NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 3 – TE & DEF/ST
Rounding out our position breakdowns for Week 3 brings us to tight ends and defenses/special teams. With some heavily lopsided games on the docket, we could see several defenses put up gaudy numbers. There are also plenty of tight ends in positions to thrive. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our NFL Lineup Optimizer to help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
TIGHT END CASH TARGETS
Travis Kelce, KC vs. BAL
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $7,100
To no surprise, Kelce stepped up in Week 2 with wide receiver Tyreek Hill (collarbone) on the shelf. He caught seven of nine targets for 107 yards and his first touchdown of the season. After finishing with 150 targets last year, he already has 17 through the first two weeks. This has the makings of a shootout against a much-improved Ravens’ offense, so expect Kelce to be heavily involved once again.
Mark Andrews, BAL at KC
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $4,600
One of the main beneficiaries of the emergence of Lamar Jackson has been Andrews. The young tight end already has 17 targets after getting 50 all of last season. He’s certainly made the most of his newfound opportunities, posting 16 receptions for 220 yards and two touchdowns. If you still want some exposure to this game while not paying the hefty price associated with Kelce, Andrews also presents a high-floor option.
TIGHT END GPP TARGETS
Evan Engram, NYG at TB
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $5,200
The Giants were down to backup wide receivers last week, which enabled the Bills to focus their efforts on stopping Engram. They mostly did a good job, limiting him to six receptions for 48 yards. He is the most talented pass-catcher on the team and should continue to have limited help around him, even if Sterling Shepard (concussion) is able to return. This will also mark the first career start for rookie quarterback Daniel Jones, which is even more difficult with this game being played on the road. It’s tough to project how Jones will perform, but if he is going to be successful, it will likely be by getting Engram heavily involved.
O.J. Howard, TB vs. NYG
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $3,800
One of the most disappointing players from a fantasy perspective has been Howard. He was limited to 10 games last season due to injury, although he was still able to record 34 receptions for 565 yards and five touchdowns. He came out of the gate with a quiet performance against the 49ers, totaling just 32 yards on four receptions. Things were even worse in Week 2 when he failed to receive a single target despite being on the field for 92.3 percent of the Bucs’ offensive snaps. With how poorly the Giants have struggled in pass coverage, this is as good of a spot as any for Howard to have a breakout performance. However, they’ll need to throw him the ball to actually exploit this matchup.
DEF/ST CASH TARGETS
Dallas Cowboys vs. Miami Dolphins
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $4,300
There are two clear-cut chalk defenses this week, the Cowboys being one of them. The Dolphins have been just putrid on offense, scoring a total of 10 points across their first two games. Their quarterbacks Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen have also thrown a combined six interceptions. No need to overthink this one.
New England Patriots vs. New York Jets
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $3,800
The second top target has to be the Patriots at home against a Jets’ team that has been decimated by injuries. They have been particularly hammered at quarterback, losing both Sam Darnold (mono) and Trevor Siemian (ankle). That leaves Luke Falk as their starter. Le’Veon Bell does makes their offense more dangerous than the Dolphins’, but with the Patriots likely focusing their efforts on shutting him down, the Jets are going to struggle to score points.
DEF/ST GPP TARGET
San Francisco 49ers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $3,200
If you want to fade the top options at this position, rolling with the 49ers could be the way to go. They’ve shown improvement in their first two games, holding their opponents to exactly 17 points in each contest. The Steelers have their own injury issues having lost Ben Roethlisberger (elbow) for the season and with James Conner battling a knee injury. Mason Rudolph should have more upside than Falk does for the Jets, but the 49ers could still provide value at this price.
Author Bio:
Mike has been covering fantasy sports since 2007, joining Lineup Lab in 2017. An avid player of both season-long fantasy leagues and DFS, Mike’s work has appeared on numerous sites, including RotoWire, SportsLine and Sports Illustrated. He’s also been featured on DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat, and was a finalist for the 2018 FSWA Basketball Writer of the Year award. Follow Mike on Twitter @rotomikebarner.