NFL DFS returns for a Week 3 filled with plenty of enticing matchups for wide receivers. TB/LAR, MIN/SEA, and LAC/KC will be the three games most ideal to target for your roster considerations at this position. Check out nine of the most ideal players to roster for your lineup construction this week below!
Studs
Tyreek Hill
2021 Stats: 19 targets, 14 receptions, 211 rec yards, 19 rush yards, 1 TD, (DK: 23.0 FPPG; FD: 18.0 FPPG)
| vs LAC (2nd) | DK: $8,400 | FD: $8,700 |
Cheetah turned in a dud on Sunday Night Football with just 29 yards on four touches, but will have the opportunity to rebound this week. On occasion there will games where Hill is contained to a pedestrian performance, while others thrive.
This matchup is not the juiciest, but Patrick Mahomes and company are essentially matchup-proof and capable of putting up 30+ points on anybody. The Chargers will be without their top corner Chris Harris Jr. again, so the assignment will likely be put in the hands of rookie Asante Samuel Jr. I am him having a great career, but this will be a tough task to keep up with.
With similar price tags, the decision between Kelce and Hill comes down to which one has the higher ceiling. I would lean Hill’s direction in this one with Kelce potentially going up against the NFL’s top graded safety Derwin James in red zone situations.
Stefon Diggs
2021 Stats: 22 targets, 13 receptions, 129 rec yards, 1 TD, (DK: 15.95 FPPG; FD: 12.7 FPPG)
| vs WFT (27th) | DK: $7,600 | FD: $7,700 |
It seems laughable to say that an offense coming off a 35-0 road victory is struggling, however Allen has not looked his best so far in 2021. As a result, Diggs has yet to find a rhythm as well, currently sitting outside the top 45 in receiver production. With several plus matchups over the next month of football, Buffalo will have the opportunity to get going and that starts against Washington this week.
Washington’s defense was supposed to be one of the league’s best entering the year, but they have not fared well in coverage. Their top three corners all currently grade out in coverage 76th or worse among 100 qualified cornerbacks. That only works in the advantage of the 2020 receiving yards leader. I don’t expect a shootout in this game, but there should be a lot of volume for Diggs to have a strong day.
D.K. Metcalf
2021 Stats: 16 targets, 10 receptions, 113 rec yards, 1 TD, (DK: 13.65 FPPG; FD: 11.15 FPPG)
| @ MIN (28th) | DK: $7,300 | FD: $7,200 |
Boy I was not wrong about Seattle’s great matchup against Tennesse last week. Wilson torched the Titans for 343 yards and two scores, but Tyler Lockett and Freddie Swain were the primary beneficiaries, leaving Metcalf for a pedestrian 6-53 line. He is tied for a team-high 16 targets through two games, but the third-year pro is not starting off the season on a hot note.
This will be the last chance at a strong matchup before the Seahawks start a four game stretch against top 10-caliber defenses. The Vikings have surrendered the third-most points to wideouts this season (56.55), while allowing 61 points in two weeks (27th). Minnesota should come out swinging to avoid a potential 0-3 start, so Seattle will need to do all they can to stay in front on the road.
Picking between Lockett and Metcalf could come down to a gut feeling. Both are similarly priced (at least on FanDuel) and less than 0.3 points separated in Week 3 projections on both platforms. I would say go with the contrarian play, however both are in the top six of projected ownership for wide receivers. I am going to lean with the small to medium-sized discount with the possibility of a bounce back performance in this game. It would not be the worst idea to stack both with Wilson either.
Keenan Allen
2021 Stats: 21 targets, 13 receptions, 208 rec yards, (DK: 19.9 FPPG; FD: 13.65 FPPG)
| @ KC (18th) | DK: $6,600 | FD: $6,900 |
Speaking of guys I wrote about last week, let’s run it back with Keenan Allen! Though he went over 100 yards for the second straight game to start the year, it felt like there was a lot of meat on the bone after last week’s performance. Falling down in the end zone took away a scoring opportunity and led to a crucial pick in a surprisingly low scoring affair.
Allen has had a strong start to the year and that should continue against a defense that is allowing the most yards per game (469.0). He does have his fair share of quality games against the Chiefs, scoring 22.18 FPPG on DraftKings in his last four full matchups. Mike Williams becoming a more consistent threat on the opposite side will only help Allen as a fantasy asset.
Based on the matchup, he should be one of the eight highest salaries, yet he ranks 12th and 15th on DraftKings and FanDuel respectively. The potential for high scoring is real and the Herbert-Allen connection is one I will continue to put stock into this week. He will be in the majority of my lines at this modest price.
