NFL DFS Bargain Bin: Week 3 Value Plays for DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo

September 26, 2021

Juan Carlos Blanco analyzes optimal DFS value plays for the Week 3 of the 2021 NFL season. These players are worth considering on FanDuel, DraftKings, and Yahoo daily fantasy sports games.

Welcome to the Week 3 Sunday slates edition of RotoBaller's NFL DFS Bargain Bin, where the goal is to touch on some potentially mis-priced players across the industry that find themselves in favorable match-ups and/or suddenly expanded roles.

Before we go NFL DFS Bargain Bin hunting, a few particulars about format and content:

• The nature of the beast with value plays is at least a modest amount (and sometimes substantially more) of risk. Therefore, the Bargain Bin may prove to be a bit more of a roller-coaster ride on some slates than your typical “tout” article!
• Naturally, that doesn’t mean there isn’t an upside to be had. All of these selections are therefore suitable for GPPs and can also often serve as solid cash game plays, while often helping you accommodate multiple higher-priced studs into your lineup.
• Typically, I’ll suggest players that are value-priced across three major DFS sites (DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo). However, there are certainly occasions where one or more site prices a player significantly lower than others. Whenever possible, I’ll typically at least note those players as an “XYZ site special.”
• This article is by no means intended to serve as an exhaustive list of all value options for the week. Rather, it’s meant to take a deeper dive into those I feel offer some of the best combinations of savings and upside.
• The goal is to recommend truly affordable players, as opposed to, say, a player priced just $300-$400 away from the highest-priced option at his position. I don’t have set-in-stone price limits in mind for each site, but I do consider legitimate affordability very important criteria.

With those housekeeping items out of the way, I’ll give you my thoughts on where there may be some value spots to exploit on the Week 3 Sunday slates!

Quarterback DFS Value Plays

Ryan Tannehill, TEN vs. IND | DK: $6,200, FD: $7,000, Yahoo: $29 

Tannehill finally got the memo the 2021 season had started in the second half of the wild Week 2 win over the Seahawks, and he finished the game with 347 passing yards along with another 27 on the ground. The veteran got his connection with Julio Jones cooking for the first time in the contest, hitting the prized offseason acquisition for 128 of his yards. Tannehill now gets a crack at a Colts defense that was just taken to task by the Rams' Cooper Kupp in Week 2 and that's allowed a 69.8 percent completion rate and the third-highest yards per attempt (9.6) through two games.

Tannehill should show improved chemistry with Jones every passing week, considering the two barely had a chance to practice in training camp due to Jones' injury issues and Tannehill's bout with COVID-19. Meanwhile, A.J. Brown, who had a 4-98-1 line the last time he saw the Colts in Week 12 of the 2020 season, is due for a boost in his production after bringing in an inefficient seven of 17 targets through two games. With Indy likely to devote plenty of resources to slowing down Derrick Henry, who pummeled them for 281 yards at 6.1 yards per carry in two games last season, Tannehill makes for a great real-life pivot for coach Mike Vrabel in his game strategy, as well as for DFS players as leverage off Henry or in unique lineup combinations in conjunction with his star back.

Matt Ryan, ATL at NYG | DK: $5,400, FD: $7,100, Yahoo: $25

Ryan and his teammates showed an appreciably better grasp of head coach Arthur Smith's offensive scheme in Week 2 against the Buccaneers than in the opener versus the Eagles. The veteran quarterback was able to throw for 300 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and although he also was guilty of three interceptions, including two pick-sixes, one came off a tipped ball at the line. Ryan now gets what should be a softer matchup than either Philadelphia or Tampa Bay, as the Giants have surrendered 287.5 passing yards per game despite having only faced Teddy Bridgewater and Taylor Heinicke thus far.

