Week 2 was just out of hand in the NFL, already creating chaos in the world of fantasy football. Everything just seemed to be a bit off from what we’ve come to expect. A load of running backs went down with injuries this week, which had made the waiver wire a hot commodity for week 3. Top receivers again spectated as many of them played second fiddle to their teammate counterparts. While Mr. Guarantee Antonio Brown plays second fiddle to no one, he too, cashed in a dud on Sunday and that was with Big Ben as quarterback.

As a result, I personally did not do well in my daily lineups for the first time in a long time, but that’s okay. This week is a new week and there will be ample opportunities for players stepping into starting roles while others are forced to sit to nurse their injuries. We have to assume that some of the top players like Brown and company will have bounce back performances this week. Not all are in the best of matchups, however. Here’s a look at who we like in DraftKings for Week 3 in GPP tournament play.

NFL DFS DraftKings GPP Plays for Week 3

DailyFantasyNerd DraftKings GPP Play of the Day

Melvin Gordon (SD) @ IND $5,800

Danny Woodhead is officially out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL. While it’s unfortunate news for him and his owners, Melvin Gordon now gets a huge boost in the Chargers backfield. Gordon could now see north of 20 touches a game, and become more involved in the passing game. His lack of involvement in the passing game is what brought Gordon’s value down in PPR leagues prior to the start of the season. His three catches on Sunday against Jacksonville, however, indicates he could finally see more catches out of the backfield.

Gordon gets a juicy matchup right off the rip as the Chargers visit the league’s worst rushing defense so far this year. Both Theo Riddick and Ameer Abdullah had career-like games in Week 1 against the Colts, followed by C.J. Anderson totaling nearly 100 yards last week. All three men have combined for four touchdowns against the Colts in the first two weeks. Gordon himself already has three to kick start the season and is in line for a big game on Sunday.

Quarterbacks

Andrew Luck (IND) vs. SD $7,600

There are a lot of quarterback matchups I like this week. Unfortunately, you might have to pay up for them more than one would like. One of the more expensive players I like this week is Andrew Luck. The Chargers were one of the worst ranked passing defenses last season and it doesn’t appear that anything’s changed. They allowed Alex Smith to complete 70 percent of his passes in Week 1 and even allowed Blake Bortles to put up reasonable numbers last week after a horrific start. Luck had an off day last week against the Broncos which is to be expected. Look for him to bounce back in a big way at home.

 

Matt Ryan (ATL) @ NO $7,400

Matt Ryan is off to a fast start this year similar to how the Falcons always seem to do, although they continue to miss the postseason. Ryan hopes to change that though and has a great matchup this week against Drew Brees and the Saints in the Superdome. The ideal fantasy matchup between the Giants and Saints last week didn’t go quite as I expected. The low scoring output doesn’t automatically make me a believer in the Saints defense, however, and I expect Ryan to continue his hot start.

Ryan Tannehill (MIA) vs. CLE $6,200

Tannehill’s inconsistencies are what keep him from being an elite QB, but he’s capable of putting up QB1 numbers with the right matchup. After two tough losses at Seattle and at New England, the Dolphins get to welcome in the lowly Browns for their home opener. There could be concern over a blowout, but Dolphins RB Arian Foster is likely to miss this week because of a groin injury. The Dolphins don’t have anyone else that is a true lead back so it’s a good assumption that Tannehill could have over 40 pass attempts in back-to-back weeks against a weak Cleveland defense.

Other Notables: Drew Brees (NO) vs. ATL $7,900, Aaron Rodgers (GB) vs. DET $7,700, Joe Flacco (BAL) @ JAX $6,100

Running Backs

DeAngelo Williams (PIT) @ PHI $7,500

Like quarterback, there are a ton of running backs I like this week. Some are expensive, but with injuries plaguing RBs last week, there’s value to be had as well. Williams is pricey, but he will get another huge workload in the battle for Pennsylvania supremacy. With over 30 touches in each of his first two games, Williams is about as close to a sure thing as it gets. Starting in the final week before Le’Veon Bell returns from suspension, Williams will get another heavy dose against the Eagles.

DeMarco Murray (TEN) vs. OAK $6,300

DeMarco Murray has yet to surpass 100 yards rushing to start his Titan campaign, but his involvement in the passing game is what helps his fantasy stock. Murray has gone over 20 fantasy points in consecutive weeks and could do the same against a very suspect Oakland team. The Raiders defense was expected to finish in the top 10 this season, and still very well could, but have given up over 30 points in each of their first two games. With the Titans relying heavily on their new running back, expect Murray to flirt near 20 touches again in this matchup.

