DraftKings NFL picks, Week 3: Best bargains in DFS fantasy football

Tight Ends

As the weeks pass, bargains are harder to come by at the tight end position. It now makes sense to target top players, or at least moderately priced ones at the position. They can be had for a price lower than top wide receivers fetch for similar production.

Travis Kelce KC (vs. BUF, $7,100): Watkins went off in Week 1, and Demarcus Robinson followed suit in Week 2. Kelce’s appearance on this list is a double-down bet that the top tight end in fantasy will finish as such. A 10 catch, 150+ yard, 2+ touchdown week is not out of reach by any stretch of the imagination, and those numbers would be well worth the price.

Zach Ertz PHI (vs. DET, $5,700): Ertz saw an incredible 16 targets last week, partially in response to the injuries to Jackson, Jeffery, and Dallas Goedert. Expect another day of double-digit targets for Ertz, whose end zone prospects receive a bump this week.

George Kittle SF (vs. PIT, $5,600): Like Kelce, Kittle is due for a massive day. He’s had multiple touchdowns called back due to penalties so far this season, so it’s clear that Jimmy Garoppolo is looking his way in the red zone. Kittle should have a day nearly as nice as Kelce’s, just at a fairly sizable discount.

Mark Andrews BAL (at KC, $4,600): It would be a gross oversight to refrain from listing the player leading the tight end position in fantasy points by a wide margin after two weeks. Andrews is officially listed as questionable with a foot injury, just as he was last week before catching eight passes for over 100 yards and a touchdown. Andrews is a chalk option, assuming he plays. If he’s a last-minute scratch for some unforeseen reason, be ready to sub in Hayden Hurst for $3,100.

Darren Waller OAK (at MIN, $4,100): Waller is a top-10 fantasy tight end on a team that will be playing from behind and doesn’t have a lot of other weapons in the passing game. DFS owners should expect at least eight targets that yield a stat line in the neighborhood of 6-65-1.

Defense/Special Teams

The Dallas Cowboys have the most expensive defense of the week, but they also draw the Miami Dolphins. A price tag of $4300 might be too rich for such a chalky play, but if you’re happy with the rest of your lineup, why not? Here are a few low-cost options for cash-strapped teams that chose to spend money elsewhere:

Chicago (at WAS, $3,900): The Bears defense should have no problems taking advantage of an over-matched, overachieving Washington Redskins offense. This is a rare week in which the Bears won’t be the chalk play, so savvy DFS players will take advantage.

New England (vs. NYJ, $3,800): The Patriots absolutely feasted on the Dolphins last week, so they should have no problems grounding a Jets team led by a third-string quarterback. This is my favorite defensive play of the week.

Minnesota (vs OAK, $3,300): The Minnesota Vikings‘ defense will be rude hosts to a hopeless, hapless Oakland Raiders squad. Expect several sacks and multiple turnovers in an ugly matchup between haves and have-nots.

Tampa Bay (vs NYG, $2,900): Arguably the best DFS value play at the position, the red-hot, Todd Bowles-led defense is among the league’s ten best in yards and points allowed, and they’re tied for tenth in takeways. Expect the “Pewter People Eaters” to persistently pulverize rookie quarterback Daniel Jones in his first NFL start.