New York has also given up the third-highest completion percentage (75.6) while recording just three sacks and one interception, which should give Ryan's suspect offensive line a bit of a reprieve after a rough first couple of weeks. It's also worth noting the Giants have yielded passer ratings comfortably north of 100 in four different passing windows over the first two weeks, giving Ryan no shortage of opportunity to hit his eclectic group of pass catchers, led by the explosive Calvin Ridley and Kyle Pitts and also featuring the hybrid talents of Cordarrelle Patterson, at varying depths of target.

ALSO CONSIDER: Jared Goff, DET vs. BAL | DK: $5,200, FD: $7,100, Yahoo: $25

Running Back DFS Value Plays

Austin Ekeler, LAC at KC | DK: $7,200, FD: $7,000, Yahoo: $29

Ekeler has yet to exceed 60 rushing yards in either of his first two games, but thanks to a 9-61 line through the air against the Cowboys in Week 2, he hasn't been a total fantasy disappointment after coming into the season with particularly elevated expectations. While he may be a tad less rostered than he otherwise would be due to a bit of an underwhelming start, Ekeler could be teed up for his first big game of the season against a Chiefs team that he's not only enjoyed success against in the past, but that's also been susceptible to the run over the first two weeks of the season.

Ekeler produced a 23-111 line on the ground and a 10-88-1 tally via the air a year ago against KC, and the Chiefs also come in allowing the second-most adjusted line yards (5.2) and highest average yards (5.7) per carry to running backs through the first two games. KC has also yielded an NFL-high four rushing TDs to running backs, and a season ago, Andy Reid's squad gave up the third-most receptions (93) and most receiving yards (846) to the position. Given that the Chargers will undoubtedly need to remain aggressive throughout the contest, Ekeler could certainly thrive due to his versatility.

Ty'Son Williams, BAL at DET | DK: $5,800, FD: $6,400, Yahoo: $18

One of the backs responsible for the Chiefs' poor numbers against the run to open the season is Williams, who ripped off 77 yards on 13 carries and added two receptions for 16 yards in the wild Week 2 win for Baltimore. Williams is clearly being entrusted as the lead back despite the presence of veterans Latavius Murray and Devonta Freeman, and with an average of 6.5 yards per carry on his first 22 totes, it's easy to see why. Williams is also a solid receiver and should have his opportunities to succeed as both runner and pass catcher against a Lions defense that's allowed a relatively modest 113.5 rushing yards per game through two contests, but that just facilitated a monster performance to Aaron Jones on Monday night.

Detroit's per-carry metrics while defending the run also leave plenty to be desired, as the Lions are allowing 5.0 adjusted line yards and 4.8 running back yards per carry. The Ravens' offensive line, meanwhile, is facilitating the second-most running back yards per carry (5.6), including the fourth-most second-level yards (1.5) and second-most open-field yards (1.5) per tote, per Football Outsiders. Williams' already impressive ability to break tackles and his matchup against a potentially tired team playing on a short week could lead to several chunk plays that will allow him to deliver strong returns on his modest salaries.

ALSO CONSIDER: Cordarrelle Patterson, ATL at NYG | DK: $4,600, FD: $5,900, Yahoo: $16

Wide Receiver DFS Value Plays

Keenan Allen, LAC at KC | DK: $6,600, FD: $6,900, Yahoo: $26

As alluded to earlier, the Chargers will very likely have their hands full in trying to keep pace with the Chiefs at Arrowhead, and given Allen's level of rapport with quarterback Justin Herbert, that should lead to a busy afternoon for the prolific wideout. Allen has already gotten the season off to a fantasy-friendly start, posting a 13-208 line on 21 targets through two games, hitting the century mark in Week 1 against Washington before exceeding it last Sunday against Dallas.

It's a small sample, but Allen seems to have a bit of a higher-upside role in new coordinator Joe Lombardi's offense so far, as his 16.0 yards per reception and 10.3 average depth of target both significantly outpace his respective 9.9 and 7.0 figures in those categories in 2020.  Allen also produced in his one 2020 game versus KC, bringing in seven of 10 targets for 96 yards. The Chiefs have allowed 267.0 passing yards per contest and 9.9 yards per attempt over the first two games, along with just under a 68.0 percent catch rate to receivers, all numbers that could point toward a productive, busy afternoon for Herbert's most trusted target.

