How ’bout that Malik Nabers, everyone? He sure looks every bit matchup-proof, and after his theatrics in the overtime shootout against the Cowboys last week, he’ll have a test against Kansas City’s Trent McDuffie on Sunday Night Football. Indeed, as sample sizes started to round into form last week, so did a bit more of the macro picture of what we might expect from these 32 NFL teams going forward. Teams saw too many quarterbacks injured and sacrificed—Jayden Daniels, Joe Burrow, Justin Fields, and Brock Purdy headline the list of marquee names that are shelved. Rookie tight end phenom Tyler Warren is banged up, as is second-year blast-off Tucker Kraft. Bhayshul Tuten might officially be a thing already. R.J. Harvey and Kaleb Johnson? Not so much. Is this the week the cream begins to separate from the crop? As ever, we remain on the agricultural beat in that regard, separating out stashes, dart throws, breakouts, and, probably most importantly, running back sleepers.
The refrain remains the same—All I want is for you to be better than your friends. You’re going to be surrounded by them on Sunday, probably. How sweet would it be if you could be sure you’ve checked every box possible that might guarantee you a resounding victory this week? Some kick-your-feet-up insights? I’ve got some. And I know my audience. The smoke-break audience. The quick-scan-of-the-phone-on-the-way-to-the-fridge audience. The I-ain’t-reading-all-that-but-good-luck folk. I’m a man of the people.
And so: the Five Lists of Five series. Think of these as byte-sized, two-minutes-to-yourself lists to scan during your weekend as you foam at the mouth for any competitive fantasy edge. As much relevant analysis as I can fit into, like, ~250 words per player.
Below: Top five players to stash in fantasy football Week 3. End-of-bench dart-throws to consider if you have someone ruled out on Friday. Guys for whom you should drop backup QBs and TEs.
Here are the other offerings from my 2025 Fantasy Football Five Lists of Five: Week 3 edition:
- Top five must-start players for Week 3 of 2025 fantasy football
- Top five breakout running backs for Week 3 of 2025 fantasy football
- Top five WR/CB matchups to target for Week 3 fantasy football
- Top five breakout wide receivers for 2025 fantasy football Week 3
Follow my handle @dansby_edits for all preseason and fantasy draft kit content—as well as plenty of NFL betting goodies—all summer long. All my other fantasy football draft kit content is at the bottom of this list!
Top five players to stash for Week 3 of 2025 fantasy football
Kyle Monangai, RB, Chicago Bears
The case here is simple: Chicago’s ground game has sputtered, and Monangai has been the only back flashing real juice on limited work. Through two weeks he’s logged 37 offensive snaps (23 pass / seven run / four pass-pro) with seven carries for 28 yards in Detroit, but the underlying efficiency pops: 2.14 yards after contact per attempt, 3three missed tackles forced, two 10+ yard runs, and a long of 10 (PFF).
Context matters — and it’s damning for D’Andre Swift and the run game. The Bears as 31st in EPA per rush, 32nd in rushing success rate, and 29th in yards after contact per attempt through two weeks. It’d be wild if he retains the starting role all year. The backfield is ripe for consolidation toward the hotter hand if Chicago keeps grinding gears on early downs.
Role-wise, Monangai has already mixed into short-yardage looks and held his own in pass protection, the two levers that typically unlock more snaps for Chicago’s RB2. Even if goal-line sequencing still tilts to Swift today, the runway is there for a near-term adjustment if efficiency remains this lopsided. The matchup doesn’t scare off a stash either: this game profiles as fantasy-friendly overall (Cowboys–Bears sits in the weekly “green” watchlist), setting up extra possessions and live contingency value if the script tilts run-heavy late.
Bottom line: Monangai is a bench add now as a bet on talent + team pain points. If Chicago narrows touches toward the more efficient runner — or if Swift misses time — Monangai’s tackle-breaking and after-contact profile translate to instant flex viability in PPR.
Blake Corum, RB, Los Angeles Rams
The usage signal is blinking. Blake Corum’s snap share jumped to ~30% in Week 2, and he cashed a goal-line TD on the clock-killing drive. The same note logs that Kyren Williams’ snap share dipped from 82% to ~71%, yet he still finished with 19 touches (same as Week 1)—evidence Sean McVay is already trimming his all-Kyren tendencies. Most importantly, McVay is quoted as expecting a 65/35 split going forward, and that matters because Williams’ fantasy value is heavily tied to short TDs; if Corum keeps even a slice of inside-the-10 work, his stash equity spikes. A reminder: Williams led the NFL with 888 snaps last year, a workload profile that naturally invites rotational relief.
Game environment isn’t a deterrent—it’s a feature. PFF’s Fantasy-friendly Defenses report tags Rams–Eagles as a spot where both offenses rank top-14 in success rate and EPA/play, with the Rams more explosive and the Eagles more consistent. Higher play volume and red-zone trips can buoy a secondary back’s touch count even if the starter remains primary. Philadelphia’s zone coverage as a genuine strength (top-five at limiting yards per coverage target (6.0) and first-down+TD rate (22.7%)), which subtly tilts Los Angeles toward balanced sequencing and red-zone rushing when the pass tightens. That context supports continued short-yardage opportunities for Corum behind the Rams’ motion-and-play-action run game.
