Week 3 of the NFL season is off to the races with the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins kicking things off on Thursday night. Bye weeks have yet to kick in, and there will be a full slate of games taking place on Sunday. This includes a divisional matchup between the Chargers and Broncos, a battle of the backup quarterbacks in the Vikings vs. Bengals, and a rematch of last year’s playoffs as the Philadelphia Eagles host the Los Angeles Rams.
There are plenty of ways to get involved in the action with DraftKings Sportsbook and Daily Fantasy Sports. As you seek to maximize your DFS lineups, here is a look at a few players in line to outperform their price point to help give you an edge. This article will give my best lineup for the DFS content and the logic behind each selection.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $3.25M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st]
Quarterback:
Daniel Jones ($5,400)
The Daniel Jones experience proved to be more than a one-game fluke in Indianapolis. Through two games, he has completed 71.4% of his pass attempts for 588 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns. Jones has added 28 rushing yards and three touchdowns with his legs and, perhaps most notably, has yet to register a turnover. From a DFS and fantasy football perspective, Jones is averaging 27.7 fantasy points per game, which trails only Lamar Jackson (27.8) for the most of any player in football. The Colts will face the Titans this week, who enter with a 0-2 record. Tennessee ranks 23rd in points allowed, 27th in yards allowed, and 21st in passing yards given up. Getting Jones in your lineup as the 16th most expensive quarterback is great value and allows you to get some more notable stars at other positions. Expect the 28-year-old to build off his strong start to the season and put forth another respectable performance in Week 3.
Other Considerations: Baker Mayfield ($6,600), Kyler Murray ($6,100), Caleb Williams ($5,600), Sam Darnold ($5,100)
Running Back:
Bijan Robinson ($7,900)
The Atlanta Falcons will prepare for an NFC South battle with the Carolina Panthers this week. Bijan Robinson has been the best running back in football thus far based on fantasy production. The Texas product is averaging 25.1 fantasy points per game based on DraftKings scoring, which is not just the most among running backs but the ninth most across all positions. He has taken 34 carries for 167 rushing yards while adding nine receptions for 125 receiving yards and a touchdown. Michael Penix Jr. has changed the construction of the Falcons’ offense in a major way, and Robinson looks to have taken steps to improve on the nearly 1,900 yards from scrimmage he tallied last year. Carolina ranks 23rd in points allowed, 22nd in yards given up, 25th in rushing yards allowed, and 27th in net yards per rush attempt so far this season. Count on Robinson seeing the ball often and doing plenty of damage in this favorable divisional matchup.
Saquon Barkley ($7,800)
The Philadelphia Eagles are off to a 2-0 start, even if it has not looked pretty to this point. Saquon Barkley had one of the greatest seasons in NFL history last year, breaking the all-time regular and postseason rushing record en route to winning a Super Bowl. He was due for some level of regression from the 2,283 yards from scrimmage he tallied last year. Through the opening two games, Barkley has carried the ball 40 times for 148 yards and two touchdowns and added 30 receiving yards through the air. The three-time Pro Bowler is still averaging 17.9 fantasy points per game based on DraftKings scoring, which ranks ninth among running backs. Barkley put up ridiculous stat lines against the Rams last year, rushing for 255 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the regular season, as well as 205 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the postseason. The Eagles have yet to fully find their rhythm as an offense and will keep searching for it this week. Count on Barkley being a key part of this attack and having a strong chance at finishing as the top running back in fantasy football output this week.
Other Considerations: Ashton Jeanty ($6,700), Alvin Kamara ($6,300), Kenneth Walker III ($5,800), Nick Chubb ($5,200)
Wide Receivers:
Davante Adams ($6,200)
Now in his 12th NFL season, Davante Adams is still proving he has something left in the tank. Through the opening two games, he has been targeted 21 times and pulled in 10 receptions for 157 yards and a touchdown thus far. Adams is averaging 17.4 fantasy points per game based on DraftKings scoring which ranks 14th among wide receivers. He will find himself on the other end of this battle with the Eagles. Philadelphia has a strong overall defense, but still has some significant concerns in the secondary. Quinyon Mitchell is expected to match up with Puka Nacua, who leads all wide receivers in fantasy production so far this season, leaving Adoree Jackson to face Adams. Jackson has struggled to slow down opponents and has been heavily targeted, especially in the Cowboys matchup. Expect the Rams to be well aware of this and be looking to target the weak link in Philadelphia’s defense. Matt Stafford can still let it fly as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and count on him giving Davante Adams plenty of chances to make some plays.
