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Week 3 didn't have a ton of injuries, but there were some big ones. Saquon Barkley owners will be scrambling to find a replacement at RB. There are some decent options this week, but replacing a player like Barkley is pretty much impossible. Keep in mind the owner % mentioned is for 10-team standard ESPN leagues.
Some of these players below are good for the short-term, while others have more long-term value. You have to make the call on what your team needs. Immediate help to start this week, or a player to stash on your bench and hope he breaks out. Let's get started.
QB
Matthew Stafford: He's surprisingly available in 62% of ESPN leagues, and he should be chasing points against the Chiefs this week.
Jameis Winston: He had a great week throwing for 3 TDs against the Giants. He might be starting to figure it out in Bruce Arian's system, and he's available in 52% of ESPN leagues. He has a tough matchup against the Rams this week though.
Daniel Jones: Jones looked good in his first NFL start so you can pick him up if you need help. It was nice to see him get points with his legs, but let's not forget how well he threw the ball. Jones plays the Redskins this week, so you have to like that matchup. He'll be without his all-world RB which could cause him to underwhelm a bit this week. He wasn't quite as good after Barkley left with the ankle injury. His next 2 matchups after this week will be tough facing the Patriots and Vikings though. He's available in most leagues.
Andy Dalton: Say what you want about Dalton, but he's throwing the ball a lot. His defense isn't very good, and the running game has struggled because of a poor offensive line. He faces the Steelers in Pittsburgh on Monday Night Football, so the matchup is pretty good. He's out there in 82% of ESPN leagues.
RB
Wayne Gallman: Don't count on him to be much better than a No. 2 RB or a flex play, but he could be serviceable over the next few weeks until Barkley returns. The offense looks better with Daniel Jones in the fold, and Gallman should have some decent value for more than a couple weeks. Several of the backs I'll list below might be better starts this week, but they have limited upside in the long-term. He's available in 98% of ESPN leagues.
Darrel Williams: He looked good last week needing only 14 touches to produce over 100 total yards. LeSean McCoy and Damien Williams are dealing with injuries so Williams should produce some nice numbers in the Chiefs high-powered offense. Many thought Darwin Thompson would be the guy to replace McCoy, but that just wasn't the case. Williams is only owned in 2% of ESPN leagues.
Ronald Jones: He's hard to trust but after a nice game against the lowly Giants he might have some value. He's younger and more explosive than Peyton Barber, so he might be a good option to stash. He has the Rams this week if you need to start him. Jones is available in 60% of ESPN leagues.
Rex Burkhead: I told everyone that would listen last week to pickup Burkhead and start him against the Jets. That advice paid off but many fantasy "experts" are pushing him again this week. James White is expected to return to action against the Bills, which makes Burkhead's value significantly less. If you're desperate in a PPR league, he may be usable but I'm skeptical. James White missing last week's game for the birth of his child was why Burkhead had so many touches. He may see more work in the passing game with the Patriots throwing more after losing their fullback to injury. He's still available to add in 78% of leagues. At least he's in an elite offense if you're desperate.
WR
Phillip Dorsett: With Antonio Brown gone and Julian Edelman dealing with a chest injury you have to add Dorsett if you need help at WR. He played over 90% of the snaps last week and should be in store for a big role going forward, especially if Edelman misses time. He's scored 3 TDs in 3 games, so you have to like that. Dorsett is available in 88% of ESPN leagues.
D.J. Chark: 3 straight games with over 17 points in a PPR isn't bad, in fact it's really good. His QB situation seems a lot better than initially thought after the Foles injury. Grab him if he's out there. He gets the Broncos this week which isn't a great matchup but this is probably your last chance to get him on your team. He's out there in 59% of ESPN leagues.
Marquez Valdez-Scantling: He's still available in about 50% of ESPN leagues, and he had 10 targets against the Broncos last week. Rodgers said he will try to get the ball to Devante Adams and Jimmy Graham more on Thursday night, but he's still a great option against the Eagles' poor secondary.
