Welcome to RotoBaller's daily fantasy football FanDuel lineup picks for Week 3 of the NFL season. In this article I will be taking you through the best FanDuel DFS plays of the week for this upcoming Sunday.
These FanDuel lineup recommendations are based on matchups, recent performances, overall upside/talent levels, and other factors such as Vegas odds, home field advantage, and more.
Good luck with your FanDuel DFS lineups!
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FanDuel Quarterback - Week 3 DFS Picks
Derek Carr (@ WAS, $8,400)
Carr certainly appears to be taking a leap in his fourth NFL season, as he has averaged 8.2 yards per attempt to start the season. Though it’s a small sample size, that puts him among the leaders in the league. This week, he’ll face a Washington defense that has proven vulnerable in its first two games as they have allowed eight net yards per pass attempt, fifth worst in the league. Those numbers come from facing Carson Wentz and Jared Goff, both of whom are at least one cut below Derek Carr. That puts Carr in a good spot to produce value for his price point.
Andy Dalton (@ GB, $6,800)
Andy Dalton had a terrible performance in Week 1 and didn’t inspire much confidence with his follow up performance in Week 2. He enters Week 3 averaging just 5.97 yards per attempt, but he has a few things working in his favor for a turnaround. Bill Lazor has taken over as the offensive coordinator and his first goal has been to get Dalton back on track. This week would be a good time to do that, as the Bengals will travel to Green Bay who very well could be without defensive tackle Mike Daniels and outside linebacker Nick Perry. Those absences will go a long way to slow down the Packers’ pass rush and will give the Bengals’ beleaguered offensive line a reprieve. Dalton is a tournament play only, but this is a good spot for him to turn his season around.
FanDuel Running Backs - Week 3 DFS Picks
Kareem Hunt (@ LAC, $8,300)
The Chargers have yet to allow a rushing touchdown this season, but both C.J. Anderson and Jay Ajayi got heavy workloads against them. That isn’t a coincidence, as the Chargers have run 110 offensive plays as opposed to 136 by their opponents. With the Chiefs looking rather dominant to begin the season and favored by three even on the road, Kareem Hunt should be able to rack up plenty of volume in Week 3. He has shown both big play ability and the ability to wear down a defense throughout the game, all of which adds up to a lot of upside.
Christian McCaffery (vs. NO, $6,800)
The Saints have proven to be vulnerable to opposing running backs who excel both as receivers and runners. In Week 1, Dalvin Cook gashed them for 127 rushing yards. That performance was followed up by James White and Rex Burkhead combining for 11 receptions, 126 yards, and a touchdown. McCaffery has yet to hit his stride from an efficiency standpoint but he has averaged 15 touches per game in the Panthers first two games which is more than enough for him to return value this week given the matchup.
FanDuel Wide Receivers - Week 3 DFS Picks
A.J. Green (@ GB, $7,500)
The Bengals are in shambles but that hasn’t stopped A.J. Green from averaging nine targets per game. The Bengals should be focused on keeping it simple this week with their new offensive coordinator, and there is no better way to do that than feeding the most talented player on their team. That, of course, is A.J. Green so he should be in line for a lot of volume this week.
Alshon Jeffery (vs. NYG, $7,500)
This play is contingent on Janoris Jenkins missing the game on Sunday, as that would likely match Eli Apple up with Jeffery. Marvin Jones took advantage of that matchup in Week 2 with a long touchdown reception, and Jeffery has a greater size advantage over Apple. Beyond the matchup, the Eagles have peppered Jeffery with deep targets, as according to airyards.com Jeffery has 338 air yards with the next closest receiver in the league at 286.
FanDuel Tight End - Week 3 DFS Pick
Zach Ertz (vs. NYG, $6,500)
Ertz will likely be one of the highest-owned tight ends this week, but that’s for good reason. The Giants have had trouble defending the tight end last season and have allowed a touchdown to each of the tight ends they have faced this season. Ertz has gotten off to a fast start this season, but hasn’t been able to find the end zone. That has a good chance of changing in Week 3.
FanDuel Defense - Week 3 DFS Pick
New England Patriots D/ST (vs. HOU, $4,900)
A rookie quarterback heading into Foxboro is a good recipe for a strong defensive performance. The Patriots have forced only one turnover through their first two games of the season but enter this week’s matchup as a 14 point favorite. They are priced up due to their name value so they may not be the most cost-effective choice, but they should provide a safe floor.