Mid-Tiers
Chris Godwin
2021 Stats: 19 targets, 13 receptions, 167 rec yards, 2 TDs, (DK: 21.85 FPPG; FD: 16.6 FPPG)
| @ LAR (14th) | DK: $6,100 | FD: $7,300 |
Godwin is another receiver with a strong start to the year. His modest 4-62-1 stat line was not eye popping, but it was great for his lack of targets (5) in a game Tampa Bay controlled from the start. Now up against their most difficult matchup to date, Godwin’s salary actually dipped at least $500 on each platform.
With Antonio Brown out due to a positive COVID-19 test, that opens the door for Godwin to take the majority of the short and intermediate work. I would side with him over Mike Evans, who is coming off a pair of touchdowns against Atlanta, largely because of a consistency factor. Godwin should be Brady’s most reliable threat in one of the marquee matchups of the week. And Gronk can’t continue this level of production right? Right???
From a value perspective, there might not be a better option in the $6k range, aside of Keenan Allen. On FanDuel I would be more hesitant due to the ability to afford other wide receivers with higher ceilings, but there are plenty of less reliable options in this range as well.
Robert Woods
2021 Stats: 13 targets, 8 receptions, 91 rec yards, 1 TD, (DK: 12.2 FPPG; FD: 10.2 FPPG)
| vs TB (30th) | DK: $5,700 | FD: $6,100 |
Contrarian pick of the week comes in the likes of veteran Robert Woods. Cooper Kupp’s hot start to the season has overshadowed Woods as a fantasy asset. While the latter has not performed up to his abilities, he is still a receiver coming off three straight seasons of 1,000 all-purpose yards.
Tampa Bay has allowed the second-most points per game to the position in 2021 (58.1), so Matt Stafford should find ways to move the ball down the field. This not to say Kupp cannot continue his efforts, but he is projected to be the highest owned player on DraftKings (21.4%) and second-highest owned wide receiver on FanDuel (20.0%).
It is easier to work around finding $700 for Kupp on DraftKings, but the $1800 price differential on FanDuel is just too much to pass up on. Woods can be a great salary saver and end up as one of the best values on your roster this Sunday.
Values
Ja’Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd
2021 Stats: Chase – 11 targets, 7 receptions, 155 rec yards, 2 TDs, (DK: 18.65 FPPG; FD: 15.4 FPPG)
2021 Stats: Boyd – 13 targets, 10 receptions, 105 yards, (DK: 10.25 FPPG; FD: 7.75 FPPG)
| @ PIT (23rd) | DK: $5,400 (Chase), $4700 (Boyd) | FD: $5,900 (Chase), $5,600 (Boyd) |
This set of receivers come in severely undervalued after Tee Higgins was declared doubtful to play Sunday (shoulder). Chase has rebounded from an awful preseason to score a touchdown in each of his first two games and lead his team in receiving. The rookie’s price tag yet to enter the top 25 among his position on either platform, yet this could be one last opportunity to snag him for cheap before his price potentially skyrockets with two plus matchups in the next week.
Boyd meanwhile is still a legitimate threat in PPR formats and is the best value on the slate with one less weapon to compete for targets with. Despite being outproduced by the rookie, Boyd actually doubled his targets last week.
Pittsburgh is a defense to fear, but without 2020 sacks leader T.J. Watt available (groin), Joe Burrow should have more time to throw and as a result can take advantage of a defense that allowed 382 yards to Derek Carr last week. This duo is a strong one to target and both could provide you with a solid return. In terms of preference, I would lean to Boyd in DraftKings and Chase in FanDuel.
K.J. Osborn
2021 Stats: 11 targets, 7 receptions, 155 rec yards, 2 TDs, (DK: 18.65 FPPG; FD: 15.4 FPPG)
| vs SEA (11th) | DK: $3,500 | FD: $5,100 |
Osborn comes into a must-win game for the Vikings and is an interesting spot. He comes in at a massive discount relative to his production thus far. While he is still behind Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson in terms of targets (15), he still leads the team in receiving yards and currently sits as WR22 in PPR formats. That is just too impressive compared to his 67th-ranked price tag.
Does DFS know something we don’t know? Or are they just providing us with an opportunity to snag him at near minimum price one more time before a massive increase next week? Regardless of what it means, it will result in him being one of highest-owned wide receivers. He is currently projected 11th on DraftKings (9.4%) and 19th on FanDuel (5.3%).
The low prices at running back make it feel unnecessary to target him on FanDuel, but on DraftKings he will give you the opportunity to go several directions. Don’t consider him a lock, but check your list twice before passing up on the second-year wideout.
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