Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS): Week 3 FanDuel Fantasy Football Values

After posting some value picks for DraftKings contests yesterday, I’ve turned my attention to FanDuel this morning.

In some cases, there will be overlap between the two lists, but since each site sets their salaries independently and FanDuel uses half-PPR scoring (vs. full PPR for DraftKings), there are some players that I prefer only in one of the sites.

For the most part, the players that I put on these lists are values in absolute terms, but that’s not always the case as you’ll notice with the first few players listed. Ultimately, I’m looking for players that are priced lower than my rankings from the high to the low end of the salary spectrum.

Here are some value plays for Week 3:

QB – Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (vs. MIN), $9,100

Most of the values on this list represent guys that are cheap compared to their expected output and in absolute terms as I noted above. As the fourth-most expensive fantasy quarterback this week, Brees is not cheap in absolute terms, but he’s my QB1 this week and therefore a relative value.

After beginning the season with an 0-2 record on the road, the Saints head home to host the Vikings, who are double-digit ‘dogs. With their backs against the proverbial wall and a loss to the Browns fresh in their minds, it should be full throttle for all four quarters and the Saints are one of two teams projected by Vegas to score 30-plus points this week. In eight home games last season, Brees completed 72.2 percent of his pass attempts (61.8% on road) at 9.12 yards per attempt (6.86 Y/A on road) with a 27:3 TD-to-INT ratio (12:9 on road).

QB – Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears (at NYJ), $8,100

Cutler appeared on my list of DraftKings values, but he’s priced at a bigger discount in FanDuel leagues as 11th-most expensive signal-caller. (He’s my QB4 for the week.) With parts of his first two performances to dislike (two interceptions in Week 1 and less than 200 passing yards in Week 2), Cutler has still finished as a top-10 quarterback in both weeks to begin the season and scored the second-most fantasy points among QBs in Week 2 behind Aaron Rodgers. This week, Cutler faces the same secondary that allowed Rodgers to score more fantasy points than any quarterback.

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RB – DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys (at STL), $8,700

Like with Brees (and Cutler) for that matter, Murray isn’t a cheap option but the one player that is in all of my FanDuel and DraftKings lineups this week. Unlike in DraftKings where he is tied for the highest salary at running back, Murray is tied for fifth at running back this week at FanDuel.

Over his past 16 games, Murray has 1,787 yards from scrimmage, 57 receptions and 12 touchdowns. The Rams have allowed 171.0 rushing yards per game, third-most in the NFL, and back-to-back 100-yard rushers (although one of those was a wide receiver) this season. Even better, Murray’s two best games of his career have come against the Rams — 25/253/1 in 2011 and 26/175/1 in 2013.

RB – Rashad Jennings, New York Giants (vs. HOU), $6,400

Jennings has had two difficult matchups to open the season against the Lions and Cardinals, who rank second and third in the NFL in rushing defense so far. (The Cardinals led the NFL in rush defense last year and the Lions ranked sixth.) Despite the difficult matchups and general sluggishness overall of the Giants new offense, Jennings has been relatively productive. Through two games, Jennings has 205 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown with 10 receptions. This week, he faces the Texans, who have allowed a league-most 5.8 yards per carry. I have Jennings projected to be a top-10 running back this week yet there are 25 running backs with a lower salary in FanDuel contests.

RB – Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. TEN), $4,900

Hill likely won’t be on any of my teams because of my insistence on keeping Murray in all of my lineups and I like the next guy on this list more at a slightly lower salary, but Hill offers value to those looking to go with two sub-$5,000 running backs this week. With A.J. Green sidelined for almost all of last week’s game, Giovani Bernard and Hill combined for 42 carries and seven receptions. Green will play this week, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Hill still got 15 touches in the team’s run-heavy attack against a Titans defense that has allowed 143.5 rushing yards per game and 4.8 yards per carry. A powerful downhill runner, Hill is averaging 4.89 YPC through two games.

RB – Khiry Robinson, New Orleans Saints (vs. MIN), $4,700

More talented than his early-season role in team’s three-headed rushing attack, Robinson is set to see his usage increase significantly. With Mark Ingram (hand) out for a month, Robinson should see a heavy dose of early-down work and get most of the goal-line opportunities. Considering the fact that Ingram currently leads the NFL in rushing touchdowns and that the Saints are favored by double digits, there could be plenty of opportunities for Robinson to score a touchdown (or two) this week. Priced at $4,700, Robinson’s salary is set at only $200 above the position minimum and 60 running backs have a higher salary this week. Sixty?!

WR – Brandon Marshall, Chicago Bears (at NYJ), $8,200

There’s a lot to like about a matchup versus a Jets secondary that allows the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers and allowed Jordy Nelson to go over 200 yards and Randall Cobb to score a pair of touchdowns last week. While you can’t count on three fourth-quarter touchdowns every week, Marshall played at less than 100 percent last week and he gets an extra deal to heal as the Bears play on Monday Night Football. Through two games, Marshall has 13/119/4. Marshall is my No. 2-ranked receiver for this week, but five other receivers have a higher cost.

WR – Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints (vs. MIN), $5,600

Coming off his goose egg, Colston should be targeted frequently and I see a bounce-back game from him. There are 40 wide receivers priced higher than Colston, who had five catches for 110 yards in the opener. Most of my FanDuel leagues this week include Colston with Brees, Murray, Khiry and Megatron plus others.

WR – Brian Quick, St. Louis Rams (vs. DAL), $5,200

After a relatively slow start to his career (29/458/4 through two seasons), Quick has taken a big step forward in his third season with 7/99 and 7/74 lines in the first two games on nine targets in each game. Quick ranks eighth among wide receivers in yards and is tied for third at the position in receptions through two games. Facing one of the league’s worst defenses, Quick is set up for another productive outing.

WR – Golden Tate, Detroit Lions (vs. GB), $5,000

While Calvin Johnson should go off against the Packers if history is any indication (32/606/3 in past four matchups), Tate is a nice value at $5,000 (54 wide receivers have a higher salary in FanDuel contests). In his two games, Tate has stat lines of 6/93 and 5/57. While that may not be spectacular, you should get at least 5/50 from him with upside for more as the Lions are projected by Vegas to score the fourth-most points this week.

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TE – Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. WAS), $5,800

Many expected a breakout season from Ertz and he has broken out, sort of. Ertz has been really productive with his opportunities, but I’m actually surprised that he has only 11 targets. He’s tied with four other tight ends for the 17th-most targets. That said, Ertz has averaged 23.3 yards per reception and ranks fifth in receiving yards (163) among tight ends. Six of his seven receptions have been for 20-plus yards and only Julio Jones has more catches of 20-plus yards. As the 11th-most expensive tight end, Ertz is fifth in my rankings.

TE – Jared Cook, St. Louis Rams (vs. DAL), $5,200

The obvious concern with Cook is his boom-or-bust track record, but this matchup has boom written all over it. This season, the Cowboys have allowed 4/44/2 to Vernon Davis and 10/142/1 to Delanie Walker, both of whom finished as top-three TEs each week. There are 15 tight ends that are more expensive than Cook this week, but he has the upside to finish as a top-three option for the week.

In addition, check out our site’s sortable grid of all players ranked in relation to their FanDuel salary.

Also, check out my weekly fantasy football rankings:

• Week 3 Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings
• Week 3 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings
• Week 3 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings
• Week 3 Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings

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