Welcome back. Last week was rather profitable for Cash Games. We were able to pinpoint some solid matchups and most of them came through. Let’s keep the good times rolling and keep your bankroll building.
The goal of the cash game article is to outline some of the safer plays, while also, providing options that will help you create the most optimal builds. The whole point of it all is to make some money. Sometimes we won’t, but putting ourselves in the best position to do so is the most important part. That goes without saying, but can sometimes get overshadowed by the results on a week to week basis.
All people want to know is how many points a guy scored, and not necessarily the route in which they got there. DFS is not only a science but a math equation. Let’s dive in, put the pieces together, and try to solve it. Here are the NFL DFS Cash Game Plays for Week 3.
Disclaimer: As always, there will be a lock emoji next to a few of my favorite plays. All of the guys mentioned are viable for cash games, but the ones with a lock emoji are going to be fixtures in my main lineup.
Quarterback
Kyler Murray ($6,800 DK, $8,400 FD) 🔒
The lesser version of Lamar Jackson, can we call him that? He’s now reaching a territory where he’s appropriately priced, but it’s still not high enough. With the price increase, he still should be well worth it and his recent performances validate it. Murray’s a dual-threat, on the ground and through the air, and that gives him a solid floor for fantasy points, as well as a potential to the highest ceiling out of quarterbacks in this week’s slate of games. The Detroit Lions don’t have a solid defensive unit and they don’t get as much pressure on quarterbacks as the Washington Football Team.
You could say that might limit the number of times Murray takes off and scrambles. Nonetheless, he’s bound to do it a few times and he should be able to beat this team with his arm. He’ll be highly owned and you don’t want to fade the quarterback getting ownership from the second-highest over/under (55.5) points total on the entire slate. He’s the only guy I’m rolling out in Cash Games, but you could make the case for some others.
Other Options: Russell Wilson, Dak Prescott, Cam Newton, Mitchell Trubisky
Running Back
Jonathan Taylor ($7,000 DK, $6,700 FD) 🔒
Well, the opportunities for Taylor were splendid and plentiful last week. Taylor ran for 101 yards on 26 carries while also catching two passes. At only $5,700 on DraftKings, he smashed value. We can expect much of the same, in a game where the Indianapolis Colts are -11.5 favorites against the New York Jets. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the Jets don’t have a very good squad this year. They’ve been gashed for huge chunks of yards on the ground like the 80-yard touchdown run by Raheem Mostert and the 55-yard run by Jerick McKinnon last week. Taylor should once again see a ton of volume, especially if the game goes according to plan and the Colts get a comfortable lead. Needless to say, he’s going to be one of my lineup staples.
Miles Sanders ($6,400 DK, $7,400 FD) 🔒
Sanders was mentioned in my “Other Options” section for running backs in last week’s Cash Game article. By the way, don’t forget to look at those options. As we moved closer to kickoff, I liked my lineup builds more and more with him in it and found myself using him in two of my three main lineups. He wound up getting a ton of work on his way to racking up 21.1 DK points. This week, Sanders is in another tremendous spot and I won’t make the same mistake of not highlighting him as a core play for you guys. Through two weeks of football, the Cincinnati Bengals sit 25th in DVOA against the run and have allowed the third-most rushing yards per game.
Devin Singletary ($4,900 DK, $5,900 FD)
Zack Moss is out for this game against the Los Angeles Rams with an injured toe. That’s great news for Singletary’s expected usage. Through the first two weeks of the season, Singletary and Moss were closer to a 50/50 snap share split. T.J. Yeldon hasn’t been active yet this year, so expect to see him coming in and stealing a bunch of carries. The guy to worry about is Josh Allen with his potential to steal touchdowns away from Singletary with his legs. With that said, Singletary will get enough usage in the passing game to hit value. On paper, it’s a good matchup. The Rams are sixth-worst in DVOA against the run this year, allowing 4.8 opponent yards per attempt.
Other Options: Ezekiel Elliott, Kenyan Drake, Chris Carson
Wide Receiver
DeAndre Hopkins ($7,900 DK, $8,500 FD) 🔒
Just lock in the volume and the talent. Normally, we don’t need to stack our quarterback with one of his pass-catchers in Cash Games, but this is an exception. Hopkins is getting targeted nonstop, leading the NFL with 25. The majority of those targets have been short-to-intermediate patterns. He’s a big play waiting to happen, a red zone target, and a safety blanket all wrapped into one. It’s a small sample size, but the Detroit Lions rank 24th in DVOA against the pass (24.5%). Nuk also has one of the better cornerback matchups, expected to line up against Amani Oruwariye, who has allowed a 75 percent completion rate when targeted and has a 30 percent missed tackle percentage. Not a good recipe for success, lock Nuk Hopkins into your lineups.