Quentin Johnston ($5,400)
There has never been any doubt about the caliber of athlete Quentin Johnston is or the catch radius he possesses. But drops have plagued him thus far in his career. Johnston is showing some progress in this area, and the entire Chargers’ offense is leaning on the passing game at a more regular rate. Through the opening two games this season, Johnston has pulled in eight receptions for 150 yards and three touchdowns. His 20.4 fantasy points per game rank 10th among all wide receivers based on DraftKings scoring. Los Angeles will have an AFC West matchup with the Broncos this week. Denver has a strong overall defense, but Johnston has seen seven targets in each game and tallied a touchdown in both games. There looks to be some growth in his chemistry with Justin Herbert, and Johnston is finally translating his frame and athleticism to production. Look for this to continue in what is a huge match-up for the Chargers, who could put themselves in great standing by starting the season with three consecutive divisional victories. Count on Johnston being a part of the offensive attack and being well worth the $5,400 price point.
Luther Burden III ($4,200)
A bit more of a shot in the dark here, but you have to dig in the bargain bin at times to fit true stars in your DFS lineups. Luther Burden III was selected by the Chicago Bears with the 39th overall pick in this year’s draft to be added to an already strong wide receiver room. Through the opening two games, he has been targeted just three times and pulled in just two receptions for two yards. Burden played just 26.9% of the offensive snaps in Week 1 and 17.6% of the snaps last week. Head coach Ben Johnson was asked about his role this week and made it clear he wants the rookie to be more involved in the offense moving forward. Chicago will face the Dallas Cowboys this week. Dallas has looked encouraging overall, but their defense still has some significant issues. Through two weeks, they rank 27th in points allowed and 30th in yards given up. Dallas also ranks 30th in passing yards allowed and 29th in net yards per pass attempt. Chicago should welcome a struggling defense, as it could still use help getting on the right track. At some point it is going to click for Luther Burden III as he is too talented not to have a more notable role than has been the case thus far. I am taking a chance that this is the week he puts it together, and Burden has a much more notable role within the playbook.
Other Considerations: Drake London ($6,000), Jakobi Myers ($5,600), Cooper Kupp ($5,000), Jayden Higgins ($4,200)
Tight End:
Tyler Warren ($4,400)
One rookie who has not needed any help catching up to the NFL pace of play is Tyler Warren. The former Penn State star was drafted by the Colts with the 14th overall pick in this year’s draft and immediately thrust into a massive role. Through the opening two weeks, he has pulled in 11 receptions for 155 receiving yards. Warren is averaging 13.4 fantasy points per game, which ranks fifth among tight ends and 80th among all players. The rookie has yet to score his first NFL touchdown, and this is another area where he will have a major role once he settles in. Warren leads the Colts in receptions and receiving yards so far this season and looks to be Daniel Jones’ safety blanket within the offense. This would be an excellent chance for Warren to crack his first NFL touchdown against a struggling Titans’ defense, and having him in the lineup with Jones gives you a chance to double-dip on the points output. Don’t be shocked if Warren ends the season as the top fantasy tight end, and that his production over the opening two weeks is just the baseline for what he can do.
Other Considerations: Trey McBride ($5,700), T.J. Hockenson ($3,800)
Flex:
Jacory Croskey-Merritt ($5,500)
The Washington Commanders are battling some injury issues, with Jayden Daniels set to miss this week due to a knee sprain. Marcus Mariota will step in as the starter and expect the team to lean more on a run-heavy scheme. Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt leads the team with 99 rushing yards to this point, along with one touchdown on his 14 carries. His 8.0 fantasy points per game currently ranks 37th among running backs. Expect his role to continue growing as the season progresses. Daniels currently leads the team with 18 rush attempts and led the team in rushing yards last year. These chances are up for grabs with Daniels sidelined, and Croskey-Merritt will be in line for the primary opportunities. Jeremy McNichols will also be in the mix, but Croskey-Merritt has a level of explosiveness and between-the-tackle abilities that Washington will need to call upon. Expect this game to have a chance to be Croskey-Merritt’s full breakout and be well worth the $5,500 price point.
Defense & Special Teams:
Atlanta Falcons ($3,200)
The Atlanta Falcons have the early look of one of the best defenses in the NFL. They spent the offseason drafting two edge rushers in the first round, a pair of safeties in the middle rounds, and brought in several impact defensive players in free agency. Through the opening two weeks, Atlanta ranks second in points allowed, second in yards given up, tallied seven sacks, two interceptions, and three fumble recoveries. They will face the 0-2 Carolina Panthers, who very well could be in the mix for a top draft pick once again this year. The momentum surrounding Bryce Young getting back on the right track has halted, with the former number-one pick throwing three interceptions and fumbling twice already this season. Expect the Falcons’ pass rush to cause some trouble and for the secondary to be opportunistic in creating turnovers when Bryce Young provides them a chance. Count on Atlanta to be well worth the $3,200 price point.
Other Considerations: Packers ($3,700), Eagles ($3,100), Cardinals ($2,900)
