Justin Elick 
Week 2 saw some big performances from the likes of Mark Andrews (9/104/1) and Darren Waller (6/50/1), and some disappointments (looking at you, Dalton Schultz). The more data we have, the better. Here’s to Week 3 being a lucrative one!
Be sure to jump into the WinDailySports Discord, and take advantage of our cheat sheets and projections while you build your lineups for Week 3 on DraftKings and FanDuel! Let’s kick off Week 3 with some Tight End picks!
Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams ($4,500 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel)
After two weeks, the TE leading the NFL in targets is…Tyler Higbee. He has seen 11 and 9 targets, respectively, and parlayed those opportunities into 12/110. While he hasn’t found paydirt yet, this type of volume keeps him in play each week. The Rams have the 6th-highest passing rate in the NFL this season at nearly 66%.
Cooper Kupp will always be the top target here, but Higbee has become Mr. Reliable. Higbee has seen three Red Zone targets over two weeks, including three inside the 10. He may not have the upside you’re looking for to win a GPP, but he is a safe, solid bet for your cash lineup.
The Cardinals have been brutalized by opposing TE thus far in 2022, allowing a ridiculous 19/212/3 line over just two weeks. Smash spot.
Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals ($4,600 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel)
The Arizona Cardinals offense has been stagnant early in 2022. They have seemingly sleep-walked through the first half of each game before piling on the stats late. In DFS, we don’t care when the points come.
The good news? Ertz is leading all TE with five targets inside the RedZone in 2022. Even better? After being limited with only 39 snaps in Week 1, Ertz led all players at the position with 73 in Week 2.
He seems criminally underpriced for a player who tied with Mark Andrews with most TE targets in Week 2 (11). A matchup against the Rams doesn’t scare me one bit. The Cardinals are 3.5 point underdogs with a total hovering around 50. Ertz looks like an elite play across the board, despite a perceived tough matchup.
Tyler Conklin, New York Jets ($3,800 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel)
This isn’t a sexy play, but Conklin needs to be on your radar again this week. The Jets have thrown the ball on a ridiculous 74.66% of their offensive plays in 2022. This is mainly a product of playing from behind, but the point remains.
Conklin is the only TE in the NFL who has seem 70+ snaps each week. Joe Flacco has targeted him 16 times in those two games. The Bengals have allowed nearly 70 YPG to TE in 2022, and are currently listed as 4.5 point favorites. Flacco may just keep slinging it until his arm falls off at this point.
Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers ($4,400 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel)
Everett may find himself in the doghouse after last week, but that remains to be seen. If you missed it, Everett was targeted on consecutive plays. The Chargers ran hurry-up, Everett called to the sideline to come out of the game and was waved off. Justin Herbert looked his way at the goal-line and Everett was gassed. Pick-6. Game-changer.
I’m choosing to look past that and focus on the good. Everett has hauled in nine of 14 targets for 125 yards and a score over two games this season (6-71 on 10 targets in Week 2). The status of Keenan Allen will likely play a huge factor for Everett’s target share. Be sure to watch out for his status, and Everett’s floor and ceiling will take a hit if he returns in Week 3.
Jacksonville has been tough on opposing TE in 2022, but they haven’t played anyone of note. Give Everett a look this week, especially if Allen can’t go.
Irv Smith Jr, Minnesota Vikings ($3,100 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
Smith paid off in a big way on Monday night, but it could have been so much better. He dropped a WIDE OPEN ball that most likely would have been a long touchdown. Despite this gaffe, his 5/36/1 line on eight targets was exactly what we were looking for.
He still only saw 34 snaps, but that was nearly double his total from Week 1 (19). Justin Jefferson was shut down by Darius Slay (but mostly by Kirk Cousins), which opened up more opportunities for Smith. The Lions have had issues on the defensive end this season, allowing 65 points in two games. If Cousins can get it together, this one has shootout potential. Take a look at TJ Hockenson on the opposite side as well.
I don’t need to tell you to play the likes of Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews, but they are elite plays regardless of matchup.
Come find me on Twitter and let’s chat some football! Good luck in Week 3, and let’s meet at the top of the leaderboards!
