Week 3 DraftKings Pricing First Glance

Upon first glance, Marlon Mack seems to be one the best running back plays
on the slate -- and at a great value.  

My. God.

What a brutal weekend.


My favorite game stack decided to went up in flames in the second quarter when Ben Roethlisberger's elbow decided to explode. It's not like I was looking for big things from that game -- I only predicted 400 yards and 4 TDs as a legitimate possibility.

The Joyce Jinx is real, folks. Beware.

Let's be glad Week 2 is over. A fresh start is needed, which is the glorious thing about DraftKings. It doesn't matter how bad your previous week was, you always start anew the next.

It's never too early to start opening up the DK app and checking how salaries are shaking out for the coming week.

Here's what is jumping out to me after my initial look at Week 3 pricing.

QBs

High-End

Lamar Jackson, $7,000 (at Kansas City): Have you been living under a rock the last few weeks? Jackson has been an absolute monster through two weeks. Last week's display was even more impressive than Week 1, in my opinion. He put his legs on display for the first time this season AND complemented it with a repeat performance with his arm. The Ravens head into Kansas City as seven-point dogs and the game total is 55. I'd fully expect Jackson to have to be the do-it-all guy again to keep Baltimore in it. Expecting 35-plus points might be a bit much, but reaching 30? That's a definite possibility; and he's always capable of breaking the slate. 

Dak Prescott, $6,500 (vs. Miami): Dolphins. That's all the analysis you get, folks.

Value

Jameis Winston, $5,400 (vs. NY Giants): Winston quietly looked a bit better in Week 2, which is ironic because it was on a short week AND on the road. Through two weeks, the Giants have allowed the third-most fantasy points to QBs (32 per game), and it doesn't appear they're getting any better. Winston and the Bucs get to go back home coming off that Thursday-night game, so I see this as the get-right spot for Winston and the rest of that Bucs offense.  

Honorable Mentions: Kyler Murray $5,800 (vs. Carolina), Jacoby Brissett $5,200 (vs. Atlanta)

RBs

High-End 

Ezekiel Elliott, $8,900 (vs. Miami): See Prescott analysis. 

Austin Ekeler, $7,200 (vs. Houston): Ekeler is one of only five running backs to have at least 70 percent of their team's snap shares (Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, Dalvin Cook, Leonard Fournette), and that type of work can't go unnoticed. With 29 carries and 12 -- on 13 targets -- through two games, it's clear the Chargers plan to make Ekeler a focal point of their offense. He's averaging 13.6 yards per reception so far this season and has a 19 percent target share. For that type of volume, Ekeler is one of the best options on the board until he's priced with the elite-level guys his workload is comparable to. 

Value

Marlon Mack, $5,800 (vs. Atlanta): One of the best gifts a running back could be given over the last handful of years on any week is a matchup against Atlanta. They've been historically terrible against opposing backs, and, despite a somewhat decent showing against Philly -- whose backfield is messy, to say it nicely -- Sunday night, it doesn't seem to be getting much better. So, what better to pair with a matchup against a sieve of a defense against running backs than the team that has the third-most rushing attempts on the season? Mack won't catch a ton of passes for you, but the Colts may give him 30 carries, and we've seen the type of production he can bring with that many carries. Mack seems like a lock for at least 100 yards and one touchdown, if not two. 

Honorable Mentions: Jaylen Samuels $5,300 (at San Francisco), Royce Freeman $4,400 (at Green Bay), Miles Sanders $3,900 (vs. Detroit)

WRs

High-End

Keenan Allen, $7,000 (vs. Houston): Forty-two and 36. Those are the only two numbers you need to know. The former, 42, is the target share Allen got in Week 2. The latter is his target share on the season. With Hunter Henry out and Mike Williams a little nicked up still, this offense is funneled through two guys: Allen and Ekeler. Houston seems to be providing the fantasy goods for us when it comes to slot receivers. With that funnel offense and this matchup, it's hard to get away from Allen this week.  

Kenny Golladay, $6,600 (vs. Philadelphia): It's now back-to-back weeks catching a touchdown for Golladay, but that's not the best statistic we should be taking away from his performance against the Chargers. His 148 air yards and near 49 percent market share of the Lions' total air yards -- and 33 percent share of the targets -- are what popped to me. We've seen the Eagles be beaten deep consistently over the first two weeks of the season, and Golladay is as live to get behind a defense as anyone. Philly will likely be able to mitigate the Lions' rushing attack, and being at home on the fast track in Detroit lines up well for Golladay.  

Value

Calvin Ridley, $5,300 (at Indianapolis): Ridley has been the beneficiary of having the best wide receiver lining up next to him, and that won't be changing any time soon. The second-year wideout is enjoying it again already this season to the tune of 12 catches, 169 yards and two touchdowns. Matt Ryan is recognizing Ridley avoiding double coverage because of Julio Jones, and has looked his way 16 times so far ... and for only ONE less air yard (237) than Julio himself. Not bad, kid. Not bad. Another dome game is on the slate, and the splits for Ryan in domes is significant. But what do Ridley's look like? In 10 games, he has amassed 607 yards receiving and eight touchdowns.     

Honorable Mentions: Marvin Jones Jr. $5,000 (vs. Philadelphia), Christian Kirk $5,000 (vs. Carolina), Deebo Samuel $4,500 (vs. Pittsburgh)

TEs

High-End

Zach Ertz, $5,700 (vs. Detroit): *Looks at injury report* ... Is there ANYONE else left for the Eagles to throw the ball to? We know Ertz is extremely talented and a favorite target of Carson Wentz. So when you start adding in Alshon Jeffrey and DeSean Jackson being injured, it's likely only going to get better for Ertz in the target department. He's playing 82 percent of the Eagles offensive snaps, and we may see him line up even more out wide than he already does. He's the cheapest of the big-name tight ends -- Travis Kelce and  George Kittle -- and with an increased target share likely, Ertz is a fantastic option. 

Value

O.J. Howard, $3,800 (vs. NY Giants): The hate -- and the price drop -- has gone a bit too far here on Howard. He was $5,000 in Week 1 against San Francisco. Yeah, I get it, he's played like poo the first two weeks, but the Giants seem like the perfect dose of medicine to get him back to good. The Giants are yielding sixth-most points to tight ends per game so far this season. So, if I'm on Winston, I have to be on Howard. I think this is the Howard blow-up spot. 

Honorable Mentions: Greg Olsen $3,700 (at Arizona), Hayden Hurst $3,100 (at Kansas City)

DSTs

High-End

Cowboys, $4,300 (vs. Miami): See Dak. See Zeke. 

Value

Chargers, $2,500 (vs. Houston): The Texans offensive line has allowed 10 sacks and 18 QB hits already this season. For reference, the only team that's worse ... the Miami Dolphins. Not good company to be in. When there is pressure and hits on the QB -- and Deshaun Watson is no stranger to either -- there are opportunities for sacks and turnovers, and those equate to points.   

Honorable Mention: Buccaneers $2,900 (vs. NY Giants)

-- By Nathan Joyce

@nd_joyce