This article first appeared on RotoBaller.com
By Matt Terrelle (@supermt)
Hey there RotoBallers! Hopefully you got in on the New England Patriots steamroller in Week 2 and were able to pivot off of your Vikings’ shares after Sam Bradford was a late scratch to make some money over at Yahoo.
In this article, I will be taking a look at some of my favorite Yahoo DFS lineups picks for the Week 3 game slate. These DFS picks are based on a multitude of factors including matchup, talent, recent performance, Vegas odds, and pricing on Yahoo.
Generally, I will try to outline a top option at each position along with a value option with a chance to at least hit value. Let’s get to it!
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DFS Quarterback Picks for Yahoo
Cam Newton, Carolina vs. NO, $36
Newton gets the matchup of the week as the Saints’ leaky pass defense comes to town in Week 3. The Carolina quarterback isn’t exactly off to a fast start this season, posting just two passing touchdowns and rushing for just 30 yards. That being said, a matchup against New Orleans is exactly what the Panthers need to get Newton going. Look for the Panthers to be in the red zone all afternoon, giving Newton several opportunities to pass for touchdowns and possibly rush for his first touchdown of the season. Carolina has one of the highest implied team point totals on the slate, checking in at 26.5 points. If you have room to spend up at quarterback this weekend, Newton needs to be at the top of your list.
DeShone Kizer, Cleveland @ IND, $20
Kizer is coming off a brutal performance against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2. He accounted for four turnovers while also missing just over a quarter with a migraine. Of course, it appears the Ravens are back to being a shy away defense for fantasy purposes, at least based on their first two weeks of action. Kizer should find things much easier to navigate on Sunday as the Browns travel to Indianapolis to take on a weak Colts defense. The Colts have employed one of the worst pass defenses in the league over the past two seasons, ranking 26th in DVOA in 2016 and 27th through two games this season. Kizer has already shown that he can score fantasy points with his legs, rushing for a touchdown in Week 1. The Browns haven’t been shy about using him near the goal line, either, running a quarterback keeper for him again in Week 2. Kizer is minimum-priced for a QB on Yahoo, has multi-touchdown upside, and allows for you to load up on stars elsewhere in your lineups.
DFS Running Back Picks for Yahoo
Jay Ajayi, Miami @ NYJ, $32
Ajayi picked right up where he left off in 2016, rushing for 122 yards against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2. All that was missing was a touchdown for Ajayi, but otherwise he turned in an excellent performance, working as Miami’s bell cow back with 28 carries. He draws a favorable matchup against a Jets run defense that appears to be much worse than its 2016 incarnation after allowing Sheldon Richardson to leave in the offseason. Ajayi is set up to see a huge workload and will finish as a top-five running back in Week 3.
Ty Montgomery, Green Bay vs. CIN, $25
Montgomery is still way too cheap on Yahoo, despite finishing as a top-seven running back in each of the first two weeks. He’s coming off an especially dominant performance in Week 2 which saw him hang two scores on the Atlanta Falcons. He has been one of the busiest running backs in the league, playing on 139 of 158 total offensive snaps for the Pack through two weeks. Based on his usage and performance, Montgomery should be priced up alongside Ezekiel Elliott, Kareem Hunt, and Le’Veon Bell. Instead, he checks in well below them with just as much upside against a below-average Bengals run defense.
DFS Wide Receiver Picks for Yahoo
Kelvin Benjamin, Carolina vs. NO, $21
Benjamin is a perfect receiver to stack with Cam Newton in Week 3. The veteran wide receiver is off to a slow start this season, having caught just seven balls for 102 yards over the first two weeks but he’s primed to go off this week. Benjamin is expected to draw primary coverage from Saints rookie corner Marshon Lattimore, if Lattimore is cleared from the concussion he suffered in Week 2. Lattimore is still figuring out the NFL game, having earned a not so hot 49.4 grade from Pro Football Focus through the first two weeks. If Lattimore doesn’t play, upgrade Benjamin’s matchup even more. With Greg Olsen out with a broken foot, look to Benjamin to become even more of a focal point in the red zone for the Panthers.
Mohamed Sanu, Atlanta @ DET, $16
Sanu appears to be solidifying his role as the No. 2 option in the Atlanta passing attack after Julio Jones. Sanu is actually leading the Falcons in targets through the first two games, drawing 15, one more than star wideout Julio Jones. While that won’t be the case all season, Sanu is clearly a big part of what the Falcons are trying to accomplish on offense. This weekend Sanu draws an extremely favorable matchup against burnable Detroit slot corner Quandre Diggs. Diggs grades out at just 48.7 over on Pro Football Focus. At just $16, Sanu is a great flex option on Yahoo in a game that should be one of the higher-scoring affairs on the slate.
DFS Tight End Picks for Yahoo
Zach Ertz, Philadelphia vs. NYG, $25
Ertz is expensive but well worth it on this Week 3 slate. In case you missed the memo, always play tight ends against the Giants. New York’s defense has been a train wreck against the position over the past few seasons. In 2016, they ranked 26th in DVOA against tight ends and the G Men are fresh off allowing Eric Ebron to post a 5-42-1 line against them on Monday Night Football. Ebron would have had a bigger game but the Lions sat on their lead and only attempted a handful of passes in the second half. Ertz is off to a big-time start this season, having already caught 13 passes for 190 yards this year. There’s no reason to get cute here, lock in Ertz if you can afford him.
Eric Ebron, Detroit vs. ATL, $13
As was just mentioned above, Ebron roared to life against the Giants in Week 2. Look for Ebron to stay hot in Week 3 against a Falcons pass defense that has struggled against tight ends. Atlanta has already allowed 13 receptions to the position in 2017 after allowing tight ends to score the sixth-most fantasy points per game against them in 2016. Ebron is a solid lineup choice if you can’t make Zach Ertz fit this weekend.
Defense/Special Teams Pick for Yahoo
Cleveland Browns @ IND, $15
The Browns set up as an interesting defense to use in GPPs this weekend. While they didn’t perform particularly well in Week 2, this defense has shown some improvement from 2016 and was solid in Week 1 against an explosive Steelers offense. The Indianapolis offense has been a mess without Andrew Luck, allowing the most fantasy points per game to opposing defenses through two weeks. Cleveland isn’t a strong enough unit to be trusted in cash games this weekend but they do serve as solid cap relief in tournaments.
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