X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Break The Slate: NFL DFS DraftKings Lineup Picks - Week 3

The top daily fantasy football lineup picks for DraftKings in Week 3 of 2019. Joe Nicely's NFL DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.

Hello again RotoBallers and NFL DFS fans! Thanks for joining me here at Break The Slate, a weekly article in which we try to pinpoint the best DraftKings plays available on the main slate. The Kansas City vs Baltimore matchup looms large this week, but you (surprisingly) won't find any Ravens or Chiefs in this week's write up. Why? Because you don't need me to tell you to target this matchup and all its juicy pieces.

These DraftKings lineup recommendations are based on matchups, projected ownership, overall upside/talent levels, opportunity, and other factors such as Vegas odds, home field advantage, and more. There are quite a few great plays available, so read on to find out which players are the best for Week 3.

Good luck with your DraftKings DFS lineups, lets Break The Slate together!

 

DraftKings DFS Quarterbacks - Week 3 Picks

Dak Prescott - MIA @ DAL ($6,500)

At the risk of being repetitive, I'm going right back to the Dak Prescott well in Week 3. Those of you that read last week's article know that I was 'all-in' on Dak against the Redskins and his matchup this week against the Dolphins is even better! Prescott looks like a man that's playing for a huge contract and new Cowboys coordinator Kellen Moore's revamped offense is obviously a great fit for him. He's completed an eye-popping 51 of 62 passes through two games for 674 yards and seven TDs. He draws a matchup against perhaps the worst team and defense in the NFL. Through two games Miami has allowed more DraftKings points (68.32) and passing TDs (8) to the QB position than any team in the league. The only concern here is the blowout factor, (however, we've seen the Cowboys remain aggressive throughout in two games that they've won rather handily) but with the Cowboys projected to score roughly 35 points by Vegas oddsmakers, you have to figure Dak will play a big role in getting them there. All eyes will be on the QBs in the KC vs Baltimore matchup, but a pivot to Dak offers salary savings and perhaps the path of least resistance to reaching a monster score at the QB position.

Jameis Winston - NYG @ TB ($5,400)

My oh my, how the fantasy sentiment has changed on Tampa QB Jameis Winston in such a short timespan. In just two weeks, the mob has turned on 'Famous Jameis' after a couple of disappointing outings. His DK price tag has cratered to $5,400 (from $6,600 in Week 1) and, as of this writing, it doesn't look like he'll garner much ownership this week. While he definitely profiles as more of a 'GPP only' play, I do have some serious interest in Winston this week. The matchup is a good one, as he draws a Giants secondary that is only nominally better than the aforementioned Dolphins statistically. NY has allowed the third-most DK points (58.62) and yards (658) to opposing QBs this season. Winston hasn't found his groove yet, but this is a prime breakout spot...he's coming off a Thursday night game (which should give him a little extra prep time), he's at home, and this Bucs offense has a point projection of just over 27 points. This is a contrarian move, but I like the leverage that rostering Winston should give us in large-field GPPs.

 

DraftKings DFS Running Backs - Week 3 Picks

Ezekiel Elliott - MIA @ DAL ($8,900)

If you couldn't tell from the Dak Prescott write-up above, I'm pretty high on the Cowboys chances on offense this week. It's an offense that - while definitely giving Dak more opportunities under new OC Kellen Moore - will still run through Ezekiel Elliott. That philosophy should especially ring true this week in a game in which the Cowboys are huge home favorites against a putrid Dolphins defense. Miami has allowed opposing backs to run roughshod this year and are giving up a chunky 4.48 yards per carry through two games. The bad news for Miami fans is that Elliott (and this offensive line) will be their toughest matchup yet. After easing Zeke into things in Week 1, the Cowboys gave him 23 carries against Washington last week and he should be in for somewhere in that neighborhood against Miami.

Dalvin Cook - OAK @ MIN ($7,800)

After a huge Week 1, Dalvin Cook surprisingly went a bit overlooked last week. I don't expect that to be the case again in Week 3 with a matchup against the Oakland Raiders, but I'm willing to eat a little chalk at this sub-$8k price. The Raiders defense has been competent at stopping the run this season - so this isn't really a matchup that we're going out of our way to target - but, like Zeke Elliott, Cook offers a common-sense path to a big score. Minnesota's offense is old school in that it will not abandon the run, even if they were to get behind early in this game. The Vikes have attempted 65 rushes over their first two games (the fourth-most attempts in the NFL) with Cook getting 41 of those. He currently leads the NFL in rushing with 265 yards and should once again be relied upon heavily in a game where Minnesota is a strong home favorite.

