The Daily Dose: Week 3 FanDuel Starts
Welcome to the Week 3 edition of the Daily Dose: FanDuel Starts Of The Week. Every Friday on The Fantasy Footballers Podcast, the guys welcome Chris Meaney from the FNTSY Sports Network to deliver his top DFS picks for the week. Here I’ll summarize Chris’ picks and give you some bonus picks of my own. You can follow Chris on Twitter @chrismeaney and myself as well @brandontsanders. Don’t miss Episode #271, or you can jump straight to the segment on YouTube.
Quarterbacks
With Week 3 approaching, Chris really wanted to express how you can go multiple ways this week in picking the right Passer to get the job done and win you some cash and prizes. Other than the two safe picks and spending all the budget on Cam Newton and Drew Brees, these are the 5 QBs he has selected to help you out.
Matt Ryan @ NO, $8,500
A no brainer here, so far in two weeks, Matt Ryan has been the best QB in fantasy football. Add a fantastic matchup against the Saints defense who continues to struggle, and you got fantasy gold on your hands.
Joe Flacco @ JAX, $7,600
The Jacksonville Jaguars are the 5th highest ranking team to give away fantasy points to the opposing team. Another great matchup for Joe, and a chance to air it out to his favorite deep threat Mike Wallace once again!
Ben Roethlisberger @ PHI, $8,400
The Steelers take on Philadelphia for the “Battle of Pennsylvania” and it looks very lopsided as Ben could find the best WR in the NFL today, Antonio Brown being defended by a 7th Round pick in this past year’s draft. Uh oh Eagles, that’s not going to be very fun for you at all.
Carson Palmer @ BUF, $8,200
We saw a breakdown in the Buffalo Bills defense in the secondary last week when Ryan Fitzpatrick torched them in the Thursday night showdown. Carson Palmer is a more seasoned and talented veteran that could expose those same weaknesses and air it out to all of his weapons he has on the offense like Fitzgerald, David Johnson, and the tall Michael Floyd.
Philip Rivers @ IND, $8,000
The Indianapolis Colts continue to get even more “paper thin” at the secondary position with an injury after an injury. Rivers continued to air it out last Sunday even up big on the Jaguars. This could be a similar situation going into this week’s matchup.
Running Backs
We had a pretty solid lineup being set by Mr. Meaney this week as he talked about how the matchups for the bigger names in the RB world take on a bit of an easier schedule this time around. Here is who he decided to spend his budget on in Week 3.
DeAngelo Williams @ PHI, $8,800
DeAngelo has been on a warpath the past couple games in replacement of the suspend Bell, he takes on a Philadelphia defense that’s going to find it very difficult to try to stop him and Antonio Brown in the same offense. Add the pass-catching capability and Williams could go off on Sunday afternoon.
DeMarco Murray vs OAK, $7,700
Pretty much in every game the Oakland Raiders have played in the past couple weeks, they tend to let the other team run up those points on the board. Murray has a great opportunity to help the Titans run up that very scoreboard. An easier matchup makes for an enticing selection this week for Murray.
Melvin Gordon @ IND, $7,100
With “Sunday Bloody Sunday” in Week 2 happening, the Chargers have lost both Keenan Allen and Danny Woodhead to season-ending injuries. In the wake of this, the 1st Round NFL Draft pick last year has been a real staple in the San Diego offense putting up touchdowns both weeks. He has another favorable matchup against an equally banged up Colts defense. We could see another TD or two again this week.
Mark Ingram vs ATL, $6,900
At a surprising lower value on FanDuel, Mark Ingram is ready to make a difference on Monday Night Football as he takes on the Atlanta Falcons who have struggled to contain the run game from opposing teams so far this season. Ingram has been forgotten recently just because of a slow start, but this is a prime opponent for Mark to break out against, and with such a discount on the spending budget, he could be the steal of the week at RB.
Wide Receivers
This week on the Daily Dose, Chris focuses on not only the top WR in the league you should try to spend on but also so great options on the cheap if you are trying to roster one of the elite players on your teams for guaranteed production and maximizing your scoring options.
Antonio Brown @ PHI, $9,500
The best wide receiver in the National Football League is going up against a seventh round pick from the Philadelphia Eagles this week at the cornerback position. Yeah, this is self-explanatory. Roster Antonio Brown and reap the rewards, my friends!
Travis Benjamin @ IND, $6,900
In the absence of Keenan Allen last week against the Jaguars, Travis Benjamin exploded in Week 2 where he had 6 receptions, for 112 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns. With his new role as the go-to option for Philip Rivers, and with a tasty matchup against the Colts, we could see equal targets and numbers this week as well.
Kelvin Benjamin vs MIN, $7,500
It’s all about the Benjamins baby! Since returning to the lineup this season, Kelvin has been the focal point of Cam Newton’s passing attack. He continues to have the volume of targets over both Devin Funchess, and Ted Ginn Jr. KB does have a tough opponent in a very skilled Vikings team but look for him to be the guy Cam can rely on to move the chains this week.
Jamison Crowder @ NYG, $5,000
A very sneaky play this week, the wide receiver from Duke University in the past two weeks has gotten 6 targets each time, as well as looked for in the red zone by Captain Kirk himself, and because of this, Crowder got his first TD of the season just last week. Depending on who he lines up against versus the Giants, he may be able to get by the defender to be available for Cousins to find him again.
