NFL DFS Picks: Best DraftKings Fantasy Football Plays for Week 3

We were blessed with a scoring bonanza in Week 1. But was that a one-and-done? Week 2 wasn’t as fun. At least you get to read words from none other than Son. The Raiders are undefeated through two weeks. What year is it? The injury gods have been busy, I see. Who is the next casualty? Please, please, may it not be a name that is marquee. The Bears were on pace to break records. Then the Vikings held them to a measly three-point score — what a bore! The two-week sample size is still small, but it’s big enough for me. Better than throwing darts against a wall.

We’ve got 13 games on this main slate. Five of them have a spread of three points or less on DraftKings Sportsbook. One game has a double-digit favorite: Kansas City -10.5 over Miami on the road. Five games have a total of at least 45 points, with Baltimore-Dallas having the highest at 53.5. The lowest total is the Titans-Giants game at 38.5 points. There are seven home dogs.

Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $2.75M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st].

Quarterback

Stud

Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills vs. Los Angeles Chargers ($8,000) – Joe Brady for president! After Sean McDermott nerfed Allen with the conservative, defensive-minded approach, Allen is going scorched earth on the league right now. He put up 38.7 and 40.8 FPTS in the first two games, throwing for five touchdowns without an interception along with four rushing scores. The Chargers have been stout against the run but porous against the pass. The unit has allowed a 69.7 completion percentage and a 107.5 quarterback rating. This game could get bonkers if the Chargers figure things out on offense, because the Bills’ pass defense has been worse than the Chargers’. Allen has the highest floor/ceiling combo on the slate.

Other Options – Lamar Jackson ($7,500), Dak Prescott ($6,700), Brock Purdy ($6,500), Jared Goff ($6,300), Patrick Mahomes ($6,200)

Value

Geno Smith, New York Jets at Detroit Lions ($4,900) – I can’t forget what Smith did for my Raiders last season, leading the league in both interceptions and sacks. It’s a new year and a new team, though, and Smith has been composed and confident through two games with the Jets. He has completed 70.8 percent of his passes, taken only four sacks and not thrown an interception yet. The Lions will more than likely score points in this one at home, which should force Smith to respond aggressively. Detroit has had serious issues in defending the pass so far with both starting safeties out. Smith also has some bona fide weapons to throw to.

Other Options – Bryce Young ($5,600), CJ Stroud ($5,500), Sam Darnold ($5,400), Tyler Shough ($5,400), Kirk Cousins ($4,800)

Running Back

Stud

Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens at Dallas Cowboys ($7,700) – Henry continues to Heisman Father Time into the medical tent. The 32-year-old has rushed 40 times for 212 yards and four touchdowns this season. Now he faces a Cowboys team that is allowing five yards per carry. The unit is learning a new defensive scheme, which has led to poor run fits early on. That’s no bueno against a potent offense with Lamar Jackson and Henry in the backfield.

Other Options – Jahmyr Gibbs ($8,800), Jonathan Taylor ($7,600), Kenneth Walker III ($7,400), Ashton Jeanty ($7,100), Breece Hall ($6,400), Chuba Hubbard ($6,100)

Value

David Montgomery, Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts ($6,000) – Montgomery is averaging a paltry 2.7 yards per carry. He does lead the team with seven red zone looks, although Woody Marks had three to his one in Week 2. That was likely more a function of the Texans in trail mode for much of the game. Cincinnati bolstered its defensive line, and it’s paid dividends. This matchup against the Colts should be much more favorable, as Indy has allowed 5.4 yards per carry, 354 rushing yards, and four touchdowns. Montgomery scored three times in Week 1 — twice on the ground, once through the air — and a similar performance could be on the menu.

Other Options – Quinshon Judkins ($5,500), Emmett Johnson ($4,400)

Wide Receiver

Stud

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks at Washington Commanders ($8,600) – Sam Darnold is back for Seattle, but is that a good thing? I kid, but not really. Drew Lock zeroed in on the NFL’s top receiver in Week 2, with Smith-Njigba catching nine of 11 targets for 155 yards, three touchdowns, and 45.5 FPTS! Let’s not forget Lock entered Week 1 early and peppered JSN with 11 targets for 29.2 FPTS. Whoever is under center for Seattle has one job: feed JSN. The matchup is juicy because the Commanders’ pass defense has been Swiss cheese so far. Washington has allowed a 71.4 completion percentage and a league-leading seven touchdowns.

Other Options – Amon-Ra St. Brown ($7,900), CeeDee Lamb ($7,800), Justin Jefferson ($7,500), Chris Olave ($7,200), Garrett Wilson ($6,300)

Value

Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs at Miami Dolphins ($4,400) – Worthy has had a strange start to the season, with an aDOT of only 6.3 yards. Last season, that number was 12.9; the year before, 9.2. Tyquan Thornton has taken the serious threat role for Kansas City, but Worthy still has a 4.21-second 40-yard dash time and can take it to the house on any play. He has two deep targets, four red-zone looks, and a 19.1% target share. I think he breaks one or two in this one against a Dolphins pass defense that has been sashimi’d through two games. The unit has allowed a 78.8 completion percentage, five touchdowns and a 118.5 quarterback rating.

Other Options – Ladd McConkey ($5,900), Deebo Samuel Sr. ($5,300), Khalil Shakir ($4,800), Rashod Bateman ($4,700), Devaughn Vele ($4,400)

Tight End

Stud

Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills vs. Los Angeles Chargers ($5,500) – DJ Moore and Keon Coleman are questionable for his one, so Kincaid could be the top option in the passing game for MVP frontrunner Josh Allen. Kincaid has garnered six and eight targets over his first two games, converting them into 21 and 22.5 FPTS. The Chargers have been good against the run but terrible against the pass, so Allen will likely drop back often and find Kincaid for plenty of fantasy goodies.

Other Options – Trey McBride ($6,700), Brock Bowers ($6,600) if he plays, Travis Kelce ($4,500), Mark Andrews ($4,400), Sam LaPorta ($4,300), Dalton Schultz ($4,200), Jake Ferguson ($4,100)

Value

Kenyon Sadiq, New York Jets at Detroit Lions ($3,500) – Sadiq has only garnered three targets in each of the first two games, but he does have a rushing touchdown. This is all about the matchup: the Jets will likely have to be aggressive and tilt toward the air, while the Lions have given up the most fantasy points to tight ends this season.

Other Options – Juwan Johnson ($3,700), Darren Waller ($3,400), Michael Mayer ($3,300) if Bowers is out, TJ Hockenson ($3,200)

Defense/Special Teams

Stud

Seahawks DST at Washington Commanders ($3,800) – Marcus Mariota gets the start for Washington — good luck. The defending Super Bowl champs lead the NFL with four interceptions and an NFL-best 59 quarterback rating.

Other Options – Chiefs DST ($3,700), Giants DST ($3,400), Texans DST ($3,200), Vikings DST ($3,100)

Value

Bengals DST at Pittsburgh Steelers ($2,900) – Cincinnati bolstered its defensive line in the offseason, and it’s paying dividends early on. The rush defense is allowing 3.9 yards per carry and has yet to allow a passing touchdown. The Bengals are tied for the NFL lead with eight sacks despite blitzing at the third-lowest rate. Pittsburgh is averaging only 3.4 yards per carry, so they will likely have to tilt towards the air. Unfortunately, Aaron Rodgers is averaging a minuscule 5.2 yards per attempt, has thrown an interception and taken six sacks.

Other Options – Jaguars DST ($2,900), Patriots DST ($2,700), Steelers DST ($2,700), Titans DST ($2,400)