NFL DFS Week 3 Watch List: Top DraftKings & FanDuel Picks

Well, if there's one thing we learned from the Bills on Monday Night Football, it's that they are going to throw and they are going to throw a ton. Maybe later in the season they start using Devin Singletary a little earlier, but for at least three quarters, regardless of the score, they will be throwing the ball and Allen will be running the same as if it were a tight game. The Miami secondary is struggling right now and Lamar Jackson and Mac Jones have compiled at 114.4 passer rating against them through the first two weeks. Allen is going to show the Fins who the true darling of the AFC East is.

While I'm not giving up on the Indianapolis defense, they are a hot mess right now and desperately need Shaq Leonard back at middle linebacker. They're not generating any sort of pass-rush and showed just how vulnerable they are to the underneath routes. Their secondary has been banged-up as well so it's hurting their overall numbers. Maybe fully healthy they'll be okay, but for now, we're going to look to exploit them. Mahomes only threw for 235 yards last week, but the Chargers defense is light-years ahead of the Colts right now. We may not be able to predict which receiver he's going to throw to, but we'll happily roster Mahomes and reap the benefits.

Tough to argue against Hurts right now, isn't it? The rushing yards and rushing touchdowns are huge for him as they keep his floor nice and high. If he can catch up with the passing and maintain a solid 250-yard baseline with a touchdown…maybe even two…we'll be in the perfect spot. The Commanders pass defense has been abused by the passing attacks of the Lions and Jaguars. Hurts should find slinging the rock a little bit easier this week.

JUST ADDED – Just throw away everything you saw on Monday night. Seriously. Throw it away. Who knows if it's just Cousins wrapped up in his head during a prime-time game or the Eagles defense getting all pumped up for it. Whatever it was, it wasn't a true representation of what this offense can do. The Lions have allowed 65 points over their first two games, rank 19th in DVOA against the pass, have given up 273.5 passing yards per game and opposing quarterbacks have a 91.8 passer rating against them. As exciting as the Lions are right now, defensively, they aren't in a spot where you should be concerned over using Cousins against him. Think about what you saw from the Vikings in Week 1 and that's what you're more likely to see this week.

While the interceptions are a bit of a downer, you had to be encouraged by Stafford's 272 yards and three-touchdown game last week. Even against the Falcons. Arizona escaped with the win last week but their pass defense got beaten up by the Raiders and the week before, was completely picked apart by Mahomes. Stafford connected nicely with Allen Robinson last week, he's got Cooper Kupp and has a slew of other quality pass-catchers. Against this struggling secondary, he should excel.

A couple of tough match-ups in the first two weeks, but, given the circumstances, Mariota hasn't been terrible. I'm not saying those are numbers we should seek out, but with this match-up against Seattle, he could really shine. The Seahawks defense lost Jamal Adams for the year and let the heart and soul of the team, Bobby Wagner, walk in the offseason. They are incredibly vulnerable over the middle and we could see a rock solid performance that would even make a Falcons stack worth checking out. 

JUST ADDED – While I don't expect Mixon to run as rampant over the Jets as we saw Nick Chubb do last week, the Bengals ground game should be front-and-center in this week's game-plan. Joe Burrow is struggling to get the ball out of his hands quicker, the offensive line's pass-blocking has been suspect and the defending AFC champions are in serious need of a get-right game. TO do that, Zac Taylor is going to have to call Mixon's number more than usual. New York is allowing an average of 123 rushing yards per game and they've coughed up three rushing touchdowns thus far. The Bengals usually use the pass to set up the run, but something tells me their success this week is predicated on doing the opposite and letting Mixon do his thing.

Obviously we need to check out the rib injury and see what Kamara's status will be, but, on paper, this is a very favorable match-up for Kamara. The Panthers are allowing the fourth-most rushing yards per game so far and they can be vulnerable to the running back pass-plays. There are obviously a few things working against him – Jameis Winston doesn't check-down, Taysom Hill is around – so we'll have to really dive deeper here, but that's what the idea behind the Watch List is anyway. 

This is actually shaping up to be a fantastic match-up as Fournette has seen 20-plus carries in his first two games and, despite not not having a fully healthy offensive line, has amassed 195 yards. He now faces a Packers run defense that has allowed 153 rushing yards this season with a strong 5.6 yards-per-carry average. We knew Tom Brady didn't want to throw the ball 40 times a game anymore and figured this would be a strong volume year for Fournette but concerns over the offensive line had many of us shying away. If he is going to see 20 carries in a soft match-up, he'll be well-worth his salary.

I know what you're thinking. Montgomery? Really? This Bears offense sucks. Justin Fields is struggling, the o-line is a mess and what's up with the play-calling. Yet throughout it all, Montgomery has maintained at least 15 carries per game has 148 rushing yards and has even caught five-of-six targets for 38 receiving yards. He tore up the Packers (another reason we're in on Playoff Lenny) for 122 yards on the ground and now faces the Texans who are giving up the third-most rushing yards per game (163). Granted, they've faced Jonathan Taylor and Javonte Williams and Montgomery isn't as good as either, but their defensive line is still pretty porous.

