The NFL is season is already into Week 3. That did not take long. This is the week of the backup QB. Many of the starting QB’s are out this week and at least one or two of the backups are going to score some decent points on this slate. Finding the cheap QB and pairing him with the high-priced RBs and WRs could be the secret to unlocking the slate this week. At least that is how I see it playing out.
Here are my picks for the NFL Week 3….
DRAFTKINGS NFL CASH CONTEST
QUARTERBACK: There are three players I like for Cash Contest games this week. You can save some salary and take a chance with MARCUS MARRIOTA vs. the Washington, or you can play one of the QBs from the Dallas vs. Chicago game. You can easily fit Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley and Bijan Robinson into the lineup (along with the other players I have listed in this lineup), if you decide to play Marriota. I will use that lineup for some of my Cash Contests in Week 3, but I will use DAK PRESCOTT in this lineup. Jared Goff just went off for 334 yards, 5 TDs and 36.36 DK Points vs. the Bears Defense. I expect this game to be a shootout between to decent offenses and two crappy defenses. Prescott scored 26.14 DK Points last week. He should easily score over 25 DK Points Sunday.
RUNNINGBACKS: I have used CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY in my Cash Contest lineup the first two weeks of the season, so why quit now? CMC has averaged 23 DK Points per game. That has a lot to do with his 25 touches a game. I expect CMC to be busy again this week and a great play for a DFS lineups…. I had to decide between BIJAN ROBINSON and SAQUON BARKLEY for this spot. Both RBs have good matchups in Week 3, but I cannot fade Robinson vs. the Panthers. He averaged 28.5 DK Points vs. the Panthers last year. I expect another 25+ DK Points from Robinson Sunday.
WIDE RECEIVERS: JAXSON SMITH-NJIGBA has become one of the elite WRs in the NFL, but keep it a secret. It is obvious that DraftKings hasn’t figured that out yet. JSN is still way too cheap. He is averaging 22.4 DK Points per game this year. The chances of the Saints slowing down JSN are slim. He is my favorite WR on the slate in Week 3…. I have a piece of the Dallas vs. Chicago shootout in my lineup with Dak Prescott, so I will get a piece of the other side with ROME ODUNZE. He is clearly the No. 1 WR for the Bears. He leads the team in routs run, targets and he has caught all of Caleb Williams’ TD passes this year. Odunze is averaging 25.3 DK Points per game. He could score 30 DK Points vs. the Cowboys pathetic defense…. My “punt play” at WR will be ELIC AYOMANOR. He had a bad Week 1 because he was matched up against Patrick Surtain from the Broncos. Last week Ayomanor scored 15.6 DK Points. I expect his numbers to be closer to last week than what Ayomanor had in Week 1.
TIGHT END: JUWAN JOHNSON is averaging the second-most DK Points at the Tight End Position through the first two weeks. The Saints have been playing from behind this year and that means a lot of passes going to Johnson. He is averaging 10.5 targets per game and 15.8 DK Points per game. The Saints should be playing from behind once again this week and that means another 10+ targets for Johnson. He is just too cheap to fade in Week 3.
FLEX POSITION: Aaron Jones has been placed on Injured Reserve, so that means it is JORDAN MASON time in Minnesota. Starting QB J.J. McCarthy is also out. I expect the Vikings to lean heavily on Mason this week. The Bengals are giving up the second-most DK Points to the RB Position this year. Mason should have a big game.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS: Did you see the FALCONS DEFENSE/ST on Monday Night Football last week? They scored 21 DK Points and it was not a fluke. The Falcons added a lot of good young players to their defense and they have a great matchup vs. the Panthers Offense. The Falcons should be a top-three defense on the slate in Week 3.
* If JAXSON SMITH-NJIGBA is ruled out, pivot to DEVANTE ADAMS
DRAFTKINGS NFL CASH CONTEST
This is a more risky Cash Contest lineup, so I like it more for the large multi-entry cash contests. I will save a lot of salary by playing MARUS MAARIOTA at QB. That will allow me to fit in CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY, BIJAN ROBINSON and SAQUON BARKLEY into the lineup. I still have ROME ODUNZE and JAXSON SMITH-NJIGBA at WR and JUWAN JOHNSON could be the top TE this week. The TEXANS DEFENSE/ST is the best cheap defense on the slate.
* If JAXSON SMITH-NJIGBA is ruled out, pivot to DEVANTE ADAMS
DRAFTKINGS NFL SINGLE-ENTRY TOURNAMENT CONTEST
TOURNAMENT STACK: I am going all-in with the Dallas vs. Chicago stack this week. This will likely be the highest owned stack, so this is much better for Single Entry Tournament Contests. I will stack CALEB WILLIAMS + ROME ODUNZE from the Bears and bring it back with JAVONTA WILLIAMS + GEORGE PICKENS + JAKE FERGUSON. I would have loved to have played CEEDEE LAMB, but I could not fit him into the lineup.
RUNNINGBACKS: I just cannot fade JORDAN MASON vs. the Bengals. I know his ownership will be high, but it may be tough to win without Mason in your lineup in Week 3.
WIDE RECEIVERS: I have ROME ODUNZE and GEORGE PICKENS in my lineup. I just cannot fade JAXSON SMITH-NJIGBA vs. the Saints. He has been one of the best WR’s this season and he should score a lot of points vs. New Orleans.
DEFENSE ST STACK: BIJAN ROBINSON + FALCONS DEFENSE/ST is my favorite RB + Defense/ST stack in Week 3. Robinson is going to be highly owned, but he has a great chance to be the highest scoring RB on the slate. The Falcons Defense should have another big game Sunday vs. the Panthers.
* If JAXSON SMITH-NJIGBA is ruled out, pivot to MIKE EVANS
DRAFTKINGS NFL MULTI-ENTRY TOURNAMENT CONTEST
I will stack the Backup QB Bowl for my Multi-Entry Tournament Contest. The Bengals vs. Vikings game has a good chance to be a shootout. I will stack JAKE BROWNING + TEE HIGGINS and bring it back with JORDAN MASON + JUSTIN JEFFERSON… I need a part of the Dallas Offense in this lineup, so I will play JAVANTE WILLIAMS… I love DEVANTE ADAMS matchup Sunday, so he gets a spot in the lineup too…. DALLAS GOEDERT is underpriced in Week 3. He is now healthy and should score enough points to help this lineup win some cash…. I will play the KENNETH WALKER III + SEAHAWKS DEFENSE/ST stack for the RB + Defense/ST stack this week. Walker finally has the backfield to himself. Walker could be the top RB on the slate Sunday.
DRAFTKINGS SNF SHOWDOWN PICKS
DRAFTKINGS MNF SHOWDOWN PICKS
Good luck this week!
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