Slate Breaker: FD NFL DFS Week 3

Quarterbacks

Play of the Day: Kirk Cousins, Vikings (vs Chargers)

Do I really need to explain this one? The Chargers have been awful. They even let Ryan Tannehill top 20 points a week ago. With Jefferson, Addison and Hockenson at his disposal, Cousins should be able to do whatever he wants against this defense. Add in the fact that the Vikings' run game has been nonexistent and this has all the elements needed to produce a big game for Cousins. He is capable of living up to these high expectations too as he has been the top scoring QB through 2 weeks. Kirk is a solid play in both cash and tournaments with a high floor and ceiling at an affordable price. 

Obvious Plays: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs (vs Bears) & Josh Allen, Bills (@ Commanders)

Solid Plays: Justin Herbert, Chargers (@ Vikings) & Lamar Jackson, Ravens (vs Colts)

Herbert has not been bad to start the season, but he has not looked like that special player that enamored the league when he was a rookie. This week should be one where we could see a return of the phenomenal play as he gets one of the weakest pass defenses in the league. The Vikings do look like they have improved a bit from their league worst form a year ago, but they are still beatable and a QB of Herbert's talents should have no issue passing for 300+ and scoring multiple times. Lamar Jackson has been a bit of a disappointment to open the season, but he should be able to return to form this weekend. The Ravens are down two RBs meaning Jackson will have to do more with his legs in order to keep this offense balanced. More running only means positive things for Jackson's fantasy value and boy has it been a while since he has run for multiple rushing TDs in a game so he is due.

Other Plays: Dak Prescott, Cowboys (@ Cardinals) & Jared Goff, Lions (vs Falcons)

Fade of the Day: Deshaun Watson, Browns (vs Titans)

The Titans are not a good defense, but somehow they are a great scoring defense. They will give up yards with no resistance between the 20s but as soon as their opponent gets into the redzone they bow their necks and keep them out of the endzone. With Watson looking mediocre at best over his first two games, I do not expect Watson to change this trend and if Watson cannot find a way to score multiple times he simply is not worth having in your lineups.

Other Fades: Sam Howell, Commanders (vs Bills) & Justin Fields, Bears (@ Chiefs)

Bust Alert: Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars (vs Texans)

Lawrence has struggled to find any consistent momentum in the passing game and he gets a deceivingly tough matchup in Week 3. After allowing just 209 passing yards per game a year ago, the Texans have stepped up their game and have a mere 191 passing yards per game. The Texans secondary is not necessarily that good, but their run defense is horrible so most team's just run it down their throats leading their opponent's passing game to be lacking production. Lawrence is a good enough player to succeed in this matchup, but more likely that not he will not be worth his price this week.

Running Backs

Play of the Day: Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks (vs Panthers)

Kenneth Walker's performance to start the season has been a bit lackluster but his snap share and red zone utilization make him a very safe play with the potential for a huge day. Walker has 27 carries compared to 7 for the next closest Seahawk so he will be getting as much work as he can handle and against an Andy Dalton-led Panther team. This high usage could not come in a better week either as they face a punchless Panther run defense that has already allowed 5 TDs to opposing RBs so make sure you have Walker in your lineup because he is ready to eat.

Obvious Plays: Tony Pollard, Cowboys (@ Cardinals) & Derrick Henry, Titans (@ Browns)

Solid Plays: Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions (vs Falcons); Zack Moss, Colts (@ Baltimore) & Travis Etienne, Jaguars (vs Texans)

Yes it looks like it may be Gibbs time. David Montgomery will be missing this game meaning this will be Gibbs' backfield. The Lions' staff has said Gibbs will not be handling all the backfield work, but they said to expect 15 carries in addition to his usual receiving work. 20+ touches for a player as explosive as Gibbs can only lead to a big fantasy day. Zack Moss is a solid play solely based on his usage. Guess how many snaps Colts RBs not named Moss handled a week ago? Well if you said 0 then you are right. That is a true bell cow so while he may not be particularly efficient against this tough Ravens' front, he will get enough chances to deliver a solid fantasy day. Any lead back who plays against the Texans will automatically find their way into this section, so when a great back like Etienne gets a crack against this defense he instantly becomes a smash play.

Other Plays: Joshua Kelley, Chargers (@ Vikings); James Cook, Bills (@ Commanders) & Alexander Mattison, Vikings (vs Chargers)

Fade of the Day: Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders (vs Bills)

$7,500 is just too expensive for Robinson. I do not care who he is playing; I am never paying over 7K for Robinson. Add in that he is against a stout Bills run defense and I want absolutely zero exposure to B Rob. This Bills front just held JOSH JACOBS to negative rushing yards a week ago so there is absolutely no world where Robinson is worth this price.

Other Fades: James Conner, Cardinals (vs Cowboys) & Tyler Allgeier, Falcons (@ Lions)

Bust Alert: Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots (@ Jets)

Rhamondre is too talented of a back to outright fade him, but his chances of delivering good fantasy value this week are slim. He is stuck in a timeshare with Ezekiel Elliot and this Jets front 7 is tough. The Jets just held Tony Pollard to under 3 per carry so Rhamondre may find the endzone and be a valuable asset, but the floor is just not there this week to put him in your DFS lineups.