Bottom line for a stash: the role trend (30% snaps, GL conversion) plus McVay’s 65/35 expectation makes Corum the kind of back who can jump from benchwamer to 15+ touches overnight if Williams’ workload is managed—or if goal-line sequencing tilts. With a trustworthy scheme and a clear pathway to high-value carries, Corum is a priority end-of-bench add before the market prices in the shift.
Tory Horton, WR, Seattle Seahawks
Welcome back, Tory Horton! He was a deep-round flier pick of mine in my preseason Five Lists of Five.
Because, well, Seattle spent Day 2 capital on Horton for a reason. In two games, the rookie has postedtwo 2 catches for 32 yards and a touchdown on four targets, with usage split 27% slot / 73% perimeter. The sample is small, but Horton’s efficiency vs. man coverage jumps off PFF’s charts: 0.75 fantasy points per route across 15 man routes, driven by a schemed vertical touchdown. Klint Kubiak’s offense leans on pre-snap motion and layered play-action, and Horton’s raw speed fits as the deep counter to DK Metcalf’s gravity.
Week 3 brings New Orleans, a defense that has played 76% zone and just 14% man, per PFF splits. Against zone, Horton has only logged 5 routes, no catches, but his field-stretching role can still flip drives. The Saints’ secondary has allowed an explosive reception rate of 13.4%, bottom-third in the league, and Horton is the type of player who capitalizes on those rare busts. The groin issue that limited him in practice Wednesday and Thursday looks minor — he closed the week trending toward active.
Seattle’s WR rotation is crowded, but Tyler Lockett is 32 and playing through knee management, and the team lacks a true lid-lifter when Metcalf is bracketed. Horton’s 16.0 yards per reception and clear slot versatility make him stash-worthy in deeper PPR leagues. He’s unlikely to deliver weekly stability yet, but his athleticism and role as Seattle’s jet-motion and vertical switch piece offer best-ball volatility. Horton is the exact rookie stash who can swing lineups in December when depth charts thin.
Isaiah Likely, TE, Baltimore Ravens
Likely remains a luxury bench stash with rare tight end upside. In 2024, he posted 49 catches for 603 yards and 7 touchdowns, excelling whenever Mark Andrews was sidelined. Through two games in 2025, Andrews has only two catches for seven scoreless yards, raising questions about his role in a retooled Baltimore offense. That stagnation has yet to elevate Likely’s usage, but the breadcrumbs are there: the Ravens have increased their two-TE set rate to nearly 22%, and Likely’s slot alignment has ticked up from last season’s 19% baseline.
Baltimore’s Week 3 opponent, Cincinnati, has been permissive to tight ends: they’ve allowed a 71% catch rate and the eighth-most PPR points per game to the position through two weeks. Likely’s athleticism makes him a unique fit to exploit linebackers in coverage; his career 1.64 yards per route run is well above the TE2 average, and his ability to win vertically gives him spike potential. While Andrews still commands reputation coverage, Likely offers the dynamism Baltimore needs when drives bog down.
This isn’t necessarily about Week 3 startability — it’s about positioning early. Likely’s ceiling is higher than almost any TE on waivers, and Andrews’ decline could accelerate his path to relevance. Fantasy managers seeking difference-makers at the thinnest position should stash Likely now before target share tips his way.
Hunter Renfrow, WR, Carolina Panthers (mostly, though, Jalen Coker)
Carolina’s offense has been a funnel to Tetairoa McMillan, but the vacuum behind him is Renfrow’s chance to resurface. Through two games, Renfrow has logged 86 routes and a steady ~80% slot rate, producing 14 targets, nine catches, 59 yards, and two touchdowns. His 7-48-2 effort in Week 2 tied him for second on the team with nine targets, including red-zone looks that underscore Bryce Young’s trust in the veteran. PFF charts Renfrow with a 112.8 passer rating when targeted and zero drops — reliable efficiency on a roster desperate for stability. The Falcons’ coverage structure tilts heavy zone (75.2%) with a low man rate (21.9%). Renfrow has generated 0.18 fantasy points per route vs. zone, compared to 0.71 vs. man, highlighting how his short-area craft fits Atlanta’s scheme.
Atlanta’s defense just held Minnesota to 120 passing yards, but their nickel rotation has been leaky. Dee Alford and Mike Hughes have allowed catch rates north of 65% in coverage, and Renfrow’s slot alignment keeps him off top corner A.J. Terrell. If Carolina’s volume normalizes from Week 2’s 59 attempts, Renfrow still profiles as a 5–8 target option with live PPR utility.
For all leagues, Jalen Coker should also be stashed; he’s on IR with a quad strain but projects to challenge for WR2 work once activated. With Legette sputtering (eight yards on 15 targets), the door is wide open. Renfrow offers immediate plug-and-play floor, while Coker carries the longer view ceiling. Both belong on benches where roster churn matters.