It's been two weeks and this Philadelphia offense really seems to be clicking. Jalen Hurts looks great, A.J. Brown has been as advertised and Miles Sanders has remained a big part of this team's success and has rewarded fantasy owners with some solid numbers. He's averaged 15 for 88 yards per game and score a touchdown in Week 1, his first since 2020. Sanders seems to have fit in nicely with this heavy-RPO scheme and is benefitting from defenses having to be concerned with Hurts taking off. The Washington defense hasn't shown much of an ability to stop anyone, so look for this Eagles offense to continue its upward trajectory.

It's been slow-going for this season late-draft darling as Pierce has hardly delivered on all the hype that pushed his ADP all the way to the fifth round. But he hasn't been terrible and given this match-up against the Bears, who have allowed the most rushing yards in the league, I am intrigued. His price-point gives him that bargain status we need, especially on Draft Kings, and if he is going to see volume similar to what he's had through the first two games, I'm in. We'll track the health of his offensive line as we get closer to the weekend.

Um. How about 29 targets, 24 receptions, 228 yards and three touchdowns through two games. I'll tell you what…give me a reason NOT to lock him into your lineups every week still and we can discuss it.

In all honesty, I have no idea why Adams only managed two catches for 12 yards on seven targets. Yes, he got into the end zone, but for a home opener where Adams had all sorts of friends and family there to celebrate, you would have hoped for mor, amirite? Maybe there was an old family friend who was also a childhood love interest and he got nervous? Someone needs to script something because other than that, I have no idea. What I do know is a competitor like Adams is not going to want this last game to sit on his resume. The Titans secondary just got shredded by Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs and I don't see anyone on their defense coming back from it and shutting down Adams. Derek Carr should have little to no issues connecting with his college BFF this week.

Washington's pass defense struggled to contain the Jaguars in Week 1 and then got shredded by Jared Goff and Detroit this past Sunday. How in the world does anyone expect them to keep pace with the high-flying Eagles this week? We don't. Give me all the shares of A.J. Brown here as the Commanders are allowing almost 250 passing yards per game and have already allowed five touchdowns through the air. Both Kendall Fuller and Williams Jackson are going to have trouble containing him on the outside and don't be surprised to see the Eagles line him up in the slot a little more just to torment Benjamin St-Juste.

Everyone is out on the Colts right now. Everyone. People are dropping Matt Ryan left and right, Jonathan Taylor owners are freaking out over their 1.01 and even the vaunted defense is getting some shade. I'm not going to say much about this team since they've totally sucked this year, but Pittman should be healthy and can at least provide a glimmer of fantasy gold. He'll probably see a lot of Jaylen Watson in this match-up and Pittman easily wins the physical battle. And also keep in mind many are going to be off of him, so GPP it up and get him in there.

Regardless of whether or not Keenan Allen suits up for this game, I'm 100-percent in on Big Mike. Those who were ready to give up on him after Week 1 were slapped in the face with an eight-catch, 113-yard, one-touchdown performance against the Chiefs in prime-time as a friendly reminder to be patient and stop flipping out over one bad game. It should be a solid battle between him and Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell, but while Campbell has decent speed, Williams has a serious physical advantage and will out-muscle him at every turn. Of course, we'll also keep a close watch on Justin Herbert because if he's too banged-up, we might have to jump ship for a week.

The Chargers secondary is strongest on the outside. Fortunately for us, Kirk lines up in the slot 84-percent of the time which means it will be him against Bryce Callahan most of the time. Advantage: Kirk. The fifth-year veteran is very much enjoying his new role as the Jaguars No. 1 receiver and he has already built an outstanding rapport with Trevor Lawrence. I championed the hiring of Doug Pederson throughout the offseason, not because I think he's some phenomenal coach. but because he employs an offensive scheme that caters to his players' strengths. Expect this offense to continue surprising teams here in the early weeks of the season.

I can't say I'm all that impressed with the Cardinals offense, but I do love the volume Brown is seeing from his old college quarterback. He's seen 17 targets over two games and has 10 catches for 111 yards and one touchdown. The Rams defense has not been as solid as they look on paper and their greatest strength is in their front-seven, not their secondary. And before you say it's because they faced the Bills in Week 1, let's keep in mind how many points the Rams let the Falcons score last week. The Cardinals showed some life in the second half of their win against the Raiders. Perhaps they can build off that momentum.

The Falcons have allowed the most fantasy points per game to the wide receiver position this season and the fifth-most passing yards per game with 253. Oh yeah, and let's add the five passing touchdowns too. Metcalf will score his points off of volume and while the volume in Seattle ain't all that great right now, he's still going to be heavily targeted in this match-up. He'll probably get a heavy dose of Casey Hayward in coverage, but that shouldn't be much of an issue as Metcalf outclasses him in size, speed and physicality. 

We'll keep a close eye on what Jameis Winston's health looks like closer to the week, but if he plays without limitations, I'd be very interested to see what Thomas does with Jaycee Horn or Donte Jackson in coverage. Clearly he's not the Michael Thomas of old, but he's garnered 17 targets in two games, averaged 61 receiving yards and has three touchdowns already. Winston is looking for him often and as the two get more comfortable with each other, the numbers could really take off. For now, he's a legit WR3 and deserves DFS consideration this week.