Frank Gore - CIN @ BUF ($4,400)

I'm aware that Bills RB Frank Gore is a pretty vanilla recommendation, but (the name of this column aside) not every pick can be a home run. What Gore lacks in explosiveness, he should make up for with his usage and pristine matchup in Week 3. Through two weeks the Bengals have allowed 83.50 DK points to opposing running backs, the most in the league by a wide margin. With youngster Devin Singletary injured, Gore logged 18 carries and received two targets against the Giants last week. We should expect a similar workload against Cincy (with Singletary looking extremely questionable) in a game where the Bills are six-point home favorites. If you are a true believer in this spot you can even pair Gore with the Bills D/ST.

 

DraftKings DFS Wide Receivers - Week 3 Picks

Kenny Golladay - DET @ PHI ($6,600)

This is a 'trifecta' spot for us, as we get a good player - Detroit's Kenny Golladay - with a reasonable price tag that's in a smash-spot matchup. 'BabyTron' has certainly garnered some Calvin Johnson-like attention from Lions QB Matt Stafford so far this season, as he's been targeted 19 times through two games with an aDOT of 15.5 yards. Golladay has turned those targets into 159 yards and two TDs. The Eagles should probably try to get in on the Jalen Ramsey sweepstakes, because this Philly secondary has been perhaps the worst unit in the league at stopping wide receivers. They've relinquished the most DK points in the NFL (116.20) to opposing wideouts through two games. This Philly defense is stout against the run and should funnel the Lions usage into the air this week with Golladay set to be the prime beneficiary.

Christian Kirk - CAR @ ARI ($5,000)

Christian Kirk is a player that was on my radar last season and my interest level skyrocketed when the Cards hired Kliff Kingsbury and then drafted Kyler Murray. Kirk disappointed in Week 1, despite seeing a massive 12 targets in this up-tempo Arizona offense. His stat line looked much better last week when he grabbed six balls on eight targets for 114 yards in a tough matchup against the Ravens. I'm ready to get back on the Kirk train this week against the Panthers. At first glance, the Carolina pass defense looks solid, but they have shown themselves to be susceptible to slot receivers - Chris Godwin put up an 8/121/1 line on them in Week 2 working primarily from the slot - and Kirk has lined up in the slot on 104 of his 135 snaps this season. Arizona plays at the second-fastest pace in the NFL and it's not hard to envision Kirk getting 10 or so targets in this matchup.

Nelson Agholor - DET @ PHI ($3,600)

Volume, volume, volume. Volume should be your DFS 'Holy Grail' and it's what draws me to Nelson Agholor this week. Even after several years in the league, I'm still not sure if Agholor is even a decent football player, but a heavy workload can help even a bad player become viable in a DFS format. With the slew of injuries that Philly suffered against Atlanta in Week 2, Agholor was thrust into action and was peppered with 11 targets which he converted into eight catches for 107 yards and a TD. He's an injury-dependent play this week, meaning keep an eye on the status of Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson. If they both sit, the former USC Trojan should once again get all the work he can handle at just $3.6k.

 

DraftKings DFS Tight Ends - Week 3 Picks

Zach Ertz - DET @ PHI ($5,700)

After being very thrifty at the TE spot for the first two weeks of the season, I'm gonna have to dig between the couch cushions and find some extra cash for the tight ends I like this week. My first priority is Philly's Zach Ertz, who returned to his 'target monster' role in the Eagles offense Sunday night against Atlanta after about half of the Philly pass-catching corps went down with injuries. This is a situation I'm going to monitor up until kickoff Sunday, but as of this writing Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson, and Dallas Goedert are all very questionable for Sunday's game against the Lions. As for the matchup itself, it's mediocre at best, as the Lions have been solid against the position, but haven't really faced a pass-catching TE yet. Depending on how the Philly injuries shakeout, Ertz could be in line for another 10-plus target day, which would make him a volume-driven 'must play'.