Tyler Lockett ($6,400 DK, $6,800 FD)
Realistically, we could play any of the receivers from this Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys game. It should be a high scoring affair and both teams play at a fast pace, which is intriguing from a fantasy perspective. More plays generally equal more points, both in real life and in fantasy. Let’s discuss how I landed on Lockett.
For starters, Russell Wilson is playing at an MVP level right now, so I’d rather have one of his receivers than Dak Prescott’s if I have to choose. Second, there are more options in the Dallas offense than the Seahawks where it’s more condensed between Lockett and D.K. Metcalf. Lockett is $100 cheaper than Metcalf and he’s received five more targets than him so far on the season. Also, the Cowboys secondary is a bit banged up and Lockett could get a solid matchup against Jourdan Lewis, who has allowed a 115.5 passer rating this season.
KJ Hamler ($3,000 DK, $4,500 FD)
Making his debut last week, the Denver Broncos’ second-round draft pick, Hamler hauled in in three passes for 48 yards. The speedster was targeted seven times and played 62 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. Drew Lock suffered a rotator cuff strain early on in the game, so most of the work was with backup quarterback Jeff Driskel, who just so happens to be getting the start today. Courtland Sutton is out for the season with a torn Achilles, and Jerry Jeudy has been dealing with a rib injury. Jeudy is expected to play, but how active will he be? Hamler will play a role, and at the bare minimum salary of only $3,000 on DraftKings, he allows you to afford the pricier players like Hopkins. Of course, he has a real home run hitter upside with that speed as well.
Other Options: Allen Robinson, D.K. Metcalf, CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper, Diontae Johnson, Adam Humphries
Tight End
Hunter Henry $4,800 DK, $6,000 FD)
Henry has been consistent, averaging 13.3 DK points per game to start the year. Justin Herbert was a last-minute start last week and nothing changed, Henry received the same number of eight targets that he did in Week 1. Nothing against Tyrod Taylor, but the Los Angeles Chargers offense just looks more efficient with Herbert running it. For a guy that found out he was starting merely minutes before kickoff, the rookie looked comfortable. Henry should continue to be a reliable target of Herbert’s, including in the red zone. There’s always big-play potential with Henry as well, he averages 1.7 yards after catch per reception above expected, which ranks ninth in the NFL and fourth among tight ends.
Logan Thomas ($3,700 DK, $4,900 FD)
It’s only a matter of time before Thomas has a huge game. Week 1 was sold, he caught four passes for 37 yards and a touchdown. In Week 2, he caught four passes for 26 yards. However, the one constant is volume. Dwayne Haskins has looked his way at least eight times each week and Thomas is running a bunch of routes. It’s also entirely possible that the Cleveland Browns wind up becoming this year’s version of 2019’s Arizona Cardinals with the tight end flow chart. The Browns have allowed the second-most DK points and most FD points to the position. Let’s take advantage of Thomas’ somewhat stagnant salary.
Other Options: Darren Waller, Zach Ertz, Jonnu Smith
Defense/Special Teams
Philadelphia Eagles ($2,800 DK, $4,500 FD)
Joe Burrow looks sharp. This is not a “pick on the rookie” type of move, but that’s exactly what we are going to do. It’s less to do with him and all to do with his shaky offensive line. Following Week 2, the Bengals were tied for the sixth-most sacks allowed. Burrow is a very underrated scrambler, but I think the Eagles will be able to bring him down or create some turnovers in this matchup.
New York Giants ($2,700 DK, $3,600 FD)
This one isn’t that hard to figure out or explain. The San Francisco 49ers are decimated with injuries, so don’t expect them to open up the offense with Nick Mullens under center, although he’s been a competent quarterback in the past. However, with all of the 49ers’ main weapons around him being out, the New York Giants should be able to find some success on defense. After two weeks of play, the G-men rank tied for sixth in sacks and the 49ers are fifth-worst in adjusted sack rate (9.2 percent).
Other Options: Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans
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