Week 3 is here. We have seen some insane things like the resurgence of quarterbacks we thought were left for dead. Carson Wentz, Joe Flacco, and Jared Goff all have fantasy relevance. All three are top 10 fantasy quarterbacks after two weeks. They all have good skill players to throw the ball to and use high-volume passing attacks.
These guys weren’t the only surprises; Nick Chubb is the running back 1 right now. I liked him coming into the season, but I wasn’t expecting overall RB1 to be in the conversation. It might be.
Let’s not overreact, but some of these things are becoming a trend and not a one-off statistic. In Week 3, we will get to prove which things are trends and which are anomalies. Sorry for boring you with the nerd talk there. I was starting to get excited about data. If that doesn’t tell you exactly how “cool” I am, nothing does. Yay data!
Let’s move on to the Money Makers and the Heart Breakers for Week 3.
This column can help you handle some sit/start questions you might have, but its primary purpose is to take you through the main DFS slate weekly with players that will make you money and players that will break your heart.
Here is a brief definition of each of my terms for anyone that might be new:
💰 Money Maker – This player will perform better than expectations
💔 Heart Breaker – This player will perform lower than expectations
💰 Money Makers
Quarterbacks
Matthew Stafford
The Cardinals are next and have been the second friendliest defense to quarterbacks in fantasy. Stafford had a rough Week 1 but bounced back in week 2 with 272 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have given up seven touchdowns over the season’s first two weeks. This is another 300 yards and two touchdown day for Stafford.
$6,500 on DraftKings
$7,700 on Fanduel
Kirk Cousins
Kirk bounces back against the Lions and their third-worst defense against the quarterback. Can you say shootout? I am not the only person that thinks this will be a shootout. Vegas has the over-under at 53.5, the highest total for the week. The Lions give up an average of 300 yards and two touchdowns to quarterbacks in fantasy. It’s not on Monday night Cousins won’t Cuz you this week.
$7,600 on DraftKings
$6,700 on Fanduel
Josh Allen
Yes, it’s easy to play Allen in redraft. But if you want to pay up in DFS, this is an excellent week to do it. In fantasy, the Dolphins give up the fourth most points to opposing teams’ quarterbacks. This is the second highest over-under on the main slate at 52.5. Allen has been his usual studly self through two games. He has had over 300 total yards and four touchdowns each of the first two weeks. Stack some Bills to stack some bills this week in DFS.
$8,200 on DraftKings
$9,000 on Fanduel
Other quarterbacks for Week 3
Mac Jones
$7,300 on DraftKings
$6,400 on Fanduel
Jalen Hurts
$7,600 on DraftKings
$8,100 on Fanduel
Jared Goff
$5,800 on DraftKings
$7,100 on Fanduel
Running Backs
Dalvin Cook
Another Viking that wasn’t amazing in week 2? Cook is outstanding, and the Lions’ defense against running backs is terrible. Like, the worst against opposing running backs in fantasy. The Lions have given up three double-digit fantasy scores to running backs over the first two weeks of play. They have given up a total of 5 rushing touchdowns as well. Dalvin will get cooking in Week 3.
$7,900 on DraftKings
$8,300 on Fanduel
Joe Mixon
The Jets give up the 5th most points to running backs in fantasy. This is mainly because Chubb scored three touchdowns on them last week. The Bengals need to get something going. Mixon has been involved in both running and catching the ball. This week, he should have 20 odd touches to help the Bengals get over their Super Bowl hangover.
$7,600 on DraftKings
$8,200 on Fanduel
Mark Ingram (Alvin Kamara if he plays)
The Saints are playing the Panthers in Week 3. The Panthers have given up 258 yards rushing to running backs over the first two weeks on 54 carries. That is 4.8 yards per carry. I like whoever is running the ball for the Saints to produce a double-digit fantasy day like three other running backs have this season.
Mark Ingram
$5,500 on DraftKings
$5,700 on Fanduel
Alvin Kamara
$7,000 on DraftKings
$7,000 on Fanduel
Other Running backs for Week 3
Josh Jacobs
$5,400 on DraftKings
$6,500 on Fanduel
Antonio Gibson
$6,400 on DraftKings
$6,700 on Fanduel
Damien Harris
$5,600 on DraftKings
$6,400 on Fanduel
Wide Receivers
A.J. Brown
The Washington Commanders give up the 6th most points to wide receivers in fantasy. Brown has an overall 35% target share on the season with a 71% catch rate. With his skillset and volume, you can expect him to produce against a defense with three double-digit fantasy scores in the first two weeks.
$7,300 on DraftKings
$8,000 on Fanduel
Marquise Brown
I am betting on his volume with a team-leading 136 snaps and a 20% target share. Brown also leads the team with a 41% share of air yards. The Rams give up the second most points to opposing teams’ wide receivers. So look for Brown to capitalize this week. You might want to consider Greg Dortch as well in DFS.
$6,000 on DraftKings
$7,000 on Fanduel
Jakobi Meyers
If you want a floor play, this is the guy in Week 3, especially in PPR. The Ravens give up the most points to opposing teams’ wide receivers. Meyers has a 29% target share and is Mac Jones’ safety blanket. He also has 35% of the air yards. He is a solid player in cash games this week in DFS.