Evan Engram - NYG @ TB ($5,200)

While Zach Ertz will receive a spike in usage due to some injuries, Evan Engram is heavily targeted each week because the Giants simply have no other talented pass catchers. Engram's target counts through the first two weeks of the season are 14 and eight, which he's cashed in for 164 yards and a TD. The talented tight end gets an upgrade at the QB spot this week with Eli Manning heading to the bench, not to mention a matchup against a Tampa defense that has allowed a catch rate of nearly 74% to opposing tight ends this season.

 

DraftKings DFS Defenses - Week 3 Picks

New England Patriots - NYJ @ NE ($3,800)

Definitely a 'set it and forget it' play here, but sometimes the obvious play is the right one. I'm always looking to save salary at the volatile D/ST roster spot, but if I'm paying up this week I'm rolling with the Patriots. They are massive home favorites against an offensively challenged Jets squad that is coming off a three-point dud on Monday night and will be forced to rely on their third-string QB. This New England unit is smart, disciplined, and always seems to capitalize on their opponents mistakes, of which there will most likely be many this week.

San Francisco 49ers - PIT @ SF ($3,200)

There's a good chance that Pittsburgh's Mason Rudolph will step in and be a very serviceable NFL quarterback for the Steelers, but he's still in a pretty tough spot this week. Rudolph will be making his first start as a pro for an 0-2 team that's traveling across the country to take on a 49ers defensive front that has been very impressive in 2019. San Fran has reached opposing QBs seven times through two games and has four picks with two defensive TDs. Look for the Niners to apply some relentless pressure on the rookie QB, which could force Rudolph into multiple mistakes.

More Weekly DFS Analysis




REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Luis Torrens53 mins ago

Dealing With Bruised Forearm
George Springer58 mins ago

Dealing With Back Spasms
Bobby Witt Jr.1 hour ago

Slugs First Homer Of The Season
Alexis Díaz2 hours ago

Alexis Diaz Might Not Return To Closer Role When Activated From Injured List
Austin Gomber2 hours ago

Shut Down From Throwing, Won't Pitch For A Few Weeks
Yoán Moncada2 hours ago

Yoan Moncada Expected To Miss Sunday's Game, Could Return On Tuesday
Matt McLain2 hours ago

Could Miss Sunday's Game Against Milwaukee
George Springer3 hours ago

Exits Saturday's Game Early After Crashing Into Wall
Carson Kelly4 hours ago

Provides Power On Saturday
Matthew Boyd4 hours ago

Throws Six Scoreless Innings
Ronald Acuña Jr.4 hours ago

Ronald Acuna Jr. To Meet With Doctors Soon
Eduardo Rodriguez4 hours ago

Records 12 Strikeouts
Jackson Holliday4 hours ago

Posts Three-Hit Performance
Trent Grisham4 hours ago

Blasts Two Homers
MLB6 hours ago

Red Sox-Cardinals Postponed On Saturday
Matt McLain7 hours ago

Scratched On Saturday
Yoán Moncada7 hours ago

Yoan Moncada Won't Play On Saturday
Luis Rengifo7 hours ago

Playing On Saturday
Patrick Bailey7 hours ago

Takes A Seat On Saturday
Luke Raley7 hours ago

Heads To The Bench
Jorge Polanco7 hours ago

Resting On Saturday
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP
10
10
11
11
12
19
13
22
14
24
15
25
16
29
17
39
18
40
19
41

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
1
1
2
3
3
7
4
11
6
14
7
15
8
18
9
19
10
20

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 

Top 10 Fantasy Football Busts Of All Time - Le'Veon Bell, Peyton Hillis, LeSean McCoy, and more

Fantasy football managers have the fear of picking busts fresh in their minds every season because every year, players who are thought to be headed for productive seasons, whether due to injury, not reaching overly high expectations, or other reasons, bust hard. Those who drafted San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey are well aware […]


Mark Andrews - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Every AFC Team's Most Overvalued Dynasty Fantasy Football Player

The 16 teams that comprise the AFC all have players that I don't think are worth, on their own, what you could get for them in trades as compensation. Not all of them are bad players, though. In fact, some of them are quite good. "Most overvalued" is a relative thing. And since there's not […]


Jayden Daniels - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Free Agency Check - Fantasy Football Quarterback ADP Risers and Fallers

