AAF DFS Week 3 Top Fanball Picks and Plays

AAF DFS Week 3 Fanball Plays

The Alliance of American Football (AAF) made its debut and by and large, the results and reviews were positive. Naturally, the quality of play should only improve as teams reap the benefits of additional practice and game reps. So, are there AAF DFS options?

Luckily for those still craving pro football DFS action now that the CFL and NFL have wrapped up their seasons, Fanball has stepped up to the plate with a full array of AAF DFS based cash games and GPPs.

As such, we’ll chime in each remaining week of the 2019 AAF DFS season with suggestions at each position for those contests. Before getting into our AAF DFS Week 3 plays, a summary of some of the most significant ways in which AAF rules depart from those of the NFL:

No kickoffs; each team begins any game-opening/second-half-opening and post-score drive at its own 25-yard line.
No extra points; teams will be required to attempt a two-point conversion play after each touchdown.
No onside kicks; teams will have the option of running a “4th-and-12” play from their own 28-yard line in lieu of onside kicks. The play will only be made available if a team is trailing by 17 points or more or if they’re trailing with 5 minutes or fewer left in regulation.
Teams that are scored upon via a safety also have the option of attempting to gain possession by running this same play from their own 18-yard line.
35-second play clocks, as opposed to the 40-second clocks utilized in the NFL.
All overtime periods played under “Kansas Playoff” rules. Each team begins on the opponent’s 10-yard line and given four chances to score. No field goals are allowed in overtime. If the score remains tied after each team has had a possession, the game ends in a tie.
No more than five defensive players may rush on any one play. Any players on the defensive side of the line of scrimmage at the snap count towards those five players whether they rush or not.
Pass rushing from a starting position that is more than two yards outside the widest offensive lineman and more than five yards from the line of scrimmage (defensive pressure box) is prohibited. However, there are exceptions to this rule on play-action or run-pass option plays, or if the ball leaves the tackle box.
Violations of the aforementioned defensive alignment rules will prompt a 15-yard illegal defense penalty.
Finally, a “sky judge” situated in a suite above the field acts as the ninth member of the officiating crew and will have access to review each play. The sky judge will have the ability to correct any on-field officiating errors that it deems “egregious.”

AAF DFS Week 3 Fanball Plays-Quarterbacks

Garrett Gilbert, ORL vs. MEM ($7,300):

Gilbert has been one of the league’s true standouts over the first two games, as he’s taken to coach Steve Spurrier‘s aggressive system like the proverbial duck to water. The signal-caller’s NFL experience seeming affords him the confidence to attack downfield as well, something that was especially evident in a Week 2 performance where he racked up a league-record 393 yards and two touchdowns. That effort yielded 29.22 fantasy points, a slight bump from an already impressive 27.58 in Week 1.

Gilbert now gets a crack at an Express defense that admittedly showed improved form in Week 2, but that still allowed a pair of touchdown passes to the Hotshots’ John Wolford. Spurrier’s approach will be even more aggressive than Arizona’s Rick Neuheisel‘s, and Gilbert will have another week of practice under his belt with one of the best trio of receivers in the AAF through two games — Charles Johnson, Jalin Marshall and Chris Thompson.

John Wolford, ARI at SL ($6,800):

Wolford wasn’t quite as efficient in Week 2 against a surprisingly effective Express defense, getting picked off twice in a narrow victory. However, the Wake Forest product also found the end zone twice and rushed for more than 20 yards for the second time in as many games, leading to a solid 20.26 fantasy points. Wolford’s ability to supplement his fantasy production on the ground is certainly appealing and builds his case for a nice cost-savings pivot off Gilbert if you need the extra $500 in salary.

Moreover, the matchup seemingly works in his favor, considering Wolford lit up the Stallions for 275 yards and four touchdowns in Week 1. Salt Lake was much more successful in containing the Iron’s Luis Perez in Week 2, but they still allowed him a robust 24 completions. Neuheisel’s offensive gameplan is likely to be much more aggressive than that of Birmingham’s Tim Lewis, and Wolford’s evident rapport with the likes of Rashad Ross, Richard Mullaney, Josh Huff and Gerald Christian leaves him with no shortage of weapons in the passing game.

