Break The Slate: DraftKings NFL DFS Lineup Picks - Week 3

Joe Nicely's DraftKings NFL DFS picks and lineup sleepers for Week 3. His top daily fantasy football recommendations to target for DraftKings DFS contests.

Hi there, RotoBallers, and welcome back to Break The Slate! If you read this article regularly, then you know what we're about here, but if you are a new reader, let me quickly summarize our goals with this article. We'll spend each week discussing a few plays at each position for the DraftKings main slate that can add tournament-winning upside and/or juicy value to our NFL DFS rosters. I'll highlight my favorite players and breakdown my reasoning behind them.

I try to update the article on Saturdays to reflect any significant injuries or late-breaking news, as the landscape of the slate can change quickly in the NFL, and I definitely recommend you checking those out. After a sluggish start in Week 1, we came out firing in Week 2, with Aaron Jones and Dak Prescott leading the way for this article! Remember, the NFL is ever-evolving from week to week, which gives us an opportunity to apply what we've learned on the next slate.

These DraftKings lineup recommendations are based on matchups, projected ownership, overall upside/talent levels, opportunity, and other factors such as Vegas odds, home-field advantage, and more. There are quite a few great plays available, so read on to find out which players are the best for Week 3. Be sure to also check out our weekly FanDuel DFS lineup picks and lots of other great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win big! Good luck with your DraftKings DFS lineups, let's Break The Slate together!

DraftKings DFS Quarterbacks - Week 3 Picks

Russell Wilson & Dak Prescott - DAL @ SEA ($7,300 & $7,200)

The clear top-two QB options on the Week 3 slate for me, I'm listing Russ and Dak together here since they are playing each other and are only separated by $100 in salary. If you read this article last week, you know we were zeroed in on Prescott against the Atlanta Falcons and I'm willing to go right back to the well on the Cowboys signal caller against a Seattle defense that trails only Atlanta in DK points relinquished to the QB position, is dead last in the league in points allowed to wide receivers, and just lost two defensive starters last week.

On the other side of this matchup, Russell Wilson sure looks like an MVP candidate through two games. Rather it be by choice or circumstance, Seattle has #LetRussCook so far, and Wilson is averaging 34.6 DK points per game as a result. He draws a Dallas defense that is fresh off a baptizing at the hands of Matt Ryan. This game carries an O/U of 56 - the highest projected total on the Main Slate - and is one we should heavily target this week.

Mitchell Trubisky - CHI @ ATL ($5,700)

I'm not under the illusion that Mitch Trubisky is good at football, but his shortcomings aside, this is a spot that warrants consideration. Despite his overall failures as a franchise quarterback, Trubisky has posted some slate-winning fantasy scores in his career and has exceeded 30 DK points five times since 2018. So while he's definitely a boom/bust option, the potential for a big game is there.

Obviously, we're not targeting Trubisky simply on his own merit. We're looking his way because of his dream matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, a defense that has allowed just over 78 DK points to the QB position through two weeks...the most in the NFL. The Falcons rebuilt secondary has been a complete bust to this point, as the trio of Isaiah Oliver, A.J. Terrell, and Darqueze Dennard has struggled mightily.

*SATURDAY UPDATE: Outside of Wilson and Prescott, the two QBs that really stick out for me are Kyler Murray ($6.8k) and Cam Newton ($6.7k). I don't see myself getting too cute at the QB position this week.

DraftKings DFS Running Backs - Week 3 Picks

Miles Sanders - CIN @ PHI ($6,400)

After missing Week 1 with a hamstring injury, there was plenty of uncertainty surrounding what type of workload Miles Sanders would see in Week 2. Any concerns were quickly put to bed, as Sanders stepped right into the workhorse role for the Eagles by playing 77% of their offensive snaps, carrying the ball 20 times for 95 yards and a TD, while also catching three of seven targets for 36 yards. As a result of this strong 2020 debut, Sanders' DK price has jumped a whopping...$400?!?

In addition to his utterly reasonable price tag, Sanders draws a juicy matchup against a Bengals Defense that has allowed the most rushing yards in the NFL through two games. Cincy ranks 30th in the league in both DK points allowed (76.50) and yards per carry (5.51) to the RB position. Despite Philly's struggles to open the season, this sets up as a true smash spot for Miles Sanders.

Kenyan Drake - DET @ ARI ($6,000)

After years stuck in the purgatory that is the Miami Dolphins backfield, Kenyan Drake was finally set free last season following a trade to the Arizona Cardinals. He was a revelation for the Cards, rushing for 643 yards and eight TDs over the final eight games of the season. Drake has been slightly underwhelming through two games this year - and his reasonable DK price tag reflects that -but he heads into a true breakout spot against the Detroit Lions in Week 3.

We highlighted this matchup for Aaron Jones last week and you know what happened. I'll continue targeting this soft Lions run D for the foreseeable future, as they are bleeding yards to opposing backs. Detroit ranks dead last in the league in yards allowed per carry to the RB position (6.92) and stands 31st in total rushing yards allowed. Drake should also have some positive TD regression coming his way, as Kyler Murray has ran for three TDs through two weeks.

