Daily Fantasy: The one Chiefs player you need to start in Week 3 on DraftKings

Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins could be a daily fantasy sports sleeper in Week 1.

It might require you to sit on pins and needles, but holding tight until Monday Night Football in regard to your fantasy football lineup could pay off in Week 3 as the Kansas City Chiefs square off against the Baltimore Ravens.

In regard to who to target for a start against the Ravens, look no further than Week 1. On opening day, the Chiefs took on the Houston Texans in a high-flying offensive contest. The Texans have taken a step back in comparison to the Ravens, so expect another plethora of points to go around, or even more so.

Pending his health, Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins is sticking out like a sore thumb. At $7,400 salary cost on DraftKings, the second-highest among all quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes isn’t a cost-efficient option. Instead, go with Watkins and his $4,500 salary. DraftKings allocates an average of $5,555 per position, and Watkins can save you a few dollars for elsewhere.

Yes, the Ravens do have the best defense Watkins and the Chiefs have faced this season, but they have the best offense, too. The Chiefs are poised to need to put some points up themselves in this one. The last time the Chiefs had this feeling heading into a game, it was the opener, and Watkins was relied on by Mahomes.

Watkins, dealing with head injury, is listed as questionable, but he took to social media to indicate he’s healthy. That combined with nine targets, seven catches and a touchdown in Week 1 make him a smart play.

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Daily Fantasy: The one Chargers player you need to start in Week 3 on DraftKings

Chargers running back Joshua Kelley could be a daily fantasy sports sleeper in Week 1.

The dive doesn’t have to go very deep in terms of finding a fantasy football piece to start from the Bolts in Week 3.

Up next for the Los Angeles Chargers is the Carolina Panthers. While the 2020 season is young, the Panthers have had an issue going back to last season which you need to exploit: a very poor run defense.

In 2019, the Panthers had the fourth-worst run defense in the NFL, allowing 143.5 yards per game. Fast forward, and the Panthers, through two games, are still right there, currently giving up 127.5 yards per game on the ground. Considering the Chargers, we now need to either look at Austin Ekeler or Joshua Kelley. Who is the better fantasy football option this weekend? The easy pick is Kelley.

Just in general, the Panthers can’t stop the run, but they really haven’t put up much of a fight along the goal line. Through two games, the team allowing the most points to fantasy football running backs by a longshot is the Panthers. That’s in part to a league-high six rushing touchdowns surrendered already in 2020.

Ekeler is currently average 5.1 yards per carry compared to the rookie’s 3.5, however, Kelley has the eighth-most red zone rushing attempts this season in the entire NFL.

Plus, money can talk. This week on DraftKings, Kelley’s salary is below the per-position average of $5,555 at $5,000. Ekeler sits at $6,800, well above it. Not only does Kelley make more sense on the field, he does on DraftKings, too.

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Daily Fantasy: The one Raiders player you need to start in Week 3 on DraftKings

Raiders tight end Darren Waller could be a daily fantasy sports sleeper in Week 3.

The Las Vegas Raiders started their 2020 season against two opponents that… were not the New England Patriots, who are en route in Week 3.

While a team in transition on offense, the same cannot be said about the other side of the ball. New England’s defense remains stout, and head coach Bill Belichick is still leading the way. Because of Belichick, think like a real play-caller going against the Pats in terms of Raiders on fantasy football.

For decades now, the memo on Belichick has been out. What does his defense do? The Patriots do have a great secondary, but their game plan always surrounds taking a team’s best offensive playmaker and smothering them. The Raiders have lived through running back Josh Jacobs so far this season.

Considering New England’s prowess, look over to tight end Darren Waller in Week 3 instead. The Raiders’ leading receiver this season, Waller had a breakout Week 2 with 12 catches, 105 yards and a touchdown last week against the New Orleans Saints. We can’t guarantee that type of performance again, but somewhere between that and his Week 1 (6 catches, 45 yards), should be expected.

The Patriots do have among the league’s best secondary’s with the likes of Stephon Gilmore roaming around, but with Waller hanging around near the line of scrimmage and slot, he could find himself away from tougher coverage.

Such a performance will prove as a worthwhile investment on DraftKings as Waller’s salary is hovering just around their per-position average still ($5,555) as well at $5,700.

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Daily Fantasy: The one Broncos player you need to start in Week 3 on DraftKings

Broncos running back Melvin Gordon could be a daily fantasy sports sleeper in Week 2.

The Denver Broncos have become a pretty tricky team in terms of fantasy football in a very short time. Due to the injury bug biting their roster, it’s easy to just overlook what the Broncos have to offer. But there’s still some promise to be found in Week 3 in Denver.

Set to faceoff against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend, the Broncos won’t have quarterback Drew Lock and their top wide receiver in Courtland Sutton is done for the year. Plus, the Bucs are at least pretty good against the run in recent seasons, right? That maybe be true, but don’t let the steer you away from Broncos running back Melvin Gordon.

