It’s finally here- Week 3 of the 2024 season, and another DraftKings main slate. We are back offering you DFS advice to try and help you navigate your way to victories throughout the season. The players selected here are based on their price, their ability to hit value and likely ownership. The selections are leaning more towards GPP slates, rather than cash (50/50) slates. But let’s get into it
Kyler Murray v DET ($6,900)
In week 2, one man was head and shoulders above the rest at the quarterback position…well in terms of performance anyways. Kyler Murray may only stand at 5’10” tall, but his talents under center more than make up for his somewhat diminutive stature. A fully-fit Kyler is a dangerous weapon in fantasy football – the archetypal dual threat QB, Murray showed just what he can do as a passer, and on the ground – putting up a stat line of 266 and 3 through the air, alongside a further 59 yards rushing in the 41-10 annihilation of the Los Angeles Rams. Whilst the connection with rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. was somewhat absent in week 1, there were no such issues at home last Sunday afternoon – with Murray finding his new favourite target twice in the first quarter on touchdown throws of 23 and 60 yards. The Cardinals welcome an under-performing Detroit Lions team to Glendale this weekend, the visitors fresh off a narrow defeat to Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With an O/U of 51.5, it’s the highest projected scoring matchup of the week – even though the Cards are 3 point underdogs, Murray should have plenty of opportunities to put up fantasy points through the air and on the ground – he’s a cert to be a top-5 play on the slate.
Derek Carr v PHI ($5,800)
Heading into week 3 – the New Orleans Saints are the most prolific offense in the National Football League (scoring 91 points in their opening two games), and Derek Carr is the overall QB2 for fantasy…just like we all predicted, right? Carr and the Saints offense have looked good…really good. With Carr under center, New Orleans put up points on their opening fifteen drives of the season – the incredible run only coming to an end after a 3rd quarter interception against the Cowboys after racing to a commanding 41-19 lead. With Alvin Kamara acting as a safety valve out of the backfield and Rahid Shaheed presenting an option for 50-yard bomb touchdowns every week, Carr has been on fire – leading the league in passing touchdowns, and sitting 2nd in passing completion. The Saints will look to keep the momentum going against an Eagles pass defense allowing an average of 250-yards and 2 TDs to opposing QBs so far on the year. Carr is great value to deliver once again on a very affordable price tag.
Also consider: Jared Goff @AZ ($6,500) & Skyler Thompson @SEA ($5,100)
Derrick Henry @DAL ($6,500)
In another surprise turn of events, the Baltimore Ravens find themselves 0-2 heading into week 3, off the back of defeats on the road to the Chiefs and at home against the Raiders. Ravens’ fans (and fantasy managers) have no need to panic just yet – both losses were marginal, and despite the relatively tight nature of the contests – Derrick Henry continues to see plenty of opportunities out of the backfield. Entering the season there were concerns about Lamar Jackson vulturing goal-line work from Henry, limiting his upside, with the King’s week 1 statline of 13/46/1 didn’t do much to allay those fears. Thankfully normal service has resumed for the 30-year old, seeing a much healthier 18 carries last time out against the Raiders. Baltimore head to Arlington as single-point favourites in another high O/U affair – expect the Ravens attempt to slow the game down and lean on Henry as much as possible. If Lamar and co can get into an early lead, it could be a fruitful fantasy day for the King.
Jordan Mason @LAR ($6,200)
As a Christian McCaffery dynasty manager (and CMC fanboy in general), seeing Jordan Mason step in and succeed in this 49ers offense brings me an unequivocal level of sadness. In McCaffrey’s absence, Mason has rushed the ball 48 times for 247-yards and 2 touchdowns, finishing as the RB3 and RB7 for fantasy in weeks 1 and 2 respectively. Is Mason a good running back, or is the Shanahan system in San Francisco set up in a way that any decent rusher could succeed…more importantly, do we care? As long as McCaffrey is out, Mason is the guy for the 49ers and will continue to see a huge workload each week…possibly even more against the Rams with gadget-wide receiver Deebo Samuel missing with a calf injury. Mason carries the 14th highest price tag on the slate, with the potential to finish as RB1 – he’s a lock for your lineup until he tops $7000.
Tony Pollard v GB ($6,000)
Last week I mentioned how the Titans’ coaching staff wanted to “ride the hot hand”, well they were true to their word as Tony Pollard once again saw the lion’s share of work out of the backfield, out-carrying Tyjae Spears 17-6 in Tennessee’s 24-17 defeat against the Jets. The former Cowboy once again was the more efficient runner, rushing at 3.6 Y/A over his 17 opportunities to Spears’ 3.3 Y/A. If that wasn’t enough to swing the pendulum in his favour to be the more productive back against the Packers, Spears’ heads into the weekend with an injury designation after missing Wednesday’s practice with an ankle issue. Green Bay are allowing an average of 145-yards to opposing RB’s so far in the season – expect Pollard to account for the vast majority of Tennessee’s production on the ground this Sunday, in a game they are favoured to win by 3 points.
Also consider: De’Von Achane @SEA ($7,000), Jahmyr Gibbs @AZ ($6,800) & Zach Charbonnet v MIA ($6,000)
Marvin Harrison Jr. v DET ($7,400)
Welcome to the National Football League Marvin Harrison Jr! He may have been a week late, but it was a hell of a coming out party for the No.4 overall pick in this year’s draft. After a very demure week 1 which saw the former Ohio State Buckeye record only 1 catch for 4-yards, MHJ was far more mindful of his fantasy managers in week 2, exploding for 130-yards and 2 touchdowns in the Cardinals blowout win at home to the Rams. After being out-targeted by Trey McBride, Greg Dortch and even James Conner in the loss to Buffalo, MHJ firmly established himself as Kyler Murray’s favourite new weapon against L.A., leading the team with 8 targets, hauling in 4 (two of which were for 1st quarter touchdowns). A star has been born – and now gets to face the worst passing defense in the league as Arizona hosts the Detroit Lions. Stack him with Kyler for a huge upside.
