NFL Weekly Preview Week 3 2025: Key Injuries, Difference Makers & Projected Upsets

Austin Ekeler (Ramsey Cardy, Wikimedia Commons)

We begin the third week of the 2025 NFL regular season on Thursday. Here are the key injuries, fantasy stars and projected upsets.

Key Injuries

We documented the serious injuries to Joe Burrow, JJ McCarthy and Aaron Jones in our week two recap. We also can confirm Austin Ekeler did indeed tear his Achilles in Washington’s loss to Green Bay last Thursday. He will be gone for the season. Also in the Thursday nighter, Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed broke his collarbone and is out two months. Meanwhile, Justin Fields will not quarterback the New York Jets on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because of a concussion. Other notable injuries include Dallas Cowboys center Cooper Beebe (six to eight weeks with a high ankle sprain), and Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson (out for the season with a groin injury).

Fantasy Stars

The top rated quarterback for the week is Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills. The native of Firebaugh, California is projected to get 236 yards passing, 36 yards rushing and two touchdowns against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday. The top rated running back of the week is Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles. The native of The Bronx, New York is projected to get 121 total yards (103 yards rushing and 18 yards receiving) and one touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams. The top rated wide receiver for week three is CeeDee Lamb of Opelousas, Louisiana, who is expected to get eight catches for 102 receiving yards and one touchdown against the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

Projected Upsets

I like five underdogs this week. They are the Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos and the Arizona Cardinals.