Gordon has started his career in Denver with back-to-back touchdown outing, and that could easily continue against Tampa Bay.

The Bucs defense is an interesting subject to consider playing a running back against. Overall, the Bucs have only allowed 84.5 rushing yards per game early this year, that’s good for the fourth-best in the NFL. But this isn’t football on the gridiron we’re talking about. This is fantasy football. Tampa Bay has still managed to allow the fifth-most fantasy football points to opposing running backs in the NFL this season.

Plus Gordon’s been involved in Denver’s offense so far this year. He’s had at least 15 carries in each of the first two games this season and has three targets in both games as well. Gordon’s salary this week in DraftKings is slightly above the $5,555 position average at $5,800, but Gordon’s value is simply too good.

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Daily Fantasy: The one 49ers player you need to start in Week 3 on DraftKings

There’s one 49ers player you need to start in Week 3 on DraftKings.

The one San Francisco 49ers player that your need to start in Week 3 on DraftKings is RB Jeff Wilson Jr.

The running backs weren’t spared from the Week 2 injury carnage that relentlessly struck the 49ers. Both Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman suffered knee injuries that are expected to keep them out of the upcoming Week 3 tilt with the New York Giants. San Francisco is currently down to just two healthy running backs on the 53-man roster: Wilson and Jerrick McKinnon.

Wilson had just two attempts for three yards in Week 2. Meanwhile, McKinnon looked like his explosive self, notching three carries for 77 yards and a touchdown. So why would you start Wilson over McKinnon?

There is a growing sect of the 49ers beat writers who believe that McKinnon will cede starting work to Wilson. Look back at the success he had in the first two weeks of 2019, with 18 attempts for 52 yards and two touchdowns.

San Francisco will face an 0-2 Giants team in Week 3 that has allowed 276 yards on 62 attempts, which comes out to a 4.5 yard per attempt average. They haven’t allowed a rushing touchdown on the season so far, but it’s only a matter of time before they surrender one when they’re giving up 4.5 yards per carry. New York also struggled to stop Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery through the air last week, catching three passes on three targets for 45 yards and a touchdown.

At $4,000 cost on DraftKings, Wilson is one of the best value plays in the entire NFL this week. There’s upside for a big performance in Week 3 and he would be a great play in the flex as you spend cash elsewhere on premium players.

Daily Fantasy: The one Eagles player you need to start in Week 3 on DraftKings

There’s only one Eagle who seems reliable: Miles Sanders.

There’s really only one player that’s reliable in the Philadelphia Eagles offense: running back Miles Sanders. He put together a respectable performance in Week 2, and he’s facing a Cincinnati Bengals defense that should be an exploitable matchup in Week 3.

Sanders is the one Eagles player you need to start in Week 3 on DraftKings and daily fantasy. He’s RB15 with a salary of $6,400.

And he’s the pick, in part, because there isn’t a lot else to like about the Eagles offense. The team’s receivers have been spotty, with DeSean Jackson and Jalen Reagor proving unreliable for the first two weeks. Dallas Goedert disappointed in Week 2 after a big Week 1, and Zach Ertz has yet to produce a big week. All that inconsistency is leading Carson Wentz to struggle, with just two touchdowns to his four interceptions.

Even so, Sanders’ matchup looks favorable. The Bengals have allowed 370 rushing yards through two games at 5.0 yards per carry. In Week 2, he managed 20 rushes for 95 yards and a touchdown, with three receptions for 36 yards. He missed Week 1, but it doesn’t seem like his injury slowed him down last week. In Week 3, he’s probably due for roughly 25 touches, just like he got last week. And he’s probably going to do well with them against that shoddy Cincinnati defense, which has allowed fourth most points to running backs in daily fantasy this season.

Sanders finished his 2019 season with 179 carries, 818 yards and three touchdowns and 50 receptions, 509 receiving yards and three touchdowns. That was while fighting for touches with Jordan Howard in the same backfield. This year, Sanders is the clear top back. Philly will feed him in Week 3.

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Daily Fantasy: The one Steelers player you need to start in Week 3 on DraftKings

Diontae Johnson is flourishing with Ben Roethlisberger at QB and is the Steelers DraftKings player to start in Week 3 against Houston.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 2-0 and getting back to their balanced offensive attack with future of Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger healthy and resuming his climb up the NFL record books.

The Steelers returned to practice on Wednesday to prepare for the Texans in Week 3, and both wide receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) and Diontae Johnson (toe) sat out practice. Johnson currently leads the Steelers with 14 receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown and with Pittsburgh facing a Texans defense that currently ranks 25th in defensive efficiency, the young wideout is the Steelers player to pick up in DraftKings’ DFS format.

Fantasy football managers on Draftkings and all platforms should not only roster but start the second-year wideout who led the team with 59 receptions last season, and has become one of Roethlisberger’s most reliable targets.