Kenny Britt @ TB, $5,400
Kenny Britt showed some encouraging things last week as Case Keenum continued to find him against a very good defense in the Seattle Seahawks. He was able to put together a 6 reception, 94-yard game. Looks like we have an emerging WR1 finally for the newly located Los Angeles Rams. Plus you can snag Britt on the cheap this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Phillip Dorsett vs SD, $6,000
Mr. Dorsett has a big opportunity ahead of him as he finds more of a premiere role handed to him with the injury to Donte Moncrief, sidelining him for multiple weeks with a bad shoulder injury. If Philip can find separation against the Chargers this week, Andrew Luck could find him and T.Y Hilton very easily in what looks to be a possible bonanza game where both teams will just let it air out. Not bad a value for Dorsett this week either at a cool $6,000.
Marvin Jones @ GB, $6,900
We saw quite the uptick in volume in Week 2 for Marvin Jones Jr. He went from 4 receptions to 8 in just one game and has over 85 yards in receiving in both games so far this season. Looks like Matt Stafford is starting to really develop and great chemistry with Jones and this could continue this week. If Sam Shields still doesn’t play for the Packers secondary, Jones could hit paydirt and grab his first TD of the season.
Tight Ends
Once again Chris Meaney is bringing the fire to the tight end position and gives us some “2015 Gary Barnidge” type of picks, one consistent player, and even a deep sleeper to take a look at to roster with your budgets for Week 3.
Jacob Tamme @ NO, $5,500
With the output of constant fantasy points from Matt Ryan so far this season, you would think most of the volume is going to his stud wide receiver Julio Jones, right? Nope. With Julio fighting off a lingering injury, Jacob Tamme has been the target monster for the Atlanta Falcons. So far this season Tamme has produced 11 receptions, 126 receiving yards, and 1 TD already! He is already the top rated TE in just two weeks and if the pace keeps going, he may just be able to beat out the bigger names like Jordan Reed if they can’t get going and Tamme keeps getting open.
Delanie Walker vs OAK, $6,900
You would have to spend a bit more budget to get this guy, but when the Raiders are the second worst defense at stopping the TE position and not to mention the first ranked team in giving away fantasy points, it’s a safe and care-free choice to play Delanie Walker this week and watch the points stack up for Week 3.
Dennis Pitta @ JAX, $5,000
Dennis Pitta is back everybody! Last week against the struggling Cleveland Browns, Pitta went off for 9 receptions, for 102 yards receiving. A very big swing from the 3 receptions he got for just 39 yards he got the week before against the Buffalo Bills. The Jaguars are still giving away fantasy points like it’s candy this season so far. Will this be the week Pitta finds his way back in the End Zone after a long hiatus with an injury?
Trey Burton vs PIT, $4,500
Sleeper alert! With Zach Ertz still sidelined, and Brent Celek who is clearly a blocking Tight End, we saw a brand new face last week in Trey Burton. At such a low budget to spend, this could be a solid play this week as Burton has already caught one touchdown already and was looked at time after time by the rookie QB Carson Wentz. The Steelers are certainly not the best defense in the league but they certainly aren’t the worst either. Either way another darkhorse has emerged to help your lineups this weekend.
Defenses
I think we have a trend going on here with Chris. He wants you to stay consistent in spending the budget amounts on reliable defenses that have great matchups this weekend, and they are as follows for Week 3:
Seattle Seahawks vs SF, $5,400
Carolina Panthers vs MIN, $5,000
Denver Broncos @ CIN, $4,800
Arizona Cardinals @ BUF, $5,100
Miami Dolphins vs CLE, $4,600
Brandon’s Picks
Just like last week, I will give you one pick from each position that I feel can be of some help and give you even more variety of your choices in Week 3 to win you some serious cash flow.
QB: Marcus Mariota vs OAK, $7,700
High upside for a lower value this week, if Marcus can find Delanie Walker and a few more of his favorite targets like Tajae Sharpe, he can expose the Oakland Raiders for the weakness they have against the TE position as well as take advantage of how much fantasy points they are giving out to each team they face. Having mobile capability that Mariota possesses only sweetens the deal if he can give you additional rushing yards this week as well.
RB: Christine Michael vs SF, $6,900
If Thomas Rawls is limited or can’t make it on the field this week, the “Awoke” one has a great opportunity playing at home against the 49ers this week. What’s even better is the cost for him is a lot less then what FanDuel should have priced him at considering the high volume he could take on this week and production that lays in front of him. A great pickup this week on the cheap.
WR: Sterling Shepard vs WAS, $6,500
I’m going with “My Guy” and the PPR rookie monster Sterling Shepard against the Redskins this week. The man has already grabbed 11 receptions, for 160 yards receiving and a TD, including 117 yards last week. Shepard is making a case for Rookie Of The Year already with this kind of production. I believe Washington will struggle to try to stop all three on the Giants wideouts in OBJ, Cruz, and Shepard, and with Sterling playing the slot position, this could be another great showing for him.
TE: Jeff Heuerman @ CIN, $4,600
It’s time to reveal my sleeper pick for this week. Virgil Green is very much questionable this week to start against the Bengals and was seen in a walking boot after the game last week against the Colts. Coming off a season-ending injury in his rookie year, Jeff Heuerman now is set to make his very first debut during the regular season this Sunday and could replace Green in the lineup. We have seen the starting QB Trevor Siemian dump it off to the TE spot multiple times already, so we could see not only his first regular season game, but a breakout game from the former Ohio State Buckeye this weekend.
Defense: Los Angeles Rams @ TB, $4,500
The Rams did a stellar job last week of keeping the Seattle Seahawks to only one field goal all game long. This week they take on a bit easier of an opponent in Tampa Bay. A great matchup with a great price means you can get a tough defense like Los Angeles on the cheap and focus on grabbing more of the list up above to really maximize the outcome of your lineup. A nice, safe play for the Rams in Week 3.
Be sure to stop by again next as we’ll have brand new picks for you Week 4. Don’t forget to catch all of Episode #271 of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast.