We are only hours away from the start of week three, but we can’t relax yet. With all of the relevant injury designations, weather and news, we have to stay focused. This article will cover the NFL week three injuries, news, and final lineups. This information will be continuously updated until the 1:00 PM EST kickoffs.
NFL Week Three Injuries:
Last Updated: 09/23 12:59 PM EST
Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB – Questionable (likely)
Marcus Mariota, QB, TEN – Will Play (but not likely to start)
Leonard Fournette, RB, JAX – OUT
Joe Mixon, RB, CIN – OUT
Devonta Freeman, RB, ATL – OUT
Jay Ajayi, RB, PHI – OUT
Dalvin Cook, RB, MIN – OUT
LeSean McCoy, RB, BUF – OUT
T.J. Yeldon, RB, JAX – Questionable (likely)
Marlon Mack, RB, IND – OUT
Corey Clement, RB, PHI – Will Play
Darren Sproles, RB, PHI – OUT
Doug Baldwin, WR, SEA – OUT
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARZ – Will Play
Alshon Jeffery, WR, PHI – OUT
Marquise Goodwin, WR, SF – Will Play
Paul Richardson, WR, WAS – Will Play
Cole Beasley, WR, DAL – Will Play
Travis Benjamin, WR, LAC – Questionable
Jack Doyle, TE, IND – OUT
Antonio Gates, TE, LAC – Questionable (likely)
Hayden Hurst, TE, BAL – OUT
Jermaine Gresham, TE, ARZ – Questionable
C.J. Mosley, LB, BAL – Questionable
Trai Turner, G, CAR – Questionable
Billy Price, C, CIN – Questionable (unlikely)
Sean Lee, LB, DAL – Questionable
Jared Veldheer, T, DEN – Questionable
Menelik Watson, T, DEN – Questionable
Kevin King, DB, GB – Questionable
Anthony Castonzo, T, IND – Questionable
D.J. Hayden, DB, JAX – Questionable
Jalen Ramsey, DB, JAX – Questionable
Cam Robinson, T, JAX – OUT
Eric Berry, DB, KC – Questionable (unlikely)
Joe Barksdale, T, LAC – Questionable
Joey Bosa, DE, LAC – OUT
Mark Barron, LB, LAR – Questionable (unlikely)
Greg Zeurlein, K, LAR – OUT
Rashad Jones, DB, MIA – Questionable
Dalvin Cook, RB, MIN – OUT
Everson Griffen, DE, MIN – Questionable
Olivier Vernon, LB, NYG – OUT
Eli Apple, DB, NYG – OUT
Erik Flowers, T, NYG – OUT
Jason Peters, T, PHI – Questionable
K.J. Wright, LB, SEA – OUT
Earl Thomas, DB, SEA – Questionable
Jack Conklin, T, TEN – Questionable
NFL Week Three Weather:
Last Updated: 09/23 12:59 PM EST
According to NFL Weather, light rain is expected during three games on the Sunday main slate. Those games include Green Bay at Washington, Indianapolis at Philadelphia, and Denver at Baltimore. There are no winds projected to be higher than nine miles per hour, including the three games with potential rain.
NFL Week Three Other News:
Last Updated: 09/23 12:59 PM EST
As of now, there is not any relevant fantasy news not related to injuries.
NFL Week Three Final DFS Player Pool:
Last Updated: 09/23 12:59 PM EST
Quarterbacks:
Jimmy Garoppolo and Blake Bortles
With all the great potential quarterback options, I decided to go back to the well with Jimmy Garoppolo and pay down for Blake Bortles. The Kansas City Chiefs defense is giving up an average of 34.47 FanDuel points to opposing quarterbacks through two weeks. That also includes an average passer rating of 143. With the projected gameflow, no Eric Berry at safety, and a $7,400 price tag, Garoppolo is as close to a free square as you can get this week.
The real question is why I’m considering Blake Bortles. Well, I’m glad you asked. In Bortles’ last eight home games in which his team has an implied team total of at least 23 points, he has averaged over 25 fantasy points per game. Only one time in those last eight games did Bortles not reach the 25 point threshold. Couple those statistics with the fact that Leonard Fournette and T.J. Yeldon are questionable, and it sets up for an amazing matchup for Bortles at a dirt cheap $6,700 price tag.
UPDATE: We saw how the Jaguars offense changed without Fournette in week two. Now that Fournette has been ruled out, I will guarantee Bortles produces 2.5 times his salary (minimum 16.75 points).
