Mario’s Optimal DraftKings DFS Lineup – Week 3
Week 3
13 game Sunday Slate
Week 2 Results: 125.38 pts
Week 2 didn’t go as planned. Only 3 players on my roster reached their BOOM potential. Every week, we have some dart throws that we hope we hit, and when they don’t, it’s understandable. It’s disappointing when the guys you are almost certain will BOOM, instead have a bad game and BUST. No one predicted for DAL vs LAC to finish with only 37 total points, and Dak not even reaching double digit fantasy points. No one could have predicted Andy Dalton coming up lame on a scramble, and leaving the offense to a rookie Justin Fields, limiting A-Rob’s production. Such is the nature of the beast that is DFS. On to week 3. This week we will focus on stacking a couple of games that are predicted to finish amongst the highest scoring battles of the week. Let’s dive into the Week 3 optimal DraftKings DFS Lineup.
QB Justin Herbert @ KC $6,500
BOOM target: 19.5 pts
I am rolling with one of the hottest QBs so far this season. Herbert struggled to find the endzone against a Dallas defense that appears to be more formidable than we originally gave them credit for. Even on a day where Herbert only found the endzone once, and was intercepted twice, the Chargers’ signal caller still threw for 338 yards in a losing effort. In a game across from Patrick Mahomes that is almost certain to be a divisional shootout, Herbert has a high probability to reach his BOOM target.
RB Najee Harris vs CIN $6,600
BOOM target: 19.8 pts
Najee hit his BOOM target in Week 2, and I’m ecstatic to once again find the Steelers’ workhorse priced under $7000. Harris played 95% of the offensive snaps against the Raiders, and found the endzone for the first time in his career on a short pass from Big Ben that he turned up the field, eluded defenders, and dove into the endzone. The Bengals defense coughed up 123 rushing yards to the Bears. Najee should have similar success in this hard-hitting (and hopefully high scoring) divisional affair.
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs LAC $4,800
BOOM target: 14.4 pts
I know, I know. Hear me out. If I told you that for only a $4,800 salary, you can draft a RB that has dominated the touches in his team’s backfield, has been on the field for 70% of the offensive snaps, and plays for one of the highest scoring offenses in the league, would you pull the trigger? That’s the situation with CEH going into a divisional game vs the Chargers this week. Fantasy football is deep rooted in opportunity, and CEH has had plenty of opportunity in the first two games this season. The Chargers just surrendered 198 yards rushing to the Cowboys. Andy Reid and Eric Bienemy must be licking their chops. The 2021 breakout is coming, and at this salary, I’m willing to bet that it’s this week.
WR Cooper Kupp vs TB $6,800
BOOM target: 20.4 pts
Cooper Kupp has been on an absolute tear in the first two weeks of the season, and I feature him in our second stackable game this weekend. He has an amazing rapport with new QB Matthew Stafford, and has an opportunity to continue building on that this week vs a not-so-stout Tampa Bay defense. With Robert Woods and Van Jefferson lining up on the outside, Kupp has been a matchup nightmare out of the slot. With the Rams’ top RBs most likely not suiting up this weekend, look for Sean McVay to use the short passing game as an extension of the run game. Quick throws to minimize the impact of the Bucs’ stellar pass rush should be successful, and will mean many targets for all of the Rams’ WRs.
WR Keenan Allen @ KC $6,600
BOOM target: 19.8 pts
I always try to stack at least one pass catcher with my QB on a weekly basis, and this is where Keenan Allen comes into the fold. Allen and Mike Williams are both good options here, but it’s Allen that gets the nod this week. Through the first two weeks of the season, Allen has posted 13 receptions for 208 yards on 21 total targets. He has yet to find the endzone, but I bet $6,600 in DraftKings salary that he finds it against a KC defense that just got torched for 481 total yards by Lamar Jackson and company. Big week coming up for #13.
WR Darnell Mooney @ CLE $4,300
BOOM target: 12.9 pts
Mooney is my one dart throw this week at a low salary. On a slow day offensively for the Bears, the speedy WR posted 6 receptions for 66 yards on 8 targets. Mooney was the target on 4 of Fields’ 13 passing attempts, and the two seem to have a connection. The playbook this week will be catered to Fields’ strengths as he gets his first start of his young career. It’s not out of the question to expect the duo to connect on a couple of long passes out of play action. At the very least, we expect the Bears to be playing from behind, and Mooney should get many opportunities to put up fantasy points.
TE Rob Gronkowski @ LAR $5,500
BOOM target: 16.5 pts
As my grandfather used to say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Gronk is off to a fantastic start to the season, and I’m appalled that his DK price is still only $5,500. To start off the season, Gronk has 12 receptions on 13 targets for 129 yards and 4 TDs. He and Brady are on fire like it’s the early 2010s, and I’m all for it. Slate Gronk as my TE this week, serving as the other side of the stack in the LAR vs TB game. On another note, if DK keeps pricing Gronk like this, he very well may be in this article every week.
FLEX RB Saquon Barkley vs ATL $6,500
BOOM target: 19.5 pts
Saquon looked much more explosive in Week 2 than he did in Week 1. You can’t blame the Giants for starting him slow. He had two tough matchups to start off the season, with the 2nd game being on a short week on Thursday night. It’s just a gut feeling, but I have a strong inkling that the Giants will unleash the Quad Monster in full force this week vs a Falcons defense that has been a sieve in the first 2 weeks of the season. Look for Barkley to be back to his old self, putting up top tier RB1 numbers at a discounted price in this plus matchup.
D/ST Titans vs IND $2,400
BOOM target: 7.2 pts
I usually just punt defense at $2000, electing instead to utilize as much salary as possible on skill positions. This week I had $400 left over, and I’m going with a Titans defense looking to stymie the first career start for Jacob Eason. In short duty last week, Eason was promptly intercepted by Jalen Ramsey on his second pass of the game. It looks to be a rough outing for the Colts’ offense, and look for the Titans to capitalize on their misfortune.
RANKINGS | WEEK 3 | DYNASTY |
