Fantasy Lineup Optimizer Picks for DraftKings and FanDuel
NFL DFS season is in full swing as Week 3 approaches, and our expert analysts are breaking down NFL DFS lineup optimizer picks and projections for FanDuel and DraftKings. Sign up for RotoGrinders Premium for full access to our NFL lineup optimizer and fantasy football projections all season long.
There were some incredible games and individual performances last week, including D’Andre Swift’s complete dominance of the Eagles backfield with Gainwell out, but like last week we won’t have to deal with this backfield on the main slate as PHI/TBB is a Monday night game. We also won’t have to worry about calf injury on the main slate as LAR/CIN is the other Monday night game, which takes the best story in the NFL, , off our DFS radars this slate as well. Over one-third (9) of the teams playing on the main slate currently have projected team totals under 20 points, including both the Patriots and Jets who are facing each other with a game total of just 37. The Cowboys should be the most popular DST facing a Cardinals offense with just a 15 total, although there are plenty of other great options like KC, SEA, BUF, NEP, and NYJ.
The Titans will face a third straight popular value RB in , who will become the starter in this CLE backfield with the season-ending knee injury to Chubb. I won’t be as high on Ford as the field will likely be, as the Browns just added , and the Titans are one of the worst possible matchups for an RB this year. Tennessee has allowed just 130 total rush yards through two weeks, making popular value RBs and ruin DFS lineups. I was admittedly high on Kelley last week as I thought he’d be more involved in the passing game, but this week, I think the matchup, addition of Hunt, and likely high ownership will make me look elsewhere at RB, especially in GPPs.
There is plenty of other big RB news that will change the DFS landscape closer to Sunday, including the statuses of , , , and , who all could potentially be out this week. (Update: Ekeler and Hill are OUT)
We also have being traded to the Vikings (likely not available this week though), likely out which could be all needs to erupt this week, likely to make his season debut in a potential split with as Williams is out, and rumblings of potentially becoming much more involved for the Bears after an 0-2 start and Herbert starting slow.
will start for Indy and Andy Dalton will start for Carolina, as Richardson and Young are dealing with a concussion and ankle injury respectively and have been ruled out. As always, make sure to monitor our Situation Room for updated injury statuses, but let’s get into some of my favorite plays based on the information we know right now.
NFL DFS Lineup Optimizer Picks for DraftKings
It’s our first slate with the top three TEs available in Kelce, Andrews, and Hockenson, and all three should see significant ownership with no clear-cut chalk value TE in play yet. Knox is dealing with a back injury though, and if out, I would move ($3,400) into cash game viability, while ($4,800), ($4,100), and ($4,000) are other cheap options I’m considering for under $5k. I’m finally off the ($3,300) bandwagon outside of GPPs, as the targets just aren’t there yet, and it’s hard to see them increasing with Jones and/or Watson likely returning this week.
LAC/MIN has a massive 53.5 total and just a 1.5-point spread, so we’re going to want some exposure to this game in our main builds, along with plenty of game stack variations in GPPs. ATL/DET is another game I’m very high on this week, and the CHI/KCC game is one that I think could surprise people as I’m expecting the Bears offense, and mainly , to play much looser and aggressively, especially likely playing from behind all game. Houston is another offense that I like targeting for value in Stroud ($5,300), Collins ($5,300), and Dell ($3,600), as they will likely have to air it out to keep pace with Jacksonville. The Cowboys DST ($4,400) will rightfully be a popular play, but if you need the extra salary, don’t hesitate to drop down to the Pats ($3,500), Seahawks ($3,200), Bills ($2,900), or Jets ($2,800) in your main build.
($6,900)
We definitely want some pieces from this LAC/MIN game in our main build, and my favorite play for the price is Cousins. Cousins has 44 pass attempts in each of the first two weeks, and has thrown for 354 yards/game and 6 TDs so far, and that has been against pretty solid defenses in the Bucs and Eagles. This week he gets a dream matchup for a QB in the Chargers, who have allowed a league-leading 333 pass yards/game along with the most yards per completion at 13.9, and with just a 1.5-point spread, we could see Cousins have to throw 50+ times to probably the best overall receiving group in the league. With so many great weapons at Cousin’s disposal, I don’t mind using him solo in cash games, as Jefferson ($9,300) is crazy expensive, and it’s hard to predict where the TDs will go between Addison, Osborn, and Hockenson. In GPPs I would absolutely mix and match combos of those four passing options with Cousins, along with the bring backs from the Chargers in Allen, Williams, Everett, and Kelley.
($6,600)
Sticking with the theme of targeting guys in high game totals playing at home in a dome leads me to Gibbs as my favorite cash game RB play this week. Gibbs opened the season in a complimentary role to Montgomery with just 9 touches in Week 1, but last week he saw a huge increase in the passing game, turning 9 targets into 7 catches, along with 7 rush attempts. This increase in usage had a lot to do with Montgomery hurting his thigh, and with his status in doubt this week, we should see Gibbs be heavily involved again with a great shot at 20+ touches against a Falcons defense that has yet to be tested by an RB like Gibbs this season. On a full PPR site like DraftKings I think Gibbs has a realistic 5 catch floor along with 12+ carries, so assuming he can turn those 17 minimum touches into 50+ yards, we’re pretty much starting with a 10 FP floor on Gibbs, so any long plays he breaks off or TDs he scores will just lead to him smashing his cheap salary. I also love using ($7,800) or ($5,000) as bring backs from this game depending on your positional needs and salary available.
