Defense

As we roll into Week 3 NFL DFS, we’re going to try someoff-the-wall plays in GPPs, including one TE who’s been very quiet during the firsttwo weeks. There’s our usual group of cash game plays for your NFL DFS lineups– as well as some contrarian specials who could explode for monster gametotals.

Sign up NOW for WIN DAILY Premium Gold right here! Projections, wagering info, 24/7 expert chats and more!

Week 3 NFL DFS Tight End Cash Game Plays 

Zach Ertz, PHI vs. DET

FD ($6,900)        DK ($5,700) 

Theres not too many standout cash game plays in Week 3 NFL DFS among the TEs, as many of them look more like GPP plays. But with injuries to Alshon Jeffrey, DeSean Jackson and TE Dallas Goedert (who’s dealing with a calf injury), it makes sense that both Ertz and WR Nelson Agholor will draw more looks from Carson Wentz. When I look for upside plays at TE I search for opponents with LB issues, and the Lions unit is having some problems with both injuries and inexperience. Most importantly for cash games, however, is a boatload of targets. Ertz saw 16 targets in Week 2 against Atlanta and he’s much cheaper than Travis Kelce, who’s more of a GPP play this week.

George Kittle, SF vs. PIT

FD ($6,600)        DK ($5,600) 

Normally I’d prefer Kittle in large-field tournaments for NFL DFS, and last week’s relative dud (3-54-0 on just three targets) doesn’t help make my case. But the Steelers defensive unit is best attacked with TEs and possession wide receivers and Kittle is the most reliable option for Jimmy Garoppolo in a game that the 49ers should win. Last week I suspected that offensive ball control meant lots of looks for Kittle, but they really didn’t need him that much. We’re still waiting for the big offensive breakout and Kittle had two touchdowns called back on penalties Week 1, so there’s some hope on that front. He’s one of the team’s better red-zone options despite the lack of a TD through the first two games, and I think he’ll change that on Sunday.

Week 3 Tight End NFL DFS — GPP Plays

Travis Kelce, KC vs. BAL

FD ($8,000)        DK ($7,100) 

For many reasons, I like Kelce for cash games, especially if you’re not spending up for RBs and WRs. But I really like him for GPPs. As the most expensive TE and a facing what could be a tougher on-paper matchup against the Ravens, his ownership may be slightly down from last week. Kelce has double-digit receptions and two-TD upside every week, and there’s not much opposing defenses can do to stop him with all the weapons that Patrick Mahomes has at his disposal. I could see Kelce setting season highs in receptions, yardage and TDs in this game and being the linchpin on some tournament-winning lineups.

O.J. Howard, TB vs. NYG

FD ($5,800)        DK ($3,800) 

The first two weeks have frustrated Howard’s DFS supporters, and it’s safe to say the 2019 season is off to a poor start for the athletic, big-bodied TE who carried plenty of pundit buzz into Week 1. But playing time wasn’t the problem on Thursday, with Howard finishing second to just Chris Godwin in snaps among the Buccaneers skill position players. Fellow tight end Cameron Brate was on the field for just 18 snaps, so Brate just isn’t really cutting into Howard’s production. The main issue is targets, or a lack of them — which Bruce Arians said would change in the coming weeks. There’s no better time for a great bounce-back spot facing the Giants in Week 3, when the squeaky wheel should get some much-needed grease.

Evan Engram, NYG at TB

FD ($6,400)        DK ($5,200) 

We’re a couple weeks into the 2019 season and the Giants corps of receivers is an absolute disaster, though they could be getting Sterling Shepard back since he’s out of the concussion protocol. Engram, however, is still the Giants most reliable receiver excluding their star RB, and I’d even be willing to use him in cash games if they weren’t starting rookie Daniel Jones at QB this week. As bad as Eli Manning has been, he’s maintained a solid rapport with Engram the past couple of seasons. Jones will look to establish a similar relationship early and often, but there’s some inherent risk in this offense. Engram is a fine GPP play who won’t be chalky.

T.J. Hockenson, DET at PHI

FD ($5,500)         DK ($3,500) 

As we round out our GPP options, we can look for plays that buck the trends of recency bias, and since Hockenson disappointed in Week 2, he’s a good place to land. The Lions TE hauled in just one catch for seven yards on three targets against the Chargers, but I’m willing to throw out that performance, since every Lions passing game option took a backseat to WR Kenny Golladay and his seemingly effortless dominance. Hockenson is an exciting rookie with tons of upside on Sunday against an Eagles team that allowed Vernon Davis to run and jump over several defenders to find the end zone in Week 1. I’m expecting big things in Week 3 from him, and since the price isn’t an oppressive one, I’ll have some shares.

Week 3 Tight End NFL DFS — Value and Punt Plays 

Darren Waller, OAK at MIN

FD(5,400)         DK ($3,300) 

Waller entered Week 2 as a popular play after a huge Week 1, seeing another high-usage game (95% of team snaps, seven targets and 6-63-0 in the loss to the Chiefs in Week 2). So he’s flourishing in the Jared Cook role in this Raiders offense, and should continue to compete with Tyrell Williams for the team lead in targets every week. While his Week 3 matchup against the Vikings and their capable defensive unit (Harrison Smith, Eric Kendricks and company) is a tough one, there’s plenty of reasons to believe Derek Carr will be peppering Waller more than anyone else. The Raiders have their work cut out for them in a possible game script which could ultimately benefit Waller more than in the first two weeks. He’s cheap and he’ll be on plenty of my GPP lineups – where I don’t mind pairing him with Kelce again with one of the two occupying the flex spot.

