There are four positions in fantasy football where managers can get by without a weekly startable option on their regular roster. QB, TE, kicker, and defense all lend themselves to streaming. Here are our top streaming options for Week 3.
All streamers are rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers (at NE)
Aaron Rodgers fell short against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2, but now has the perfect opportunity to get right against the New England Patriots. Through two weeks, Mike Vrabel’s defense has allowed the most passing yards in the NFL (677).
The Seahawks defense is stacked with playmakers and will likely prove one of the better units in the league this year, in its second year under Mike Macdonald. Rodgers proved against the New York Jets that he can still dice up a defense with his arm, and another stellar performance can be expected in Week 3.
With so many quarterback injuries this week, the waiver wire could be busy with QB-needy teams; Rodgers is as safe a bet as any pocket passer this week.
Daniel Jones, QB, Indianapolis Colts (at TEN)
If Rodgers is the safest floor play on waivers this week, Daniel Jones has emerged as an unlikely fantasy football hero through two weeks. The fact that Jones remains on waivers in many leagues shows just how little faith fantasy managers had in him after his QB2-overall finish in Week 1.
Daniel Jones (5) to Jonathan Taylor (1)
Indianapolis Colts
7 yards pic.twitter.com/5cI2PabPHY— NFL Touchdown Videos (@NFLTDsVideos) September 14, 2025
He took a slight step back in Week 2, but still scored 22.8 fantasy points against an elite Denver Broncos defense and remains the QB2 overall on the year. He now faces a Tennessee Titans team that has allowed the ninth-most points (tied, 53) in the NFL through two weeks.
Picking up Jones and starting him may feel nerve-wracking, but the numbers don’t lie, regardless of how many times you check them.
Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers (vs. ATL)
Bryce Young’s Week 1 showing brought back some bad memories, and early on in Week 2, it looked as though more of the same was on the way. However, the young quarterback rallied and gave the Arizona Cardinals a scare late in the game.
Young is still an underrated, dual-threat quarterback attached to a leaky defense and will likely be called upon to produce magic throughout the season. His ability to remain calm in difficult situations is exemplary, and he has shown on many occasions why he was the first overall pick in 2023.
Young was the QB8 in fantasy points per game (minimum five games) following the Carolina Panthers’ Week 11 bye last season. That’s a strong enough sample size to suggest that his QB8 finish in Week 2 was far from a fluke. Young is not only a solid streamer for Week 3, but he could be a top-12 QB for the rest of the year.
Juwan Johnson, TE, New Orleans Saints (at SEA)
Juwan Johnson might be the Daniel Jones of tight ends this season. Despite catching eight of 11 targets for 76 yards in Week 1, the New Orleans Saints star is still available in most leagues.
His 49 receiving yards and a touchdown in Week 2 should end that, though, and you likely won’t be the only one bidding for his services in your league. Johnson has 20 targets through two weeks, 13 catches, 125 receiving yards, and a touchdown.
Spencer Rattler finds Juwan Johnson for the TD 🔥
pic.twitter.com/8M1T930NfJ
— Saints Nation (@SaintsNationCP) September 14, 2025
Those 20 targets lead all tight ends, and tie Puka Nacua and others for the ninth-most among all players in the NFL. The Saints may not be a team you’re desperate to invest in, but that target volume is fantasy gold.
Johnson has long been a peripheral figure in fantasy, but he has always had the potential to break out; 2025 might be the year he finally does.
Jonnu Smith, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers (at NWE)
If Rodgers is to have a good day against New England, it’s natural to expect Jonnu Smith to benefit. Smith’s move to Pittsburgh has heavily impacted his fantasy value, but he is still getting work and is still an athletic playmaker who can put up big numbers.
Smith’s longest reception of the year so far is just 10 yards, but he has caught nine of his 10 targets and should continue to grow in importance for the Steelers. He currently sits 13th among all tight ends in fantasy this season and should dominate what has proven to be a weak Patriots pass defense.
Week 3 should be Smith’s best week so far, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him continue to improve throughout the year.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Carolina Panthers (vs. ATL)
Ja’Tavion Sanders might be the second pass catcher on a high-volume offense, and he is available for free on waivers. Sanders always had the potential to break out in year two, having flashed his receiving ability as a rookie before suffering a scary-looking neck injury.
The former Texas standout was targeted nine times in Week 2, catching seven for 54 yards. Hunter Renfrow also stepped up at the weekend, and looks set to take on the veteran slot receiver role vacated by Adam Thielen.
Sanders has the trust of his quarterback and is an end zone threat whenever Carolina gets into scoring range. Much like Young, Sanders could easily become a weekly starter in fantasy, but is a sensible streamer for Week 3 at the very least.
