Week 3 may not be an easy one for DFS players. There are injuries, quarterback changes, and a few star players who perhaps haven’t lived up to their price in the first two weeks. Of course, the goal of finding the best value remains the same. Whether you want an elite player, a mid-tier guy, or a low-budget option with upside, here are players at each position worth considering with current pricing from DraftKings.
Quarterback DFS Picks for Week 3
Elite Option - Kyler Murray ($6,900)
Murray was close to perfect last week. It’s amazing what he was able to accomplish once he realized he had Marvin Harrison Jr. at his disposal. There’s no reason to doubt his ability to have another big game this week against the Lions. Keep in mind that he’s rushed for over 50 yards in each of the first two games, adding to his fantasy value. On the turf in Detroit, Murray’s speed should be a factor once again, so his upside remains as high as any other top-tier fantasy quarterback. Mid-Tier Option - Geno Smith ($5,600)Smith carried the Seahawks for much of their Week 2 win, throwing for over 300 yards. On the season, he’s completed nearly 74% of his passes, so his efficiency is high, allowing him to have another big day. Granted, the Miami defense has limited the passing yards it has allowed this year. But part of that is because the Dolphins were getting blown out by halftime last week and Buffalo didn’t need to throw the ball in the second half. Smith also has one of the best receiving trios in the league, making him a sound DFS option.
Value Option - Malik Willis ($5,100)
It’s hard to argue against Willis being limited as a passer. However, he did complete 12 of his 15 passes last week, so he’s at least giving his receivers a chance to rack up yards after the catch. Willis is also a threat with his legs, rushing for 41 yards last week. He’s athletic enough to run for even more yards and perhaps run into the end zone in any given week. It’s also worth noting that this is something of a revenge game for Willis against a Titans team that drafted him in the third round but then traded him for a seventh-round pick. He’ll feel like he has something to prove, which could lead to a big revenge game.
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Running Back DFS Picks for Week 3
Elite Option - De’Von Achane ($7,000)
Without Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins are going to lean heavily on Achane. He got 22 carries last week, and that was in a game the Dolphins trailed almost the entire way. Since Miami gets to start from scratch, Achane will get the ball as much as possible to take the game away from Skylar Thompson. Keep in mind that Achane also had seven catches in each of the first two games of the season. Based on the number of touches he’s likely to get, Achane is among the best DFS running back options in Week 3.
Mid-Tier Option - Jerome Ford ($5,800)
Ford is getting the most carries of anyone in the Cleveland backfield right now. He’s also averaging 5.7 yards per carry through two games. It should be clear that the Browns aren’t going to win with Deshaun Watson’s arm, so they’d be wise to give Ford as many touches as possible. It’s also likely the Browns will be able to play with a lead this week against the Giants, who gave up 133 rushing yards to Washington’s starting running back last week and 94 rushing yards against Aaron Jones in Week 1. With the current price Ford is getting at DraftKings, his value is incredible.
Value Option - Justice Hill ($4,900)
Hill may not be the starter, but he is the primary backup behind a 30-year-old starting running back. He’s going to get plenty of snaps, especially if the Ravens are playing from behind or get into a shootout against the Cowboys. That was the case in Week 1 when Hill caught six passes for 52 yards. His value is in the passing game, where he’s a far better option than Derrick Henry. If the Baltimore offense is in obvious passing situations this week, Hill will get plenty of snaps and will be worth a shot if you need a cost-effective running back to fill out your roster.
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Wide Receiver DFS Picks for Week 3
Elite Option - Marvin Harrison Jr. ($7,400)
Let’s just assume that Week 1 was an aberration for Harrison. He and Kyler Murray surely appeared to be on the same page last week. While he isn’t going to score two touchdowns every week, Harrison’s big-play potential is there, especially with a quarterback who isn’t shy about taking deep shots. This week, he faces a Detroit secondary that couldn’t stop Cooper Kupp from making 14 catches in Week 1 and let Chris Godwin go off for 117 yards last week. The Cardinals don’t have anyone else who can be that deep threat, so if they create big plays, it’ll be Harrison doing the damage.