Jeff Wilson Jr. - SF @ NYG ($4,000)

I don't know that Jeff Wilson Jr. is a true "slate breaker", but he's an interesting salary saver this week. Wilson has been buried on the Niners unbelievably-deep and ever-rotating RB depth chart, but will be forced into duty this week due to injuries to both Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman.

Jerick McKinnon has looked explosive for San Fran as he works his way back from injury, but he's posted solid stat lines thanks to EXTREME efficiency, having garnered only six carries and six targets through two games. Will McKinnon see an increased workload this week? Probably - though I think San Fran will exercise caution with him on this MetLife field turf - but I look for Wilson to get more run than most expect and wouldn't be surprised to see him with 10-12 touches including work at the goal line.

*SATURDAY UPDATE: This week's writeup didn't touch on the "higher end" RBs on the slate, and while I think Miles Sanders is the "best" play at the position in a vacuum, he'll be extremely popular. That puts players like Ezekiel Elliott ($8.3k), Derrick Henry ($7.8k), and Dalvin Cook ($7.6k) in the unique position of being sort of "quasi-pivot plays" with obvious upside. Although we're extremely focused on this Seattle passing attack, Chris Carson ($6.6k) is an interesting player if you want to target that matchup from a different angle. Indy's Jonathan Taylor ($7.0k) shined in the workhorse role last week by garnering 28 touches and we can expect more of the same against the hapless Jets. There are some value options like Devin Singletary ($4.9k) and Antonio Gibson ($4.7k) that stick out as nice salary savers.

DraftKings DFS Wide Receivers - Week 3 Picks

DK Metcalf & Tyler Lockett - DAL @ SEA ($6,500 & $6,400)

It's a Seahawks BONANZA! We're running a HUGE special on Seattle receivers this week! Pick your favorite or play BOTH for the low, low price of $12.9k!!!

All jokes aside, I love both DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett in this spot against a Dallas defense that has allowed the sixth-most DK points in the NFL to the WR position. We've already touched on the QBs in this game and the receivers on both sides are also high-upside options. I'm always interested in offenses with concentrated usage and this dynamic duo fits the bill. Of Russell Wilson's 63 pass attempts this season, Metcalf and Lockett have received 30 combined targets.

Diontae Johnson - HOU @ PIT ($5,400)

Volume, volume, volume. It's one of the most important factors in this DFS game that we love and the only thing that's better than volume is cheap volume. That's what I'm seeing in Pittsburgh's Diontae Johnson and his extremely affordable $5.4k price tag. Johnson has received a MASSIVE 23 targets in the Steelers first two games which translates to a 31.5% target share on Big Ben's pass attempts. He's capitalized on the opportunity, racking up 149 yards and a TD on 14 catches en route to an average of 17.0 DK points per game. We'll also want to keep an eye on the injury status of JuJu Smith-Schuster who is listed as "Questionable" at the time of this writing.

CeeDee Lamb - DAL @ SEA ($5,400)

CeeDee Lamb is yet another target from this Dal/Sea clash. The Cowboys were overjoyed when the talented Lamb slid to them in the draft and his impact has been immediate. Playing primarily from the slot, the rookie has been on the field for nearly 83% of Dallas' offensive snaps and has been targeted 15 times through two games. He'll face a Seahawks Defense that ranks dead last in the NFL in both DK points (147.00) and receiving yards (731) allowed to the WR position...and it's not particularly close.

*SATURDAY UPDATE: With Julio Jones ($7.4k) in doubt, both Calvin Ridley ($7.2k) and Russell Gage ($5.1k) should be in serious consideration (I actually like both even if Julio does play). I'll have tons of Amari Cooper ($6.5k), as he's perhaps my favorite WR on the slate. Allen Robinson II ($6.2k) could have a field day against a horrible Falcons secondary. A.J. Green ($6.0k) leads the NFL in total Air Yards and Terry McLaurin ($5.9k) offers nice upside at a mid-range price. With Parris Campbell out, TY Hilton ($5.6k) is the unquestioned top-dog in Indy.

DraftKings DFS Tight Ends - Week 3 Picks

Dallas Goedert- CIN @ PHI ($4,900)

We know that Zach Ertz remains a key piece in this Philly offense, but his younger counterpart Dallas Goedert has actually received more targets than Ertz over the Eagles' first two games of the season. Goedert's 17 targets is tied for third-most in the NFL for a tight end. He should continue to see steady work, as rookie WR Jalen Reagor's thumb injury is yet another blow to an already-thin Philly receiving corps.

Logan Thomas - WAS @ CLE ($3,700)

The man that's tied with Dallas Goedert for the third-most TE targets in the league is Washington's Logan Thomas. He's yet to rack up big yardage, but Thomas has snagged eight of his 17 targets this season and carries a 26% target share in this Washington offense. He'll square off against a Cleveland Browns Defense that stands 31st in the NFL in DK points allowed to the TE position and relinquished a combined 11 catches, 87 yards and a TD to Cincinnati Bengals' TEs last week.

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