Fozzy Whittaker (CAR) vs. MIN $3,800

Whittaker is a great value play this week as he steps in for an injured Jonathan Stewart. The matchup isn’t the most ideal against a stingy Vikings defense, but Whittaker should get the majority of the workload. There is the chance the Panthers choose to go with a committee approach, but Whittaker is coming off a 100-yard performance on just 16 carries against the 49ers. Should he see a similar workload, Whittaker should reach value with relative ease this week, making for a nice FLEX option.

Other Notables: Matt Forte (NYJ) @ KC $7,000, Tevin Coleman (ATL) @ NO $4,500, Jerick McKinnon (MIN) @ CAR $3,800

Wide Receivers

Julio Jones (ATL) @ NO $9,500

There are a lot of receiver options that I like this week. Usually, I prefer to pay up for the position, but there are some intriguing plays this week that can bring a ton of value at a cheaper rate. One player I’m continuing to front the money for though is Julio Jones. Jones has had a relatively slow start to the season by his standards, but still managed to find the endzone in each game.

Against the Saints this week, Jones has a good chance to make it three straight weeks with a touchdown and should see double-digit targets for the first time this year. Mohamed Sanu has been a nice addition for the Falcons thus far, but he’ll continue to take a backseat to Jones similar to how he did in Cincinnati with A.J. Green. Loading Jones and QB Matt Ryan in a lineup this week could bring glorious results.

Marvin Jones Jr. (DET) @ GB $6,200

After just two games, it’s evidently clear that Marvin Jones has surpassed Golden Tate as Detroit’s #1 receiver. The numbers even show in DraftKings with Jones now priced higher than teammate Golden Tate ($5,900). Neither player has yet to record a touchdown this season, but Jones has seen double digit targets in the team’s first two contests and went over 100 yards receiving last week against Tennessee. He’s in a position this week to again have a big game against Green Bay.

In last week’s Sunday Night Football matchup, Stefon Diggs torched the Packers secondary. The week before, Jacksonville’s receivers put up some really good numbers across the board as well. It’s clear Jones has earned the trust of QB Matthew Stafford in his short time with the team. Jones’ price is on the rise so this may be the last week to grab him at a reasonable rate.

Travis Benjamin (SD) @ IND $5,200

Benjamin is another one of my favorite plays this week against the abysmal Colts defense, and a player I’ll be inserting in a majority of my lineups. A void was left open for the Chargers after Keenan Allen was placed on IR with a torn ACL. The Chargers have already lost a number of players this year due to injuries, giving Benjamin the opportunity to become Philip Rivers #1 target. He’s off to a pretty good start after corralling in all six of his targets against the Jaguars for two touchdowns. Similar numbers can be expected against Indianapolis, which could turn into a shootout.

Other Notables: Larry Fitzgerald (ARI) @ BUF $6,900, DeVante Parker (MIA) vs. CLE $4,900, Will Fuller (HOU) @ NE $4,800

Tight Ends

Eric Ebron (DET) @ GB $3,700

In addition to having a great first name, Eric Ebron is finally showing his worth to the team who drafted him in the top 10 over two years ago. Ebron has had trouble staying healthy in his short career, and even had an ankle scare prior to the season. His ankle hasn’t slowed him down though, and now Ebron gets a Packers defense that ranks near the bottom against tight ends. While struggling with drops early in his career and throughout college, Ebron appears to have worked on this area of his game. He’s one of the most targeted tight ends in the league and should be one of Stafford’s favorites this weekend, particularly in the red zone.

Other Notables: Jordan Reed (WAS) @ NYG $6,500, Greg Olsen (CAR) vs. MIN $5,800, Jason Witten (DAL) vs. CHI $4,300

Defense

Houston Texans @ NE $3,000

None of the defensive matchups really jump out at me this week, but the Texans appear to be in a good spot on a short week. I almost never target against the Patriots offense, but with Tom Brady still serving suspension and Jimmy Garoppolo expected to be sidelined with a shoulder injury, I’m willing to make an exception this time. Rookie Jacoby Brissett is set to make his first career start on Thursday. The Patriots are also considering using Julian Edelman at quarterback, which he played in college. If Brissett is the Patriots starting QB, the Texans will do their best to make him uncomfortable and put continuous pressure on the rookie. Should the Patriots elect to go with Edelman instead, that would then eliminate one of their top two receivers. It should be noted that the Patriots are pressuring Garoppolo to play through the pain, so tread this game with caution. Even if Garoppolo suits up he will be far from 100 percent.

Other Notables: Seattle Seahawks vs. SF $4,100, Carolina Panthers vs. MIN $3,800

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