Welcome to Week 3 of the 2019 NFL season. I’m excited to get going so here are the week 3 NFL players I love on FanDuel and DraftKings.
My breakdown covers the Sunday Main slate of games, so no TNF, SNF or MNF players will be covered. The bulk of the action on both sites is on the main slate so that’s why I narrow my focus.
For each position I’ll shine the flashlight on 5-8 players at different price points that I think are good plays for this week. The point of this article is to provide you with a pool of players you can build your lineups from. While there’s no magic bullet, this is the group of players that I’ll be building my lineups from. With so many different options I won’t put together a lineup in this article, though I will provide the lineup I’ll be playing on Sunday mornings in a new post. I do that in case I find something in my research or if there is any late injury news that can affect how I build my lineups. To that point, if I end up adding or removing anyone from my list of players, I’ll be sure to update this article with that info.
Follow me on Twitter @FlashlightDFS for my latest updates, last minute info, game day entertainment and lineup advice.
I don’t break down every single player at the top. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Pat Mahomes, Saquon Barkley, Julio Jones or Travis Kelce are good players. If you want to play a stud player that I don’t highlight, go for it.
***JUST BECAUSE I DON’T WRITE A PLAYER UP DOESN’T MEAN YOU SHOULDN’T PLAY HIM IF YOU WANT TO. I’M HIGHLIGHTING GUYS AT DIFFERENT PRICE POINTS THAT I LIKE THE BEST***
QUARTERBACK
Look, if you can fit Pat Mahomes or Lamar Jackson in your lineup, do it. You don’t need to read on the internet that they’re good DFS plays.
Tom Brady (7800 FD/6600 DK) – Pats host the Jets this week who gave up 325/1 to Baker Mayfield and 254/1 to Josh Allen so far this season. Brady is obviously a better QB than both and I don’t think there’s any way that Tom Terrific puts up any less than 275/2.
Josh Allen (7500 FD/5900 DK) – Allen has had two fine outings to start the year with over 250+/1 in each contest. He’s also a threat to run the ball. The Bills face the Bengals who were shredded by Jimmy Garoppolo last week and the Seahawks in Week 1. I like Allen’s ability to run the ball to mitigate his mediocre passing, but remember that 40 yards rushing is the same points as a TD pass and Allen is a threat at the goal line.
Jimmy Garopollo (7200 FD/6200 DK) – Pittsburgh’s D has struggled to stop the pass this year so I believe that will be the game plan for the 49ers this week. Jimmy G had a much improved outing in Week 2 (296/3) and has an opportunity for another good game against the Steelers who will likely be down 1 starting DB despite the fact they added Minkah Fitzpatrick this week.
Carson Wentz (7700 FD/5600 DK) – DK price is MUCH more attractive as the WR injuries give a little pause to Carson this week. Tough game last week for Wentz but he faces the Lions who have given up an average of 339/2 in their first two games.
Matthew Stafford (6900 FD/5500 DK) – Stafford is the 17th cheapest QB on FD this week in a game versus the Eagles who haven’t kept an opposing QB under 320 yards yet this season. He’s got two legit receivers and a quality TE so there are weapons to catch the ball. If you need a budget QB to fit in two star RBs this week Stafford is my pick.
Teddy Bridgewater (6800 FD/4700 DK) – Between Teddy and Mason Rudolph I prefer Teddy. Seattle is vulnerable to the pass this season and with a full week to prepare should be able to take advantage via Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara. There’s risk for sure but remember that Teddy has been a starter in the NFL before so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him step right in and play well.
RUNNING BACK
I’m paying up at running back this week, no other way about it. There are stars in position for great games, the only issue is that you can only fit one of the Big 3 in your lineup unless you dumpster dive the rest which is risky.
Ezekiel Elliot (8800 FD/8900 DK) – Zeke is my guy this week against the hapless Dolphins. Zeke bounced back from a pedestrian Week 1 to post 23/111/1 line versus Washington in Week 2. The only way this goes bad is if the game gets completely out of hand before halftime, which is possible but not likely. I’m all in on Zeke personally, he’ll be in nearly 100% of my lineups.
Christian McCaffrey (8900 FD/8700 DK) – CMC should smash against Arizona after a tough outing last week. After seeing that the offense is worthless unless CMC gets his touches and facing an 0-3 start with a loss, the Carolina coaching staff will funnel the ball to CMC either on the ground or through the air. Either way he’ll stack up the points.
Saquon Barkley (9200 FD/9100 DK) – It’s not that I don’t like Barkely, he’s the best player in the league, I just like the situation better for Zeke and CMC. By all means, he’s a great play this week as he is every week, I’ll just take the slight discount to get Zeke vs. Miami.
Dalvin Cook (8300 FD/7800 DK) – Back again in my list is Dalvin Cook who tore it up again last week for 20/154/1 rushing and 3/37 receiving. They face Oakland who have been decent vs. the run but his ability in the pass game and Minnesota’s total commitment to the run mitigate that risk.
Mark Ingram (7100 FD/5700 DK) – I’m back on Ingram too after a lackluster week where Lamar Jackson stole all the rushing yards. John Harbaugh is a smart coach who knows that running the ball to keep KC’s offense off the field is nearly the only way to keep things competitive. Last game vs. KC they ran the ball 40 times, so even if Lamar carries it 15 times that leaves 25 carries at the RB position, of which Ingram will get 20+. Ingram is ruined if KC gets a big early lead but he’ll be a big part of the game plan as long as things stay close.