Wide Receivers

Play of the Day: Amari Cooper, Browns (vs Titans)

I know I just bashed Deshaun Watson's fantasy outlook; but unlike Watson, Amari Cooper can have a successful fantasy day just by racking up a lot of yardage and boy does this Titans secondary give up a lot of yardage. In just two games, the Titans have already allowed 5 different receivers to top 60 yards and given how limited the target tree is for the Browns, Cooper and Elijah Moore both look like they are locked in as smash plays against this porous Titan secondary. If Amari Cooper can find his way to the endzone he could end up the WR1 on the week.

Obvious Plays: Justin Jefferson, Vikings (vs Chargers) & Tyreek Hill, Dolphins (vs Broncos)

Solid Plays: Keenan Allen, Chargers (@ Vikings) & Drake London, Falcons (@ Lions)

Keenan Allen has been a proven commodity for years, but this year he has taken it up a notch thanks to how the team has started to utilize him. After having an aDOT under 8 yards over the past three years, Allen is pushing his way further down the field with an aDOT of 10.7 over his first two games while still getting the same target share. With Allen now getting more valuable looks in a juicy matchup against the Vikings, Allen is going to smash this week. After a brutal goose egg in Week 1, London scared off a bunch of DFS players and made them pay catching 6 passes for 67 yards and a TD. The Falcons simply do not have many options beyond London in the passing game so while they do not pass a lot, when they do it is going to London so going forward I would expect his Week 2 performance to be more of the norm.

Other Plays: Michael Pittman Jr., Colts (@ Ravens); Jayden Reed, Packers (vs Saints) & Zay Flowers, Ravens (vs Colts)

Fade of the Day: Terry McLaurin, Commanders (vs Bills)

The yardage just has not been there for McLaurin this year. He is only getting a handful of targets and those targets have not been very valuable as he has not been targeted down the field and only been targeted a couple times in the endzone. McLaurin will also be getting the Tre'Davious White treatment which only further hurts his fantasy outlook. It is best to look elsewhere this week.

Other Fades: Garrett Wilson, Jets (vs Patriots) & DeAndre Hopkins, Titans (@ Browns)

Bust Alert: Chris Olave, Saints (@ Packers)

Olave is a great player but Jaire Alexander is just better. Alexander can lock down any wideout in the league so Olave is in for a rough showing this week. He may be schemed away from Alexander on a couple plays allowing him some fantasy production, but the chances he lives up to his high price tag are slim.

Tight Ends

Start of the Week: Taysom Hill, Saints (@ Packers)

You can put a RB in your TE slot? That seems unfair but I will take advantage of it while it is available. The Saints only have two young inexperienced plays available as true RBs this week so expect Hill to get a lot of carries. Hill was heavily utilized on Monday night following Jamaal Williams's injury totaling 75 rushing yards so with a full week to implement Hill's rushing ability into the offense should lead to a lot of yards and high odds of a TD for the do it all TE.

Obvious Plays: Travis Kelce, Chiefs (vs Bears); TJ Hockenson, Vikings (vs Chargers) & Mark Andrews, Ravens (vs Colts)

Solid Plays: Zach Ertz, Cardinals (vs Cowboys) & Sam LaPorta, Lions (vs Falcons)

It is all about the targets for Ertz. If Puka Nacua's breakout season was not dominating the national spotlight, Ertz's 18 targets through 2 games would be getting way more buzz. Sure he is not getting any targets more than 5 yards down the field but as a TE at $5,100, all he needs are these targets to deliver value. He is as safe of a play as you can get on this slate. Sam LaPorta has been establishing some early chemistry with Jared Goff and I love his utilization. The Lions have drawn up a lot of plays for him in space allowing him to pile up good YAC numbers. If he can find his way into the endzone he could be a big difference maker in your DFS lineups.

Other Plays: David Njoku, Browns (vs Titans) & Hunter Henry, Patriots (@ Jets)

Fade of the Day: Kyle Pitts, Falcons (@ Lions)

I need to see some kind of life from Pitts before I put him in a single lineup. Even in a juicy matchup like this, do not waste your time on Pitts.

Other Fades: Evan Engram, Jaguars (vs Texans) & Dalton Schultz, Texans (@ Jaguars)

Bust Alert: Dawson Knox, Bills (@ Commanders)

A TD saved Knox from being an absolute bust a week ago, but there is just no baseline for Knox right now. The team is featuring Dalton Kincaid more and more and it is only a matter of time until Kincaid completely supplants Knox in the lineup so you do not want to have Knox in your lineup when that inevitably happens.

Defense

Start of the Week: Cowboys D/ST (@ Cardinals)

The Cowboys defense is just too good to not completely annihilate this Cardinals offense. The Cowboys' D/ST is over 5K for a reason so pay up and do not miss out. 

Other Starts: Patriots D/ST (@ Jets); Jaguars D/ST (vs Texans); Bills D/ST (@ Commanders); Seahawks D/ST (vs Panthers) & Titans D/ST (@ Browns)

Dream Team

QB: Kirk Cousins, Vikings (vs Chargers)

RB1: Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks (vs Panthers)

RB2: Joshua Kelley, Chargers (@ Vikings)

WR1: Justin Jefferson, Vikings (vs Chargers)

WR2: Amari Cooper, Browns (vs Titans)

WR3: Drake London, Falcons (@ Lions)

TE: Taysom Hill, Saints (@ Packers)

Flex: Zack Moss, Colts (@ Ravens)

D/ST: Seahawks (vs Panthers)

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