The A List at DFS Academy | NFL DFS Week 3

We are two weeks into the NFL season, and there is plenty of drama and unexpected storylines to follow. The Cincinnati Bengals are off to a slow start, the Atlanta Falcons are making a case for the best team in the NFC South, and somehow the NFC seems scarier than the AFC. Fortunately, we have started to get more clarity on how teams are using their personnel, which defenses to avoid playing running backs against (hint, it’s the Titans), and how to use that information when building our Week 3 DFS Cash lineups.

But I’ve gotta be honest. The Week 3 slate has been a challenging one for me to decipher. The expensive players feel too expensive. It feels impossible to find quality players under $4,000. And DraftKings and FanDuel have entirely different stances on certain players.

With that in mind, I’m approaching this week by loading up on mid-priced players, particularly on DraftKings, where the likes of Geno Smith, Raheem Mostert, Tyler Lockett, and Zay Flowers are all in the $5,000 to $6,000 range. Specifically, there are plenty of options for saving at running back this week, with several players shaping up for quality matchups.

On FanDuel, we can employ this strategy to pay up at receiver and quarterback. As of this article, my FanDuel DFS Cash lineup includes Lamar Jackson, CeeDee Lamb, and Keenan Allen. This is all made possible by spending no more than $7,000 on a running back.

I could make a case for flipping the strategy by paying up at running back and saving at receiver, but given the matchups this week, I prefer the expensive receivers. Either way, I’m chasing volume and starting players who have led their team in targets and touches through two weeks. 

What is your approach to this week’s slate? Let us know @ClubFantasyFFL or in the comment section of the DFS Academy YouTube stream.

But for now, Cash is in session.

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NFL DFS Week 3

Teacher’s Pet

CeeDee Lamb (DraftKings: $7,700 / FanDuel: $8,500)

There are so many directions I want to go with the Dallas Cowboys this week. They have been rolling through two weeks and are one of the easier offenses to read. CeeDee Lamb has been the top target in this offense, racking up 17 total targets, 13 of which came last week. After that performance, Dallas gets a beautiful matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, who have been admittedly stingy against receivers but have not seen real competition so far. For Cash games, volume is everything, so Lamb will be a valuable part of my lineups. I am, however, less likely to play him on FanDuel simply because Tony Pollard is more likely to get the touchdowns.

Honor Roll

Lamar Jackson (DraftKings: $7,700 / FanDuel: $8,200)

I have been looking forward to Lamar Jackson SZN for months. And with pretty average performances through two weeks, he has yet to be priced up, particularly on FanDuel, where his $8,200 salary allows us to get elite quarterback play without breaking the bank. Additionally, he gets the best matchup for quarterbacks. Indianapolis has given up the most points to quarterbacks since Week 16 of last season, including allowing C.J. Stroud to put up the fifth-most points by any quarterback in Week 2. 

Isiah Pacheco (DraftKings: $5,400 / FanDuel: $5,700)

One week ago, we picked Rachaad White against the Chicago Bears, and friends, we have found our run-funnel defense of 2023. Now, we have Isiah Pacheco facing the same defense, and he is practically the same price as White was one week ago. The bet here is simple. Chicago has given up 36 DraftKings points per game to running backs since Week 16 of last season. Kansas City has an implied team total of 30 points. Pacheco is in an excellent position for at least a touchdown and provides the salary savings to boost your lineup elsewhere. 

Tyler Lockett (DraftKings: $6,400 / FanDuel: $7,300)

The Seattle Seahawks got rolling in Week 2, taking down the Detroit Lions in an overtime thriller. Tyler Lockett played a major role in that victory, racking up two touchdowns along with eight catches. This week, he gets a decent matchup against the Carolina Panthers, who give up the eighth-most points to receivers. Lockett also leads the Seahawks in targets but is cheaper than DK Metcalf. I think Lockett still gets a bad rap from the Russell Wilson days, as he is now more of a target hog than he was once. Look for him to bring in more targets against a struggling Carolina secondary.

Zay Flowers (DraftKings: $5,400 / FanDuel: $6,300)

Color me impressed. I had very low expectations for the incoming rookie wide receiver class, yet Zay Flowers has taken Baltimore by storm. If you had told me he’d have nearly twice as many targets as the next most targeted Baltimore pass-catcher, I would have called you a liar. Flowers has looked great through two weeks, getting a combination of easy targets and downfield opportunities. And if I’m in on Lamar Jackson this week, you better believe I’m in on his top wide receiver.

Check the Chalkboard

Tony Pollard (DraftKings: $8,000 / FanDuel: $9,400)

I am still in shock that Tony Pollard had over 30 touches in Week 2 against the Jets. I never thought I would see the day when he had 20 touches, let alone 30. But Dallas clearly believes Pollard can handle the volume, which is one of the top criteria for Cash players. If you’ve been following my articles this season, you know I’m ready to pick on the Arizona Cardinals’ defense. They have given up the second-most points to running backs since Week 16 of last season and have already been eaten up by Brian Robinson and Saquon Barkley. Look for Pollard to keep this track record alive. That said, I prefer Pollard on DraftKings, as his FanDuel price is too much for me to swallow. 

Participation Grade

Hunter Henry (DraftKings: $3,800 / FanDuel: $5,700)

Hunter Henry was one of the best late-round targets in Best Ball drafts this summer and is now demonstrating why. Through two weeks, he leads the Patriots in receiving yards and tied for the most receiving touchdowns. And while it is easy to get scared away by the New York Jets’ defense, they are actually one of the worst teams against tight ends, giving up the third most points to the position since Week 16 of last season. Admittedly, FanDuel has caught on, so I will likely look elsewhere there, but on DraftKings, he is the perfect salary-saving tight end option.

