NFL DFS Value Plays (Cash Games) for Week 3 on FanDuel and DraftKings

Brian Entrekin analyzes optimal DFS cash game value plays for Week 3 of the NFL season. These players are worth considering on FanDuel and DraftKings daily fantasy sports cash games.

We are two weeks into the season and oh what a Week 2 it was around the NFL. Injuries galore were the name of the game and that means there will be a lot of backups having to step up this week. Many will run to those "new starters" as value plays, but not all will be as great as most will hope. Sometimes the old saying of the stick with what was working holds true, even in DFS. We will look to target some of the "new starters", but I will be looking for the discounts of players we know and can trust while sprinkling in some of the "new starters".

When looking at the running backs and wide receivers on the slate, there are a lot of ways to go. There are some really strong plays to pay up for as usual, but in cash games, there are some strong values in the mid-price ranges that can lead to a strong, balanced cash lineup. There are a few games that really stand out to target once again while sprinkling in some other values. This article will point you in the direction of some of the values that will allow you to pay up for some of the better commodities. If you have any questions do not hesitate to chat it up with me on Twitter @bdentrek.

This article will take a look at some of the value plays for each week of the NFL. However, usually when you look at value plays for GPP you are swinging for the fences somewhat. Here I will be focusing on cash games and the necessity for slightly more safety as you are just looking to finish in the top half or so of the competition. Therefore, we are looking for cheaper players who should see a decent workload, be that pass attempts, targets, or carries. Let's take a look at the cash value plays for Week 3 of the 2020 NFL season.

Week 3 Quarterback Cash Game Value Plays

Joe Burrow, CIN at PHI | DK: $6,200, FD: $7,400

Burrow rolls into Philadelphia in Week 3 coming off of two monster performances to start his NFL career. The Bengals are 4.5 point underdogs with a game total of 46.5. There should be points aplenty and Burrow should be a major part of the scoring. He is averaging 48.5 pass attempts per game in his first two games while also averaging 7.5 rush attempts per game. He will be facing an Eagles Defense that has allowed two passing touchdowns per game so far this season and close to 19 points per game on average. Burrow will walk into Sunday with a strong workload which should lead to a solid floor with more upside if he can sneak in an extra touchdown pass or two.

Mitchell Trubisky, CHI @ ATL | DK: $5,700, FD: $7,500

Trubisky has been doing Trubisky things to start the season. He had a really strong Week 1 and then let most down in Week 2. You never really know what Trubisky we will get from week to week. What we do know is Trubisky faces one of the best offensive matchups in football this week in facing the Falcons in Atlanta. On the season the Falcons are allowing 386 passing yards per game, 2.5 touchdown passes per game, and nearly 40 fantasy points per game to the opposing quarterbacks. Over their last nine games, they are allowing nearly 275 passing yards per game as well. Mitchell will be able to run at times, dump off to the running backs and find some wide-open receivers on his way to a big fantasy week. Some may say he is risky for cash, but his price point and floor tell a different story.

Week 3 Running Back Cash Game Value Plays

Chris Carson, SEA vs DAL | DK: $6,600, FD: $7,700

There are some cheaper running backs this week that many will run to, but Carson and Sanders are two in the mid-priced range that makes for extremely strong cash plays. Carson heads into Week 3 coming off back to back 20+ point fantasy performances and takes on a Cowboys team who is allowing well over 20 fantasy points per game to running backs this season. The SEA/DAL game has the highest total of the week at 56.5 and in Carson's last 6 high scoring games he is averaging 22 fantasy points per game. Carson is more valuable in the DK PPR format but still brings a major upside to FD. Lock him into your cash games this week.

Miles Sanders, PHI vs CIN | DK: $6,400 FD: $7,400

After missing Week 1, Sanders returned in Week 2 and re-established himself as the lead back in Philadelphia. He carried the ball 20 times while catching three passes on seven targets. He will bring another strong floor of 20+ touches into Sunday's matchup vs the Bengals. So far on the season, the Bengals are allowing nearly 180 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns per game to running backs. Sanders will be the focal point of the Eagles offense once again and is everything you want in a cash game running back.

