Another week, another bargain bin column from yours truly! Week 1 was an absolute atrocity, but I did a lot better hand-picking players from the well of bargains in Week 2, so let’s keep that train going!
Zack Moss, DJ Moore and Michael Thomas were a few of the guys I highlighted as ‘bargain’ plays last week and you probably hit it big if you followed my advice. If not, then this is your week! (all salaries courtesy of DraftKings)
QB: Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($5,300, QB23 at cost)
If I told you that entering Week 3, Mayfield was top five in QB rating and top 10 in QBR, would you believe me?
Shoot, if I hadn’t done the research beforehand, I wouldn’t even believe it myself. Having yet to turn the ball over, Mayfield has been an integral part of the Bucs’ 2-0 start.
- Cody's Rankings: WR | RB | QB | TE-K-Def
- SNF Preview: Watch Pickett to Pickens
- TD Props: These Guys Will Be Celebrating
- Steezy's Fades: Sorry, Chase, I gotta do it
- Best and Worst of Giants vs 49ers on TNF
- King Henry A Great Pick 'Em Play in Week 3
- Stacks: How Can You NOT Play Tua Again?
- Amazing How Low-Priced These Guys Are
- Doubt Patrick -- Just a Little Bit
- Waiver Wire Picture Is Getting Clearer
Now, with the Eagles on tap for a Week 3 showdown on ‘Monday Night Football,’ expect more Mayfield mania. The Eagles have allowed both Mac Jones and Kirk Cousins to throw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns in back-to-back weeks, so their pass defense has looked more susceptible than we’re accustomed to seeing.
And with TB wide receiver Mike Evans looking like a supernova (you can’t forget about Chris Godwin either), Mayfield has the stage set for him to continue balling out.
Priced outside of the top 20 QBs in DFS salary, Mayfield at $5,300 should be the closest thing to larceny we’ve seen in the NFL since the DeAndre Hopkins trade to the Cardinals.
RB: Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams ($5,500, RB28 at cost)
Prior to this season, the 2022 fifth-round RB had the same amount of touchdowns as both you and I – ZERO.
CRAZY right?
Fast forward to Week 3, and Williams is the NFL’s leader in scrimmage touchdowns with four. If you weren’t a believer, I hope that stat changes your mind.
Want further proof of just how entrenched Williams is in the Rams backfield? Look no further than the latest news surrounding his soon-to-be ex-teammate, Cam Akers. Having been hyped all offseason long by Sean McVay, it’s not a coincidence that the moment Williams starts balling out, Akers is reportedly on the trade block.
Not only is Kyren (a dope name, by the way) the Rams’ goal-line back, he was second in targets last week against the 49ers with 10 and has been praised for his pass catching ability, so we know Matthew Stafford is going to look for him every time he drops back.
Make no mistake about it, Williams is a low-end RB1 for the rest of the season, so lock it in! I assure you he won’t be had at such a discount after Week 3, so pounce on the value while it’s still there.
WR: Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings ($5,500, WR32 at cost)
Maybe third-wheeling isn’t the worst thing in the world after all? Despite being behind both Justin Jefferson and TJ Hockenson in the targets pecking order, Addison has scored a touchdown and racked up over 60 receiving yards in two straight games to start the season, albeit on limited volume (7 receptions on 11 targets).
With OC Wes Phillips on record stating that Addison’s role is only going to grow as the season progresses, I’d get on board the Addison train while he’s still a bargain.
One more nugget to note: LAC-MIN is expected to be the highest-scoring matchup of the Week 3 slate with an over/under of 54. It will be a buffet for most players. Start Addison with confidence in this one.
WR: Nico Collins, Houston Texans ($5,300, WR38 at cost)
Sitting at WR6 in season-long leagues on the year thus far, Collins has been a target hog, averaging 10 per game and parlaying that into monster production: 13 catches for 226 yards (5th in the NFL in receiving).
With an ownership percentage sitting at 19.6% (at the time of this writing), Collins is being inserted into more lineups than Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs, Ja’Marr Chase, Davantae Adams, etc. That doesn’t mean everything, but it does mean more people are taking notice.
One more thing: Collins’ Texans are +9.5-point underdogs against the Jaguars, so game script could also be in his favor.
At WR38, don’t be surprised if Collins finishes another week as a top 10 WR.
TE: Hunter Henry, New England Patriots ($4,100, TE11 at cost)
Is Henry on his way to capturing his 2021 form with the Patriots? If you’ve forgotten, Henry totaled 9 touchdowns and 603 receiving yards in his first season in Foxborough.
Through two games this season, Henry is the No. 2 TE on the season and has finished as a top 2 TE in back-to-back weeks (5+ catches, 50+ yards, and a touchdown in both games).
Now that the Patriots are passing the ball with more regularity, Henry seems to be one of Mac Jones’ favorite targets and preferred target in the red zone.
Ranked outside of the top 10 TEs as far as salary, it’s only a matter of time until Henry makes his way into the top 5 TE conversation; here’s your chance to buy low now while you can!
FLEX: Isaiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs ($5,400, RB31 at cost)
After a subpar performance (by his standards) on the ground in Week 1 vs the Lions, Pacheco got going against the Jacksonville Jaguars, compiling 70 yards rushing on only 12 carries (5.8 per carry).
Being that his team is the largest favorite in the Week 3 slate (-12.5), Pacheco should have game flow in his favor, which should result in a season-high in touches and, theoretically speaking, more fantasy points.
In addition, the Bears defense has been very kind RBs so far, giving up 103 scrimmage yards (and a TD) to Tampa Bay’s Rachaad White just last week and 127 scrimmage yards and two TDs to Aaron Jones in Week 1.
If you’ve been keeping Pacheco on your bench, now’s the time to unleash him. With an 11% ownership rate (at the time of this writing), he’s being started in more lineups than Travis Etienne, Rhamondre Stevenson, Tony Pollard, etc. others are starting to catch on, so don’t be the person that’s late to the (Pacheco) party!
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