Back of the Classroom Studs

Geno Smith (DraftKings: $5,700 / FanDuel: $7,200)

It’s our first week of saving money at the quarterback position, and who else would we turn to than Geno Smith? After a rough first week, the Seattle Seahawks got back on track with Smith running the show. The Seahawks currently have a team-implied total of 24 points, suggesting a clear pathway for Smith to bring in a couple of touchdowns this week. Further, the Panthers have averaged 19 points allowed to opposing quarterbacks over their last five games. If Smith matches that mark, he will easily cash on both sites.

Travis Etienne (DraftKings: $6,900 / FanDuel: $8,000)

The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Houston Texans, who are one of the more surprising defenses in the NFL. While the Texans have one of the worst records over the past couple of years, they are pretty stout against quarterbacks and wide receivers from a fantasy perspective. They rank in the top half of the league for the fewest points allowed to both positions and rarely give up touchdowns to receivers. Despite this, they are the third-worst defense against running backs, which is why we are targeting Travis Etienne this week. Jacksonville is favored by nine points, with a 26.5-point implied team total. Sign up Etienne for another high-volume day with plenty of touchdown upside.

Raheem Mostert (DraftKings: $6,000 / FanDuel: $6,600)

While Sean Payton has been trying to get the Denver offense back on track, their run defense has fallen off a cliff. They are giving up the fifth-most points to running backs since Week 16 of last season, including an 80-yard, two-touchdown performance to Brian Robinson last week. This time, we’re running it back against the Broncos with Raheem Mostert. If you read The A List last year, you saw me struggle to decide whether Mostert or Jeff Wilson was the guy in Miami. And let’s be honest, who didn’t struggle with that? But this season, it’s been all Mostert who should feast once more. 

Jordan Addison (DraftKings: $5,500 / FanDuel: $6,800)

We have to get creative this week with our cheap options, so I’m chasing the upside to the Minnesota Vikings matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. This game has the largest over/under line (54) and the lowest spread (one point), so it is positioned to be an incredible shootout. With that, I’m looking for one of the cheap receivers in the Vikings offense, deciding between Jordan Addison and KJ Osborn. They are approximately equal on targets through two weeks, but Addison has a higher catch rate, more yards, and more touchdowns. I’m betting on that to continue, allowing Osborn to be a candidate for my tournament lineups this week.

Dawson Knox (DraftKings: $3,200 / FanDuel: $5,300)

Simply put, there’s not a lot of options I love at tight end this week. But I watched Dawson Knox get peppered with redzone targets last week, which has long been his role for Buffalo. He also provides a cheaper option than Hunter Henry on FanDuel, allowing me to pay for guys like CeeDee Lamb and Keenan Allen. He is also a great DraftKings play with the target share he continues to bring in, despite all of the competition in that Buffalo offense. If you have to cross your fingers for one tight end to fall in the endzone, why not Dawson Knox?

Tennessee Titans (DraftKings: $3,000 / FanDuel: $3,800)

You have entered the no-run zone. That’s what it’s like to face the Tennessee Titans in 2023. But if you want to pass the ball, have at it. The good news is that Deshaun Watson seems to have forgotten how to throw the ball. The Titans’ defense is a great option on FanDuel, where they are one of the cheaper options against a struggling offense. We have also seen Watson be loose with the football, providing decent upside for the Titans.

Buffalo Bills (DraftKings: $2,900 / FanDuel: $4,400)

What must the Buffalo Bills do to get some respect around here? The Bills being priced under $3,000 on DraftKings is highway robbery. It’s also perfect for our Cash lineups, particularly this week, where there are several expensive players to target. What’s incredible about this price is that Washington is coming off a week where they gave up four sacks and eighth QB hits. That amount of disruption provides a solid floor for our Cash defense and bodes well for this stingy Buffalo defense. 

Report Card

DraftKings

Scoring System

• A: Scored over three times their price
• B: Scored over two times their price
• C: Matched their price
• F: Scored lower than their price

Player	Price	Points	Grade
Amon-Ra St. Brown	$7,800	18.2	B
Joe Burrow	$6,900	16.38	B
Justin Herbert	$7,000	25.2	A
David Montgomery	$5,800	13.4	B
Ja’Marr Chase	$7,900	8.1	C
Saquon Barkley	$8,000	27.2	A
Jake Furgeson	$3,300	10.1	A
Dameon Pierce	$5,500	5.5	C
Rachaad White	$5,500	21.3	A
Darnell Mooney	$4,400	0	F
Nico Collins	$4,800	30.6	A
Luke Musgrave	$3,200	4.5	C
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	$3,200	17	A
Washington Commanders	$3,100	10	A
Overall	$76,400	207.48	B
Season Long	$153,400	418.36	B

FanDuel

Scoring System

• A: Scored over two times their price
• B: Scored over one and a half times their price
• C: Matched their price
• F: Scored lower than their price

Player	Price	Points	Grade
Amon-Ra St. Brown	$8,100	11.2	C
Joe Burrow	$7,400	16.38	A
Justin Herbert	$8,200	22.2	A
David Montgomery	$6,300	11.9	B
Ja’Marr Chase	$8,400	5.6	F
Saquon Barkley	$8,800	24.2	A
Jake Furgeson	$5,000	8.6	B
Dameon Pierce	$6,000	4.5	F
Rachaad White	$6,200	18.8	A
Darnell Mooney	$5,700	0	F
Nico Collins	$6,200	24.1	A
Luke Musgrave	$5,000	3.5	F
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	$4,100	17	A
Washington Commanders	$3,900	10	A
Overall	$89,300	177.98	B
Season Long	$179,500	362.86	A

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