Blake Jarwin, DAL vs. MIA

FD ($4,500)        DK ($2,900) 

Full disclosure: I’m a Cowboys fan and I love Blake Jarwin, so I’mnot giving up on him despite his quiet Week 2, when he had just one catch for22 yards.  He should have plenty of opportunitiesto score against Dolphins in Week 3, and if the Cowboys get out to a big lead,I doubt they’ll have Jason Witten on the field a lot. Jarwin could easily graba handful of catches and a couple of scores as Dak Prescott passes the time pickingapart the decimated Dolphins secondary. The athletic and reliable pass catcher isclose to the minimum salary on both sites, and he should see more than his usualshare of red zone looks on Sunday.

Additional GPP options:

Greg Olsen, CAR at ARI (FD $6,100,DK $3,700) 

Vance McDonald, (FD $5,900, DK $4,300)

Austin Hooper, ATL at IND(FD $5,800, DK $3,600)

Eric Ebron, IND vs. ATL (FD $5,700, DK $3,800)

Week 3 NFL DFS — DST Cash Game Plays 

Dallas Cowboys (DAL vs. MIA)

FD ($5,000)        DK ($4,300) 

The Cowboys are 21.5 point favorites at home facing a Dolphins team that has scored just 10 points through the first two weeks. While a lot of the focus has been on the Dolphins defensive woes (their negative-114.7 percent DVOA through two games is the worst of any team since at least 1986), they rank last in both offensive and defensive DVOA on the season, and they’re starting Josh Rosen this week over Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Cowboys pass rush could be better and they have some defensive holes, but they’re the top defense in consensus rankings and make for a fine cash game play.

New England Patriots (NE atMIA)

FD ($5,000)        DK ($3,800) 

I didn’t think we could see a point spread larger than the oneabove, but the Pats are 23-point favorites at home over the Jets. The Jets havean offense than went from mediocre, right past bad, and straight into terriblewhen they lost Sam Darnold and then watched in horror as Trevor Siemian had hisankle disassembled on prime time during Monday Night Football. They don’t havetheir full complement of receivers and won’t be able to do much to stop aPatriots defense that’s looked excellent through the first two games. I’d beusing the Pats in cash games and GPPs, where they could be somewhat ignoredthanks to the existence of the Cowboys-Dolphins matchup.

Minnesota Vikings (MIN vs.OAK)

FD ($4,200)        DK ($3,300) 

I’m not going to have too many shares of the Vikings in cash gamesbecause I don’t usually plug in DST last, but if that’s your strategy and youend up with less than the requisite funds for the Cowboys or Pats, they’re adecent option at home facing a dinged up Raiders offense with plenty ofquestion marks. If you arrive at Minnesota in your builds, don’t click off ofthem.

Week 2 NFL DFS — DST GPP Plays

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TBvs. NYG)

FD ($4,300)        DK ($2,900) 

The Giants are bad, and they might be getting worse. I’m wary ofstarting the Bucs in cash games because it’s a unit with its share of problems,but they draw a dream matchup at home facing Daniel Jones in his first NFLstart. They’re only $2,900 on DK and should have a handful of sacks and turnoversfacing a bad Giants offensive line.

Seattle Seahawks (SEA vs.NO)

FD($3,700)         DK ($2,900) 

I expect the Seahawks defensive line to make life very difficult for Teddy Bridgewater and the Saints – who are still reeling from the loss of Drew Brees, the NFL’s all-time passing yardage leader. It’s a difficult environment playing in Seattle, and with some of the Seahawks new acquisitions making their presence felt, there’s lost of opportunity for turnovers and sacks in what could be a lopsided victory for the home team. I’m surprised the spread is just 4.5 points.

Green Bay Packers (GB vs.DEN)

FD($4,500)         DK ($2,800) 

The Packers have a much-improved defensive unit and draw arelatively conservative Broncos offense that doesn’t put up too many points. GreenBay has given up just 19 points through its first two games, so they’recertainly an option in GPPs, especially since they’re playing at home.

Week 2 NFL DFS — DST Punt Plays 

Carolina Panthers (CAR atARI)

FD ($3,700)        DK ($2,700) 

This Carolina defense might be a little too risky in cash games,because the Cards and their Air Raid offense can put points on the board andhave some potent weapons in David Johnson and Kyler Murray, so I’d prefer youpunt them in GPPs. But let’s face it: The Panthers are way too cheap and shouldregister a handful of sacks and a turnover or two.

Cincinnati Bengals (CIN atBUF)

FD ($3,400)        DK ($2,400) 

The Bengals are viable in GPPs but might be the better cash game punt considering the injuries to the Bills RB corps. Expect a consistent pass rush from Cincy and the chance for some big defensive plays.

Photo of O.J. Howard by Airman 1st Class Ryan Grossklag