Mecole Hardman: I love this guy, but I'm worried Tyreek Hill will be back soon. When Hill returns I don't expect Hardman to be startable, but he's a nice flex until that happens. You can get him in 55% of ESPN leagues.
Nelson Agholor: I pushed him hard last week, and he came through with a huge game scoring 2 TDs. Much like Hardman, he's a great option until his teammates return from injury. He's available in 54% of ESPN standard leagues.
TE
Will Dissly: He had another big game on Sunday against the Saints so this will be the last time he's available on waivers in most leagues. If you need a TE, he's the best option. He's rostered in 27% of ESPN leagues. His matchup is fantastic this week!
Chris Herndon: You can't use him until Week 6, but he's an option if you're desperate. Adam Gase loves to get his TEs involved in the passing game, so you could do worse when he returns. You can add him in 93% of ESPN leagues.
Defense
If you need a defense this week, the Texans and Colts are pretty good options. The Texans might have been dropped because of their matchup against Philip Rivers and the Chargers last week. I know Kyle Allen played well throwing 4 TDs against the Cardinals on Sunday, but I don't see him doing that to the Texans defense. They're available in 67% of ESPN leagues. Also, don't forget to see who the Dolphins are playing each week. The Chargers get that beautiful matchup on Sunday.
If you have any questions, feel free to hit me up on Twitter or listen to my radio show MoneyLine with Jerry Bo Sundays from 10-noon on ESPN 97.5 FM. We talk all things fantasy football and NFL gambling getting you ready for kickoff every Sunday.
The Houston Astros wrapped up yet another series win this week, this time taking two of three from the struggling Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Despite missing several key players and a bullpen that wasn’t fully available, the Astros continued their recent run of success, pushing their record to 52-35.
Manager Joe Espada appeared to be playing the long game in the rubber match on Thursday. After Houston rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning, Espada stuck with reliever Jordan Weems instead of turning to his high-leverage arms. That decision, while frustrating to some fans hoping for the sweep, underscored the team’s cautious approach to workload management as they navigate a long season.
One bright spot continues to be rookie Cam Smith, who delivered again in the clutch with a two-run triple in the seventh inning on Thursday. Smith has been Houston’s most dependable bat with runners on base and is quickly settling into the cleanup role—a rarity for a first-year player but one he’s earned with his poise and production.
Astros cleanup hitter RBIs this season:
Cam Smith: 10 RBIs in 7 games
All others: 28 RBIs in 80 games
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) July 3, 2025
Off the field, the biggest storyline continues to be Yordan Alvarez’s injury. After reports surfaced that the slugger had experienced a setback in his return from a fractured hand, the team clarified that the issue is inflammation, not the fracture itself. Astros general manager Dana Brown said Alvarez received injections to address the irritation and is expected to rest for now. Encouragingly, the Astros say the fracture is no longer a concern, and while there’s still no definitive timeline for his return, the overall tone from the club was optimistic.
The transparency around Alvarez’s situation is part of a larger shift. After being criticized in recent seasons for vague injury updates, the Astros have begun issuing daily availability reports. It’s a move that signals the front office is trying to regain some trust with the media and fans after a stretch of frustrating ambiguity around player health.
Now, the Astros head to Los Angeles for a marquee matchup with the defending champion Dodgers. Friday’s opener will feature Lance McCullers Jr. making just his second start since returning from the injured list. McCullers gave up eight runs in his return against the Cubs and will be under the spotlight as he looks to settle back into form. Control will be the key, as walks have long been McCullers’ Achilles’ heel.
Saturday sets the stage for one of the most anticipated pitching matchups of the season: Framber Valdez versus Shohei Ohtani. With both teams fighting for positioning in their respective divisions, this weekend in LA should serve as a measuring stick—and perhaps a postseason preview.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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