Luis Perez, BIR at ATL ($5,700):

Perez has managed the rather unlikely feat of averaging just over 35 pass attempts over the first two games without actually notching a single touchdown through the air. Coach Tim Lewis has displayed a clear preference for utilizing RB Trent Richardson near the goal line, but the odds are certainly against Perez not scoring for a third straight week if he keeps up a similar pass volume. He’d be hard-pressed to find a better “get-right” matchup than the Legends, which have scuffled on defense through the first two games.

Atlanta’s Week 2 problems were much more centered in their rush defense, but a constant rain in San Diego helped limit the Fleet’s passing attack. Meanwhile, the Legends yielded 40 points to the Apollos in Week 1 and surrendered a 9.1 YPA and a pair of passing touchdowns (along with one receiving) to Orlando’s Garrett Gilbert. With Perez having seen a slight price drop over last week, he enters value territory and is worth a go against the 0-2 Legends if you’re looking to save.

AAF DFS Week 3 Fanball Plays-Running Backs

Ja’Quan Gardner, SD vs. SA ($7,000):

Gardner flashed some of the same talent that made him a Division II star at Humboldt State in last week’s win over the Legends. The diminutive powerhouse scampered for a pair of touchdowns, the second putting him over the century mark and essentially sealing the Fleet’s first victory. The volume Gardner saw in Week 2 against the Legends was especially encouraging, as he was up to 15 carries after logging eight in Week 1.

His 104-yard effort led to an impressive 26.1 fantasy points and a likely reprisal of the lead-back role in Week 3. It’s also worth noting Gardner churned out an efficient 55 yards on just eight carries against the Commanders in Week 1 while adding a pair of receptions. With the Fleet’s offensive line looking solid through two weeks, quarterback Philip Nelson looking somewhat shaky under center and Gardner the more effective between he and backfield mate Terrell Watson, the former lines up as a strong play despite the hefty $1,600 price hike from last week.

Kenneth Farrow II, SA at SD ($6,400):

Farrow’s natural burst and power have stood out over the first two games of the season, but he was particularly efficient in Week 2 after running into a stingy Fleet defense in the opener. While he’ll face that same San Diego front Sunday, the Commanders offensive line looked considerably more competent in their second game against the Apollos. Then, Farrow seems to be coach Mike Riley‘s preferred workhorse candidate through two weeks, as he’s logged 14 and 13 rushes, respectively, during that span.

Just as important, he’s already amassed three rushing touchdowns as the clear-cut top red-zone option. Additionally, despite having limited Farrow to 37 rushing yards in Week 1, San Diego has shown some cracks in their rush defense, yielding 4.7 yards per carry to the Legends’ Lawrence Pittman in Week 2 in the wake of yielding 7.2 per tote to Farrow’s backfield mate Aaron Green in the opener.

D’Ernest Johnson, ORL vs. MEM ($4,800):

The Legends’ Akrum Wadley ($4,300) is also interesting at $500 cheaper after logging eight receptions for 70 yards last week. Meanwhile, Johnson has been highly efficient over the first two games, but the combination of the Apollos’ passing exploits and a backfield mate with a bigger name in Akeem Hunt have both conspired to keep Johnson’s accomplishments somewhat under the radar. However, all the USF product has done is average 7.1 yards per tote on 13 carries and add a 33-yard receiving touchdown.

Johnson displayed excellent burst and elusiveness on the game-clinching drive versus the Commanders last week, notably serving as Spurrier’s choice to ice the win. He could certainly be in line for more work in Week 3, and if so, it will come against an Express defense yielding 147.5 rushing yards per contest over the first two weeks. With the possibility of the Apollos holding a solid second-half lead in this home contest, the game script could also work in Johnson’s favor and make him one of the week’s best value plays.