Johnson has reached double-digit targets in each of the first two weeks including eight passes for 92 yards and a touchdown against the Broncos last Sunday. Johnson and Smith-Schuster are looking like one of the top wide receiving duos in the league and the second-year pro should flourish while continuing to fly under the radar.

Daily Fantasy: The one Cowboys player you need to start in Week 3 on DraftKings

Dak Prescott is going to light up the Seattle Seahawks.

Trying to guess which Dallas Cowboys receiver is probably going to prove a tough exercise in the coming weeks. Amari Cooper and Ceedee Lamb appear to be the team’s top options at receiver, with Michael Gallup falling into the third spot on the depth chart. But it feels like a matter of time before Gallup has a huge game, and either Cooper or Lamb put up a dud.

For now, let’s avoid that dance. The Dallas Cowboys play the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3, and their secondary has allowed quarterbacks to put up the second-most amount of points in daily fantasy. That’s what makes Dak Prescott the one Cowboys player you need to start in Week 3 on DraftKings.

Admittedly, he’s not cheap. Prescott is the fourth-most expensive quarterback with a steep salary of $7,200. So if you’re looking for a value play, Lamb or Gallup might be the move. Dalton Schultz, too, looked excellent in Week 2 after the Cowboys lost Blake Jarwin for the season. (And Schultz requires a paltry payment of $4,500.) I don’t really think you can go wrong by playing one of Dallas’ pass-catchers.

But because all his pass-catchers seem bound for success, Prescott is the play. He’s going to absolutely torch the Seahawks secondary. And he’s going to need to engage in a shootout with Russell Wilson, much like Cam Newton had to do with the New England Patriots in Week 2. Prescott is an expensive play, but it won’t feel that way when he absolutely lights up Seattle.

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Daily Fantasy: The one Jaguars player you need to start in Week 3 on DraftKings

Jaguars wide receiver Keelan Cole could be a smart play in DFS this week.

The Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) will host the Miami Dolphins (0-2) at EverBank Field on “Thursday Night Football” in Week 3 of the 2020 NFL season. The AFC showdown will feature several intriguing daily fantasy football options, including Jags wide receiver Keelan Cole.

Cole, a fourth-year receiver out of Kentucky Wesleyan, is off to a hot start this season. He caught six passes for 58 yards and a touchdown on Sunday, bringing his season totals to 11 receptions for 105 yards and two scores.

Cole has reached the end zone in each of Jacksonville’s first two games and seven of his 11 catches have gone for first downs. He has two catches for 20-plus yards through two weeks of play.

Cole’s scoring threat makes him an intriguing fantasy option, especially with a reasonable price of $4,100 in DraftKings’ salary cap challenge (roster limit: $50,000). With an average of $5,556 available to spend on each player on DraftKings, Cole would leave you with an extra $1,456 to spend on other positions.

Through two weeks of play, Cole has scored 33.5 fantasy points, which ranks 16th among wide receivers. He’s started the season with better totals than star WRs including Mike Evans, Julio Jones, Keenan Allen and Odell Beckham Jr., among others.

This week, Cole will face a Dolphins defense that was torched by Buffalo Bills (2-0) quarterback Josh Allen on Sunday. Allen threw for 417 yards and four touchdowns against Miami and three of his receivers ended the day with at least 70 receiving yards.

Gardner Minshew should have a big day against the Dolphins’ secondary and Cole figures to benefit as one of the Jaguars’ top wide receivers.

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Daily Fantasy: The one Panthers player you need to start in Week 3 on DraftKings

The NFL season is here and it’s time to create your Week 3 DFS lineup on DraftKings. If you aren’t familiar with DraftKings or DFS football, it’s as simple as creating a one-week fantasy lineup with a $50,000 salary cap to win cash prizes.

Today, we are looking at the one Carolina Panther you must fit into your DFS lineup this week:

WR Curtis Samuel ($4,000) at Los Angeles Chargers

There isn’t a ton of positives to take away from Curtis Samuel’s first two games of the 2020 season. He’s caught seven passes for 51 yards and has failed to reach the end zone. Worse yet, it appears that QB Teddy Bridgewater has favored the likes of D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson over Samuel.

However, Week 3 could be the perfect time for the Panthers to unleash Samuel as they will take on the Los Angeles Chargers. With Christian McCaffrey out of the lineup, the Panthers could decide to use Samuel more out of the backfield this week.

Samuel has experience playing running back as that was his primary position at Ohio State. While it seems unlikely that the Panthers would permently move him to that position, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Samuel did see a few more snaps in the backfield this week.

At just $4,000, Samuel is an interesting flex play in DFS this week as there is a chance that he could see an uptick in targets and touches. Consider putting Samuel into your lineup this week and cross your fingers that Joe Brady finds a way to get him involved in the offense.

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