DRAFTKINGS NFL WEEK 3 DFS CASH PLAYS 2021

By Jamie Calandro
Jamie Calandro

TOP DFS NFL WEEK 3 CASH PLAYS

After I needed my GPP lineups to save my cash in week one, it was starkly the opposite in week two as EVERY cash piece hit. Let’s keep it going this week, but bear in mind that we have a plethora of important questionable players, so you’ll need to “ebb and flow” with the news as it hits. Make sure to follow me on twitter @jac3600, and check out all the other top FootballDiehards content!

 

QUARTERBACK


TOP PLAY

Lamar Jackson, BAL ($7800)

LJax went nuclear on Kansas City last Sunday night, showing why he has the upside for overall QB1 status. This weekend Jackson gets a super favorable matchup against Detroit. While Goff and his ragtag group of receivers have been a bit of a fun Cinderella story, the defense is HORRIBLE, allowing 70 points and the most total yards through two games to begin the season. Even if the passing volume isn’t there, Baltimore is trending to lead the NFL in rushing by a LOT once again, and Lamar is still the RB1 there.

Other options - Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen

Mid-tier options - Tom Brady, Justin Herbert, Kirk Cousins


VALUE PLAY

 

Daniel Jones, NYG ($5800)

I’m a Giants fan, and I’m still hurting from last week. There are so many issues that the team itself has that it may cloud what we’re looking for in DFS, and that’s simply FANTASY PRODUCTION. Danny Dimes is third in rushing yards among QBs and has rushed for two TDs (should have been three). His deep ball accuracy is on par with last year’s (third in comp% over 20 yards), and Atlanta has the third lowest adjusted sack rate to start 2021.

Other options - Matt Ryan, Jared Goff, Justin Fields

UPDATE: As this was being written, Fields was named the starter in Chicago. I expect his ownership will skyrocket now, making him the preferred cash play in the lower end at $5200. Daniel Jones and his Giants WRs are still good upside plays in GPP.

 

 

 

RUNNING BACK


TOP PLAY

 

 

 

Dalvin Cook, MIN ($8400)

Do I go with Derrick Henry as the top play? Or an equally elite back who is playing against the defense that just got obliterated by Henry? I’ll let the $200 price discount be the tiebreaker, but you can actively target both of these guys in cash this week if budget permits it. Cook already has 50 touches and ten targets through the first two games of the season, a workload that’s a cash player’s dream. Seattle has already allowed 353 all-purpose yards to RBs, good for the most in the NFL.

Other options - Derrick Henry, Alvin Kamara

Mid-tier options - Najee Harris, Saquon Barkley, Chris Carson, Joe Mixon


VALUE PLAY

 

D’Andre Swift, DET ($5800)

Despite already having 16 targets and coming in as the RB8 in PPR leagues, Swift’s price tag has dropped from $7100 in week two to $5800 in week three. The eye test says that he and Jamaal Williams have split time, but in reality Swift has logged a 68% snap share to Williams’ 35%. The Ravens have allowed only 3.4 YPC so far but Swift’s true value comes in space anyway, and the price drop is just tough to ignore.

Other options - Antonio Gibson, Chase Edmonds, Damien Harris, Clyde Edwards-Helaire (I know what you’re thinking, but he’s $4800 in the most dynamic offense in the NFL)

 

 

 

WIDE RECEIVER


TOP PLAY

 

 

 

Tyreek Hill, KC ($8400)

I’d rather allocate my high end funds to RB this week, but there’s no arguing the most electric player on an offense that has a team total of 32, while the entire game carries a slate-high O/U of 56 points. Hill was stifled by the Ravens last week, but he’s once again a top-10 WR in unrealized air yards, and it’s pretty safe to say with his track record that last week was a fluke.

Other options - Stefon Diggs, Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf
Mid-tier options - Cooper Kupp (best value), Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Chris Godwin


VALUE PLAY

 

Cooper Kupp, LAR ($6800)

I know he’s in the mid-tier, but Kupp is also the top value on the slate at WR and once again a core play for me in cash. He has 21 targets through two weeks and is the current WR1 in PPR. Tampa Bay is decimated by injury in the secondary and Kupp has played 98% of snaps so far this year. Kupp is trending towards being an 8k WR in a couple of weeks, so take the extreme value.

Other options - Robert Woods, Cortland Sutton, Sterling Shepard, Marvin Jones, Mecole Hardman, KJ Osborn

 

 

 

TIGHT END


TOP PLAY

 

 

 

Travis Kelce, KC ($8200)

Kelce continues to Kelce. That’s really all you need to know, and it’s possible to get him in there if you use Justin Fields at QB in cash. I will say that Derwin James is likely to be on him, and that there are value options, but Kelce is matchup-proof.

Other options - Darren Waller


VALUE PLAY

 

TJ Hockenson, DET ($5200)

The Ravens have allowed the most FPPG to opposing TEs this year by far. I do need to point out that those two TEs are Darren Waller and Travis Kelce, but Hockenson is no slouch either, and he has 20 targets and two TDs through the first two games. He’s leading all Lions’ pass catchers in all major categories and getting him at a discount from the top two guys could go a long way.

Other options - Mark Andrews, Kyle Pitts, Tyler Higbee

 

 

 

 

TOP FIVE DEFENSES FOR CASH

Tennessee Titans ($2400) - as long as Wentz doesn’t start
Arizona Cardinals ($3000)
Las Vegas Raiders ($3400)
Denver Broncos ($4300)
Cleveland Browns ($3200)