This NFL offseason has been incredible. With big-name free agents shuffling around the league, 2025 looks like an exciting season, and we haven’t even had the draft yet! Over the last few offseasons, we have seen a massive increase in quarterbacks switching teams. This season, the list includes Russell Wilson, Sam Darnold, Geno Smith, Justin […]


Kenneth Walker III - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Running Back Next Gen Stats Review - Fantasy Football Outlooks For 2025

After the 2023 season, we covered Next Gen Stats for the running back position. We highlighted rush yards over expected per attempt and the percentage of carries with eight defenders in the box. Now, it's time to examine the Next Gen Stats for running backs again, but we'll mix in other advanced metrics. Unsurprisingly, rush […]


Cooper Kupp - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Dynasty Fantasy Football Buy or Sell: DK Metcalf, Cooper Kupp, Davante Adams

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp, and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams all landed in new teams ahead of the 2025 season. Formerly of the Seahawks, Rams, and New York Jets, all three of these wideouts' fantasy football values have undergone marked shifts after landing at their […]


UFL DFS PICKS, FANTASY FOOTBALL, DRAFTKINGS, FANDUEL

UFL DFS Lineup Picks: DraftKings Daily Fantasy Fantasy Advice for Week 2

Welcome to Week 2 of the inaugural UFL season, RotoBallers! We already have one week in the books, with the XFL teams off to a hot start at 3-1 while the USFL conference went 1-3. We have Houston squaring off against Arlington in the early game and San Antonio versus St. Louis in the later […]


Michael Florio's Football Show - Podcast RotoBaller Network

Florio's Football Show: NFL Draft QB Scouting Report!

Michael F. Florio gives his scouting report for the 2025 NFL Draft QB class. Do Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders live up the hype? Should you be excited about Jaxson Dart and Jalen Milroe? Plus, he goes over the deeper options in this class! Be sure to also tune into RotoBaller Radio on SiriusXM (SiriusXM channel […]


UFL RANKINGS, FANTASY FOOTBALL,

UFL Best Bets: Week 2 Picks

Well, the opening week is always full of curveballs, and 2025 was no exception. We actually saw the Birmingham Stallions lose a game, looking bad in the process. Overall, I went 3-3-1 on spreads and over/unders last week, so a bit inconvenient that neither parlay worked out. It is a short season, so the pressure […]


Isaiah Bond - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks - NFL Draft

Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Sleepers: 5 Undervalued Draft Targets

We all know at this point who the top names are heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. Ashton Jeanty will be the dynasty rookie RB1. Tetairoa McMillan will be the rookie WR1. But fantasy leagues aren't won just by getting a top-2 or three rookie pick and grabbing the best guys. Rookie drafts are also […]


Ja'Marr Chase fantasy football rankings NFL DFS lineup picks

Two-Round Start-Up Dynasty Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 12-Team, Single Quarterback

The players you select in the early rounds of dynasty fantasy football start-up drafts have a massive impact on the chances of your team winning for many seasons after the first one. So it's crucial to nail these picks, and there are a few ways you can do that. Obviously, no one's being selected in […]


Tetairoa McMillan - College Football DFS Lineup Picks, NCAA CFB, NFL Draft Prospect

2025 Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Mock Draft: 12-Team, Single-QB

Thankfully, fans and fantasy football players only have to wait a few more weeks for the 2025 NFL Draft. That means dynasty fantasy rookie mock drafts are right around the corner. While dynasty fantasy outlooks for the NFL Draft prospects will change between today and the end of April, it’s time for another dynasty rookie […]


Davante Adams - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Fantasy Football Outlooks For Wide Receivers On New Teams: Davante Adams, DK Metcalf, Stefon Diggs, Cooper Kupp, Christian Kirk, and more

The 2025 NFL offseason has been full of breaking news alerts. Last year, all the action was at the running back position, with Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Josh Jacobs changing teams. However, all the action has been at the wide receiver position this offseason. Some big-name wide receivers remained with their current teams. Tee […]


Bijan Robinson - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers

Fantasy Football Running Back Preview: Targets & Sleepers For 2025 Drafts

While the NFL is in the middle of its offseason, the fantasy football world never takes a break. Much in the fantasy world will change between now and the start of the regular season. Yet, let’s take an early look at the running back position for 2025 fantasy football drafts. Below are three early-round studs, […]