Two-game NFL preseason Week 3 slate on Friday, August 21, 2025 features Giants vs Patriots and Steelers vs Panthers, with a sharp focus on value sleepers and ceiling plays for DFS on DraftKings and FanDuel. Jaxson Dart’s eye-popping Giants performances loom large, prompting consideration of a Dart-stack with Giants pass-catchers in tournaments. Skylar Thompson is slated for heavy action for Pittsburgh as the Panthers rest starters, boosting the upside of Steelers pass-game and backfield plays on a short slate. Dante Miller and Lew Nichols headline late-round RB options for NYG and PIT, while Brycen Tremayne and Beaux Collins push for final roster spots for CAR and NYG, offering cheap-flash potential. Javon Baker, Javonne Baker? (traveling with NE) and Beaux Collins are intriguing tournament darts, while Darnell Washington provides red-zone upside for Pittsburgh in this tiny window. The guide emphasizes volume and roster leverage on a two-game slate, with price-conscious darts and stacking opportunities across both DraftKings and FanDuel.

Expect Dart to be the centerpiece of Giants lineups, especially when paired with NYG’s pass-catchers on a tight slate. Thompson’s workload for Pittsburgh could yield four quarters of action, making him a pivot away from the typical starter risk. Miller’s Turbo profile and Nichols’ big-play ability give rosters an edge in late-game opportunities, particularly if New York wins time-of-possession or Pittsburgh leans into high-leverage plays. Carolina’s Tremayne and Collins bring roster-churn appeal, while Baker’s travel to the game keeps a live upside needle in play. Darnell Washington’s red-zone ceiling remains a key narrative in a tight Steelers- Panthers environment. Overall, the strategy is to bank on volume, leverage cheap stacks, and target high-upside players in the two-game Friday slate.

Aaron Rodgers has joined the Pittsburgh Steelers and quickly embraced a leadership role atop a still-young offense. After watching Skylar Thompson take a hard hit, Rodgers challenged the line to protect quarterbacks and playmakers, framing the o-line as the team’s policing unit and its big-brother voice on the field. The vow wasn’t punitive; it was a call for collective accountability that has sparked a wave of self-policing from the rookies to the vets. The dynamic shift is not about one man carrying a unit, but about a group learning to lead themselves while Rodgers guides with experience and example.

Rodgers, a 21-year NFL veteran, says leadership will come from the next wave of Steelers on offense. He pointed to Jaylen Warren, Connor Heyward, Dion—er, Broderick—Jones, and others like Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, and Cam Heyward as the players most likely to unlock a true train this season. If those youngsters tap into their power, the Steelers could transform from a promising, learning-on-the-fly unit into a special offense capable of finishing Rodgers’ Hall of Fame arc on a high note.

Five Steelers on the roster bubble face a decisive preseason finale against the Panthers as Pittsburgh trims to 53. Skylar Thompson, Cory Trice Jr., Corliss Waitman, Mark Robinson and DeMarvin Leal enter must-show auditions with the team’s depth chart in flux. The game also looms as a barometer for Will Howard’s status and for how far the special-teams unit can carry value into September. Panthers proximity adds urgency as Pittsburgh weighs QB, CB, punting, LB and DL spots in a high-stakes cut week storyline.

Thompson’s fate could hinge on whether Pittsburgh carries four quarterbacks or backs Will Howard via IR, while Trice Jr. contends with a stacked corner room and durability concerns. Waitman must fend off Cameron Johnston’s return as the punter; Robinson’s special-teams prowess is up against a crowded LB corps; Leal must flip the script on a revamped DL to secure a spot. For fantasy minds, the drama translates into late-round stash opportunities, punt-coverage upside, and how roster volatility could reshape Week 1 roles.

Five Steelers on the roster bubble loom large as August cuts near. Skylar Thompson, Mark Robinson, Ben Skowronek, Corliss Waitman, and DeMarvin Leal are the five most likely to land with another team if Pittsburgh moves on. Thompson showed splash in camp, but Will Howard’s health could keep him in danger of being released. Robinson’s veteran ILB presence could be a magnet for teams in need of depth. Skowronek’s value hinges on special teams, while Waitman could hook on as a clear-cut option elsewhere, and Leal’s development may prompt a fresh start in a different scheme.

For fantasy minds, these names signal potential late-round adds or waiver-wire streams depending on where they land. Thompson could become a rookie quarterback prospect in another room, Robinson could become a rotational defender in a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme, Skowronek might latch on as a punt returner and occasional target, Waitman could upgrade a stagnant kicking game, and Leal could unlock a new role with a system that fits his skill set. The stage is set for several surprise moves as teams hit final rosters.

These cut-downs matter beyond Pittsburgh, as each player’s next destination could shift depth charts across the league and open up fantasy upside in the weeks that follow.