FanDuel NFL: Wide Receivers Week 3 is a column highlighting the best player, most affordable, and best value options for your FanDuel NFL lineups focusing on salary versus expected points. The intention of this article is to help you build your FanDuel NFL lineup for the most likely big payday each week.
I like to lean on FantasyPros for weekly point projections, the information is a result of consensus from many fantasy football experts. I check the point projection results, which update daily, with the salary set by FanDuel for players each week. Entering week 3, we should start to see salaries settle into a more reasonable point for many players. However, some players may still be over/under valued based on their week 2 results.
To help you optimize your FanDuel NFL lineups each week, we’re focusing on the Most Points, Best Affordable, and Most Value options. This article will focus on the Wide Receiver position. Here’s a brief description of each category:
- Most Projected Points – Evaluation of top projected point options from FantasyPros
- Best Affordable – Your most affordable, best player, options leaving you with enough money for good players in other positions
- Most Value – Identify the cheapest players with the highest upside
Now, let’s take a look at the players everyone’s targeting:
Next: Most Projected Points - WR
Most Projected Points – WR
Antonio Brown ($9,500 / 18.7) is yet again the top projected points for wide receiver in week 3. However, I think Brown is a tricky play this week. While the Philadelphia Eagles passing defense has historically been terrible, this season they seem to be taking a turn toward a better defense. The Eagles played two dreadful looking teams, the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears. Philly also gave up a couple of big yardage passing plays. However, along with the Seattle Seahawks, they’re one of only two teams who haven’t given up a passing touchdown this season. Also, in passing yards defended, the Eagles are 5th in the NFL. That’s five spots above Cincinnati, who shut Antonio Brown down last week.
I think Antonio will have one or two big yardage plays, and could break the no passing touchdown streak of the Eagles. But, I don’t think he’s worth paying $9,500 this week. There’s too much risk. You’re giving up a lot of salary for someone who has the potential to struggle. It’s not worth it.
A more appealing top 5 projected point option is Julio Jones ($9,300 / 18.3). Jones is facing a New Orleans defense who, while they slowed the Giants down last week, was scorched by the Oakland Raiders passing game in week 1. If you’re going to spend big money at wide receiver this weekend, go with Jones over Brown. Julio is now listed as questionable, so keep an eye on his status. But so far, his calf injury is minor and it sounds like he’ll play.
Odell Beckham Jr. ($8,900 / 16.7), DeAndre Hopkins ($7,900 / 15.7), and Allen Robinson ($7,900 / 14.5) round out the top five projected FanDuel NFL points for wide receiver. Given Antonio Brown‘s success against the Redskins secondary, and a potential bounce-back game for Eli Manning, Beckham should have a good day.
Between Hopkins and Robinson, I like Hopkins more. The Patriots are reeling at QB, and the Miami Dolphins were able to get their passing game going last week against New England, as a result. Hopkins could have a great night on Thursday. While Blake Bortles is still targeting Robinson often, he’s not hauling in many passes, and is starting off the season fairly cold. I’d like to see Allen do more before I spend $7,900 on him for a WR spot in my lineup. With some value options in my lineup, Jones and Beckham are an attractive pair this week.
Next: Best Affordable - WR
Best Affordable – WR
Finding good and affordable options at wide receiver this week is actually not that hard. I’m surprised Jarvis Landry is so cheap this week, $7,000, facing a woeful Cleveland Browns defense. Jarvis is also projected to get 12.8 points this week, easily making him the cheapest of the top 15 projected FanDuel NFL points at WR. After two weeks, Jarvis has under 200 yards. He also hasn’t found the end zone yet. But, Landry is leading the NFL in receptions, 17. Landry also is tied for 2nd in the NFL for most targets, 23, two behind Mike Evans. This weekend could be a big one for Jarvis, I’m playing him.
A more surprising target machine in 2016 is Jordan Matthews ($6,900 / 12.5). Matthews is tied with Landry and T.Y. Hilton for 2nd in the NFL with 23 targets. Matthews also 185 receiving yards and 1 touchdown. Jordan’s FanDuel NFL stats would be even more impressive if he hadn’t dropped a pass, wide open, in the end zone from Carson Wentz on Monday night football against the Bears. Typically, I’d say I’m concerned about the Pittsburgh defense, but so far this season they have given up the 2nd most passing yards in the NFL. Even if Matthews doesn’t get into the end zone, he has the potential to pile up yards.
Finally, while I keep hearing Eric Decker ($7,300 / 12.6) doesn’t have a favorable matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs this week, I don’t care. Decker also didn’t have a favorable matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals and he still found the end zone. Eric is a TD magnet. Even if he doesn’t get you over 100 yards, as he did against Buffalo last week, he’ll still get you about 30-40 yards and a touchdown. Decker is and affordable touchdown as a WR pick this week.
Next: Most Value - WR
Most Value – WR
Stefon Diggs ($6,400 / 12.5) had some hype enter this season, and after last week we can understand why. Diggs is a very talented wide receiver. He’s fast, runs great routes, and has wonderful hands. Clearly, Sam Bradford agrees. Bradford took snaps from center for the first time in Minnesota, after being traded by the Philadelphia Eagles at the end of the preseason. Sam targeted Diggs 11 times for 9 receptions, 182 yards, and a touchdown. That’s quite a day against a solid Green Bay Packers defense. I realize Stefon doesn’t have a good matchup this week against the Carolina Panthers. But Josh Norman is no longer in Charlotte, and the Panthers backfield will continue to be tested without him. With Bradford now very comfortable throwing to Diggs, Stefon should have a good day on a cheap $6,400 salary. A Diggs/Jones/Beckham combo could be a great one if you can afford it!
Another cheap option is Will Fuller ($6,500 / 10.2), but you have to get on him early, this Thursday night against the New England Patriots. Fuller has been absolutely fantastic in his first two games as a rookie. The Patriots should match up well against Fuller, but they struggled last week against the Dolphins receivers. This is a more risky value bet, but Fuller could pay off once again this week.
Wrapping up value, we should revisit Jarvis Landry one more time. Landry is facing one of the worst defenses so far this season, the Browns. Jarvis is affordable at only $7,000 and is due for a big game and a touchdown. This feels like the week for Landry!