Rondale Moore, ARI at JAX  | DK: $5,000, FD: $5,600, Yahoo: $18

Moore has taken brilliantly to coach Kliff Kingsbury's offense over his first two NFL games, posting an 11-182-1 line on 13 targets and already recording his first career 100-yard effort last Sunday versus the Vikings. The dynamic rookie still sports very reasonable salaries across the board despite the early success, which includes an excellent catch rate of just under 85.0 percent thus far. The combination of the savings he offers and the matchup versus the porous Jaguars secondary puts Moore firmly in play for both cash and GPPs in Week 3.

Jacksonville has opened the season allowing 295.5 passing yards per game, along with 8.8 yards per attempt and 15.4 yards per catch (on a 73.0 percent catch rate) to wide receivers. Moore is clearly penciled in for a steady role in this passing game despite the presence of veterans A.J. Green and Christian Kirk, making him a very appealing option due to his big-play ability and the fact Jacksonville could also be down starting corner C.J. Henderson (groin),

Darius Slayton, NYG vs. ATL | DK: $4,600, FD: $5,400, Yahoo: $14

Slayton has quietly gotten his third season off to a positive start despite the offseason arrival of Kenny Golladay knocking him back down a notch, as the speedster has generated six catches for 119 yards and a touchdown on an encouraging tally of 13 targets. Slayton is clearly not a forgotten man in the offense and brings an abundance of big-play upside, as his 19.8 yards per reception and 15.1-yard average depth of target imply. Moreover, Slayton could find himself back in a starting role Sunday, as Golladay is currently saddled with a hip injury that's limited him in the first two practices of the week.

Meanwhile, the opposing Falcons check in having just allowed five passing touchdowns to Tom Brady, along with 260.0 passing yards per game and a 71.8 percent completion rate. Atlanta has already yielded a 26-302-5 line on 36 targets to wide receivers in two games as well, and the fact they've surrendered passer ratings of 158, 117 and 121 from the left to right deep passing windows, along with two touchdowns, could certainly bode well for Slayton's prospects of hitting on a big play or two downfield.

ALSO CONSIDER: Chase Claypool, PIT vs. CIN | DK: $5,800, FD: $5,800, Yahoo: $23

DRAFTKINGS-ONLY SPECIAL: Cooper Kupp, LAR vs. TAM | $6,800

Tight End DFS Value Plays

T.J. Hockenson, DET vs. BAL | DK: $5,200, FD: $6,300, Yahoo: $24

Hockenson's salaries are very reasonable for a player that's already clearly his new quarterback's favorite/most reliable target, and that's posted a 16-163-2 line on 20 targets through two games. The big tight end should continue to be a security blank for Jared Goff throughout the season, and especially in games against ferocious defenses like that of the Ravens that will often require the quarterback get the ball out in a hurry. Hockenson can work all areas of the field and has already logged four red-zone targets, including two inside the 10. For their part, the Ravens have allowed an NFL-high 19-245-2 line to tight ends through two games after facing Darren Waller and Travis Kelce to start the season, and while Hockenson isn't on the level of either player yet, he certainly has the talent to exploit any holes in coverage that may appear.

Dawson Knox, BUF vs. WAS | DK: $3,400, FD: $5,400, Yahoo: $14

Knox is going to go under the radar of many in tournaments, considering there are certainly more exciting names on the Bills offense, not to mention at the tight end position, to hone in on. Nevertheless, the athletic third-year pro has the ability to deliver on his extremely modest salaries, and he's coming off having caught his first TD of the season in Week 2 against the Dolphins. Knox has a serviceable seven targets through two games and has converted all but one into catches, while Washington has already facilitated a healthy 10-106 line to tight ends on 15 looks over the first pair of contests.

ALSO CONSIDER: Robert Tonyan, GB at SF | DK: $4,400, FD: $5,300, Yahoo: $16

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