Overall I’d say my Week 2 DraftKings picks weren’t great at all. We did have a few good plays (Hogan, Gordon, and Ravens DST in my video) and Julio Jones wasn’t a bad play, but there were a few duds in there too (Hill, Cook, McCaffrey). In this article I’m going over my DraftKings NFL Week 3 picks, including a few sleeper picks, as I look for a better result.
It’s tough to say at this point whether or not a few of these guys can be called “sleeper picks”, but based on their previous ownership levels in Week 1 and 2 I am going to categorize a few of them as sneaky plays or sleeper picks for Week 3.
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Alright time for me to get into my DraftKings NFL Week 3 picks.
Favorite NFL Week 3 Picks for DraftKings
QUARTERBACK + WIDE RECEIVER STACK
Aaron Rodgers (GB) $7,300 + Davante Adams $5,600
If it’s not broken don’t fix it. Yes, I went with Rodgers to Adams in Week 1, but I’m coming right back with this stack in Week 3 here for DraftKings. The Packers will be at home to face the Bengals, who are 0-2 to start the season. The high volume of throws for Rodgers continues to be there this year, with 50 and 42 attempts to start the season, and the product is there as well with 20 and 23 DraftKings points. Rodgers is the #1 highest DraftKings scoring quarterback over the last calendar year.
I’m going to pair him with Davante Adams, the only fully healthy receiver in Green Bay it seems. Both Cobb and Nelson should play (although Cobb didn’t practice Thursday), but regardless I still like the upside of Adams. The 23.9 DraftKings points Adams scored on 8 catches for 99 yards and a touchdown wasn’t factored into his cheap DraftKings Week 3 price, because the game was the Sunday Night’er played after the salaries were released for this week. Not shown in that score was that Adams was tackled on the 1 yard line (I thought he got in the end zone with the stretch, but I don’t think it was reviewable because of forward progress being stopped), which would have gotten him an extra 6 points for the TD and 3 points for the 100 yard bonus, butting him at 33 DraftKings points in Week 2. Adams is also the 8th highest scoring receiver on DraftKings over the past calendar year, barely behind Jordy Nelson.
RUNNING BACK
Le’Veon Bell (PIT) $8,800
It’s been a relatively slow start for Bell coming off a hold out for his contract negotiations in training camp, but I think this is the week he breaks out vs the Bears as 7 point favorites. He has scored just 7.7 and 13.1 DraftKings points in the first two weeks of the season, but he has been by far the best fantasy scoring running back on the Sunday slate over the last calendar year (if we exclude Kareem Hunt with a 2 game sample size). Bell is averaging 25.5 DraftKings points over the past year. Last year alone we saw Bell score 30+ DraftKings points 5 times, and he’s capable of doing that again here in Week 3 in a tasty matchup vs an average Bears defense. The Bears are 15th in the NFL in rushing yards against per game so far (9th in yards per carry), but should struggle to limit Bell in the passing game.
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WIDE RECEIVERS
Rishard Matthews (TEN) $4,200
Titans Rookie Corey Davis, who may have taken a few targets away from Matthews each week, is out this week vs the Seahawks, which most likely increases Matthews role in Week 3. He’s already proven himself as the clear #1 receiver in Tennessee over the 2nd half of last year and the start of this season. In his first two games this year Matthews has seen 9 and 5 targets, putting up 12.1 and 7.3 DraftKings points without a touchdown. Matthews has seen at least 5 targets in 9 of his last 10 games, and he saw 9 or more targets in 6 of his last 10 games. Although the Seahawks might have a good defense, I can’t look past a solid receiver like Matthews at just $4,200.
Jamison Crowder (WAS) $4,900
Here’s another player I’m taking in Week 3 that hasn’t done much to date in 2017. Crowder had just 3.4 and 8.7 DraftKings points in the first two weeks of the season, but he has been getting his targets with 7 and 5 targets in Week 1 and 2. This week the Redskins will be hosting the Raiders Sunday Night, and are expected to score around 26 points. Tight End Jordan Reed is dealing with a pair of injuries and, if he suits up, will be less than 100%. Last season Crowder was one of the more consistent fantasy scorers, including a streak of 8 straight games with double-digit DraftKings points (including 3 of those games with 20 or more DraftKings points). His pricing got up to $5,800 last year, and we are now getting him quite a bit cheaper at $4,900 in a good matchup. He has a handful of games over the last year with 3 or few targets, so he may be a risky play, but given the matchup and the opportunity, I think Crowder could have a big game on Sunday Night.
TIGHT END
Jack Doyle (IND) $3,600
The Colts will host the Bengals in Week 3. So far Cleveland has given up 6 catches, 41 yards and 2 TDs to the Steelers Tight End, Jesse James, in Week 1, and 8 catches and 91 yards to Ravens Tight End Benjamin Watson (plus an addition 5 catches and 30 yards to their 2 backup Tight Ends). This is a good sign for Jack Doyle, who has been Jacoby Brissett’s favorite target since he took over at QB for the Colts. Last week vs the Cardinals Doyle was targeted 8 times and caught all 8 targets for 79 yards. Last year Doyle was targeted 9 or more times twice and he put up 22.8 and 11.1 DraftKings points over those two games. If Brissett continues to target his Tight End, I like the chances of Doyle having a big game and possibly finding the end zone to put up a big DraftKings score.
DEFENSE + SPECIAL TEAMS
Colts $3,200
I’m going to continue to play defenses on DraftKings who are facing the Browns. This week happens to be the Colts, who have been one of the worst defenses to start the season (although they looked much better in Week 2). I think this can be classified as a sleeper pick, because most people go towards top defenses at DraftKings – or at least cheaper priced shaky defenses. While I don’t think the Colts have a great defense, I do think that their defense line is good enough to put pressure on Kizer and force him into a few mistakes. So far both defenses who have faced the Browns have put up one of the top DST DraftKings scores for the week, and that could continue this week. Kizer has thrown 5 interceptions in 2 starts and has been sacked 9 times. From what I’ve seen Kizer holds onto the ball a lot, and also has errant throws leading to turnovers. Don’t be surprised if Kizer has another migraine after this one is over.
That wraps up my DraftKings NFL Week 3 picks, including a few sleeper picks thrown in as well (which I like using in the big entry DraftKings contests like the Millionaire Maker). Good luck in Week 3 – hope you have a profitable Sunday!