Daniel Carlson, K, Las Vegas Raiders (at WAS)
The Las Vegas Raiders had a miserable day against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2, but their kicker, Daniel Carlson, performed very well. The veteran kicker made all three of his field goal attempts, including one from over 50 yards.
The Raiders now face a Washington Commanders team that is middle of the pack in yards allowed but has given up just three touchdowns in two games. Geno Smith will be looking to bounce back from a horrendous showing against the Chargers, but the Raiders may again be looking to Carlson for their points.
Carlson tied three other kickers for the seventh-most fantasy points at the position in Week 2, and another top-10 finish this weekend wouldn’t be a surprise.
Joey Slye, K, Tennessee Titans (vs. IND)
Joey Slye has put together back-to-back top-four fantasy weeks at the kicker position to start the year. The Titans have shown signs of life in the early weeks, but have largely struggled to put it all together with Cam Ward finding his feet.
That may continue in Week 3 against the Colts, whose defense was massively underestimated heading into the season. The Titans’ offense scored just one touchdown in their opening two games, but moved the ball far more effectively in Week 2.
Slye, meanwhile, has made all eight of his field goals thus far, including one from 57 yards. The veteran kicker hit from over 60 yards in both of the two seasons before this one, and is still getting it done in 2025.
Spencer Shrader, K, Indianapolis Colts (at TEN)
This may be the last week that Spencer Shrader is available on waivers in your league. The top kicker in fantasy football through two weeks, Shrader has averaged a massive 17 fantasy points per game.
The fact that the Colts are represented in three of the four positions on this list proves that fantasy managers struggle to trust the team’s early-season form. However, just like their quarterback and defense, the team’s kicker is difficult to ignore after two impressive weeks.
Shrader has made all nine field goal attempts and remained perfect on five extra points. The Colts may slow down at some point, but it would be a surprise if it were against the Titans, who have allowed the sixth-most net yards (756 – total yards minus sack yards) in the NFL this season.
Seattle Seahawks, DEF (vs. NOR)
The Seahawks are the best defense in fantasy football through the opening two weeks of the season, tied with the Atlanta Falcons. Their four interceptions rank second in the league, tied with Cincinnati, while they’ve allowed three total touchdowns, and none on the ground.
This week, they face a New Orleans offense that has scored the seventh-fewest points in the NFL. So far, second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler has performed better than many expected, but Seattle’s defense will be the toughest he’s faced.
Aaron Rodgers throws a red zone interception
pic.twitter.com/aS4e6aChQ1
— Armando Salguero (@ArmandoSalguero) September 14, 2025
The Seahawks twice picked off Aaron Rodgers in Week 2 and may have Devon Witherspoon and second-round pick Nick Emmanwori available after both missed the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Atlanta Falcons, DEF (at CAR)
As mentioned above, the Falcons’ defense is also flying high in fantasy this year. Atlanta terrorized Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy in Week 2, and came away with six sacks and two interceptions.
I expect them to have similar success rushing the passer against Carolina, although I also expect Young to handle it better. I’ve tipped Young for big things this year, and promoted him as a streamer for this weekend, but I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive.
Young was the QB8 in Week 2 against Arizona, who were still the fourth-best fantasy defense on the week (tied). There will almost certainly be sacks, and another interception wouldn’t be a surprise.
Indianapolis Colts, DEF (at TEN)
All the talk about the Colts before the season centered on their concerning quarterback situation. However, the team made some impressive defensive additions during the offseason and is reaping the rewards.
New defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo seems to have Indianapolis firing on that side of the ball, and the Colts are tied for the 10th-best fantasy defense in the league. That might not sound like much, but another top-10 finish wouldn’t be too disappointing for a streamer.
The Colts face their first divisional opponents of the year in Tennessee this weekend, and will be eager to pick apart the Titans’ rookie quarterback. Ward has yet to throw his first NFL interception, but that might not still be the case come Monday.
Cincinnati Bengals, DEF (at MIN)
I wouldn’t have imagined I’d be promoting the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense this early in the season, after a wildly turbulent offseason. However, I also didn’t expect to be watching Carson Wentz throw to Justin Jefferson… ever, but here we are.
The Bengals picked off Trevor Lawrence twice in Week 2, and star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson was back to his usual disruptive self. Meanwhile, the Vikings were crumbling against the Falcons in another embarrassing display from J.J. McCarthy.
McCarthy has faced pressure on 22.2% of his dropbacks this season and is now being replaced by Wentz, whose last start ended in a 38-0 loss. To be fair to Wentz, he will have a much better supporting cast this weekend, but in his nine starts since 2022, he has a 3-6 record, with 13 touchdowns and 10 picks.
If there was ever a time to start the Bengals’ defense, it’s this weekend.