I may not be a big Marcus Mariota fan, but I cannot argue with 19 targets being turned into 13 catches for 160 yards and a touchdown over two games. And not just two games, but games against strong defenses in New Orleans and the Rams. If London is going to continue seeing this many targets, we have to be in. The price is extremely reasonable and he goes wildly undervalued because he plays for a struggling team. I have him on the cover for a reason….I always have a reason for guys being on the cover and London against a depleted Seattle secondary is an easy reason to invest in and understand.

JUST ADDED – O know we've got a bunch of Rams here in the Watch List, but it's tough not to love what their passing attack brings to the table. Robinson finally clicked with Stafford last week and while Kupp still managed his 100-plus yards and a touchdown, it wasn't at the expense of ARob who found the end zone twice. We've watched as the Arizona secondary got carved up by Patrick Mahomes in Week 1 and then coughed up a bunch of points and yards to the Raiders last week, so if we're looking at the Rams, it's tough not to like almost everyone in this offense. We'll trim it down for the Playbook….or maybe we won't. Rams stack, anyone?

I don't know if I have Mooney in the Watch List because I truly believe the Bears will turn some of this crap-heap around or if it's because I want those who dropped him in season-long fantasy to feel shame. But if you're looking at the match-up, Mooney has  great chance of beating coverage from this Houston secondary, a group that has allowed over 270 passing yards per game already. This is far from a lock to transfer from Watch List to Playbook, but I just want to watch it closer and see what develops.

JUST ADDED – There is not a while lot of value on this slate which is something to keep in mind for roster construction. Samuel is utilized in a variety of ways, so while the Eagles secondary stays focused on the likes of Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Logan Thomas, Scott Turner is going to move Samuel all over the place and use him to steadily move the ball downfield. Expect more carries and a steady diet of targets throughout the action and, hopefully, we see another trip into the end zone. 

No. I do not expect the Patriots to burn the Ravens through the air they same way the Dolphins did, but I do believe there is a coverage problem within this secondary. Meyers has great hands and enough speed to shake these Baltimore cover guys, so if he continues to see similar volume, he could end up with a few extra catches and yards, giving him a decent floor in full-point PPR contests over at Draft Kings. I don't really have a world of faith in Mac Jones, but if he can help Meyers turn a profit, the bargain price should allow us to get bigger and better things for the rest of our lineup.

JUST ADDED – Again, tough to find value on this slate and while there may be a few guys who could possibly do well this week, the only sure thing we've got this week is Kelce. The Colts rank 31st in DVOA against the position and they are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game to them. They may get Shaq Leonard back for this game, but I just don't see it being enough to stymie Kelce this week. 

While DVOA usually takes a couple of more games to stabilize, we can't help but point out that the Cardinals, after having faced Travis Kelce and Darren Waller in back-to-back weeks, rank dead-last in DVOA against the tight end and have allowed an average of 12.5 passes per game for 107.5 yards. Matthew Stafford still lives with Cooper Kupp in his sights, but we've seen Higbee targeted 20 times in two games, so that element of the passing attack is worth investing in at a position that, overall, is pretty weak.

We haven't seen a lot out of Knox just yet, receiving just seven targets over the first two games, but when the match-up is right and there's a vulnerability in coverage, Josh Allen knows how to exploit it. The Dolphins have the 28th-ranked DVOA coverage against the tight end and offenses have targeted the position 12 times per game for an average of 104.5 receiving yards. Mark Andrews beat them up last week and the week prior it was the Patriots tight ends combining for 53 yards on five catches (seven targets). Knox will get worked in and while I won't stand by a huge game here, I don't see why 50 yards and a score are out of reach.

It's another volume play here with potential touchdown upside as Conklin has now seen 16 targets over two games and has 10 catches for 56 yards and a touchdown. We're not talking long passes like you see from guys like Kelce or Waller, but if you're playing on Draft Kings, the full-point PPR pays off just on the receptions, If he gets into the end zone, we're even happier.

The Jets have actually allowed the most fantasy points per game to the tight end position and rank 20th in DVOA. Hurst has seen 15 targets over the first two games and produced 10 catches for 70 yards and while he has yet to score, the fact that two of those targets have come inside the 10-yard line, it is clear that in those circumstances, Joe Burrow is looking at Hurst the same way he did CJ Uzomah last year. The numbers at season's end won't be eye-popping, but if you can find him on the weeks with the softest match-ups, you should do well.

I'm not yet sure if it's because I'm drinking the Andrew Cooper Kool-Aid or if I genuinely believe Engram can be a consistent part of this passing attack. We already know Doug Pederson likes his 2-TE sets and he's done great things for his tight ends in the past, so seeing Engram go from four targets in Week 1 to eight in Week 2 shows some growth and an inclination towards getting him more involved. The Chargers have an outstanding defense, but they have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to the position and rank 18th in DVOA against them. For this price, it's worth a look in GPP tournaments.