Mid-Tier Option - DJ Moore ($6,700)
Caleb Williams has been something of a disappointment through two weeks, failing to throw a touchdown pass while averaging a measly four yards per pass. However, Moore is clearly his favorite receiver, averaging nine targets per game while nobody else has more than 11 total targets. Moore also has 11 catches while nobody else on the roster has more than five. That gives Moore good value and upside this week against an Indianapolis defense that got torched by Nico Collins in Week 1. The Colts got a break by facing Malik Willis last week, but Williams and Moore could have better luck this week.
Value Option - Diontae Johnson ($4,900)
Carolina benching Bryce Young helps make Johnson a great value pick. He’s the most dynamic wide receiver on the roster and leads the Panthers in targets. However, Young has been accurate enough on his passes to Johnson. That should change with Andy Dalton at the helm. A veteran like Dalton will know that Johnson is the team’s best receiver and will know how to get him the ball. Since his numbers thus far are poor, Johnson comes at a cheap price, but his upside is closer to a mid-tier receiver.
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Tight End DFS Picks for Week 3
Elite Option - Brock Bowers ($5,400)
Bowers had eight targets in Week 1 and nine targets in Week 2. There aren’t a lot of tight ends that are clearly a focal point of their team’s offense to that extent. The production has been there too, as Bowers caught nine passes on nine targets for 98 yards last week. The only thing that's missing is a touchdown. With Bowers, it’s a matter of time until that happens. It could easily happen this week against a Carolina defense that hasn’t impressed anyone this year.
Mid-Tier Option - Pat Freiermuth ($4,000)
While not a star, Freiermuth is a safe bet to deliver some fantasy value. If you can’t prioritize a tight end, he’s a good choice. He’s been targeted eight times and made eight catches this season. His yardage isn’t particularly impressive, but he is getting opportunities and does have the trust of Justin Fields. Keep in mind the Steelers will probably remain conservative offensively with Fields, so the short passes to Freiermuth should continue. He has a relatively high DFS floor.
Value Option - Jonnu Smith ($3,400)
With Skylar Thompson playing quarterback, the Dolphins are going to get a little more conservative offensively. That could mean a veteran tight end like Smith becoming more involved and serving as a safety net for an inexperienced quarterback. Smith had six catches on seven targets for 53 yards last week, which is a good idea of what he can provide. It’s possible he gets even more use this week if the Dolphins don’t want to let Thompson throw the ball down the field. Given his price, Smith is worth a chance if you don’t have a lot of money to spend on a tight end this week.
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D/ST DFS Picks for Week 3
Elite Option - Seahawks ($3,500)
The Seahawks have been one of the top fantasy defenses thus far, and now they get the gift of facing Skylar Thompson and the Dolphins. Miami’s offense wasn’t great before Thompson entered the game last week and things may not get much better this week, even if he prepares as the starter all week. Nobody should be expecting the Dolphins to score a lot of points this week. The Seattle defense also has a good chance to create multiple turnovers, especially if the home crowd has an effect on Thompson.
Mid-Tier Option - Buccaneers ($3,000)
The Tampa defense gets a gift this week in the form of the Denver offense. The Broncos have scored just 26 total points across two games while Bo Nix has thrown four interceptions and taken four sacks. Granted, the Buccaneers have just two forced turnovers and two sacks on the season. But they’ve held both opponents to 20 points or less and should have no problem limiting Denver’s point total while also forcing a couple of takeaways.
Value Option - Broncos ($2,500)
Believe it or not, the Denver defense has been solid this year. The offense isn’t doing much, but the Broncos have allowed just 39 total points over two games. They have four sacks and have forced two turnovers, which is good for a team that doesn’t play with the lead. Meanwhile, Tampa’s offense has given up six sacks in two games and is averaging a modest 3.4 rushing yards on the ground. For a DFS defense that isn’t worth much, the Broncos aren’t going to get steamrolled, so they should provide something positive this week if you need to fill out your roster with a cheap defense.
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