NFL DFS Week 3 QB Coach: Kyler Murray, Derek Carr & Baker Mayfield

Sunday's NFL DFS main slate for Week 3 of the NFL season features a 12-game main slate on DraftKings and 13-games over on FanDuel as they continue to feature the Sunday Night Football matchup. The featured matchup for DFS this week consists of the Detroit Lions taking on the Arizona Cardinals in a game with a slate high 52.5 total in the 4:25 ET window.

This week, we once again look to take advantage of some top matchups for our NFL DFS Week 3 QB coach as I bring you my NFL DFS Week 3 QB coach top targets, values and fades to build your lineups around this weekend.

NFL DFS Week 2 QB Coach Recap

As good as things were in Week 1, the QB Coach in Week 2 took a slight step backwards. Yes, we did well featuring both Brock Purdy and Baker Mayfield who finished as QB5 and QB6, but our Fades were brutal as Derek Carr proved the Saints offense was no joke on his way to finishing as the QB2 overall in Week 3 and Joe Burrow, after looking really bad against the Patriots bounced back on the road against the Chiefs to finish as the QB8.

It was a rather lower scoring week for QB's but Anthony Richardson, Jayden Daniels and Jared Goff all whiffing as top and mid-priced plays certainly hurt lineups. That said, we turn the page to Week 3, and we look for similar success like we saw in Week 1 when we had the top five DFS QBs in our QB Coach to open the season.

NFL DFS Week 3 QB Coach For FanDuel & DraftKings Fantasy

When looking at the NFL DFS QB Coach for Week 3 there are going to be some similar names that we see this week that were in last week's QB Coach as the schedule makers have put out some really good matchups for us to take advantage of this weekend, especially given the current projected game totals for a few of these matchups which suggests there are going to be plenty of points scored here in DFS this week. 

As I mentioned, the matchup between the Lions and Cardinals game has a 52.5 game total to lead the slate but we also see the Ravens vs Cowboys with a 48.5 game total and Eagles vs Saints with a 49.5 game total which are spots we will look to take advantage of.

NFL DFS QB Top Tier Picks For Week 3

Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens - DraftKings: $7,500 | FanDuel: $8,800

Even when he has just average outings the fantasy points continue to be there for Jackson thanks to his rushing upside. Baltimore is coming off of a shocking loss, at home, to the Las Vegas Raiders and are now sitting at 0-2 on the season. In Week 3 we see Jackson and company travel to Dallas to face a Cowboys team that was just embarrassed by the New Orleans Saints on their own field last week.

Vegas has set this game with the second-highest total on the slate at 49.5 points and I'd be looking for Jackson to get the Ravens offense going as they've managed to score just 20 and 23 points through the first two weeks of the season.

C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans - DraftKings: $7,100 | FanDuel: $8,200

It just feels like a big game is coming. Yes, Joe Mixon took over in Week 1 against the Colts, but he still had two touchdown passes.

In Week 2 the team looked sluggish at home against a Bears defense that might be better than we've given them credit for entering the season.

Which brings us to Week 3 as the Texans go on the road to face a Vikings team that just pulled off an upset home win against the 49ers in Week 2. 

The thinking here is that Joe Mixon is currently not 100% as we await the news surrounding his ankle injury and with the Vikings offense putting up points that this game may turn into a bit of a shootout where Stroud gets to throw to Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins and Tank Dell.

NFL DFS QB Mid-Tier Picks For NFL Week 3

Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - DraftKings: $6,300 | FanDuel: $7,700

Price continues to rise for Mayfield as we hit Week 3 where the Buccaneers have a home matchup against the Denver Broncos. 

Denver's offense is more of the story here because of how poor they have played, and we've seen Bo Nix turn the football over a lot in his first two starts of his career.

If the Buccaneers defense can do the same, then Mayfield could have some shorter fields to work with and more possessions to put up points.

Chris Godwin is looking unstoppable to start the year, and they will likely need another big day from him as Mike Evans draws the Patrick Surtain defense. 

Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints - DraftKings: $5,800 | FanDuel: $7,900

Big price discrepancy here as Carr is just $5,800 on DraftKings while being priced up to $7,900 on FanDuel. I have no issue paying either price tag but obviously the DK price is the better value.

Through the first two weeks of the season Carr has the Saints offense averaging over 40 points per game.

In Week 3 the Saints have a home matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles who just gagged away a win on Monday Night Football against the Falcons and is a team that has some problems in their secondary when it comes to giving up big plays.

I'd be looking for Carr to take a few shots to Rashid Shaheed this week in this matchup.

NFL Week 3 DFS QB Value Picks

Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings - DraftKings: $5,500 | FanDuel: $7,100

For value we take a look at the other side of that Texans vs Vikings matchup with Sam Darnold. It's amazing what can happen when the coach and the organization just “get it” and thats what we have with the Vikings under Kevin O'Connell. 

O'Connell's offensive system just creates fantasy productive QBs as evidenced by Nick Mullens and Joshua Dobbs last season.

Darnold has two touchdown passes in each of the first two weeks and if this game ends up being a shootout I think we can expect a possible ceiling game here as he throws to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor. 

Andy Dalton, Carolina Panthers - DraftKings: $4,800 | FanDuel: $6,000

I mean, who had this on their bingo card? After two weeks the Carolina Panthers have seen enough of last year's number one overall pick in Bryce Young and are turning to the veteran Andy Dalton.

Last season we saw Dalton make one start and in that one start he threw the ball 58 times for 361 yards and two touchdowns. With Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen and rookie Xavier Legette at his disposal, if the Panthers commit to letting the “Red Rifle” throw the football in this spot against the Raiders then it will not take much for him to pay off his value.

NFL DFS QB Fades For Week 3

Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers - DraftKings: $6,000 | FanDuel: $7,400

No Christian McCaffrey and now no Deebo Samuel. I just don't see Purdy making enough plays in this game against the Rams to get the fantasy points. 

Instead, I think we continue to see Jordan Mason used heavily while the 49ers utilize their passing attack just to get down the field in scoring position.

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams - DraftKings: $5,700 | FanDuel: $7,100

Opposite of Purdy in that matchup is Matthew Stafford. In Week 1 Stafford lost Puka Nacua and in Week 2 he lost Cooper Kupp.

Need I say more here?

NFL Week 3 QB Play Of The Week

Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals - DraftKings: $6,900 | FanDuel: $8,300

He is the cover of the QB Coach here this week so obviously Murray is my top QB for your DFS lineups.

He not only offers some nice rushing upside, but the Cardinals showed why Marvin Harrison was worthy of being the fourth overall pick as he finished with 130 yards and two touchdowns in Week 2.

With MHJ breaking out and Trey McBride once again looking like one of the best tight ends in the league, Murray is in a great spot here against a Lions defense that can stop the run but really struggles to stop the pass.

NFL DFS Week 3 QB Projections