NFL DFS Week 3 DraftKings Main Slate Look Ahead: Early Values in Our Projections

The NFL is ready to roll out another full Sunday slate, with 13 afternoon games for the second straight week. This week, nine games kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET, with four games in the late window, including the Cowboys-Ravens matchup in Rio de Janeiro. Let’s take a look at this 26-team slate and see which players the early projections are pointing to as values to target this week.

From a game-script perspective, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills are tied for the highest implied team total on the board at 27.75 points. The game in Brazil has the highest over/under, which makes both the Cowboys and Ravens interesting to consider in what could be a high-scoring spot on the slate. While kickoff is still a few days away, it’s never too early to start strategizing for your NFL DFS lineups for Week 3. Even in the middle of the week, some potential values are already popping in our early projections, and you definitely want to have them on your radar.

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Throughout the season, every Wednesday, I’ll be taking a look at the players who are standing out as top values for the coming week by using the early projections in our NFL Player Models. Of course, these models update frequently.

Things will likely change between now and Sunday, but it’s still good to have a plan of attack.

If there’s news between now and lock — and there will be — the models will update to reflect that.

As always, they’re powered by Sean Koerner — one of the most accurate fantasy rankers in the industry.

And don’t forget about the tools that FantasyLabs has to offer, like our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.

Or you can just use our NFL DFS sims to effortlessly create advanced lineups.

Finally, make sure to check out all the projections available for purchase within the FantasyLabs Models. Subscribers now have the option to purchase Derek Carty’s THE BLITZ from our Marketplace.

You can also combine them to create your own aggregate projections:

NFL DFS Quarterback Values

Tyler Shough ($5,400) New Orleans Saints (-3) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (44 total)

In both the FantasyLabs projections and THE BLITZ projections, Tyler Shough has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at quarterback by a significant margin over Dak Prescott, Geno Smith, and Kyler Murray, who are all in good spots as well. With multiple injuries at the position last week, there will be some new QB starters to consider, but Shough stands out as the early top value play after his fast start to the season.

Shough and the Saints are 1-1 after a one-point road loss to the Lions and a thrilling comeback win over the Ravens in Baltimore last week. Shough ran for the game-winning score and threw for a touchdown on his way to 22.4 DraftKings points in the Saints’ come-from-behind victory. In Week 1, he had an even better fantasy week, with 29.2 DraftKings points in the loss to the Lions.

Shough is carrying a very heavy workload in coach Kellen Moore’s offense, and the second-year QB clearly has the team’s trust to air it out. In his two games, he has attempted 90 passes. With so much volume and plenty of downfield attempts, Shough brings a high ceiling as the surging Saints come home for their first game in the Big Easy this season.

The Saints will host the 2-0 Raiders, who have also gotten off to a strong start. However, Las Vegas hasn’t faced an offense as effective as Shough’s. The Raiders have allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points to QBs this season, but that is partly because they faced the Dolphins’ Malik Willis and a struggling Justin Herbert.

With Shough at the helm for the home opener in what could be a high-scoring game at the Superdome, he has a very high ceiling and excellent value potential in Week 3.

NFL DFS Wide Receiver Values

Parker Washington ($6,000) Jacksonville Jaguars (-3) vs. New England Patriots (45.5 total)

There are still several important injury situations that could open up value later in the week as news breaks, but one value that stands out at this point is Parker Washington, who is in a larger role than his salary indicates, regardless of any injuries to his teammates.

Washington has the fourth-highest Projected Plus/Minus at WR in the FantasyLabs projections and the second-highest in an evenly blended 50/50 aggregate of Labs and THE BLITZ. He’s behind only Amon-Ra St. Brown in those aggregate projections, showing how high his ceiling can be relative to his salary.

Washington caught 8-of-12 targets for 98 yards in Week 2 after hauling in 5-of-6 targets for 83 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. He has clearly established himself as the team’s top receiver and a favorite of QB Trevor Lawrence, who should continue to send plenty of passes in his direction this week as the Jags host the Patriots.

Washington’s 12 targets in Week 2 show how high his ceiling can be when the Jags have to go with a pass-heavy attack, and the Patriots will be looking to get Drake Maye rolling again, which could result in an up-tempo, high-scoring matchup.

The Patriots’ secondary gave up a big week to Jaxon Smith-Njigba in Week 1 but looked much better against the Steelers last week. DK Metcalf did have some opportunities but didn’t make much happen. Washington’s volume should be high enough to help him overcome any matchup concerns, and he’s a true No. 1 option available at a fairly affordable salary.

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NFL DFS Running Back Values

Aaron Jones Sr. ($5,900) Minnesota Vikings (-1.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (42.5 total)

The Vikings lost Jordan Mason (thumb) to IR after Week 1, leaving Jones as the team’s primary running back. While Jones dealt with an injury of his own in bad weather in Chicago in Week 2, he is expected to be healthy and ready to roll in Week 3, when the Vikings look to remain undefeated with a trip to Tampa. Jones has the fourth-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all running backs in the FantasyLabs projections and the highest of the running backs under $7,000.

Jones played 81% of the snaps in Week 2 despite his minor knee injury, which is definitely something to monitor if you’re planning on including the veteran in your Week 3 builds. Jones was still effective, though, getting to 105 rushing yards on 23 carries. He didn’t score a touchdown, but neither did anyone else in Sunday’s low-scoring 9-3 win.

While rookie Demond Claiborne and veteran DeeJay Dallas will likely continue to mix in, Jones should handle enough of the work to be a strong play under $6,000 against the Bucs this week.

In Week 1, the Bucs gave up 128 rushing and receiving yards and a touchdown to the Bengals’ RBs. In Week 2, they did a much better job against the Browns’ RBs but were carved up by Cleveland’s passing game in their loss.

With Kyler Murray back under center, the Vikings’ offense will look different this week, but since Jones is lined up for so much work, he has both a high ceiling and a high floor as a value play in Week 3.

NFL DFS Tight End Values

Dalton Schultz ($4,200) Houston Texans (-2.5) at Indianapolis Colts (42.5 total)

For the second straight week, Dalton Schultz looks like an outstanding value play at tight end. He was in this spot last week and delivered a monster game, hauling in 12 of his 14 targets for 140 yards and 29 DraftKings points, the highest mark of any tight end in Week 2.

Part of that added attention from QB C.J. Stroud was due to the absence of top receiver Nico Collins (hamstring), who looks likely to be sidelined again in Week 3. The Texans were already without Jayden Higgins (knee) for the season, and Stroud has a great rapport with Schultz, who got lots of check-down work throughout the team’s loss to the Bengals.

Schultz has the highest Projected Plus/Minus again this week, with plenty of volume likely coming his way against the Colts, who have allowed 15 catches for 167 yards and a touchdown to the position over their first two games. Travis Kelce just had nine catches for 101 yards and a score against them on Monday night, and Schultz will look to take advantage of the same matchup with his heavy workload on Sunday in Indy.

Pictured: Tyler Shough
Photo Credit: Imagn