Devonta Freeman (6200 FD/4900 DK) – If you paying for two expensive RB’s then we need value so look no further than Freeman who has had two down weeks to start the year against MIN and PHI, two of the toughest run defenses in the league. This is prime bounce back territory as he gets IND who have given up an average of 125 rushing yards/game this season.
Raheem Mostert (6000 FD/4700 DK) or Matt Breida (5900 FD/5400 DK) – Breida is the “starter” but touches last week were nearly identical and Mostert’s TD helped him out score Breida. While you can’t play both, either is a good start versus the Steelers D who haven’t looked very good this year. I like both becuase they both catch the ball out of the backfield and look efficient in the backfield. Take your pick if you want to pick on the Steelers this week.
WIDE RECEIVER
If you have the salary, Julio Jones (8300 FD/7300 DK) is my favorite star receiver this week. His price is especially attractive on DK. I’m staying away from the top guys at WR so I can stack up RBs this week.
Mike Evans (7100 FD/6600 DK) – Big Mike has had a slow start but the Giants are just what he needs to remind everyone why they were drafting him in the 2nd round of seasonal leagues this year. Over his career he averages 9.24 targets, 5.07 catches for 78.4 yards and .51 TD. He’s had 6.5 targets per game this year so positive regression is coming. The Giants, by the way, are giving up 321 yards and 2.5 TD per game this year.
Kenny Golladay (7000 FD/6600 DK) – The Eagles can’t stop the pass, the Lions can’t really run it. Golladay is a big guy who can run which makes him a threat in the open field and red zone. He’s a focal point of the passing game and faces a team who gave up 380 yards to the Redskins and 320 to the Falcons.
Marquise Brown (6100 FD/5900 DK) – Brown is an explosive player who can do a lot with a little, as seen in week 1 where he converted 5 targets in to 4/147/2. Last week he led the team with 13 targets for 8/86. It’s pretty clear that he’s the #1 WR in Baltimore so to get him this cheap in the highest total game of the week seems too easy, but let’s not outsmart ourselves.
Larry Fitzgerald (5900 FD/5100 DK) – Just when you thought the old man was dead and gone…right? Fitz has quietly had a great start to the season eclipsing the 100 yard mark in both games. He’s a favorite of rookie QB Kyler Murray and has 24 targets on the season. For a guy averaging 12 targets a game, this price is way too cheap.
Nelson Agholor (4800 FD/3600 DK) – Agholor will be very popular this week and for good reason after his Sunday night performance last week (8/107/1). With DeSean Jackson already out and Alshon Jeffrey looking doubtful some will look to JJ Arcega-Whiteside but I prefer Agholor. He’s been with Wentz for a couple of years already and works out of the slot where Detroit is softer.
Deebo Samuel (5500 FD/4500 DK) – Samuel is second on the team in targets only to George Kittle. So far this year slot recievers vs. the Steelers have the following stat lines: Julian Edelman – 6/83, Tyler Lockett 10/79. Who plays 25% of his snaps in the slot for the 49ers? You guessed it, Deebo Samuel.
TIGHT END
George Kittle (6600 FD/5600 DK) – Kittle has been relatively quiet thus far in 2019 but he’s primed for a get-right game against the Steelers. As mentioned above, the Steelers struggle to cover the middle of the field and Kittle is an athletic freak. Pittsburgh gave up 2 TD’s to Will Dissly last week so if SF gets in the red zone you can bet that Kittle will get the first looks.
Zach Ertz (6900 FD/5700 DK) – Somebody’s gonna have to pick up the slack in Philly with DeSean out and Alshon likely to miss. Ertz is a prime candidate if you don’t believe in Nelson Agholor or JJ Arcega-Whiteside. Ertz is a proven commodity and will likely lead the Eagles in targets again this week.
Mark Andrews (6800 FD/4600 DK) – Only play Andrews if you like a guy who is good for 8/110/1 every week because that’s what he’s averaged the last two weeks. His targets have been consistent as well with 8 & 9 respectively so you can feel good that Jackson will look his way in a game that should be high scoring.
Evan Engram (6400 FD/5200 DK) – Engram came down from his week 1 high but is in line for another big week versus the Bucs who just gave up 6/110 to Greg Olsen. Rookie Daniel Jones takes over for the Giants which might concern some but I think he’s an upgrade from Eli. Sterling Shepard returns as well which means Tampa can’t focus their coverage on Engram.
DEFENSE
Dallas Cowboys (5000 FD/4300 DK) – Miami has more TD passes thrown to opposing defenses (2) than their own team (1). They’ve given up 10 sacks. They have scored just 1 TD and 1 field goal on the season. The Cowboys play the Dolphins at home. I’m 100% in on the Cowboys this week, no questions asked.
New England Patriots (5000 FD/3800 DK) – The Jets are rolling out Luke Falk to face Belichik and the Patriots at home so there’s not much to be afraid of. I like the price discount on DK but on FD it’s up to you.
San Francisco 49ers (3700 FD/3200 DK) – You could take a shot on the Niners who get Mason Rudolph in his first NFL start on the road with a banged up RB and demoralized team.
Good luck this week!
Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @FlashlightDFS for updates or to reach out to me with your fantasy football questions.
Subscribe to Coal Region Canary
Get email updates from Coal Region Canary by becoming a subscriber today. Just enter your email address below to get started!Support Coal Region Canary
Like our reporting and want to support truly local news in Schuylkill County? Your small donations help. For as little as $5, your contribution will allow us to cover more news that directly affects you. Consider donating today by hitting the big yellow button below ...