2025 Steelers Week 3 Fantasy Football Recap - Defense Explodes In Value

The Pittsburgh Steelers' Week 3 victory over the New England Patriots was defined by one key factor: defense. The unit delivered a dominant performance, recording five sacks and forcing five turnovers. While the Steelers' offense showed little change in fantasy value, the defense told a completely different story.

Defensive Fantasy Movers -

Veteran lineman Cameron Heyward was a wrecking ball in Week 3, stuffing the stat sheet with six tackles, a sack, a pass deflection, a forced fumble, and a QB hit. His all-around dominance vaulted him 23 spots to DL16, finishing with 21.0 fantasy points. Heyward is officially back on the radar as a high-impact DL play.

After a quiet start to the season, T.J. Watt reminded fantasy managers why he's an elite IDP asset. He broke out with two sacks, five tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery, launching himself 40 spots to LB12 with 30.5 fantasy points. If you held firm through the drought, you’re reaping the rewards.

The third-year linebacker Nick Herbig made noise with his pass-rushing prowess, delivering four QB hits, a sack-turned-forced fumble, and a tackle for loss. That clutch performance earned him a 29-spot leap to LB41, now sitting at 29.0 fantasy points. A rising sleeper in deeper IDP formats.

After surging last week, Jalen Ramsey came crashing down in Week 3. He managed just one tackle, dropping 50 spots to DB72 with 16.0 fantasy points. Monitor closely—his usage and health may be trending in the wrong direction.

Patrick Queen quietly put together a productive outing, leading the team with 10 tackles, plus two pass deflections and a tackle for loss. He moved up nine spots to LB28, now sitting at 25.0 fantasy points. Not flashy, but steady—ideal for managers needing tackle volume.

Other notable movers include:

🔽Payton Wilson saw a slight dip in value this week, slipping two spots to LB18 despite a respectable 26.8 fantasy points. He remains a solid option in deeper IDP formats, but managers should monitor his consistency moving forward.

🔼Cole Holcomb Making his first start in two years, Holcomb cracked the top 100, landing at LB92 with 9.5 fantasy points. It’s a modest start, but worth keeping an eye on if his snap count continues to rise.

🩹Darius Slay exited the game early due to injury, causing his stock to slide. He now sits at DB82 with 15.0 fantasy points. Fantasy managers should check for updates on his status before locking him into lineups.

🔽Juan Thornhill’s production took a hit this week, dropping nine spots to DB60. He finished with 16.0 fantasy points, and while still serviceable, his downward trend may warrant a bench spot until further notice.

Offensive Fantasy Movers -

After a four-touchdown explosion in Week 1, quarterback Aaron Rodgers has cooled off considerably. He started hot against the Patriots but struggled with accuracy throughout the game. Still, he came through when it mattered, engineering the game-winning drive and finishing with 139 passing yards, 16 completions, and two touchdowns. He holds steady at QB11 with 47.7 fantasy points—a solid floor, but trending sideways.

Running back Jaylen Warren continues to be the most consistent weapon in the Steelers backfield. He racked up 81 total yards (47 rushing, 34 receiving) and remains a reliable flex option. Despite the production, he stays put at RB12 with 44.4 fantasy points. Managers should keep him locked in as a volume-based contributor.

Other notable movers include:

🔼 DK Metcalf – Up 3 spots to WR32 with 35.5 fantasy points. Trending up after a strong showing.

🔼 Calvin Austin III – Climbs 2 spots to WR37 with 32.6 fantasy points. Emerging as a sneaky deep-league stash.

🔽 Jonnu Smith – Drops 2 spots to TE14 with 24.5 fantasy points. Still involved, but usage is inconsistent.

🔽 Pat Freiermuth – Slips 4 spots to TE28 with just 13.5 fantasy points. Touchdown-dependent and fading fast.

Buy Or Sell For Week 4 -

Buy - DL Cameron Heyward, RB Jaylen Warren, LB Jabrill Peppers, DL Derrick Harmon (LOW), WR Calvin Austin III, LB T.J Watt and WR D.K Metcalf (LOW).

Sell - CB Jalen Ramsey, LB Payton Wilson, CB Darius Slay Jr., QB Aaron Rodgers, and RB Kenneth Gainwell