DRAFTKINGS NFL DFS CASH PLAYS WEEK 3 2022

After a successful week one, I tinkered my way out of some serious money in week two, late pivoting right off of Tyreek Hill and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Oh well, live and learn. Unfortunately I will not be on this Saturday due to school commitments (stupid day job getting in the way and all…), but be sure to check out all our amazing contact at Football Diehards, and follow me on twitter @jac3600.

 

QUARTERBACK

TOP PLAY

Jalen Hurts, PHI ($7600)

I have Hurts and Josh Allen basically 1 and 1A, so the $600 discount is pushing me to lean Hurts. Through two games, Hurts has been an elite fantasy QB, pushed by his cheat-code rushing ability (28-147-3). This week Hurts gets the Commanders who allowed the most FPPG to QBs a year ago, and he massacre them in their two games last year for 510 passing yards and two rushing TDs.

Other options - Josh Allen, Justin Herbert

Mid-tier options - Kirk Cousins, Matthew Stafford

VALUE PLAY

Marcus Mariota, ATL ($5500)

The Falcons are 0-2 with a couple of hard luck losses against two good teams (STL and NO), and it’s clear that Mariota is perfectly capable of running this offense effectively. I’m most likely not going to dip down this low in cash, preferring to pay all the way this week at QB, but the option is certainly there with Mariota’s rushing ability (18 attempts so far this year) and a legit WR1 (Drake London has a 32.2% target share so far). There’s that Pitts guy too…

Seattle’s back end should be super exposed without Jamal Adams, and Mariota doesn’t have to blow the roof off to pay off such a cheap tag. Just beware that he already has five TOs to start the season.

Other options - Tua Tagovailoa, Derek Carr, Jared Goff

RUNNING BACK

TOP PLAY

Dalvin Cook, MIN ($7900)

I am seriously considering ranking Cook as my overall RB1 this week even after he busted spectacularly against Philadelphia last week (which cost me one season-long contest by .08 points). Cook is running at a 70% snap share and gets the ultimate matchup against Detroit this week. The Lions gave up the most FPPG to opposing RBs a year ago, and so far this year have once again given up the most by a significant margin. The Vikings are 8-point favorites in this game which adds to Cook’s carry floor.

Other options - Christian McCaffrey, Austin Ekeler, Joe Mixon

Mid-tier options - D’Andre Swift, Leonard Fournette, James Conner

VALUE PLAY

David Montgomery, CHI ($5900)

There was concern coming into this season whether or not Khalil Herbert was going to cut into Montgomery’s workload enough to make him a shaky play. Last week Montgomery put to rest any of those worries, outsnapping Herbert 33-8 and running at a mega-efficient 8.1 YPC against Green Bay, even in a blowout loss. This week the Bears are favored, have run by far the fewest passing plays, and face the Texans who have allowed the third most FPPG to RBs so far this year after ranking 30th last year as well.

Other options - Josh Jacobs, Dameon Pierce, Eno Benjamin/Darrel Williams if Conner sits

WIDE RECEIVER

TOP PLAY

Stefon Diggs, BUF ($7700)

I have Diggs as my overall WR2 this week, behind only Cooper Kupp and ahead of Justin Jefferson and Davante Adams. Throw in the fact that he’s $2200 less than Kupp, $1600 less than Jefferson, $700 less than Adams, and $400 less than JaMarr Chase, and Diggs is a lock for me this week in cash. Through two games, Diggs has 20 catches on 25 targets for 270 yards and 4 TDs, which is good for the overall WR1 in PPR. He has a matchup with Xavien Howard on tap, but Diggs’ precise route-running basically renders him matchup-proof. Allen-Diggs pairings will be popular this week, and rightfully so.

Other options - Cooper Kupp, Justin Jefferson, Davante Adams

Mid-tier options - Amon-Ra St. Brown, AJ Brown, Jaylen Waddle, Michael Pittman, Mike Williams

VALUE PLAY

Brandin Cooks, HOU ($5800)

Cooks’ price tag makes no sense, and it makes even less sense that it’s dropped each week. The Texans’ offense has struggled to find its rhythm to start the year, but as usual, that doesn’t apply to Cooks who has already amassed a whopping 22 targets through the first two games. The Bears have allowed the 12th most FPPG to WRs so far, and Nico Collins has not given any indication yet that he’s a threat to steal work from Cooks.

Other options - Tee Higgins, Juju Smith-Schuster, Curtis Samuel, Joshua Palmer (if no Allen), Russell Gage

TIGHT END

TOP PLAY

Mark Andrews, BAL ($6900)

If you had Andrews as your overall TE1 again this year, he’s not disappointing you out of the gate, leading all TEs in receptions, air yards, and aDOT while ranking second in receiving yards. He’s cash playable since his price curiously does not seem to move much despite his production, but I’m probably passing as New England was a top-five team against TEs last year and are ninth so far this season.

Other options - None

Mid-tier options - Kyle Pitts, Dallas Goedert

VALUE PLAY

Irv Smith, MIN ($3100)

Smith is the TE punt of the week, and we’re really benefiting from his price not moving since Minnesota played Monday night. After being a non-factor in week one, Smith had eight targets in week two (only Jefferson had more) for a 5-36-1 line, and that could have been even better if he hadn’t dropped what would have been a 60-yard TD. Detroit has allowed the tenth most FPPG to TEs this season, and Smith’s price makes paying up elsewhere much easier.

Other options - Tyler Higbee, TJ Hockenson, Logan Thomas

TOP FIVE DEFENSES FOR CASH

Carolina Panthers ($2600)
Philadelphia Eagles ($2900)
New York Jets ($2400)
New Orleans Saints ($3500)
Houston Texans ($2600)