this matchup. If so, don’t be surprised if Reid gives Walker a breather and unleashes Johnson on the ground to work the clock.
WR Denzel Boston vs. Carolina Panthers (48 Percent Rostered)
You may already be late to hop on the Denzel Boston hype train, but he’s still widely available and should be rostered in a lot more leagues. The rookie first-rounder is emerging as the Cleveland Browns’ lead outside receiver.
Boston is tied with KC Concepcion for a team-leading 11 targets and has three fewer receptions than his draftmate, but he leads the Browns with 154 receiving yards and has scored in both games.
For those wary of picking up a Browns player, Cleveland’s offense showed signs of life in a 23-19 road win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week. In Week 3, the Browns will play their home opener against the Carolina Panthers, who gave up 59 points to the Chicago Bears just two weeks ago. The Browns offense doesn’t compare to the Bears’ unit, but Boston could be busy in a surprisingly high-scoring contest.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is one of four signal-callers with a league-leading six touchdown passes. If he stays hot, the Browns may have to match his production with their passing game, which would bode well for Boston’s fantasy ceiling in Week 3.
WR Xavier Hutchinson at Indianapolis Colts (8 Percent Rostered)
After the Houston Texans ruled out wide receiver Nico Collins, most fantasy managers picked up Kayshon Boutte, given the fact that the team acquired him from the New England Patriots on the heels of Jayden Higgins’ season-ending knee injury.
Although Boutte saw an increased snap count of about 27 percent between Weeks 1 and 2, Xavier Hutchinson saw the second-most targets behind tight end Dalton Schultz last week.
While it’s logical to hold on to Boutte, remember that Hutchinson shares a stronger rapport with quarterback C.J. Stroud. Boutte has only been with the team for a month, whereas Stroud and Hutchinson are in their fourth season together.
If the Texans’ Week 2 target share is any indication of which receiver has the best chance at a breakout performance in Collins’ absence, Hutchinson should be on your sleeper radar.
WR Darius Slayton vs. Houston Texans (1 Percent Rostered)
Fantasy managers brave enough to take a deep dive into the sleeper pool should consider Darius Slayton.
The Indianapolis Colts signed Slayton on Monday after the team learned that wide receiver Alec Pierce aggravated a heel injury early in last Sunday night’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Slayton isn’t an ordinary free-agent fill-in for the Colts. He shares a rapport with quarterback Daniel Jones. Both drafted by the New York Giants in 2019, they played together for six seasons.
With Jones as his quarterback for most of the 2019, 2020 and 2022 campaigns, Slayton racked up 724-plus receiving yards and led Big Blue with eight touchdown receptions in his rookie year. Averaging 15 yards per reception, Slayton can mimic some of what Pierce has done as a big-play receiver. He’ll face the Houston Texans’ uncharacteristically porous pass defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers in two weeks.
TE Kenyon Sadiq at Detroit Lions (34 Percent Rostered)
Last week, New York Jets wide receiver Adonai Mitchell made the sleeper list and has another favorable matchup this week, but for the sake of variance, take a look at Kenyon Sadiq.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, tight end Mason Taylor is dealing with a thumb injury. As a result, Sadiq could play a bigger role against the Detroit Lions. Despite limited time on the field, he scored on a three-yard run in the Jets’ season opener. If the coaching staff continues to manufacture touches for him, he could be primed for a big day against the Lions’ pass defense, which has allowed the second-most yards and fourth-most touchdowns.
For context, the Lions allowed the New Orleans Saints’ and Buffalo Bills‘ top two tight ends to score a touchdown apiece in their first two games. In a favorable matchup, Sadiq could produce TE1 numbers.
TE Oronde Gadsden at Buffalo Bills (17 Percent Rostered)
The Los Angeles Chargers placed David Njoku on injured reserve, and Charlie Kolar fractured his left forearm, leaving Oronde Gadsden as the top tight end on the depth chart.
As a rookie last season, Gadsden caught 49 passes for 664 yards and three touchdowns. Now in a much less crowded tight end room compared to just a week ago, he should be in line for a decent target share, especially with wideout Ladd McConkey fully practicing and playing through a rib injury.
The Chargers need healthy pass-catchers to match touchdown drives with the Buffalo Bills’ league-leading scoring offense. Buffalo is also prone to giving up points and yards, specifically to tight ends.
In Week 2, the Bills allowed six catches for 52 yards and a touchdown to Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta. Gadsden can put up those numbers and more if he’s a featured pass-catcher in the banged-up Chargers offense.
