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Week 3 of the NFL season is underway and the Sunday night football showdown slate features a fantastic matchup as the Green Bay Packers take on the New Orleans Saints! This game currently has a 52.5 over/under with the Saints being favored by 3 points.
In this article, I will be providing you with daily fantasy football picks on FanDuel and DraftKings for Sunday Night Football on September 27th, 2020 (Week 3). These lineups can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. Lineup construction can differ greatly from FanDuel to DraftKings with the biggest difference being the Captain and MVP slots. On DK, you'll pay 1.5x the salary of a player in order to roster them as your captain while the price doesn't change on FanDuel.
If you have any questions you can follow me on Twitter @jorgepucks and fire away, or sign up for a premium RotoBaller NFL package and chat with myself and other NFL DFS analysts any time you'd like! Now let's break this slate down and make some cash as we get ready for the full Sunday slate of games!
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DFS Quarterbacks
We have a big-time battle between two potential NFL Hall of Fame candidates in Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers comes into this matchup leading the high-powered Packers offense who has scored the most points in the first two weeks of the season with a total of 85 points. Rodgers looks to be without stud receiver Davante Adams who holds a 25% target share on this team. The loss of Adams could hinder the Packer offense a bit which hurts the upside of rostering Rodgers. The Saints are coming off of a disappointing performance as they allowed 34 points to the Raiders on Monday night so with another prime time game at home, we can anticipate the Saints Defense will be bringing their "A" game.
On the other side of this game, we have Drew Brees who is looking to answer all of the critics who criticized him this week after having a slow start to the season against the Bucs and Raiders. Brees could also be without his top target in Michael Thomas but has built a solid rapport with other receivers in the Saints offense. The Packers Defense is only allowing opposing quarterbacks to throw for 251 yards per game but with the way their offense is moving the chains and scoring, it wouldn't be surprising if Brees and company will be able to get into a shootout with them in this game.
Summary: Both QBs are viable in cash and tournaments. Brees could see lower ownership due to all of the talk around him being "too old" or potentially "done" which makes him a good tournament candidate.
DFS Running Backs
The running back position on this showdown slate is loaded and it wouldn't be a surprise to see multiple running backs in a showdown line. For the Packers, Aaron Jones has been on fire to start the season. He is averaging 117 rushing yards per game while also seeing seven passing targets per game as well. Jones is highly involved in the offense and while the Saints have not allowed a 100- yard rusher in 45 straight games, Jones will be used in all facets to where he is viable in all formats. Backing up Aaron Jones is Jamaal Williams who is seeing a solid amount of snaps for a backup running back. Williams is on the field for 41% of snaps but has only seen four total targets on the year.
Alvin Kamara is the go-to man for the Saints offense. While he hasn't been the most effective running back in terms of yardage, he has notched three total rushing touchdowns and has been a focal point in the receiving game. In the first two games, Kamara recorded 14 catches on 17 targets while also hauling in a touchdown. He has been one of the primary beneficiaries of Thomas being out and Green Bay is allowing five completions to other running backs. Latavius Murray was hardly used against the Raiders but one could argue that was potentially due to game script and for the Raiders taking control of the clock for the second half of the game. Murray is in a good bounce-back spot as a lot of attention will gravitate towards Kamara and the Saints receivers.
Summary: Kamara and Jones are both great options for both cash games and tournaments lineups. Williams and Murray are great salary saving options for tournaments as they serve as great secondary pieces in both the passing and running games.
DFS Wide Receivers
This could be a really weird week as both Michael Thomas and Davante Adams could miss this game which leaves the door open for another receiver to step up and make a play. For the Packers, Marquez Valdez-Scantling and Allen Lazard seem to be the top two targets outside of Adams. They combine for 33% of the target share on the Packers and are second and fourth respectively when it comes to total targets. A few lower owned receivers that could get more time are Malik Taylor and Equanimeous St. Brown. While neither has seen much time on the field so far this year, they could be big-field tournament plays that open up salary for your roster.
For the Saints, we saw Tre'Quan Smith take the most snaps from the receiving group during Monday night's game. He was on the field for 88% of the offensive snaps and hauled in five catches on seven total targets which were second-most targets on the team. Emmanuel Sanders had a relatively quiet night on Monday as he only hauled in one catch on three targets. This will need to change in order for the Saints to find success in the passing game. If looking for some potentially lower owned Saints receiving options, Deonte Harris and Marquez Callaway would be the ones to look at. Harris saw 52% of offensive snaps on Monday while seeing five total targets. Callaway only saw 13 total snaps but his low salary and potentially lower ownership are enticing.
Summary: If Thomas and Adams cannot go, it is tough to really peg several receiving options for cash game lineups. Smith and Valdez-Scantling seem to be the most reliable with Lazard and Sanders being the other two options to consider. Other options that could diversity your lineups in tournaments are Harris, Callaway, Taylor, and St. Brown.
DFS Tight Ends
With all of the running back and receiving options in this game, it is difficult to really want to invest in any tight ends. The Saints have the most notable tight end in Jared Cook who would be the main one to target and look at with confidence. Cook is averaging 11.2 DK points per game and has seen 12 total targets over two weeks. He is seeing roughly 66% of offensive snaps so far this year and with Thomas being out, Cook could be in line for another solid outing. Josh Hill sits behind Cook on the depth chart and while he is seeing 33% of offensive snaps, he only has three targets on the season which is tough to trust unless you plan on multi-entering this slate.
For the Packers, the tight end position isn't as involved in the passing game as one would hope. On the season the Gren Bay tight ends group has seen eight total targets and that is divided out by four players. Robert Tonyan leads the group with three targets on the year and has played on 61% of all offensive snaps. Long time NFL veteran Marcedes Lewis is second on the team as he has played on 43% of offensive snaps for the Packers but has only seen one target.
Summary: Jared Cook is the best option for both cash games and tournament builds. Tonyan is worth a look in tournament builds while Hill and Lewis are nothing but fliers in multi-entry lineups.
DFS Defense/Special Teams
With this game also carrying a high total, it doesn't seem like it would be best to consider any of the defenses. Both of these offenses know how to generate points and with two of the best quarterbacks in the game leading these squads, it's hard to imagine them turning the ball over. If we are projecting lots of points scored, that means kickers could be involved. Both Will Lutz and Mason Crosby are viable options on this showdown slate and will be kicking in perfect conditions with this game being in the dome.
Summary: Fading both defenses seems to be the best move on this slate. Both Will Lutz and Mason Crosby are in play for tournament lineups as they could see plenty of opportunities.
Good luck, RotoBallers, and remember to mix it up and don't be afraid to be different in these large field GPPs!
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