RADIO
Week 2 of the NFL season is in the books, and what a week it was. First, we saw the Raiders with a big road win in Pittsburgh. Tom Brady was showing that 40 is the new 30 by throwing five touchdowns. An incredible shootout in the desert between the Vikings and the Cardinals. The Titans were bouncing back with a big road win in Seattle. The Ravens with a massive win against the Chiefs. That was just some of the fantastic football that took place in Week 2. More importantly, it is still only two weeks, and what we thought we knew after Week 1 was proven wrong in Week 2, making Week 3 that much more fun.
For Week 3, we will stick with the usual cash gameplan of looking for a solid floor and going from there, especially when it comes to value plays. Most of the value I will target in cash this week will be at WR, with some coming from QB and TE. The RB position is loaded, but the better cash game plays are priced at the top this week. In addition, we have many injuries to keep an eye on that may open up even more value this week. For any other potential value plays and questions, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter.
This article will take a look at some of the value plays for each week of the NFL. However, when you look at value plays for GPP, you are somewhat swinging for the fences. 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. So, let's look at the cash value plays for Week 3 of the 2021 NFL season.
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Week 3 Quarterback Cash Game Value Plays
Daniel Jones, NYG vs. ATL | DK: $5,800, FD: $7,400
Danny Dimes is coming off his second big fantasy week but running wild on Thursday night versus the Washington Football Team. Through two weeks, Jones has put up over 20 fantasy points in both games while attempting at least 32 pass attempts in each game and running for combined 122 yards. He also has a passing and rushing touchdown in each game.
This week he takes on an Atlanta offense that just allowed Tom Brady to throw for five touchdowns, and the previous week allowed Jalen Hurts to throw for three touchdowns while also rushing for 62 yards. The Falcons D has allowed a Top 12 fantasy QB in each of the first two weeks, and now a Top 12 fantasy QB faces them in Week 3. Danny Dimes using his legs raises his cash game floor, and his ability to sling it to Sterling Shepard and the rest of the Giants receiving core makes him a great cash game value.
Jared Goff, DET vs. BAL | DK: $5,200, FD: $7,100
I did not initially think of Goff as a cash game quarterback this week, but the more I dug in, the more his value stood out. Goff has scored 20+ fantasy points in his first two games this season. He has completed 26 or more passes while attempting 36 more passes in each game, so the volume is there. Goff has also thrown for five touchdowns in his first two games.
The volume should be there once again this weekend as the Lions will once again be throwing early and often to keep up with their opponent. The Lions are eight-point home dogs to the Ravens this week. A Ravens defense that has allowed a Top 12 fantasy quarterback in each game this season is Derek Carr, who most would not expect to throw as well either. Yet, they are allowing opposing quarterbacks to throw 2.5 touchdowns per game while scoring nearly 30 fantasy points per game.
Goff will not be popular and may be better suited for tournaments, but Goff is definitely in play if you are looking for a punt at the position.
Week 3 Running Back Cash Game Value Plays
Chris Carson, SEA at MIN | DK: $6,400, FD: $7,700
Carson has put together solid fantasy performances in the first two weeks, but nothing that jumps off the pages. Last week he didn't run great but did find the end zone twice to offset the poor yardage production. In the end, fantasy points are all that matters, and Carson is producing in that department.
Carons should continue to produce this week as he takes on the Vikings. A Vikings defense has allowed a Top 24 RB (RB 1/2) in each of the first two weeks. On average, they are allowing 111 rushing yards per game and five receptions per game, good for over 20 fantasy points per week to the running back position. Over the last nine games, the Vikings are last in rushing touchdowns allowed and 30th in rushing yards allowed.
Carson has had at least ten rushing attempts in his last five games. He is also getting the majority of red-zone touches which can elevate that cash game floor. The Seahawks are 1.5 point road favorites and with an implied team total of 28. Look for Carson to get 15 or so touches this week, and if he can find the end zone a time or two, he will make for a great cash gameplay. Reminder, most cash game running backs will cost some money this week, making Carson quite the value in that regard as well.
Austin Ekeler, LAC at KC | DK: $7,200 FD: $7,000
Ekeler is a bit more expensive than I usually go within this article, but he brings tremendous value to a pricey cash position. After many were worried about Ekeler's fantasy outlook with zero targets in Week 1, he shut them all up with nine targets in Week 2. Now Ekeler has 24 carries for 111 yards and nine receptions this season.
This week Ekeler and the Chargers head into Kansas City and will need all the Ekeler that they can get to keep up this week. The Chargers are seven-point underdogs with an implied team total of 24. The Chiefs defense has allowed three Top 24 running backs in the first two weeks. Yes, that was not a typo, THREE. So now they face Ekeler, who can do it on the ground and through the air. On average, the Chiefs defense is allowing 130 rushing yards per game to opposing backs and 31 receiving yards, two touchdowns, and over 30 fantasy points per game. They are ranked 30th versus opposing backs to start the season.
Everything lines up for a big Ekeler week, making him an excellent value as he should be priced higher. Look for Ekeler to get 10+ carries this week and be a significant part of the passing game again. A touchdown or two and Ekeler could shatter his price tag in cash games. If you are paying up for running backs but can't afford two of the big backs, Ekeler makes for a great secondary option.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC vs. LAC | DK: $4,800, FD: $6,500
Like Elijah Mitchell last week, CEH will be the chalk of chalk when it comes to running backs for cash. Many believe he is way too cheap, and maybe he is, but I still won't be that in on him. The Chiefs have been throwing early and often this season, and I do not see that changing a ton versus the Chargers.