$5,000 on DraftKings
$6,200 on Fanduel
Other Wide Receivers for Week 3
Devante Adams
$8,400 on DraftKings
$8,700 on Fanduel
Tyler Lockett
$5,800 on DraftKings
$6,600 on Fanduel
Breshad Perriman
$3,900 on DraftKings
$5,300 on Fanduel
Amon-Ra St. Brown
$7,200 on DraftKings
$7,800 on Fanduel
NOTE: There are a lot of nice plays at wide receiver in Week 3.
Tight Ends
Tyler Higbee
The Cardinals are currently the friendliest defense to tight ends in the league. They have given up three touchdowns to the position over the season’s first two weeks. Match that with Higbee seeing 20 targets over the first two games of the season, giving him 27% of the Rams’ target share, and we have a winning proposition. Higbee sees ten targets, gets six catches, some yards, and scores a TD in Week 3.
$4,500 on DraftKings
$5,700 on Fanduel
Dawson Knox
Miami gives up the second most points to tight ends in fantasy. Knox is seeing the second most snaps as a receiver for the Bills this season and has a 10% target share. He had five targets for four receptions and 41 yards in week 2. It’s time for him to score a TD in Week 3.
$4,100 on DraftKings
$5,300 on Fanduel
Tyler Conklin
Conklin has played 146 snaps, most out of any Jet that catches the ball. He also has 16 targets for ten receptions, 56 yards, and one touchdown over the first two games. This volume-based play can undoubtedly pay off in season long and most likely in DFS.
$3,800 on DraftKings
$5,200 on Fanduel
Other Tight Ends for Week 3
Travis Kelce (easy pick this week)
$7,900 on DraftKings
$7,800 on Fanduel
Hayden Hurst
$3,900 on DraftKings
$5,100 on Fanduel
💔Heart Breakers
Quarter Backs
Tua Tagovailao
Tua gets the Bills and their top-ranked defense against opposing teams’ quarterbacks. They have five interceptions over the first two games. I love Tua after his Week 2 huge breakout game, but I avoid him in DFS. However, I would still start him in redraft if I had to.
Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers had a tough opening week but bounced back in Week 2. Unfortunately for Aaron, the Buccaneers have been exceptionally tough on quarterbacks in the first two games. They have given up only one passing touchdown and not too many yards. Avoid Rodgers at all costs in DFS.
Russell Wilson
Word out is Wilson is changing his nickname to Mr. Limited. He has been VERY limited. I have him rostered, and I am sitting him in redraft. So if you want to play him in DFS, send me the money, and we can pretend you just lost to me.
Running Backs
Devin Singletary
Miami has been the stingiest defense against running backs in fantasy. Singletary hasn’t been great on top of that. So, this was a very easy do not play him anywhere stance for me. This means he’ll blow up, and I’ll have to eat a bunch of boneless buffalo wings to feel better.
Jeff Wilson
Denver has been the second toughest defense against running backs in fantasy thus far this season. I still like Wilson in season-long if you need a running back but don’t play him in DFS. As the 49ers starting running back he could potentially get yards and a TD any week.
James Conner / Cardinals RBs
The Cardinals are playing the Rams; there are a lot of money makers in this game, Cardinals’ run game is not one of those. The Rams have not had a running back get over 50 yards on the ground against them yet this season. No running back has even broken double digits. Nothing to see here. YUCK.
Wide Receivers
Courtland Sutton
Sutton is a season-long play, but I’m not too fond of this match-up. I wouldn’t say I like it. Wilson has just been bad. The Niners haven’t played a good passing attack yet, which continues in week 3. So I don’t like the Broncos passing attack at all.
CeeDee Lamb
Only one wide receiver has scored a touchdown against the Giants this season. I know CeeDee was OK last week, but the Giants D is better than the Bengals’ Defense. Also, CeeDee hasn’t been good. Twenty-two targets and only nine receptions for a 40% catch rate, YUCK. All that lack of production with 30% target share and 41% air yards share. So even though I hate him this week, the data tells me good things are coming. Maybe you should trade for him after this week.
Michael Thomas
So I love Thomas, and I am not totally against playing him. This week’s match-up is against a top-rated defense against wide receivers, but they haven’t played anyone. With Winston’s back injury, though, I am tempering my expectations for Week 3.
Tight Ends
Kyle Pitts
40% catch rate YUCK. 17% target share, YUCK. 19 receiving yards in the first two games, double YUCK. If you want to score 3.9 points in PPR, then Pitts is your guy, as he has done this in two straight weeks. He does have consistency going for him.
Albert Okwuegbunam
One of the most hyped guys on Twitter this off-season. He has eight targets for five catches and 33 yards. I am entirely out on him until he shows me something. I know you have been waiting for this. If you read this column, I did throw up in my mouth.
Dallas Goedert
Goedert has been pretty good this season as far as tight ends go. The Commanders have been very good against tight ends, though. The Commanders have played two pretty good tight ends, and neither has surpassed 28 yards. So I am not expecting very much.
Thanks for checking out Money Maker and Heart Breakers. For more great content from The Undroppables, follow us on Twitter and @MikeReedyFF for more great content.
