The hope is that everyone continues to be profitable playing NFL DFS. Regardless, that is now in the past and we have a new week of action in front of us. My intention is to help you make Week 3 of NFL DFS a week to remember as you finish in the green. With that being said, let us jump right into my top Week 3 NFL DFS picks.
Each week, I will take a look at one option at each position that can be a nice piece in your lineup. Additionally, I will provide one stud and one value option to target along with one expected bust.
NFL Week 3 DFS Picks
Quarterback
Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings, $6,900
Kirk Cousins is far from exciting. He doesn’t run and seems to fold in big games. But when we are looking Week 3 DFS picks, does that matter?
My answer is a resounding no as it is just production from the game in front of us that matters. And we get Cousins at home in a great matchup against the Chargers. After playing last Thursday, Cousins and the Vikings have had a few extra days off and the Chargers are allowing the second most DraftKings points to opposing quarterbacks through two weeks.
Through two games, Cousins has six touchdown passes with 364 and 344 passing yards, respectively. Cousins represents nice cost savings compared to the top tier of quarterbacks, and we know he has a friend that he can be stacked with (more on that later).
Running Back
Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens, $5,200
This could very well be the case of Gus Edwards being the last man standing, but does it matter?
When looking at our Week 3 NFL DFS picks, we do need to be cost-conscious, and given the current state of the league, running back is often where that takes place. After J.K Dobbins suffered a season-ending injury in Week 1, it turned into a timeshare between Edwards and Justice Hill. Last week, Edwards carried the ball 10 times for 62 yards while also scoring a touchdown.
After Hill suffered a toe injury, the indications are that Edwards will have the backfield to himself this week. It is a solid matchup against the Colts, but in a game where the Ravens could jump out to a big league, game flow could be a real asset here.
Week 3 Positional Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End
Wide Receiver
Nico Collins, Houston Texans, $5,300
When you find something that works and that you like, stick with it. That is the case both for C.J. Stroud and for my Week 3 NFL DFS picks as it relates to Nico Collins.
There is no questioning the fact that Stroud and the Texans will be forced to take it to the air early and often this season. From our perspective, that seems to be working great for Collins as he has been targeted 20 times over two weeks. That has translated to 13 receptions for 226 yards and a touchdown. It is clear that chemistry has been established, and Collins has proven to be up to the task. This workload, and production, don’t seem to be going anywhere.
Tight End
Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons, $3,900
This might be the last chance at fantasy relevance for Kyle Pitts, but he can’t be that bad, right?
At this point, it is getting very difficult to argue with Pitts’ price and given Detroit’s struggles against opposing tight ends, this is a spot where I’d look to take a shot. So far this season, Pitts has four catches on eight targets, and it is really a problem more with the offense than anything else.
There has to be a point though where Pitts finds his groove and Desmond Ridder looks his way. When that happens, the talent is there and this is a matchup that will cooperate too.
Defense
New York Jets, $2,800
The New York Jets had a great week against Buffalo to begin the season and last week was the complete opposite. We know that they are stacked from a talent perspective so we should get production to follow. After five sacks in Week 1, the Jets only had one last week, and a bounce-back effort is certainly needed. It also helps that the Patriots have allowed the fifth most DraftKings points to opposing defenses so far this season.
DFS Stud
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings, $9,300
To say Justin Jefferson is going to cost you would be an understatement. But in pairing him with Cousins in a great matchup, it is hard to ignore Jefferson as a Week 3 NFL DFS pick.
The Chargers have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this year, and with 25 targets in two games, nothing is slowing Jefferson down. He followed up nine receptions for 150 yards with 11 catches for 159 yards, and he should turn in a similar effort. What is the most interesting, is the fact that Jefferson has yet to find the end zone this season. I would look for that to happen this week along with a third straight 100-plus yard game.
DFS Value
Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens, $5,400
Zay Flowers has yet to catch a touchdown, it is just two games, but it is hard to argue with his production. After catching nine passes for 78 yards in his debut, Flowers followed that up with four catches for 62 yards last week. It was interesting since one of those receptions accounted for 52 yards, but the rookie certainly is explosive.
It is clear that Flowers has established chemistry with Lamar Jackson, and with injuries at the running back position, Baltimore will lean more heavily on the passing game. That also comes with good timing as the Colts have one of the worst passing defenses in the league.
DFS Bust
Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns, $4,800
Sometimes you do have to eat the chalk, and Jerome Ford certainly is chalk. After the unfortunate injury to Nick Chubb, the Cleveland backfield belongs to Ford until Kareem Hunt gets quickly up to speed.
Last week, Ford turned in a great performance with 16 carries for 106 yards but 69 of those yards did come on one carry. That leaves 15 carries for a rather pedestrian 37 yards, and without that run, his day looks a lot different. Ford did catch another three passes for 25 yards as he prepares for an increased role. The problem though, and the reason why he is not one of my Week 3 NFL DFS picks is how strong Tennessee’s rush defense has been so far this year.