Week 3 has arrived and we have one more important position specific article to get out before we set our lineups and spend the rest of the day watching NFL games. As usual, I hope these articles are helping you with fantasy football, whether it be DFS or season long. Please upvote and comment on your Week 3 plays and if you would like to see anything change in these articles. Also, if you haven't already, please check out my QB Article, TE Article, and WR Article.
Last week's RB article highlighted some players that paid off in a big way. We had shares of Gurley, Gordon, Conner, White, Thompson, and Coleman. Even Ajayi scored a TD before leaving the game with injury. All good signs. Lets see if we can keep that momentum rolling into Week 3.
If you are new to my blog or daily fantasy sports in general, I encourage you to check out my DFS Introduction post which provides some general context on what DFS is and how to play. Spoiler alert, if you like playing fantasy sports and winning money, DFS is the platform for you. Also, if you haven’t already, feel free to follow my referral links and sign up for Fanduel and Draftkings. Each provides its own set of bonuses for new users.
With injury comes value in DFS and this week is certainly one of those weeks. We have a ton of value across the RB position this week due to a number of starting running backs taking the day off. You can go a million different ways with your builds because of this but I caution you not to get too creative. When value opens up to this degree, people tend to go crazy and build off the wall top loaded lineups which isn't always the best setup. Use value to your advantage. For me, I will be playing mid-priced QBs and low-priced TEs. So value at RB only helps me add some top-priced WRs in addition to fitting some elite backs.
$9,500 / at ATL / ATL + 2
I've said it each week, I'm going to keep playing Kamara until Mark Ingram comes back and eats into his workload. So far Alvin Kamara hasn't disappointed. Although he hasn't factored too much in terms of running the football, he continues to be a major factor in the receiving game. Really I am beating a dead horse hear repeating the same things each week. Not much needs said, as an every down back in an elite offense, Kamara is an elite play each and every week. New Orleans travels to Atlanta as an underdog this week, meaning game flow should favor the passing game more than the running game. An elite versatile back in an explosive offense playing in a game that should be nothing less than a shootout. Just keep starting him. Oh . . . Atlanta has been extremely ineffcient in defending running backs out of the backfield in the receiving games (see McCaffrey Week 2), something Kamara excels at, making him all the more attractive.
$6,000 / vs. SF / KC + 6
There will be a ton of ownership in the KC/SF game this week, particularly on the Chiefs side of the ball after their performance last week vs. the Steelers. Personally, when I can identify chalk, I typically stay away in hopes to be contrarian. However, I think a good pivot off Mahomes and the KC receivers this week is Kareem Hunt. If you want exposure to this game and the KC side of the ball, Hunt offers you that exposure without the excessive ownership. They aren't the biggest favorites but Hunt is an every down back that sees work out of the backfield as both a rusher and pass catcher. He is priced relatively low at only $6,000 which makes him even more attractive. In a heavy passing game against the Steelers, Hunt still came out with a score and decent rushing totals. His opponent, San Francisco gave up 116 yards Week 1 to the Vikings and even gave up 85+ yards on the ground to the Lions, who simply can't rush the football. I think Hunt serves as an excellent pivot play and could pay off big time relative to his price tag on DraftKings.
$7,800 / vs. CIN / CAR + 3
There are pass catching backs and then there is Christian McCaffrey. The dude has 24 targets through 2 games this season in addition to his 18 rushes. I've love McCaffrey since his joined Carolina and now as the lead back in their offense he is excelling. He is averaging over 4.5 yards per carry in addition to over 10 catches a game. DraftKings is full PPR so these numbers are money. Cam Newton typically serves as the goal line back but McCaffrey has received 2 redone carries each week, a great indicator that they aren't scared to use him as a runner in and around the end zone. What is also great is that unlike most running backs, McCaffrey makes for a great addition to the Cam Newton stack simply due to the fact he is a primary target in the passing offense. Although Cincinnati has been pretty solid against the run this year, they have yet to be tested by an elite back like McCaffrey. I am loading him up in most of my Cam Newton stacks.
$5,800 / vs. BUF / MIN + 16.5
The Vikings are huge favorites this week at home vs. Minnesota which automatically favors the Vikings running game. Murray enters this week as the lead back for Minnesota with Dalvin Cook out with injury. Murray should have little to no competition behind him for carries and should act as the defacto bellcow for his team. A big bruising back, Murray should have little trouble carrying the rock 20+ times this week. If this game goes as expected, the Vikings should be up big by halftime and Murray will just get fed the ball until he can't run any longer. His opponent, the Bills, are just a mess this year and with McCoy out, literally have no offensive weapons. I really don't think they have any way of keeping up with the Vikings only adding more confidence in Murray. Buffalo gave up over 100 yards rushing each week this season and have shown the inability to stop anything. At only $5,800 on DraftKings, Murray makes for a great but chalky play in Week 3.
$4,300 / vs. IND / PHI + 7
Another back benefiting from injuries, Corey Clement enters today as the starting running back due to Jay Ajayi's back injury. Clement is likely to receive the bulk of the Eagles carries against a pretty weak Colts defense. Playing at home as a +7 favorite, the Eagles should be relying on the run throughout this game especially considering the amount of injuries they have at receiver. Coming in at only $4,300 on DraftKings, Clement is another chalky yet great value play at the position in Week 3.
$7,200 / vs. CHI / CHI + 5.5
Everybody and I mean everybody is down on David Johnson this year and for good reason. The Cardinals simply suck. Their offense has looked atrocious and to make matters worse, they simply aren't using their elite running back David Johnson. His price also sucks considering his performances have been poor. However, the Cardinals coaching staff came out and acknowledged their misuse of Johnson and intention to find better ways to get him the ball. He is one of the most versatile backs in the game, with the ability to rush like a boss and catch passes like a boss. My thought here is that with Larry Fitzgerald out, David Johnson gets a ton of usage in the passing game. Don't forget, he did receive 9 targets Week 1. Full PPR DraftKings means a huge receiving day could pay off big time. Im not saying this play is smart, but if I am looking for a guy that literally no one will be on that could turn out a receiving performance similar to Kamara, Johnson is your guy. He still is elite. There is no question. It is just the Cardinals are misusing him and not showing signs of offensive life outside of handing him the ball off. This is my crazy call of the week and I will have some exposure to Johnson in GPPs.
Kenyon Drake - $5,600 - Dolphins
Tevin Coleman - $6,400 - Falcons
Giovani Bernard - $5,900 - Bengals
Lemar Miller - $5,000 - Texans
Thats it for this weeks DFS football articles. I hope you enjoyed and benefited from my breakdowns. More importantly, I hope you build some great lineups this week and win some money!
Sourced: Heighline.com / ESPN.com / 247Sports.com