Running Backs:
Todd Gurley, Ezekiel Elliott, Corey Clement, and Latvius Murray
I am 100 percent convinced that whether or not you cash this weekend will depend on your running back selection. Specifically, which of the cheap options to you play, and which ones do you fade. I will be playing Clement and Murray on every lineup. I am a bit worried about fading Giovanni Bernard given his history of producing as the lone back. However, he’ll face a tough matchup against the Panthers’ front seven, especially with the questionable health of center Billy Price. It probably makes the most sense to play Bernard with Clement and Murray, but that isn’t my strategy this week.
While Todd Gurley doesn’t have the yardage of a number one overall fantasy player, he has the touchdowns. He’s also lapping the field when it comes to redzone touches. Gurley, through two games, has 15 total touches in the redzone. The next closest player is Alvin Kamara at eight. That number played into my selection of Gurley over Kamara. But what cemented that decision, is the undeniable fact that the Saints are limiting Kamara’s touches regardless of gameflow. Don’t believe me? Well, Alvin Kamara had as many touches as I did during their third quarter against the Browns…meaning he had zero.
Ezekiel Elliott is the top tier running back I’m using for my single entry contests between 100 and 1,176 people. Elliott is not going to be as popular as Gurley, Kamara, or even Melvin Gordon. Elliott has not had a 20 point game yet and with the Cowboys running the ball 14 percent more on the road during the Dak Prescott era, this could be his first monster game. He’s also been more incorporated into the passing game, averaging five targets per game.
Wide Receivers:
Michael Thomas, Tyreek Hill, T.Y. Hilton, Will Fuller, Emmanuel Sanders, Cooper Kupp, Calvin Ridley
Update: I now have no shares of Tyreek Hill. I realized I had an extra $800 on that lineup and upgraded him to Michael Thomas. That change is reflected in the screenshot of my lineups below.
Michael Thomas and Tyreek Hill don’t need much explanations. With the incredibly high over/under values, and quarterbacks at the helm of these offenses, you’ll want exposure to at least one of these receivers. If I had to pick one, it would be Thomas given his overall volume and red zone targets.
T.Y. Hilton and Will Fuller are unconventional plays for me. Hilton is on my single entry contests between 100 and 1,176 people as a high upside play at lower ownership. His target volume has given him a safer floor and the anticipated gameflow bodes well for Hilton. Fuller is also an unusual play for me in cash games. However, he’s more than a big play wide receiver. His numbers when healthy with Watson are astounding. In his first game back, he recorded 100 yards and a touchdown. He has another positive matchup against the Giants this weekend.
Emmanuel Sanders is in an excellent spot this weekend. Demaryius Thomas will likely see shadow coverage from Brandon Carr. Carr was deployed against A.J. Green in week two. To be clear, Green scored all of his touchdowns when he was not in Carr’s coverage. That’s why he had such a low catch total, because Carr is good. Tavon Young will likely cover Sanders in the slot, and that’s a matchup he’ll exploit.
My budget options include Cooper Kupp and Calvin Ridley. I’m not excited about either of them in particular, but Kupp is Jared Goff’s preferred target and Ridley’s price in a shootout is too low to ignore.
Tight Ends:
Zach Ertz and George Kittle
I wanted to make Zach Ertz my only tight end, but, I also want to have Gurley or Elliott on every lineup. So, Ertz is on two of my three lineups. The Eagles’ receivers have been decimated by injuries and Wentz’s return will likely bode well for Ertz as a security blanket in tough situations.
If George Kittle can’t produce in this matchup, it’s unlikely he’ll be on my lineups for a while. Jesse James, one of the least consistent starting tight ends, had a huge game against the Chiefs. And if the Chargers had a healthy Hunter Henry, he would’ve too. He’s also the most logical player to pair with Garoppolo with Marquise Goodwin’s questionable status and Pierre Garcon’s deteriorating skills.
Defense/Special Teams:
Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys
It was so difficult to fade the Vikings defense this week. But I am confident the Bears can score 80 percent of what the Vikings will produce sine they will be playing an equally anemic offense. The Cowboys are my preferred cheap defense of choice. The Cowboys’ offensive pace will limit the Seahawks’ possessions, and thus give Russell Wilson less chances to make a big play. The Cowboys defense also has an above average pass rush and front seven with DeMarcus Lawrence and Sean Lee.
NFL Week Two Final DFS Lineups:
Last Updated: 09/23 12:59 PM EST
The top two lineups are my two 50/50 lineups and represented equally of their 40 entries. My third lineup is for my single entry cash games between 100 and 1,176 people.
Featured Image Courtesy of Roto Street Journal
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