The Week 3 NFL preseason slate centers on volume plays and backfield churn, with starters resting and rostering leaning toward backups who can pile up yards and scoring opportunities. Tampa Bay’s offense looms large against a Bills unit missing its starters, while Arizona and LA’s depth charts offer similar upside as rosters sort themselves out. Clayton Tune is highlighted for a three-quarter workload, Trask is poised to push the TB offense, and Raheim Sanders should command meaningful touches for the Chargers. Skyy Moore and Trey Palmer present tournament spark, Theo Wease Jr. and Travis Vokolek bring affordable volume, and the field shifts toward cheap, high-uptick targets in these rosters.

In this guide, the emphasis is on coalitions and crews that can deliver fantasy value despite the absence of stars. Expect heavy quarterback and backfield volumes, with stacking and game-scripting decisions driving most lineup builds. The slate rewards risk with upside—especially in Tampa Bay, Arizona, and LA—where backups can deliver week-winner scores if opportunities unfold as projected.

As lineup decisions unfold, remember that a few pivot props—like a Tampa Bay stack paired with Williams or Palmer, or a Tune or Ewers-driven Dolphins stack—could separate winners from the field. This slate rewards execution on low-cost, high-usage players who can reach the end zone in extended drives.

Quinn Ewers will be the talk of fantasy circles after a Barstool Gruden post praised his poise and resilience. Gruden’s endorsement adds a high-profile vote of confidence for a rookie quarterback who guided a late Miami rally against Detroit, helping secure a 21-17 lead with a 15-yard strike to Theo Wease Jr.

That connection, set against a backdrop of offseason chatter about Ewers’ readiness, marks a notable moment for the Dolphins’ passing game and a potential uptick in early-season pass volume. Fantasy managers should watch how this evolves and whether the coaching staff leans into Ewers as a Week 1 option.

For dynasty and deeper redraft leagues, the clip signals upside worth monitoring. If Ewers maintains decisiveness and command, supporting cast members could see increased target shares, especially in two-QB or superflex formats.

Overall, Gruden’s praise, Ewers’ composure, and the Wease TD together create a narrative that could influence early-season value and market dynamics around the Dolphins’ aerial attack.

Week 2 of the 2025 NFL preseason showcased a fresh wave of rookies proving their fantasy upside via elite PFF grades. Andrew Mukuba dominated the safety grade leaderboard with a 95.7 overall mark after a 75-yard pick-six and a fumble recovery, plus a 94.2 coverage grade. Jackson Meeks flashed out wide for Detroit, snagging seven targets for 93 yards and a touchdown while operating as a zone-coverage mismatch. A handful of other first-year standouts joined them in the top 10, including Josh Priebe, Makari Paige, and Efton Chism III, who posted strong multielement performances in pass protection, run-blocking, and target efficiency. The list spans positions from guard to linebacker to receiver, all logging at least 25 snaps to qualify, underscoring how quickly rookies are earning roles and how PFF grades can translate into real fantasy value.

These Week 2 performances helped to sharpen a clearer picture of true rookie potential for 2025 fantasy drafts. Mukuba’s ball skills and instant impact in Cleveland pale beside Meeks’s consistent target volume and big-play ability for Detroit. The others—Priebe, Paige, Chism III, Clark, Wease, Harris, Campbell and Mascarenas-Arnold—demonstrated a mix of immediate contributions and development curves that fantasy managers should monitor. With the Commanders-Bengals game still on the slate for grading release, the rookie landscape remains dynamic, and these graded showings give a concrete basis for rostering or fading in early fantasy lineups.

Miami’s rookies provided the splash without the starters in a 24-17 win over Detroit, signaling positive momentum for the depth chart. Quinn Ewers looked steadier, connecting with Theo Wease Jr. for two touchdowns on an 11-for-17, 116-yard day, while Wease racked up 80 yards on nine targets as the primary rhythm target. Ollie Gordon II kept his stock rising with 50 rushing yards on 10 attempts and two catches, showing juice in the second half. Up front, Savaiinaea and Addison West offered solid, if not flawless, showings, and Kenneth Grant anchored interior rushes alongside Jordan Phillips, who posted 1.5 sacks. The secondary flashed, including an eye-catching pick by Ethan Robinson to seal the win. This trio of rookies—on offense and defense—boosts Miami’s late-season roster drama and provides intriguing fantasy-soaked threads for dynasty and deeper-league rosters.