With two weeks in the books, we’re starting to get a good feel for what this 2020 NFL season will look like. Salaries are starting to level off, but there are still spots we can take advantage of. Week 3 takes a ton of star power off the table on the main slate, with Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers squaring off on SNF, and Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson matched up on MNF. Here are some targets on DraftKings that jumped out during my first look at the slate.
Set your DraftKings Millionaire lineups here: NFL $4.25M Fantasy Football Millionaire
Quarterback
Expensive
Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks vs. Dallas Cowboys ($7,300) — Wilson’s off to a spectacular start this season, as the Seahawks seem to finally be shifting to more of a pass-first offense. Wilson’s responded by throwing for nine touchdowns so far, and putting up nearly 35.0 DKFP in both games. The Cowboys just got torched by the Falcons, and should struggle to contain Russ. The Seahawks are nothing special defensively, either, and lost some key members of the secondary last week. Dak Prescott ($7,200) should be a popular play on the other side of the matchup, but Wilson is no doubt the safer target.
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions ($6,800) — Murray is looking to have an equally safe floor to Wilson in the early going. Kyler’s been pretty decent through the air, but has also already rushed for 158 yards and three touchdowns though two games. Averaging over 30.0 DKFP, he enters a matchup against a Detroit defense that’s been hammered out of the gate, so Murray’s in a very strong spot once again. Cam Newton ($6,700), who went off for 38.5 DKFP in Seattle last week, is a nice tournament pivot against the Raiders.
Cheap
Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons ($5,700) — Even with Jackson and Mahomes off this slate, it still looks like a week to pay up at QB with the options above. Taking value will be contrarian. I actually expect Ryan Tannehill ($5,900) to be more popular with how he’s been playing, but I’m choosing to key in on the matchup here. The Falcons are allowing nearly 40.0 DKFP per game to opposing QBs through two weeks. Trubisky has been a pleasant surprise with five touchdown passes through two games.
Other Options: Joe Burrow ($6,200), Ryan Tannehill ($5,900)
Running Back
Expensive
Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks ($8,300) — With Christian McCaffrey (ankle) and Saquon Barkley (knee) both out long term, Elliott is the obvious target here. He’s been the most consistent RB target in the early going, scoring 27.7 DKFP in Week 1, but Week 2 really showed just how safe Elliott’s floor is. With the Cowboys going down huge early in the game to the Falcons, most RBs would disappear. ‘Zeke still managed 23.2 DKFP, despite losing an early fumble and having a touchdown called back. He should gash Seattle’s defense.
Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cincinnati Bengals ($6,400) — Sanders was underpriced at $6K in Week 2, but carried risk since he was making his season debut following a hamstring injury. We now know that Sanders is locked into a heavy workload, following a 20-95-1 line on the ground, along with catching 3-of-7 targets for 36 yards (21.1 DKFP). He’s in a terrific spot once again as a home favorite against the Bengals, who just gave up a combined 53.4 DKFP to Cleveland’s backfield.
I think Sanders is a better value than the likes of Derrick Henry ($7,800), Dalvin Cook ($7,600) and Jonathan Taylor ($7,000). But all of those guys are also in consideration if you need a play in the wide price range between Elliott and Sanders.
Cheap
Jerick McKinnon, San Francisco 49ers at New York Giants ($4,900) — I can’t recall as awful a start to a season as the 49ers have had when it comes to injuries. Absolutely horrible all over the field and it sounds like Raheem Mostert (knee) and Tevin Coleman (knee) are going to both miss this week’s game, which puts McKinnon in line for a solid workload against the lowly Giants. McKinnon has just nine touches so far this season, and has turned them into 121 yards and two touchdowns. Anything in the range of 15 touches here would set up tremendous value upside. Obviously, with all the injuries in Week 2, there are some other names below in line to also see a significantly expanded role.
Other Options: Melvin Gordon ($5,800), Dion Lewis ($5,300), Mike Davis ($5,100), Joshua Kelley ($5,000)
Wide Receiver
Expensive
DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions ($7,900) — If you’re playing Murray this week, you’re almost certainly pairing him with Hopkins, even in cash. Through his first two games with Arizona, D-Hop has been just as good as he was in Houston, if not better. He’s brought in 22-of-25 targets for 219 yards and a touchdown. Detroit has gotten shredded through the air by Chicago and Green Bay, and should continue to struggle with this matchup.
Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons vs. Chicago Bears ($7,200) — Below Hopkins, we have two Atlanta WRs as the second and third-highest priced assets at their position. Julio Jones ($7,400) is just above Ridley, but it’s been Ridley getting the consistent production early. The perception on Julio’s dud in Dallas is a bit skewed — he almost never drops an easy TD like he did in that one — but the four targets were concerning. Jones went for 27.7 DKFP in Week 1, so I’m not concerned with his role, but I do prefer Ridley. Calvin has posted a 9-130-2 line (36.9 DKFP) on 12 targets against the Seahawks and a 7-109-2 line on 10 targets against the Cowboys. I’ll continue paying up against the Bears in tournaments.
Cheap
Dionate Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Houston Texans ($5,400) — JuJu Smith-Schuster ($6,600) scored two touchdowns in Week 1 to really help his fantasy value, but it might be Johnson who actually holds the most upside here. JuJu has 14 total targets on the season, turning them into 13 receptions for 117 yards. Johnson has seen double-digit targets in both games this season, with 10 in Week 1 and up to 13 in Week 2. He was a bit unfortunate with his final stat line in Week 1, and we saw that with some positive regression to an 8-92-1 line (23.2 DKFP) in Week 2. Johnson has a strong matchup at home against Houston, which has been shredded through the air in the early going.
Other Options: CeeDee Lamb ($5,400), Corey Davis ($5,200), Russell Gage ($5,200), N’Keal Harry ($4,200), Adam Humphries ($3,900)
Tight End
Expensive
Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans at Minnesota Vikings ($5,200) — I’m not sure we can trust some of the top TEs on the board in Week 3, whether it be health or matchup concerns. Tennessee’s passing game is off to a terrific start this season, and Smith is a big reason why. Jonnu has eight receptions on 12 targets, but has been a focal point in the red zone, bringing in three touchdowns. His 19.0 DKFP average seems real, especially if A.J. Brown (knee) remains out against a soft Minnesota secondary.
Cheap
Drew Sample, Cincinnati Bengals at Philadelphia Eagles ($3,500) — Burrow has keyed in on the TE position early in his NFL career. He’d targeted C.J. Uzomah 11 times in the first two games, going for an 8-87-1 line. Uzomah is now done for the season with a torn Achilles, but even with him having a productive Week 2, Sample was able to finish with seven receptions for 45 yards (11.5 DKFP) on nine targets. Expect Sample to slot in to a pretty solid role moving forward in Burrow’s offense.
Other Options: Mo Alie-Cox ($3,800), Logan Thomas ($3,700), Jordan Akins ($3,400)
D/ST
Expensive
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Carolina Panthers ($3,600) — Most eyes will probably jump right to Colts D/ST ($4,100), with a prime matchup against the Jets. As awful as the Jets have been, they’ve really just been unable to convert offensively on their own wrongdoing, not allowing other defenses to have massive games. Their opponents are averaging 6.5 DKFP against them this season. Indy is a good play, but I prefer the Chargers. This defense scored 11/0 DKFP in Cincy Week 1, and then 3.0 DKFP against the Chiefs last week — which might actually be even more impressive. Now they face a lackluster Carolina offense that’ll be without CMC.
Cheap
New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts ($2,000) — Speaking off the Jets, the defense hasn’t been awful from a fantasy perspective. They’re averaging 5.5 DKFP, and the Colts have been far from an offensive powerhouse. A 5-6 DKFP game here would be great value.
Set your DraftKings Millionaire lineups here: NFL $4.25M Fantasy Football Millionaire
Put your DraftKings daily fantasy football skills to the test against other readers and writers of DraftKings Playbook! Check out the new DraftKings Content Battleground and enter your lineup for the Week 3 contest.
Put your knowledge to the test. Sign up for DraftKings and experience the game inside the game.
For sports betting, head over to DraftKings Sportsbook or download the DK Sportsbook app.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is jedlow) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (NH/CO) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA). 21+ (18+ NH). NJ/PA/WV/IN/NH/IA/CO/IL only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.