Let's talk about some of the reasons he may be worth the play if you feel the value. First, CEH has carried the ball at least 13 times in each game this season, which gives a decent floor. However, he has a game with zero targets (last week) and three targets, so his role in the passing game is questionable. CEH is also coming off a game where his final touch was a fumble that potentially cost the Chiefs the game.
Now his opponent, the Chargers, maybe the best reason to roster CEH. This season, they rank 24th in the NFL against opposing backs, allowing 143.5 rushing yards per game on average, with a touchdown and 20+ fantasy points per game. The Chiefs are seven-point favorites with an implied team total close to 31. The Chiefs should be moving the ball early and often yet again, but the question is, what role does CEH play? Maybe the price is so reasonable it does not matter. One thing in cash is to follow the chalk often, and CEH will be that in cash games, so be prepared to roster CEH and pray he finds the end zone a time or two.
Week 3 Wide Receiver Cash Game Value Plays
Marvin Jones Jr., JAX vs. AZ | DK: $4,900, FD: $6,300
When we look for receiving value, a lot depends on opportunity, and Jones has a ton of that. He has been targeted by rookie Trevor Lawerence 20 times this season, with at least nine targets in each game. That's some nice consistency. Jones has also caught 11 of the targets, scoring a touchdown in each game and scoring over 15 fantasy points.
This week Jones takes on a Cardinals' defense just torched by Kurt Cousins and the Vikings. They are ranked 23rd thru the first two weeks of the season versus the pass while allowing two receiving touchdowns on average per game this season. The Jags are once again dogs, eight-point underdogs at home, and have an implied team total of 22. They will be throwing early and often again to keep up with Kyler Murray and company, meaning Jones should be heavily targeted again. Jones brings one of the better cash game floors into action this week, especially at his value price tag.
Tyler Boyd, CIN at PIT | DK: $4,700, FD: $5,600
The Cincinnati wide receiver position is usually a callous one to decipher, with Tee Higgins generally being the leading man, especially in cash. Well, this week, things are clearing up a bit with the news that Higgins is now doubtful for Sunday's game, which opens up some more time for Ja'Marr Chase and Boyd. Chase is GPP viable, but for cash, give me all the Boyd.
Boyd was targeted only four times in Week 1, but last week saw the targets increase to nine, and he hauled in seven of those targets. He now faces a Steelers' defense that has been getting torched this season. They are ranked 25th in the NFL versus receivers to start the season, allowing nearly 50 fantasy points to the opposing team's wide receivers combined each week. They also just let Henry Ruggs III torch them last week at home.
The Steelers are facing a ton of injuries and just poor play on the defense in general. Between the injuries to the Steelers and Higgins injury, Boyd should see a safe floor of targets and maybe many more in the end. He comes in with a great price tag in a matchup where the Bengals are three-point underdogs. I like Boyd to rack up the receptions and bring back some serious cash game value.
Quintez Cephus, DET vs. BAL | DK: $3,900, FD: $5,300
This one may be a bit dicey, but similar to the thoughts with Goff above, there should be plenty of passing in the Lions' game plan this Sunday. It's also lovely that Cephus has been a favorite target of Goff, getting at least six targets in each game. Cephus has also found the end zone in each game this season.
This week he faces a Ravens' defense thrown all over by the Chiefs but more impressively was passed on by Derek Carr and the Raiders in Week 1. The Ravens rank 24th in the NFL versus receivers this season, allowing 1.5 receiving touchdowns per game. With the Lions being eight-point home dogs, they will be throwing early and often to keep up. Cephus is a clear target favorite for Goff, and his super cheap price tag makes him a mega value in cash games this week.
Week 3 Tight End Cash Game Value Plays
Kyle Rudolph, NYG vs. ATL | DK: $3,000, FD: $4,500
First off, this is only a play assuming Evan Engram misses Sunday's game. Engram is currently questionable, and the team is leaning towards out for one more week. If Engram is out, then bring on some cheap Rudolph in cash. Rudolph isn't a target hog, heck it's tough with Shepard getting all the love, but he has been an excellent safety valve for Jones. Rudolph caught both his targets in Week 2 after being targeted five times in Week 1.
Rudolph will take on a Falcons secondary that is ranked 31 versus opposing TE this season, allowing a TE 1 in each of the first two games. On average, the Falcons defense allows 1.5 touchdowns per game with over 20 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. This could be a week where Rudolph feasts. At worse, he should see plenty of targets. We love Danny Dimes this week, I always love Shepard, and Rudolph could be another receiving piece that feasts versus this bad Falcons team. His price tag makes for quite the cash game value.
Tyler Conklin, MIN vs. SEA | DK: $2,900, FD: $4,700
We meet again, my friend. The Vikings are shocking many this season by passing 60% of the time during neutral game scripts. Pretty crazy for a team with Dalvin Cook, and that is known for always running the ball. This week they may run more, especially against a team that just let Derrick Henry run wild on them. Even with all that said, Conklin should be involved once again.
Conklin has been targeted four times in each of his first two games, hauling in six of those targets. He is averaging five to six fantasy points per game, which may not sound like much but let's remember, he's a punt tight end value. If he happens to fall in the end zone, then he blows the value away. The Seahawks are allowing close to nine fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends, which sounds great to me. Conklin is nothing flashy but gets a relatively consistent target share from Cousins. He is super cheap and opens up a ton for you this week. Pairing Conklin with a punt defense and a value receiver should open up the flood gates for cash game studs this week.
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