DeVonta Smith @NO ($6,900)
With the news breaking on Sunday afternoon that A.J. Brown would miss the Eagles’ Monday Night Football showdown with Atlanta, there were heightened expectations of Smith to have a monster evening in the home tilt against Atlanta. Whilst it didn’t turn out to be quite the week winning performance fantasy managers had hoped for, Smith did still haul in 7-of-10 targets from Jalen Hurts for 76-yards and a touchdown in what turned out to be a maddening last minute loss to the Falcons. After the game, Brown revealed he expects to miss “a couple of weeks”…whether he was including the defeat to Atlanta or not is unclear, but what we can take from A.J.’s comments is that he looks likely to be out once again as Philly head south to New Orleans to take on the high-flying Saints. Smith will lead the charge through the air and will be peppered with targets as the main focal point in the Eagles passing attack. He has WR1 upside for under $7000.
Brandon Aiyuk @LAR ($6,200)
Another wideout missing his partner-in-crime this weekend will be San Francisco’s $120m man, Brandon Aiyuk. Since getting the bag, Aiyuk hasn’t exactly lived up to the lofty salary he so desperately craved, totalling just 6 catches for 71 scoreless yards in the 49ers’ opening two contests. The divisional clash at SoFi on Sunday evening however should be just what Aiyuk needs to get his season started and show just why the Niner’s front-office were willing to part with so much cash to retain his services. Aiyuk will serve as the clear-cut No.1 receiving option for Brock Purdy, particularly in the absence of Deebo Samuel, who looks set to miss at least the next 2 weeks with a calf injury. In games where Aiyuk has played without Deebo, he has averaged a 29% target share, 45% air yards share and recorded 2.92 yards per route run (Info courtesy of Dwain McFarland) – at only $6200, take advantage of the price dip…he’s going to go off against this very mediocre Rams pass defense.
Also consider: Chris Godwin v DEN ($6,500), Chris Olave v PHI ($6,300) & Jaxon Smith-Njigba v MIA ($5,400)
George Kittle @LAR ($5,700)
Kittle was added to the 49ers’ injury report on Friday – monitor his status heading into the weekend.
Brandon Aiyuk won’t be the only beneficiary from the absence of Deebo Samuel, and unlike the freshly paid wideout, George Kittle is currently playing well. The veteran tight end currently sits as the TE3 on the season, largely in part to being one of the few at the position who has found the endzone in the opening fortnight. Now in his eighth season, Kittle is still regarded as one of, if not the best all-round tight end – being as effective as a blocker as he is a receiver. With Samuel on the sidelines, expect Kittle to be leaned on more frequently in the passing game against the Rams on Sunday. Aiyuk projects to lead the team in targets for the visit to SoFi… but don’t be shocked if it’s Kittle’s name at the top of the box score across all receiving categories as the two divisional rivals go head-to-head with the hopes of kick-starting their season.
Brock Bowers v CAR ($5,400)
Entering the season, there was little doubt that the 21-year-old Georgia Bulldog was the best tight end in this rookie class – after only two weeks, is there a case to be made that Brock Bowers is actually the best tight end in the entire league? In only his second game as a pro, Bowers hauled in all 9 of his targets from Gardner Minshew for 98-yards, in the Raiders come-from-behind victory on the road against the Ravens. Bowers looks legit, and alongside veteran wideout Davante Adams, will be the main focus of this very efficient Raiders passing attack (Minshew has the highest completion % of all QBs). He’s priced as the TE4 on the slate – but going up against a Carolina outfit who have allowed 73 points, and surrendered 2 touchdowns to TEs, in their opening 2 contests – he has TE1 upside…especially if he breaks his touchdown duck.
Also consider: Mark Andrews @DAL ($4,800) & Dallas Goedert @NO ($4,600)
Pittsburgh Steelers v LAC ($3,300)
The Steelers have recorded back-to-back weeks of double-digits fantasy points to open the season…both of which came on the road. This unit have only given up just 16 points en-route to a 2-0 start, with the only team allowing less, visiting Heinz Field this Sunday (I’m not calling it Acrisure Stadium – it will forever be Heinz Field). Under new Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, the Los Angeles Chargers also sit proudly atop their division at 2-0 – but could be set for their trip to western Pennsylvania without their star quarterback Justin Herbert. The fifth-year QB missed Wednesday’s practice, and was limited on Thursday, with an ankle injury. If Herbert is limited in any way come Sunday, the Steelers DST are a good DFS play – if he’s out altogether, they are a great one.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers v DEN ($3,000)
One offense I would not be shy facing off against this week, even more so if their starting quarterback does play, is the 0-2 Denver Broncos. Sean McVay’s charges have mustered only 526-yards of total offense (29th) and 26 total points (30th) in their opening two matchups, and not travel to face a resolute Buccaneers defense who limited the potent Detroit Lions attack to a mere 16-points last weekend. Good defence, bad offense, low over/under (41.0) and a heavy home favourite (-6.5)…don’t overthink this one. Tampa will be in a majority of my lineups at the DST position this Sunday.
Also consider: Cleveland Browns v NYG ($3,800) & San Francisco 49ers @LAR ($3500)
Remember you can find our other DFS content here. Reach out on social media, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server.