($5,300)
The Texans have been playing from behind in every game so far, which has led to CJ Stroud ($5,300) averaging 45+ pass attempts and 313 yards/game. Most of those yards have gone to his #1 WR Collins, who is coming off a monster 7-146-1 game after putting up 6-80-0 in Week 1. Collins is averaging 10 targets/game and 22.3 FPPG yet his salary has only gone up $600 since week 1, and now he gets a Jaguars defense allowing the 8th most passing yards/game at 256.5. As 8.5 point road underdogs, the Texans will likely be playing from behind again, so there’s no reason to assume Collins won’t see around 10 targets with a great shot at crushing his low salary again, making him a clear cash game target at WR. ($4,400) has also been solid so far but I’d only consider him in GPPs, while ($3,600) is one of the best options under $4k coming off a 7-72-1 line on 10 targets last week.
NFL DFS Lineup Optimizer Picks for FanDuel
Prices are starting to adjust to performance, putting 12 skill players at $8k+ this week. It’s hard to choose between Kelce, Andrews, and Hockenson at TE as each is $7,400+, so I like going with someone under $6k in cash games like Engram ($5,900), Henry ($5,700), or LaPorta ($5,200) and using that extra salary at other positions. ($7,000) remains my favorite cash game RB along with ($7,800) at QB, while ($6,900) isn’t as much of a value as he is on DK, but he’s still priced cheap enough to consider for your main build. The Jets DST ($3,900) is my favorite option under $4k, but if you have the extra salary, I would absolutely use it to get the Cowboys DST ($5,200) for a bit more. I’m sure ($5,600) will get plenty of cash game ownership like Kelley last week, but I just hate his matchup with the Titans plus the potential of Hunt getting more touches than expected, so I’ll likely look elsewhere for value.
($6,200)
With dealing with turf toe and out this week, Edwards should be the clear RB1 for Baltimore in a great spot at home as an 8.5 point favorite against Indy. Edwards turned 10 rush attempts into 62 yards and a TD against CIN last week, while Hill had 11 carries and 3 receptions. With Hill’s 10+ touches up for grabs now it’s safe to assume at least 5 of them will go to Edwards, and he should be pretty safe for the goal-line work. was active last week but saw no touches, while would likely be active if Hill sits and could see a few touches as well, but assuming Edwards is the bell-cow back I will gladly target him in cash games as a great source of salary relief with 2+ TD upside if the projected game script plays out and BAL leans on the run. Even if Minshew starts for Indy I like ($6,700) as a bring-back in this game, as he’ll likely see 10+ targets and his salary dropped $500 from last week.
($6,200)
Cooper played through a groin injury last week, putting up a 7-90-0 line on 10 targets, and with no injury designation this week I think he has a great shot of putting up one of his best games of the season at a phenomenal price. The Titans have been a pass funnel defense for a couple years now, and this year it’s looking the same as they’ve allowed the third-lowest rush yards/game while allowing the fifth most pass yards/game. Knowing this along with losing Chubb should lead to a pass-heavy approach for Cleveland, and Cooper is just too cheap to not consider in cash games given the matchup, target share, and likely game plan for the Browns. He also makes a lot of sense from a game theory approach, since Ford will likely draw a good amount of ownership which should lead to less ownership for Cooper, as most people don’t like pairing an RB and WR from the same team in one lineup.
($7,200)
If you go with Cousins as your cash game QB, then I like using Williams as a bring back, as I think he’s the best p/$ option to get exposure to this Chargers offense in the game with the most likely shootout potential. ($8,800) saw a $1k price increase while Williams’ price only went up $500, and Williams actually saw three more targets (13) than Allen (10) last week. With Ekeler out another week Williams should keep his increased target share, along with the Chargers having a higher chance of playing from behind. Overall I think Williams is just a bit too cheap for the potential top target for Herbert in the highest projected game total of the slate, and he should be in strong consideration for your cash game lineup.
Use Our DFS Lineup Optimizer for Week 3
Make sure to check out our in-house NFL DFS lineup optimizer, LineupHQ, to get a great look at even more top projected plays. It is by far the best place to build a large number of lineups quickly using your personalized build rules, ownership preferences, and stacks you want covered. You can also look at projected ownership to help you decide between players if you’d rather get leverage on the field with someone likely to see much lower ownership than similar plays at his position or price point.
And if you’re looking for DFS Pick’em, use the PrizePicks referral code GRINDERS to get a $100 deposit bonus when you sign up!
Image Credit: Getty Images
ncG1vNJzZmiqn6m8qL7Ip5ueqqNjsLC5jpqpraGTobK0e82fo2aclqh6uLHEpGRsZZyeu6bBz2amqayZora7sdFmanJsZmZ%2FeQ%3D%3D