Week 3 on Thursday Night Football surfaces with a Miami Dolphins plan without Darren Waller, who is chasing a late NFL comeback but sidelined by a hip injury after a trade from the Giants. Waller missed practice and is listed as out, forcing Miami to lean on other targets as Bills-weak defense pressure grows. Fantasy managers should watch for his return timeline and opponent-adjusted plays, while the offense adapts around Hill, Waddle, and in-two-TE looks as the weeks unfold.

Beyond Waller, the NFL news cycle spins through Patrick Mahomes’ rushing milestone, Derrick Henry’s high school stats, and Tom Brady’s controversy, painting a broader canvas of players and pivots shaping weekly fantasy and betting decisions. The blend of injury news, comeback stories, and historical moments primes rosters for strategic week-to-week moves.

Week 3 brings Seattle as 7.5-point favorites at home against New Orleans, but injuries to Devon Witherspoon and Nick Emmanwori could blunt Seattle’s secondary edge. Spencer Rattler and the Saints offense have found traction, and the SportsLine model assigns a 38% upset chance for New Orleans—a surprisingly credible figure for a road test. The model’s Week 3 survivor pick diverges from Seattle, suggesting a one-score outcome with Seattle at about 62% win probability.

The slate features seven 5+ point spreads, including Dolphins-Bills, Packers-Browns, Falcons-Panthers, Jets-Bucs, Saints-Seahawks, Chiefs-Giants, and Lions-Ravens, underscoring how survivor players will chase value. The model touts a long, earned track record (10,000 simulations, 37-17 on top picks since 2024) and is the guiding beacon for those locking Week 3 picks, with promos noted for new users.

Week 3 brings a marquee fantasy showdown: Sauce Gardner vs Mike Evans, following Gardner’s lockdown work in Week 1 and a rough Week 2 for the Jets. Evans is a career-long 1,000-yard staple, and Gardner’s matchup could shape TB’s air attack and New York’s game plan. A shutdown of Evans would elevate Jets’ coverage narrative and complicate Tampa Bay’s passing projections for fantasy rosters this week.

TB rookie Emeka Egbuka flashed explosiveness early, piling up a 29-yard TD game and a 67-yard, two-TD performance last week, but hip and groin woes threaten Week 3 when the Jets visit. TB’s injury report also includes Luke Goedeke (foot), Cody Mauch (knee) and Calijah Kancey (pectoral), with Kancey likely out for the season after IR placement. TB’s air game remains veteran-led with Evans, Shepard and Irving factoring heavily; Jets QB Justin Fields is out, Tyrod Taylor to start, reshaping Week 3 fantasy dynamics in a pivotal matchup.

With Egbuka’s availability murky, the Buccaneers lean on Evans and Irving as primary targets, while Shepard serves as a steady secondary option. The Jets, now led by Tyrod Taylor, bring a different dynamic on offense, banking on the defense to slow TB’s passing attack. The injury-riddled TB trenches could tilt game flow, elevating or capping TB’s fantasy upside depending on practice status and playability of the rookie and injured linemen.