Mike Davis, CAR at LAC | DK: $5,100, FD: $6,000

Davis will be a very popular target this week and rightfully so as the Panthers should be playing from behind all game as they are 6.5 point underdogs to the Chargers. Davis stepped in for the injured Christian McCaffrey last weekend and caught eight passes on his way to over 15 fantasy points. The dump-offs should be there all Sunday for the Panthers so Davis should be in line for another solid Sunday. He is mainly in play on DK for the PPR upside, but still a strong price on FD to stay in consideration. He will be popular and I may find myself taking the Sanders and Carson value above and the taking cheaper wide receivers and tight ends.

Week 3 Wide Receiver Cash Game Value Plays

Russell Gage, ATL vs CHI | DK: $5,100, FD: $5,600

The Falcons head into Sunday's game as 3.5 point home favorites with a team total over 25. That already bodes well for a third straight productive game for Gage. The other factor in Gage's favor is the fact Julio Jones is battling a hamstring and is questionable to play. The Falcons offense has been all air attack this season and Gage has benefitted greatly with targets of 12 and nine in his first two games. He has averaged at least five targets in each of his last five games including eight red-zone targets over the last three games. He is facing a decent Bears Defense, but a defense that did let Matt Stafford and the Lions have some success in Week 1 without Kenny Golladay. Look for the volume to be there for Gage and that makes him a nice cash game value.

Adam Humphries, TEN at MIN | DK: $3,900, FD: $4,600

The Titans head to Minnesota for a very promising offensive matchup on Sunday. It has become even more promising for Humphries as AJ Brown has been ruled out for Sunday, making Humphries the potential WR2 opposite a banged-up Corey Davis. Humphries has already received six or more targets in each of his first two games and has received five or more targets in his last three games. He will be going up against a Vikings Defense that has allowed five receiving touchdowns already this season and is the 31st ranked pass defense in the NFL thru two weeks. Humphries is the ultimate cash game value on both sites this week.

Diontae Johnson, PIT vs HOU | DK: $5,400, FD: $6,300

Somehow Johnson is still priced way too cheap this week. He has received at least 10 targets in the first two games and is coming off a monster 8-92-1 game vs the Broncos. Going back to last season he has been targeted at least seven times in a game. Johnson has gained the trust of Big Ben and will face a Houston defense coming off games versus the Chiefs and Ravens. They are beaten down to start the season and should be chasing Johnson around all game. The targets will be there for Johnson again on Sunday and he will be in line for another double-digit scoring game leading to cash game goodness.

Week 3 Tight End Cash Game Value Plays

Drew Sample, CIN at PHI | DK: $3,500, FD: $4,800

Last week Sample arose as the Bengals main tight end target after C.J. Uzomah left with a season-ending injury. After Uzomah's departure, Sample was targeted nine times, hauling in seven for 45 yards. NINE TARGETS!!!! We already mentioned above that his quarterback Joe Burrow has been throwing it and throwing it and throwing it a ton to start the season and that should not change this Sunday. They will be facing the Eagles who 28th in the NFL this season versus the tight end allowing 4.5 catches and two touchdowns a game to the tight end position. Sample should see a large number of targets this week on his way to cash game value once again.

Logan Thomas, WAS @ CLE | DK: $3,700, FD: $4,900

Some may say Thomas let us down last week versus Arizona, and yes it was not great, but at the same time, he still saw nine targets but only made four catches. That was the second straight week Thomas saw at least eight targets and there is a good chance he sees eight or more again this week. The Browns are the 31st ranked defense versus the tight end this season, allowing 9-74-1.5 per game to the tight end position. Those are beastly numbers and would shatter Thomas' price. The Washington Football Team is once again a heavy underdog and that should lead to the team playing from behind and bringing on all the targets for Thomas. Do not be afraid to go back to Thomas this Sunday.

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