AAF DFS Week 3 Fanball Plays-Wide Receivers

Charles Johnson, ORL vs. MEM ($7,400):

Johnson’s Week 2 production propelled the former NFL wideout to the top of the AAF’s receiving hierarchy after a solid Week 1 in which he produced a 4-60 line. The former Minnesota Viking exploded for seven receptions, 192 yards and a touchdown, numbers that led to a whopping 35.2 fantasy points. He’ll now look to build on his AAF-record performance versus an Express defense that’s already yielded 17 passing first downs and a 60.0 percent completion rate over the first two weeks.

Memphis surrendered 151 yards on just six receptions to the Hotshots duo of Josh Huff and Rashad Ross in Week 2, and as he demonstrated versus the Commanders, Johnson brings just as much big-play upside. Johnson is also averaging 7.5 targets per game over the first pair of contests, and as per Pro Football Focus, he checks in with the second-highest air yardage market share (28.3 percent) in the league over that span as well.

Mekale McKay, SA at SD ($6,200):

McKay’s teammates De’Marcus Ayers ($6,000) and Greg Ward, Jr. ($5,300) are also worthy of consideration if you need to save some cash, but McKay could well check in at lower ownership than both after an inefficient Week 2. McKay brought in just two of nine targets for 36 yards versus the Apollos, yet the unsightly line doesn’t quite tell the whole story.

For one, McKay had a touchdown reception nullified by penalty, and he also came very close to another score on a deep throw. The most encouraging aspect of the big-bodied receiver’s numbers thus far are the targets, as McKay has now logged 21 looks over the first two weeks. He also checks in just behind Johnson in air yardage market share (27.5 percent) per Pro Football Focus, and he produced a solid 13 fantasy points on the strength of a 5-80 line in Week 1 against the Fleet defense, a unit that’s already allowed 20 passing first downs through two weeks.

Josh Huff, ARI at SL ($5,800):

Huff has yet to parlay his elite speed and NFL experience into significant fantasy production through two games, but Week 2 offered some glimpses of what he’s capable of bringing to the table. The former Eagle and Buccaneer tallied 84 yards on just two receptions, and he’s seen a solid nine targets through the first pair of contests.

Huff makes for a potentially great fit in Neuheisel’s typically aggressive downfield attack if he can continue developing rapport with quarterback John Wolford and exploit the defensive attention being afforded fellow wideout Rashad Ross. The Stallions are also allowing a 62.7 percent completion rate and have already yielded 25 passing first downs, furthering Huff’s case as a modestly priced yet high-upside option.

AAF DFS Week 3 Fanball Plays-Flex Options

Zac Stacy, MEM at ORL ($7,100):

Stacy garnered the distinction of becoming the AAF’s first 100-yard rusher, just eclipsing the century mark with a 101-yard performance versus the Hotshots in Week 2. The 2013 fifth-round pick of the Rams is off to an impressive start in terms of reviving his career, as he’s averaging an efficient 5.1 yards per rush through the first two weeks.

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The veteran is clearly coach Mike Singletary‘s top choice to lead his ground-heavy attack, which particularly bodes well versus an Apollos defense that’s proven vulnerable against the run over the first two weeks. Orlando is allowing 127.5 rushing yards per contest thus far, and Stacy is averaging an impressive 5.1 yards per carry on 31 rushes in his first pair of contests. Stacy encouragingly added a pair of receptions as part of his 20.9 fantasy-point effort in Week 2, which enhances his already strong value despite the expensive price tag.

Branden Oliver, SL vs. ARI ($4,500):

Oliver’s price remains extremely affordable despite Week 2 signs that coach Dennis Erickson appears willing to give him a heftier workload than one normally associated with that of a change-of-pace back. Oliver logged a robust 14 carries versus the Iron and also made a pair of grabs for good measure.

Furthermore, after two weeks, it’s becoming evident that Matt Asiata (two carries) is likely to be limited to short-yardage and occasional goal-line work, leaving Joel Bouagnon as Oliver’s primary competition for every-down reps. Bouagnon will undoubtedly get his fair share of opportunity as well, but Erickson is likely to lean heavily on the running game once again in Week 3 given the team’s shaky QB situation. The Hotshots have also allowed 131.5 rush yards per contest over the first two weeks, a tally that includes a 101-yard effort by Stacy in Week 2 and 5.0 yards per carry yielded to Oliver himself in the opener.

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